Why do you have a back ache when sitting at the piano?

You may be sitting at the piano wrong. 

You may have also experienced it when sitting at a computer. Your shoulders tense up. Your arms tighten. Your hands feel sore. It may even hurt to breathe. 

What’s wrong? 

Part of playing the piano correctly comes from your posture. If your hands can’t move freely across the keys, it impacts the way your body moves. You’ll feel it long after you step away from practice. 

If you’re feeling any back pain after practicing, it’s time to ensure you’re sitting correctly at the piano. 

Start by straightening up. Your parents may have told you as a child to sit up straight, shoulders back, feet on the floor. The same applies to sitting at the piano. This makes you stronger at your core, and instantly gives you more confidence in the way you play. 

Evaluate your bench. Not any old chair will do. If you’re sitting improperly in front of the keyboard, it can lead to aches and pains throughout your body. Your feet should never be dangling. In fact, you should have weight on your feet, with them both solidly on the ground. This allows you to lean in and use your core power as you maneuver through octaves on the keyboard. 

Relax the wrists. But not too much. Think of an invisible bubble underneath, as you move it while you play. If your hands “hang”, you can injure your wrists. They need to stay flexible yet firm, giving you full control over every note you play. 

Pedals. Think of your body creating a base while you play. It moves from solid feet on the floor, up through your legs into your core. It centers on your buttocks on the bench, and back down again. When you move your right foot onto a pedal, it should never take away from the core structure you create to hold you in place. The left foot is on the floor, helping control the weight while you move and play. 

Stretch. Let the music move you while you play. And in between, take a breather and move your arms overhead. Wiggle your fingers. Rotate at the waist. Give yourself permission to relax, from your head to your toes. This makes you aware of where your tension is, and helps you focus on being in a better position when you return to the keyboard. 

Whether you need a new piano bench to ensure better placement, or want a new piano for better playability, we’re here to help you with all of your piano needs.