How to play notes
Lesson time: (2min 16sec)
Understand correct posture, hand positioning, and finger placement to start playing comfortably and effectively.
Course preview
This lesson is part of the course Piano Method: First Steps
Watch a preview of the full course below.
Lesson transcript:
In this lesson, we’ll cover proper seating and finger placement at the piano. Start by sitting so your knees are at a 90-degree angle, with your feet flat on the floor. Keep your shoulders relaxed and your spine tall. Each finger has a number—thumb is 1, index is 2, middle is 3, ring is 4, and pinky is 5. Practice landing each finger on individual keys, creating a ‘bridge’ shape with your hand. Try imagining that balloons are lifting your wrists to find a relaxed, natural hand position. Let’s start playing with these tips in mind!
About the instructor
Talia Girton is a musician and HCPC-registered music therapist, and the founder of The Cycling Music Teachers. Her work brings together music therapy, counselling and education, and she tutors internationally on the music therapy training course at UDELAS in Panama as well as contributing to professional development with the European Piano Teachers Association (EPTA). On MusicGurus she teaches the Piano Method and Piano Foundations courses, guiding complete beginners from first steps through rhythm, both hands, theory and performance. read more