To sit or to stand?

[emartin149]

Great answers all!

I'm a little torn by it. Like others, I find my piano playing to be better when I'm sitting, especially two-handed acoustic piano (i.e. Don't Stop Me Now). Standing is ok for stuff where you are just playing one-hand motifs, like in 80s pop tunes (Take on Me, Just What I Needed).

However, vocals are almost always easier when standing. It's easier to get to the mike (always a chore for the keyboardist), and you project better since your lungs and diaphragm aren't compressed.

The nature of keyboards and their stands is once you commit, there's no changing it during the performance. It's basically impossible to adjust a keyboard stand with a Nord parked on it up to a standing position, unless you have help, and then it's a big distraction for everyone. Maybe someday they'll invent one that can be hand-cranked up!

[jazzystu]

Sit.

[sus_4]

Agreed. I found myself making mental playing mistakes while standing, especially on 2-handed piano pieces. I attribute this to spending ALL my practice/rehearsal time sitting on a bench. Since gigging-while-sitting, I'm a better player. (Unless I have a Keytar gig... No way in hell I'm sitting down with the wireless, Chick-stick strapped on!)

[JustPianoGuy]

For jazz/acoustic playing I always sit. In rock band situation sometimes I stand up because I'm mostly playing organ or synths. It's a mixed situation.

[theGman]

I play my 2 keys standing; I think sitting looks really dorky. I also sing better standing, and with my Spider Pro board, with the top board at an angle, it is very comfortable to play both boards while standing. I like to interact with the dancers(flirt with the girls) a little too, which makes standing the natural choice.

I don't use many pedals...just 2. I used to have one for the leslie speed on my E3, but removed it since I realized that using a finger to change speeds much less akward. I can understand how those with many pedals might need to be sitting.

Since we play classic rock, standing seems the way to go. I do also understand how, playing in a jazz or other background music genre, non-dancing passive environment, sitting would be acceptable.

I bought a light weight folding barstool of the taller (29") size and often set it up just incase I get tired. Since it's almost equal to my standing height, I too (as mentioned above) can sit on it if necessary.