While the analogy to drool sounds funny, it is in fact an accurate description of a piano bench's duties. Just as a voice gets cracked and hoarse without saliva, a pianist will not be able to play the piano if the piano bench does not allow him or her to maintain good posture and properly reach the keys.
So just as it is important for a pianist to learn the notes, the keys and the inner workings of a piano, so too must a pianist learn to differentiate between a piano bench that suits his or her needs, and one that does not.
Position
This is the ultimate purpose of a piano bench: to provide the right position for a pianist to perform properly and with ease in front of a piano.
As playing the piano requires a great deal of coordination from the hands, a pianist must then place his or her hands comfortably over the keyboard. This allows the pianist to place his or her hands over the keyboard and strike the right note at just the right time with just the right force. This makes the way a pianist's hands are positioned over the keyboard essential to his or her performance, and will either make or break song with the piano.
Posture
A pianist spends a lot of time practicing with the piano, especially when there is a major performance coming up. This then makes it necessary for his or her posture to be perfect.
A good posture not only looks good for the crowd, but it also prevents some serious back and hand injuries from occurring in the long run. Carpal tunnel syndrome and arthritis are very real dangers to a pianist's future, and should never be taken lightly. Thus, the height and placement of a piano bench must be taken carefully into consideration in order to correct a pianist's posture as he or she plays the piano over time.
Comfort
While a piano bench may not look like a comfortable seating accessory, it must still offer the pianist a degree of comfort in order to allow him or her to play properly and with ease over time.
But even if the bench needs to be comfortable, that does not mean it has to be filled with layer upon layer of soft fluff in order for it to get the job done. The stiffness of the wood allows for a stable base of support for the pianist, while a little padding would help ease the pain of having to sit on a hard surface for prolonged periods of time.
A piano bench is an often overlooked part of the performance, as the pianist and the piano take center stage most of the time. However, this unobtrusive seating accessory will definitely impact a pianist's performance in ways that only a pianist knows.
