Question regarding back and hand posture

[andreasvitikan]

I have just recently started playing piano (it's not my first instrument, I also play some guitar) and it is one of those digital keyboards. The stand it came with is adjustable, but it's got steps (it's got a set of predetermined heights you can set it at, but not in between). As for the chair, at the moment, the only options I've got are an office chair (with adjustable height, but with arm rests) or a fixed wooden chair (without arm rests). Neither of them are specifically for piano playing.

How do I determine the height of the stand and the chair (if the adjustable), in order to play the piano properly?

[lostinidlewonder]

When you place your hands on the keyboard your arms should be parallel to the ground and your knees should be just under the keyboard. Chopin suggested the natural hand posture at the keyboard was RH 12345 E F#G#A#B  and LH 54321 on F Gb Ab Bb C

[andreasvitikan]

Aha, I understand. And do the armrests of the chair get in the way?

They are at about key level some there is little height difference between my arm and them.
And if the keys are slightly higher than they should be, is that a problem (so the arms don't stand parallel but slightly elevated towards the keys)?

[lostinidlewonder]

I had a student who used a chair with armrests and he actually rested his arms on them while playing! The problem with this is that when you have to move your arm then the arm rests get in the way. If you are playing pieces which are in a single position and your hand never has to move, then the arm rests don't really pose a problem. However you really shouldn't be using those arm rests while playing anything so Id avoid using a chair with them. You also should not be sitting sunk back into the chair, your backside should be at the edge of the seat and if you lift up your feet you should fall forwards.