Date:         Wed, 29 Mar 1995 13:15:08 +0300
From:         Michael Krugman <myriad@PANIX.COM>
Subject:      posture


This year I had a subscription to a series of piano concerts at Carnegie
Hall (NYC). I heard Yevgeny Kissin, Andras Schiff, Alicia Dellarocha, and
several other top-notch pianists. I also observed their posture as they
played. I made the following observations, which are perhaps relevant to
our dialogue about posture:

All the pianists sat upright but apparently relaxed, without back support,
on a flat or slightly forward-tilted bench. There was a different type of
bench for each performer, suggesting that they had each brought or
specified their own preferred bench.

Each of the pianists had a distinctive postural "signature", a distinctive
manner of coordinating their body in order to play the instrument. There
was a considerable degree of postural variation among the different
performers.

Each of the pianists took a few moments before playing, and between
movements or selections, to adjust their sitting position and get
comfortable at the keyboard.

"Posture" for these performers is not a fixed position, but a dynamic
configuration that changes from moment to moment according to the music
and their own senses.

Pianists whose trunk, head, and hips are relatively less mobile as they
play seem to produce unecessary effort in their hands, wrists, and arms,
especially when reaching for very high or very low notes or in passages
that require crossing of the arms.

Pianists whose trunk, head, and hips are freely mobile as they play seem to
move her hands, wrists, and arms with greater ease and economy of motion,
and less effort.

The pianists who seem the most at ease at the piano are those who
coordinate the movements of the trunk, head, hips, and limbs in a
harmonious manner. Easy, well-coordinated movement like this is enjoyable
to watch.

Pianists take short breaks between movements or between selections, during
which they assume a posture of repose.

Every performance has an intermission (15-30 min) during which the
performer stands up and walks backstage. The performer reseats himself
carefully when he returns after intermission.

Performers stand up and walk backstage after each encore, and walk back to
the piano and reseat themselves for the next encore.

In summary:

1) These performers are able to sit upright during periods of intensive
activity.

2) To varying degrees, their hips, head, and trunk are dynamically mobile
as they play, allowing free movement of their hands, wrists, and arms.

3) They are particular about furniture, sitting position, and posture.

4) They take frequent breaks.

5) They take frequent walks.

I find that I am learning a lot about typing posture by watching these
highly accomplished performers.

Michael Krugman
myriad@panix.com