It's much more than about playing 10th. I can only play an octave on the edge of white keys with my hands fully stretched. The strains small handed pianists (actually average size female pianists) experience playing the conventional keyboard is enormous. That tremendously increases the chance of injury. Being able to play a 10th is just the tip of an iceberg. Chord voicing, tonal control, agility, etc...all of those essential skills are significantly impacted when small handed pianists play the conventional keyboard, because it's just not an ergonomic size for the majority of the population. It's not about practice more or do more technical exercises.
Interesting that he is experiencing some of the ease which large-handed pianists take for granted and adapts easily in the space of minutes to the keyboard.
That’s very interesting. Steinway crafted a grand piano for Josef Hofmann with narrow keys and raised pedals. He was a child prodigy in the late 1800s when he came to America for a concert tour. He made the first sound recording of a piano ever made for Edison. Thanks!
Thank you - now I only have the lack of time and the lack of money as excuses to not learn piano :) Seriously though, I do enjoy your videos, I learn stuff, and I get to hear an accomplished pianist flex their fingers!
Yes - the Steinbuhler business is now a non-profit foundation (dsstandarfoundation.org) and has an arrangement with Hailun to make DS5.5 and DS6.0 keyboards for this Hailun upright.
I played on David Steinbuhler's Steinway in his home; a wonderful experience, but couldn't afford all the costs involved with retrofitting my Yamaha grand, etc. What was the price tag on this piano that you were playing? Thank you.
I suspect that if Thelonious Monk had started on smaller keys, we wouldn't have ever had "Well you needn't"... but Monk might've teamed up with Don Ellis (and his quarter step trumpet) and would've co-wrote something like "Well you need... an Indian Lady"...
When I played at keyboards in the Navy, in the early to mid-1960s, some small, 66 key pianos; these keyboards were usually for cocktain piano or in dance bands, I seem to recall, well for some, vaguely for others, had narrower keyboards. The portable reed of electronic organs for chaplains' use that I played on also had accordion-like spacing of keys, which took a lot of getting accustoed to.
Very interesting thanks. I have fairly small hands. I can span an octave just fine, a ninth is about as much as I can reach without straining - also as I play a lot of baroque but have never had the pleasure of playing one, I'd wonder how these keys compare to a harpsichord. I've heard many harpsichords have slightly narrower keys. If so then this sort of instrument would really interest me. All I'd need then is the money and the space...
Very interesting and yeah, I wonder if it would be easy to adjust from this piano size keys to standard. One thing I'd like to see is, a piano with repeating different coloured keys. Have you ever come across one?
Maybe this? time.com/collection/best-inventions-2019/5733073/roli-lumi/?fbclid=IwAR27zAx3ZBFz9Eg67hkD2QGDieRJo-wytaAIlx3_wKkyfc1gBcVrH2Yig34 . While not a 'serious' keyboard, it has a 5.5 inch octave and is aimed at beginners.
I could probably play chopins etude op 10 no 1 really easily on that piano, I can't on a regular piano because i have very small hands and some of the stretches required in that etude are completely impossible for me unless I slow down the passages hugely. But if someone spends a lot of time practicing on a piano like this how will they be able to adapt having to play on another piano for a gig or whatever.. Muscle memory can really be a tricky thing.
I didn’t know there were pianos out there like this one. But yes, I don’t think that it is a option to learn playing on this one, like you mentioned. The learning curve, I think, must be enormous if you come from this size and then have to learn playing a normal size piano. But the other way round it’s possible. Or would someone become lazy? Don’t know. Although there people with really small hands... anyway the sound is nice and for who needs it. It exist. Thank you for sharing.
I would be curious to know if the key size is closer to the Erards and others of the early 1800's. If yes, this would be an ideal option for pianists who make a career of playing on historic instruments. It would be a great option for at-home practice. Is the "touch" and "key travel" the same as on present-day or antique instruments????
Yes touch etc would be much the same. It's basically the same piano and soundboard, so no difference in sound. Pianos prior to the 1880s mostly had keys narrower than today's conventional 6.5 inch octave. Their octave size generally ranged between 6.0 and 6.5 inches, with many around 6.2/6.3. See: smallpianokeyboards.org/keyboard-history/
I first played my 5 5 inch octave keyboard after 50 years of playing the conventional keyboard. No wrong notes after about an hour than easy to swap back and forth.....see: dsstandardfoundation.org/its-easy-to-adapt/
I have small hands and really struggled to play some pieces. it's funny because Mozart was super short and his piano, or clavichord, was small. this is just reverting to the original size of pianos.
It's much more than about playing 10th. I can only play an octave on the edge of white keys with my hands fully stretched. The strains small handed pianists (actually average size female pianists) experience playing the conventional keyboard is enormous. That tremendously increases the chance of injury. Being able to play a 10th is just the tip of an iceberg. Chord voicing, tonal control, agility, etc...all of those essential skills are significantly impacted when small handed pianists play the conventional keyboard, because it's just not an ergonomic size for the majority of the population. It's not about practice more or do more technical exercises.
i have been waiting for this my entire life, still waiting for it to become available in my country India
I believe Hailun will become more popular in the coming years.
