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Module 1 - Piano Basics - Lesson1

This document provides instructions for proper piano playing posture and hand positioning. It recommends sitting up straight with shoulders relaxed and arms bent at 90 degrees. The right foot should be closer to the pedals. Hands should be positioned over the keys with fingers curved as if holding a tennis ball. The thumbs press keys from the side while other fingers press from the tip. Each finger is numbered 1 to 5 for learning fingering techniques. Upcoming lessons will cover music notation.

Uploaded by

João Balouta
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© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
128 views

Module 1 - Piano Basics - Lesson1

This document provides instructions for proper piano playing posture and hand positioning. It recommends sitting up straight with shoulders relaxed and arms bent at 90 degrees. The right foot should be closer to the pedals. Hands should be positioned over the keys with fingers curved as if holding a tennis ball. The thumbs press keys from the side while other fingers press from the tip. Each finger is numbered 1 to 5 for learning fingering techniques. Upcoming lessons will cover music notation.

Uploaded by

João Balouta
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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MODULE 1

PIANO BASICS
workbook 1

ONLINE PIANO
COMPOSITION COURSE
by João Balouta
www.JOAOBALOUTAMUSIC.com
MODULE 1
PIANO BASICS
workbook 1

LESSON #1
POSTURE & HANDS POSITION
A) UPPER BODY POSITION
It is very important to have a good posture when we sit on the piano, because af-
ter some time, our back, arms or hands can start having some pain, or worst, pay
a visit to a doctor with some “tendonitis”. It’s important to relax, but ate same
time, have a straight posture. I use to say to my students, that piano is the most
natural instrument, in terms of body position, after singing (yes (!), our voice is an
instrument :D).

Shoulders must be relaxed as well, and our elbows and arms must be in a com-
fortable distance from our body, and at the same keys height. They should make a
90 degree angle with your upper body.

Our right foot, must be a bit forward, closer to the right pedal (in case you have
one) to be ready to push it when it’s needed.

Body Position Example

ONLINEPIANOCOMPOSITIONCOURSE
www.JOAOBALOUTAMUSIC.com
MODULE 1
PIANO BASICS
workbook 1

B) HANDS POSITION
After our body get a correct posture, we need to think in our hands position. So,
first of all, what we have to do is to put both hands over our knees. Then, the
shape you get from your knees is the correct position to put them over the piano
keys. Or, you can think that you have a Tenis ball inside both hands, but never
think you are holding it, just about the shape you would have. Also, very impor-
tant, is to relax, but always with the right position, because this is the key to start
having a good piano technique.

HAND & Fingers Position Example

C) FINGERS POSITION
As our hands are symmetrical, they will play like if we had a mirror between them.
That’s interesting that we all have 10 fingers in both hands, to play in 88 piano
keys1 (!). Our “thumbs” are the only fingers to click the key using only the side
edge of the thumb, near the tip. The other fingers should push the keys with the
point, between the nail and the fingertip. Be careful with the “pinky” finger to
never let him flat, as it is the weakest finger.

1 standart GRAND piano number of keys

ONLINEPIANOCOMPOSITIONCOURSE
www.JOAOBALOUTAMUSIC.com
MODULE 1
PIANO BASICS
workbook 1

D) FINGERING
So, our 10 fingers will be represented by a number, when we are learning how to
play piano, as the image bellow:

1- THUMBS
2- INDEX FINGERS
3 - MIDDLE FINGERS
4 - RING FINGERS
5 - PINKIES

FINGERing numbers

Now that we know how to use our body correctly (!), let’s learn the
right way to play Piano, introducing music notation, in the next
lesson.

ONLINEPIANOCOMPOSITIONCOURSE
www.JOAOBALOUTAMUSIC.com

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