Begin with the sitting position by watching video sitting stability. Try to sit with good balance on both ischia (the curved bones at the base of the pelvis), good contact with your feet on the floor, and relaxed shoulders, feeling them resting easily. Slip the shoulder straps over your shoulders so that the instrument comes in close contact with your body. Let the shoulders continue to rest easily and let the forearms relax, so that the elbows also have a feeling of hanging freely. Place the instrument so that its centre of mass is in harmony with the body’s centre of mass, as the whole instrument will rest slightly more on the left side of the body. The right wrist will tend to bend inwards, in order to easily move the hand over the keys.
Illustration 3.15.1. All knuckles are visible and the wrist has a tendency to bend inwards.
Try to lay the hands over something round like your knees in order to achieve a good grip with the hands as a starting point for playing. The wrist itself leads the impulse.
The base joint of the thumb of the left hand will come in contact with the edge of the instrument for stability when playing the buttons.
Illustration 3.15.2. It is very important for the left hand that the thumb is supported while playing.
The bellows are pulled out with the left wrist against the bass strap. When performing a bellow shake, the impulse comes from the upper arm.
Illustration 3.15.3. The pressure lies between the straps and the wrists when the bellows are drawn out.
To stand and play is more of a strain for the shoulders and back, but otherwise the same as above. For a stable standing position, see video standing stability
