Hello,
Out of interest, does standing or sitting get the best results playing your instrument(s)?
Thanks

Bassoon - Sit
Piano - Sit

Generally better standing to sing.

Standing ideally to play flute (IMO anyway...)

Piano - sit
Bass Clarinet - either, but better to sit

Piano - sit



A couple of years ago, went back to China for a month in the summer and missed my piano so much that my auntie took me to her school (it was the holidays...) and I got to try out this lovely white baby grand

Only problem was that there was no chair/stool/bench/ anything to sit on. I played for about 10 minutes, half crouched...hurt like #### the next day

I play the flute! (As you probably guessed from my name!!!) I find that I produce a better sound standing up and it also helps with breathing! We sit down for orchestra and wind band at school though!!

Clarinet - I practice standing up, but teach sitting down! Plus play in groups/orchestra etc sitting down
Saxophone - Practice standing up, unless playing in my quartet
Violin - Practice standing up - can't bear playing sitting down!

Violin - Practice/perform standing, play in ensembles sitting
Piano - Sit
Harp - Sit
Recorder - Usually stand but sometimes sit

cello - sit
viola - stand
trombone - stand
guitar - sit
singing - stand

I don't understand how woodwind players can sit down and practice (other than ensembles obviously). I really don't see how they can possibly achive a good tone whilst doing this, especially if they sit incorrectly. It annoys me when I see teachers teaching pupils to play sitting down but not with the correct posture...I once knew a flute teacher who taught his pupils to play whilst leaning on a chair!!!

I am of course talking mainly about upper woodwind (as I don't have a clue about lower!) but would assume the principals would be pretty much the same, although maybe more difficult seeing as the instrument would be considerably larger and therefore heavier?

hmmmm

Alex xx

I stand when practising but am usually required to sit down in orchestra. Not been a concerto soloist yet...!

Piano - sit (standing could be quite interesting although my teacher is a bit wild and tends to do this quite often lol)

Flute - stand - easier to breath

Singing - definately stand, easier to draw air into diaphragm

Annetta xx

I don't play except piano , so I always sit , except when he chair is broken!

Piano - it would be pretty hard for me to practice for about an hour while standing/half crouching. I'd probably get cramp.

I abide by the Menuhin school of thought as regards violin - practice should be done standing, sitting and squatting (can't do that any more due to a severe lack of cartilige in my knees). What's the point of practicing ensemble stuff standing, because it sounds better, and then getting into your ensemble rehearsal and realising that it's not going as well as you thought. After both my knee ops, I played sitting for at least 4 months and I really enjoy it

Recorder - standing, always. My pupil was a bit taken aback when I assumed she would stand in a lesson, but has got used to it. On the other hand, I've found it weird playing in a baroque ensemble to have to sit down...
Visitors to the woodwind forum may have noticed that I am currently playing standing stork-style, on one leg, for some of the time, with my raised knee stopping the bell of my recorder...

Standing. First time I met my pupil she sat and played, but I persuaded her without too much difficulty it is best to stand, especially as breathing was something that needed serious work. I fully agree with practising sitting as well though. In band or orchestra you usually do, and it does effect the way you play.

I can't vote!



Piano - Sit

Violin - Stand (orchestral practice is sitting)

Flute - Stand

Violin-stand(exept for school orchestra)
piano-sit

When I was at primary schol, my music teacher made us 100% stand when singing, and mixed with recorder.

Flute - sit - I agree it's better for breathing to stand, but with my hip problem that just isn't possible. sorry.

Clarinet - Stand (apart from rehearsals)
Sax - I find it almost impossible to play while sitting!

I play the piano and obviously you sit down for that!
I sit down at band to play my tenor sax and alto but when i'm at home i stand
Flute..well i stand up for that...can't play it sat down atall!!

Piano - sitting
Violin- standing (with the exception of orchestra practice and performing)
Guitar - sit (I could never learn how to play while standing even with the strap )

piano - sit ( am hopeless standing)
flute - stand (except when in band)

Flute and recorder mostly standing. Flute sitting when at orchestra and band, recorder sitting when tired!

Piano - Sit
Violin - Stand
Guitar - Sit

I always stand to play flute (well apart from in bands and orchestras) - I find it's much harder to get breathing right whileplaying sitting down.

In ensemble, I'll usually play sitting down, but I tend to practice woodwind standing up, and anything solo wise I'll also usually stand.

Always stand.

I find it much easier to stand when playing trumpet, it makes breathing easier.

I always sit when I'm playing clarinet but stand for the flute. Strange!

No 'both' option...?

Piano - Sit
Guitar - Sit

Car Expert

I've noticed that most pianists put "sit." Obviously i sit down... but my teacher sometimes tells me to play standing up when practising pieces for concerts exams etc.... as this encourages using arm-weight rather than hitting the keys....
So i would've chose both if there was an option for it...

How come you can't tick 2 instruments?!
I sit for piano, sit for guitar, sit for harp, oh but I stand to sing

Depends how lazy I'm feeling! But I would say that 95% of the time I stand.

When I play bassoon I sit (Far too heavy to do anything else)

But when I play clarinet in lessons profer standing as it sounds better, but at home I am too lazy so just stand

Ellie

I sit for both cello and piano. On a residential course I go on, everyone playing violin and viola (it was a strings only course) was told to practice sitting occaisionally, so that when they sat for ensembles etc it didn't feel too weird.

I stand to sing (if I practice... )

I play the violin:
When I practise I sit
In lessons and during performances I stand
But I voted for "sit" because practising takes a little bit more time than the other activities

Hi,

i play the cello and theres no other way but to sit (unless u hav a wierd baby carrier thing that look stupid)

but when playing the violin i find it easier to play while standing, i like to shift my weight from foot to foot,
it kinda helps me express the music easier (dont get me to explain its just like that!)...

...i think that any intrument that requires the arms to be at shoulder level and spread apart (e.g. flute, violin) are easier to play when standing, however only really when playing solo (once again i cant explain it, it is my brain im afraid, its too wacky to understand )

well there u go!

The only bad thing about standing whilr playing piano is that it gradually breaks your back...

Flute - morning standing
- evening sitting at the piano (tired)

Piano - morning standing (when I'm supposed to playing the flute)
- generally sitting
- very late lolling (slightly drunk).

Didn't vote because I have multiple and/or split preferences

Horn: Standing or sitting. It can sound really good standing, but I can't put the Horn on my knee for a minute to do something (like shoving in a mute, quick adjustments or just a rest after holding it up for ages!). And when I'm nervous, I get very sweaty hands (nothing else, just hands for some reason) and so my fingers can slide on the valves a little and I can be fighting to hold it up as well, so it's more risky. I'm happier sitting - sound is usually as good or nearly as good and it's less risky when it comes to nerves! I'd happily stand if I had to, though - I love standing to jazz solo for some reason.

Bass Steel Pans: I challenge you to play the bass steel pans sitting down. Or standing still. You gotta MOVE, man!

Ahem.

Piano: Sitting.

Voice: Standing, as long as I won't be doing it for hours on end! Have been standing in all singing lessons but hate standing in choir because there'll probably be some problem with the altos (our altos are...interesting) and she'll correct them while we're standing up so we'll be there for hours.

Guitar - Sit
Voice - Stand
Piano - Sit
Violin/Viola - Usually I stand but if I get tired or if I'm working hard on something then I'll sit.

For viola, I normally stan for the first five minutes and then I get tired so I spend the rest of the time sitting down.

violin - either
piano - sit
oboe - sit