Torso Alignment

Role of the Torso

Your torso helps you stay balanced and move smoothly across the piano. When it’s aligned correctly, your upper body rests comfortably on your sit bones, making it easy to shift left, right, forward, or backward. Your legs also help with this movement—when you need to move right, your left leg helps guide your body, and the same goes for moving left. This makes playing feel more stable and comfortable.

Importance of Subtle Adjustments

Playing the piano well means making small, controlled movements with your torso, rather than big ones. These little shifts help you stay balanced and comfortable, especially when you’re moving across the keys. If your torso stays too still, it can create tension and limit your movement.

Ideally, your torso should lean slightly toward the piano, with your weight distributed toward the balls of your feet. There’s only one exception: when playing notes directly in front of your body, your elbow can get stuck if you don’t lean back slightly with the torso. Overall, it’s important to let your torso move freely along with your hands and arms.

Demonstrating how my torso leaning forward creates an elbow roadblock.

Choreographed Movement

This concept usually matters more for advanced players, but it’s great to understand early on. As you play, your torso should move with your hands. For example, when you’re playing a scale that goes up, your torso should tilt forward and to the right to follow along. When playing directly in front of you, lean back a little, and for reaching outward, your torso should lean forward to stay comfortable.

Practicing Torso Movements

You can start practicing these movements now, just like in the video. Sit down and, as Fred Hersch likes to say, adjust your bench and posture the way you would adjust your seat and mirrors in a car. Once you’re seated comfortably with your feet in place, rest your hands on the white keys. Start sliding your hands up and down, and notice how your torso moves, how your wrists are positioned, and how your weight shifts on your sit bones and legs.

Common Beginner Mistakes

Many beginners tend to jump to the edge of the bench when playing higher notes and then shift to the left when playing lower ones. This throws off your balance and control. There’s no need to jump or slide. It’s better to stay centered on the bench and use small torso movements to reach different parts of the keyboard.

Remember, staying balanced is key. Keep your torso steady and avoid leaning too much to one side. You want to feel stable and in control while playing.