Balance, Posture, and Relaxation
To achieve good posture at the organ, imagine that two strings are attached to your crown and chest that pull gently upward. This brings the back of the head, neck, and the spine into natural alignment. At the same time, allow a forward curvature of the lower back--the lumbar curve. Sit as though you were standing.
In addition, you should feel a relaxation of the shoulders, a lightness of the arms, and the elbows should rest comfortably and flexibly close to the body.
Relaxing the upper body as described above does not mean to hold an unnatural, soldier-like stiffness. Certain situations will call for exceptions to the above. Freedom of movement in the upper body or elbows, for example, is sometimes useful. However, avoid a regular rhythmical “ticking” of any part of the body or “pumping” of the elbows. These not only waste motion, but are distracting to the listener.
