I tried an office chair because my old piano's bench was too high, or perhaps its keyboard was too low. I figured that I could adjust the height of the bench to suit me longish legs. In the end, as Mark points out, I ended up with sore shoulders and a lower back because the chair kept twisting on me when I was pedalling.

After a search around the house, I ended up using a wooden chair that was the right height, but that had problems too because the seat sunk in and made my arms end up higher then they should be and they started to fatique. I had to sit on the very front edge of the seat, and that made me tense up. It was like sitting on a railing because the edge was thin, and that cut the circulation off my legs and my feet fell asleep.

In the end, I ended up with a small bench from a digital piano that was the right height for the junky upright.

Now I had an adjustable bench for my grand piano, but the darn thing squeaks when I move around. It's also a bit small length wise so the search continues for the ultimate place to put my tuchas when playing my piano.

John

hi,i rent a really small room at a friends apartment,the piano's in my room,i end up sitting on the side of my bed 80% of the time..Now if i sit on the bench i feels very odd,like driving a landrover instead of a mini lol

edit i ment to say i prefer being lower for some reason,i feel more part of the piano,on the bench i feel aloof and lookin down at it..

oh the shameeee

prayerbone - just think of it as your chi: it needs to flow down and out of you into the piano to find the perfect sound. Then, no more shame!

No only am I using an office chair at my P-80, but it has a pillow for extra lower back support and at this time of year, a heating pad.
Mike

lol Cozy...if i ever do a concert ur all invited to my bedroom

Mark, LL's answer (#3 in this thread) was to the point and accurate. Just to elaberate some:

Proper piano playing, like golf, involves addressing the piano properly. I have to teach my students to sit forward on the bench (which is both padded and height adjustable), and to rotate left or right as they move down or up the keyboard. The idea is that their torso is more or less centered where they are playing (on the keyboard). That is, they shift right and lift the left cheek, or vice versa (does this make sense?) so their body is square, not twisted, as they face the piano. In otherwords, one does not "reach" if you don't have to, you move in front of the keys you are playing.

The movement is difficult or impossible if you're sitting back on a bench or chair.

The major problem I have with young students is that their back muscles are very, very weak from too much sitting and not enough standing, running, etc. They cannot, for the most part, sit erect through a lesson.

Very interesting, John. Thank you for that explanation. That and the post you refer to have been most informative.

I am thinking of getting a different chair -- one like some of those pictured in signa's post. The idea being, a nice comfortable place for my poor ole butt, a back so I can at least lean back and rest now and then, no arms to get in the way, no casters so it won't roll around or get out of square, and perhaps an ability to turn off (lock) the swivel mechanism on the seat itself. If this doesn't exist, someone should invent one (and I actually know a guy who might do it).

Thanks!

Mark

I just returned from Walmart (I should get a back room in the place and put a cot in there...to say me the trouble of going there almost everyday).

Anyhow, my back has been protesting (very loudly) lately in response to the hours I spend on that piano bench.

I wanted a chair whose height and back rest could be adjusted, no arms, able to swivel and be on rollers.

Well, I found it...at Walmart. Just for $17.20

Can't wait til my husband gets home to have him put in together for me.

I'll let you know how it works out. I do believe it will work much better if I get one of those plastic office mats (my piano is in the living room on a rather thick carpet). That way I roll from one end of the piano to the other.

I've seen those beautiful chairs posted on the forum, but somehow just can't see spending almost a thousand dollars on a chair. If I were a concert pianist...of course. But for an amateur like me, $17.20 is enough. It might fall apart within a year, but I just buy at new one if that happens.

Kathleen

Uh, oh. Does this mean...you will be able to sit at the piano more minutes each day?



Dudes, this is a problem.

Serious chicks. Serious chairs. Serious time.

Sorry Mark...yes Frycek is correct.

I am now entertaining the thought of learning Chopin's 3rd ballade....and hope to have it completed by Chopin's birthday. That means that I'll be putting in around 5+ hours a day.

Also need to mention the 48.1 nocturne I've just started. That will add another 3-4 hours to my day.

Dudes are history!!