An adjustable piano bench is a seating bench for pianists that can be adjusted in height. Each bench has a different amount of height adjustment. The average height of an adjustable piano bench is 19-23 inches (48.2-58.4cm) off the floor.
The importance of posture when playing the piano cannot be overstated. Many posture issues that students and teachers work to correct can be corrected with an adjustable piano bench. A pianist should sit at the piano and place their hands near the keys as if playing to determine how high or low the bench should be for proper posture. From head to seat, the back should be straight but not rigid. The arm should naturally fall from shoulder to elbow. The forearm should run parallel to the floor when the upper arm falls naturally, without the wrist flexing up or down. The bench should be adjusted up if the wrist is flexed. The bench should be adjusted down if the wrist is flexed down.
These adjustments can be made without using an adjustable piano bench, but they will necessitate the use of unusual materials. It’s not uncommon to see a young player sitting on phone books, carpet remnants, or pillows to compensate for their lack of height. With a traditional piano bench, adjusting down for tall players is nearly impossible without sawing the bench’s legs.
Under the seating is the mechanism that allows the piano bench to adjust. The majority of benches are manual, with a spinning knob used to adjust the height. A pianist sits at the piano and adjusts the knob up or down by turning it forward or backward. There are mechanical alternatives that allow a pianist to make the same adjustment using a switch.
Some seats are made up of a single piece that moves up and down. They can be found as a single seating bench or as a two-player bench. Another type of adjustable piano bench is one that is split into two heights. When playing duets with players of different heights, these double seats are especially useful.
An adjustable piano bench is available in a variety of materials. Leather is a popular choice for the seat because it lasts a long time, but plastic-based alternatives offer a similar look at a lower cost. The most popular choice is wooden legs, which come in a variety of woods to match the piano that the adjustable piano bench will be used with. Finishes such as mahogany, walnut, black, and white are common.