Interesting that he is experiencing some of the ease which large-handed pianists take for granted and adapts easily in the space of minutes to the keyboard.
That’s very interesting. Steinway crafted a grand piano for Josef Hofmann with narrow keys and raised pedals. He was a child prodigy in the late 1800s when he came to America for a concert tour. He made the first sound recording of a piano ever made for Edison. Thanks!
Thank you, James. I didn't know that such a thing was available. Makes a lot of sense.
Thank you - now I only have the lack of time and the lack of money as excuses to not learn piano :)
Seriously though, I do enjoy your videos, I learn stuff, and I get to hear an accomplished pianist flex their fingers!
There is an American company that makes a 7/8 size Keyboard. Stienbuhler & Company located in Titusville PA.
Yes - the Steinbuhler business is now a non-profit foundation (dsstandarfoundation.org) and has an arrangement with Hailun to make DS5.5 and DS6.0 keyboards for this Hailun upright.
I played on David Steinbuhler's Steinway in his home; a wonderful experience, but couldn't afford all the costs involved with retrofitting my Yamaha grand, etc. What was the price tag on this piano that you were playing? Thank you.
I suspect that if Thelonious Monk had started on smaller keys, we wouldn't have ever had "Well you needn't"... but Monk might've teamed up with Don Ellis (and his quarter step trumpet) and would've co-wrote something like "Well you need... an Indian Lady"...
When I played at keyboards in the Navy, in the early to mid-1960s, some small, 66 key pianos; these keyboards were usually for cocktain piano or in dance bands, I seem to recall, well for some, vaguely for others, had narrower keyboards. The portable reed of electronic organs for chaplains' use that I played on also had accordion-like spacing of keys, which took a lot of getting accustoed to.
i will be able to reach a ninght on. this piano the way you are reaching 11th. on a conventional i can barely reach an octave
Very interesting thanks. I have fairly small hands. I can span an octave just fine, a ninth is about as much as I can reach without straining - also as I play a lot of baroque but have never had the pleasure of playing one, I'd wonder how these keys compare to a harpsichord. I've heard many harpsichords have slightly narrower keys. If so then this sort of instrument would really interest me. All I'd need then is the money and the space...
Steinbuhler invented several size keyboards for popular grands and uprights....great quality...dont know if went very far with it.
These were built by Steinbuhler
DS Standard Foundation
I wonder what it would feel like to play something in the key of F#/Gb?
i need this! thanks for letting us know!
Very interesting and yeah, I wonder if it would be easy to adjust from this piano size keys to standard.
One thing I'd like to see is, a piano with repeating different coloured keys. Have you ever come across one?
Maybe this? time.com/collection/best-inventions-2019/5733073/roli-lumi/?fbclid=IwAR27zAx3ZBFz9Eg67hkD2QGDieRJo-wytaAIlx3_wKkyfc1gBcVrH2Yig34 . While not a 'serious' keyboard, it has a 5.5 inch octave and is aimed at beginners.
I could probably play chopins etude op 10 no 1 really easily on that piano, I can't on a regular piano because i have very small hands and some of the stretches required in that etude are completely impossible for me unless I slow down the passages hugely. But if someone spends a lot of time practicing on a piano like this how will they be able to adapt having to play on another piano for a gig or whatever.. Muscle memory can really be a tricky thing.
I didn’t know there were pianos out there like this one. But yes, I don’t think that it is a option to learn playing on this one, like you mentioned. The learning curve, I think, must be enormous if you come from this size and then have to learn playing a normal size piano. But the other way round it’s possible. Or would someone become lazy? Don’t know. Although there people with really small hands... anyway the sound is nice and for who needs it. It exist. Thank you for sharing.
I finally am able to subscribe to your awesome channel!
Thank you! :D
I would be curious to know if the key size is closer to the Erards and others of the early 1800's. If yes, this would be an ideal option for pianists who make a career of playing on historic instruments. It would be a great option for at-home practice.
Is the "touch" and "key travel" the same as on present-day or antique instruments????
Yes touch etc would be much the same. It's basically the same piano and soundboard, so no difference in sound. Pianos prior to the 1880s mostly had keys narrower than today's conventional 6.5 inch octave. Their octave size generally ranged between 6.0 and 6.5 inches, with many around 6.2/6.3. See: smallpianokeyboards.org/keyboard-history/
After 50 years with a standard keyboard, I'd be hitting lots and lots of wrong notes. It would be great though for a child to start lessons with.
I first played my 5 5 inch octave keyboard after 50 years of playing the conventional keyboard. No wrong notes after about an hour than easy to swap back and forth.....see: dsstandardfoundation.org/its-easy-to-adapt/
I have small hands and really struggled to play some pieces. it's funny because Mozart was super short and his piano, or clavichord, was small. this is just reverting to the original size of pianos.
pretty awesome
Pretty cool not gonna lie
Wouldn't work for me since I have short, but fat fingers