WherZat Music
Playing a musical instrument requires physical effort. The new player will need to develop those muscles particular to their instrument by progressive practice. In the beginning during the suggested 15 to 20 minutes of daily practice the new player will feel their muscles being exercised. In some cases the muscles will feel quite tired but through continued effort they will become stronger.
Everyone is built differently and we all have our particular posture. Your parents, teachers and experts encourage us to have a good posture. This is especially important when we are young for the development of our bodies as we grow.
Correct posture is an important focus when playing an instrument. Whether sitting or standing your approach to the instrument must be natural and relaxed. While instruments are not necessarily ergonomically designed they are made to allow you to get the best out of the instrument. Some instrument have been specially designed for young players like smaller guitars and keyboards, curved head flutes, full harness straps for larger woodwind instruments.
If you are not sure of your good posture when sitting ask your parents. Have them show you how to sit in a way that is comfortable and relaxed but above all you have a good position that supports your upper body. This generally means don't lean on the back of the chair but sit forward. Learn to sit like this as much as possible during the day so it become as natural as breathing. You may think this hard but when we discuss breathing you will understand when we sit forward.
Now that you have a great natural posture, how does that apply to you when playing an instrument? Fiirst and foremost you must remember to:
SIT IN YOUR NATURAL GOOD POSTURE POSITION AND BRING THE INSTRUMENT TO YOU
That means don't alter your natural posture to hold the instrument. Adjust the instrument so it matches and fits to your posture. Of cause you will need to adjust yourself to hold the instrument but the foundational posture remains the same. Look closely at the image below. Notice the musician's posture and the fact that the music stand is set to a height that compliments the sitting position. Think about this when you set up for playing.
Here are some examples of good instrument posture that should be closely followed:
FLUTE
- Posture shows a straight back.
- Feet are flat on the floor.
- Not leaning on the back of the chair.
- Facing straight ahead. Not with the head tilted down or to the side.
- Arms reaching across the forward facing body. Not turning the spine.
- Flute held almost horizontal keeping the head straight.
- Fingers are slightly curved and in the correct position on the keys.
- NB: I would caution about sitting so far forward on a curve end chair seat. Sit back a little so you are in contact with more of the flat portion of the seat.
- Arms reaching across the forward facing body. Not turning the spine.
CLARINET
Posture shows a straight back.
Feet are flat on the floor
Not leaning back on the chair.
Facing straight ahead. Not with the head tilted down.
Arms straight out in front reaching for the clarinet.
Clarinet held away from the body to allow head to stay in correct natural position.
Fingers are slightly curved and in the correct position on the keys.
NB: This is a better sitting position on the chair.
TRUMPET
Posture shows a straight back.
Feet are flat on the floor.
Not leaning back on the chair.
Facing straight ahead. Not with head tilted down.
Arms are held away from the body with a nature approach to the trumpet.
Trumpet is held almost horizontal allowing the head to say in natural position.
Fingers are slightly curved and in correct position on the valves
Little finger of the right hand is resting on the hook.
Left hand holds the trumpet correctly with fingers around the valve casings.
NB: I like this seating position because you can easily relax the back muscles by resting on the back of the chair when not playing.
SAXOPHONE
Posture shows a straight back.
Feet are flat on the floor.
Not leaning back on the chair.
Facing straight ahead. Not with head tilted down because.
The neck strap is adjusted to ensure the support maintains a natural head position.
The Saxophone lays alongside the right leg and next to the seat.
Fingers are slightly curved and in correct position on the keys.
The palms of each hand bridges across the secondary keys without touching them until necessary.
NB: The Saxophone player needs to sit slightly to the right hand side and forward on a chair to allow the instrument to lay alongside the chair.
DRUMS - Snare Drum
Posture shows a straight back.
Feet are flat on the floor.
Percussionist either sit on a stool (no back) or stand.
Facing straight ahead. Not with head tilted down.
Height of drumhead is slightly below elbow height.
Hands hold the sticks in a natural extension of the arms.
The drum is slightly tilted to give better access to drumhead by the stick point.
DRUMS - Kit
Posture shows a straight back.
Feet are positioned on the High Hat and Kick Drum pedals.
Kit drummers sit on a stool (no back).
Facing straight ahead. Not with head tilted down.
Height of drumhead is slightly below elbow height.
Hands hold the sticks in a natural extension of the arms.
The snare drum is slightly tilted to give better access to drumhead by the stick point.
All other drums and cymbals are positioned in relation to the set snare drum and in easy reach.
KEYBOARD/PIANO
Posture shows a straight back.
Piano players generally sit on a piano stool (no back)
Feet are positioned comfortably on the floor. If as the picture shows the instrument is too high place a small stool under the feet to raise them to the right height.
Hands have the fingers curved over the keys.
The seat height should allow the forearm to be almost horizontal and the wrists slightly higher than the keyboard to allow curved fingers and comfortable and natural access to all keys.