The keyboard is propped at an angle, using a wooden prop with a notch in it, about 35" long. It allows one to sit on a chair or piano bench and see the under sides of the keys conveniently. The keys are held up using a metal fixture made of a rod bent at each end, The rod is maybe 12 - 14" with two feet made by the bends, each about 1 1/2". With the keys held up, the felt punching can be lifted and a split punching inserted using tweezers or an alligator forceps.