Proper Bench Position

[dinosaurtales]

There's another post on this board asking if folks like to sit high or low relative to the piano, but no one explains what would be considered *high* or *low*.  Is there a proper distance from the piano, and height of bench that can be used  as (don't laugh) a benchmark?  I just got my new piano, and it came with an artist adjustable bench, so I can adjust the height for the first time!  I have fussed like crazy, but can't tell if I am too close, or too high - just don't have any way to figure.

[amp]

I think "high" is elbows above the keyboard, "low" is lower. Also, there is keeping you elbows level with the keyboard. I like the bench a little low, and I position the bench so that I'm sitting on the edge and my knees are just barely under the keys.

Try that out. If you are too close it is hard to do, i.e. fast runs up or down the keys. You are fine with what ever "feels" right, that's all.

[rachfan]

amp gives good advice here.  The knees should be tucked no more than one to two inches under the keybed.  (I have long legs, so its 2" for me.)   You should position yourself on the artist bench such that you are sitting ONLY on the front half of it, not farther back.  You can adjust it first, as amp suggests, to a position where your elbows and forearms are level with the keys.   That will mean that your level arms are about 10 1/2 inches up from the surface of the bench to start.   Beyond that, it's personal preference.  

I'm with amp in that I like to sit a little lower.  I find that tone production is richer that way.  But if you get too low, you'll lose dexterity in your playing.   When you sit higher, the hands can become less flexible, so tone production becomes more dry and brittle in my opinion.   The best thing to do is keep  experimenting with it the bench.   Interestingly, when my bench is at rock bottom low (which is where I keep it), I'm 11" below the keyboard.  So going by the average 10 1/2"  rule stated above, that means that I sit 1/2" lower than the norm.   It works for me!

[AvivS]

This is completely individual, you should sit how you like, simply adjust your chair while you practice, until you are comfortable.  Aside from this, I would suggest you sit a bit on the edge of the chair.