Sitting Hand Shape

Sitting at the Piano & Hand Shape

Welcome to your very first piano lesson! Before we play a single note, we’re going to learn how to sit at the piano like a real musician. This lesson introduces proper posture, how far to sit from the keyboard, and the two hand shapes that will carry your child through the entire course: the beach ball shape and the bubble fingers technique.

These aren’t boring rules — they’re superpowers. Good hand shape means less fatigue, better control, and a sound that rings instead of thuds. We make it fun with games and imagery your child will remember.

What You’ll Learn

• Bench Position — Sit at the front half of the bench, feet flat (or on a stool), elbows slightly in front of the body
• Beach Ball Hands — Imagine holding a beach ball — that relaxed, rounded shape is your piano hand shape
• Bubble Fingers — Fingertips touch the keys like you’re gently pressing bubbles without popping them
• The Floppy Test — Shake your hands out, let them go floppy, then place them on the keys. That’s the right amount of relaxation

Practice Activity

The Posture Check Game: Sit at the piano together. Call out ‘Beach ball!’ and both make the hand shape. Call out ‘Floppy!’ and shake it all out. Then ‘Bubbles!’ and place fingertips gently on the keys. Repeat five times — it becomes muscle memory fast. End by pressing any keys gently with bubble fingers and listening to the sound.