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I watched a Duke Ellington film this week and realised how much the elbows need to move around to help the hand positions. Is there a method for that or is it just random?

Look at Tobias Matthay books. He sets a lot of store by arm weight.

Moving the elbows...?

I never thought to do on my own.

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I don`t think my question got it`s target first time. The Ellington clip showed him swing his right elbow sideways to the right for a fast run down the keys. But here`s another elbow question for you. In a basic learner situation the first Bach prelude of the 48 makes me play treble clef notes low enough for my elbow to need more room, going left. I had a thought that when Bach wrote that he was used to sliding sideways on his organ bench to reach the footpedals. You rarely see hard wood seats for pianos these days. They are all padded. Do you slide or stay in one place?

Stay in one place. It's mostly americans who use piano benches rather than piano stools.

It reminds me of the day my workmate gave me a lift in his Austin Maxi car with it`s leather seats. He liked to drive round corners so you slid sideways along the seat .That made him smile. A Maxi was described as a Shed on Wheels.