Whether you're a beginner, a professional or somewhere in between, it's important to have the right bench for both you and your piano. It makes an enormous difference to your playing, and good posture and positioning are subjects I cover in my very first lessons with beginners. Manufacturers have made many innovations to style and design since Cristofori's time, slowly transforming the piano into the majestic instrument we know and love today. But the humble bench has remained virtually unchanged, which is strange when you consider how essential it has always been to pianists.
Today, benches come in two basic types: upholstered and height-adjustable, or rectangular wooden benches that cannot be adjusted for height. (Piano chairs, wooden chairs with solid backs, are uncomfortable and rarely seen now.) The earliest seating was the three-legged stool that you see in old western films. Prior to the early 1840s they tended to be plain in style, but the following decade saw the introduction of serpentine-shaped seats, delicate floral motifs and beautifully carved cabriole legs. Victorian piano stools would often have padded fabric seats and elaborate woodwork.
Piano chairs first began to appear in the 1860s. Like piano stools, they had backs and three legs. It was only in the 1870s that the piano benches many of us are familiar with today were first introduced, often with a useful storage compartment under the seat for music (and pencils, in my case!). Seat cushions boasted delicate embroidery or needlepoint work, and benches were influenced by Victorian style until at least the 1920s. They would often have delicate turned legs and claw feet, and be made by a company other than the piano manufacturer (though to the manufacturer's specification).
Choosing a Bench
Piano stools are unstable and make good posture difficult so, like piano chairs, they are rarely seen today. A well-made bench, on the other hand, will last for many years if properly looked after and I've known some that are family heirlooms. However, not all benches are created equal and the best are well-padded and height-adjustable. Choosing the right bench is going to depend on style, colour, quality, and price. It's not a decision that should be rushed, and I recommend you take your time when considering the possibilities. Get it right, and you will enjoy your choice for many years to come.
One of the first factors to consider is the type of piano you have as, depending on your instrument, the appropriate bench may be wider, longer or taller. A wooden seat (such as the one above) might be easy to maintain and work well if you only play occasionally, but it will be uncomfortable if you play often or for long periods. A padded seat, with good-quality leather, is still relatively easy to maintain and will be appreciated by anyone who sits on it. You should also make sure your piano and bench match, so the general design of the bench is in harmony with the contours of the piano.
Poor seating is the cause of many technical problems. The ability to raise or lower your bench is important, as not everyone is the same height. An adjustable bench is a great asset for any pianist, but it's especially helpful for children as they have a habit of growing up quickly! Cost is likely to be a factor too for most people, and while it's perfectly possible to purchase an inexpensive bench the materials will not be of the quality you might hope for. If it's used often you'll find yourself replacing it every couple of years, so a better quality bench is likely to be the best long-term investment.
Where to Sit
Your spine should be in the shape of an 'S' rather than a 'C' when you play, to reduce the risk of backache and neck pains (particularly if you practice for long periods). Sitting at the piano is not like sitting on a chair at home. How we sit affects so much else, such as whether we can breathe with ease, whether we are relaxed and whether our feet give the necessary support. Your lower elbow should be about a centimetre above the keys when you play. Try to ensure your shoulders are relaxed, and don't play standing up. Lots of people do, but it makes good posture almost impossible.
Your upper arm should not be raised or reaching forward, and your forearm and hand need to be relaxed (but not so relaxed they are heavy). Your wrist should be at one with your hand, not held up or falling down, and you need to be able to move from the hip joint. The freedom of the hip joint will show you whether you're sitting correctly: sit far enough back that you don't need to hold yourself in place, but forward enough that the hip joint can move freely. If too much of your thighs are on the bench your torso will be forced back, making it difficult to move forward from the hip joint.
The best height at which to sit is one that allows your elbow and upper arm to fall freely from your shoulder, and your forearm to be parallel to the floor when your hand is in its natural playing position. The best distance is one that allows your elbow to rest slightly in front of your centre line when your hand is in front of your elbow in a neutral position on the keyboard (i.e. not in front of your body, or at the extremes of the keyboard). However, you should never be rigid when you play: what I'm describing is a starting point for easy movement, rather than a set position that never changes.
