Many of you will know that I like to differentiate between the three Ps of playing music (on any instrument). But in case you’ve forgotten them (surely not!) here they are:
P is for Practice (= Progress)
P is for Playing (= Pleasure)
P is for Performance (= Plaudits)
Look! Our three Ps just turned into six!
Whenever you sit down at the Piano (or Prepare to Play any instrument, or sing a song), decide which P you are going to do, because you approach each one differently.
Here’s a quick summary:
Practice: when you Practise your instrument, decide on a goal and work hard to achieve it over a set amount of time. If you don’t achieve it in your set amount of time, come back to it next time and go from where you got to last time. Aim to fix problems, make Progress and improve.
Playing: when you Play your instrument, you don’t need to stop to fix mistakes or worry about trying to improve. You are simply playing for your own Pleasure, or perhaps the Pleasure of someone in the room with you. No one needs to be critical, and everyone can simply enjoy the music and you can lose yourself in the relaxation and spiritual uplift that playing music brings to us all.
Performance: when you Perform your instrument, you are putting on a show. You must not stop, no matter what goes wrong, and in fact you must act as if nothing went wrong! Perhaps your Performance will be Perfect, although that’s unlikely. However, so long as you actually Perform, you will receive tumultuous applause and acclamation – known in the trade as Plaudits!
Now, these Ps are, of course, inextricably linked. You can’t Perform unless you Practise first. You gain Pleasure from Performance as well as from Playing. Good quality Practice also gives both Pleasure and Plaudits, as you notice your Progress and feel Proud of what you’ve achieved. (Oops! Did you see how P for Pride crept in there? But you should feel Proud of yourself! You are a musician and that’s a fine thing to be). Anyway, we now seem to have eight Ps. Or is it nine?
But this Humoresque isn’t about any of that! It’s actually about how you should sit at the Piano, and yes, you can put all your other instruments away now and concentrate solely on the Piano.
Here are the three Ps we are going to talk about now:
P is for Posture
P is for Position
P is for Poise
Posture is crucial for your Physique as well as your Playing. Sit correctly at the Piano. Here are some Pointers:
Position refers to the shape your hands make on the keys.
- Keep your fingers curved. Imagine holding a small ball.
- Wrists should be relaxed, and level with your hands to avoid tension.
- Rest your thumb on its side, not the tip.
- Your knuckles, wrist and forearm should all be in a straight line.
Poise is related to both Posture and Position, but it’s an internal concept, not an external one. Poise reflects not just physical balance but also emotional and mental steadiness. It is your composure as you sit ready to play, a register of your self-confidence.
Here’s a summary of the differences between Posture and Poise:
| Aspect | Posture | Poise |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Physical alignment and positioning | Graceful composure and self-assuredness |
| Nature | Static or structural | Dynamic and expressive |
| Components | Spine, shoulders, hips alignment | Confidence, balance, emotional control |
| Impact | Affects physical health and appearance | Influences overall presence and interpersonal interactions |
| Development | Through physical exercises and awareness | Through self-awareness, mindfulness, and confidence-building practices |
As you see, Posture, Position and Poise all contribute to the way you Present yourself at the Piano, and all need to be aligned to get the best out of your instrument and your own musicianship.
Even if you are a complete beginner, these things are important. You may be playing a small keyboard in your bedroom, or a grand piano in a concert hall; it makes no difference in this respect. If you have correct Posture, good hand Position and a feeling of Poise, you will look, feel and play better every time.
Did you keep up? I have to confess, I lost track of all the Ps! If you can let me know how many there are, I’ll be very grateful! But I’m going to throw one last one into the mix, and it’s my favourite!
Whatever you do, and however good (or otherwise!) you are at music, make sure you’re having PHUN!!
