feeling the sound

These days, I have been practicing in earnest on a Steinbuhler DS5.5TM keyboard insert (sometimes referred to as a “7/8” size keyboard) made specifically for my Steinway B piano, in preparation for a concert in February. For those of you less familiar with the smaller-sized keyboard insert, here’s a link with tons of information: (http://www.steinbuhler.com/). Once you check out the link, everything I mention below will make more sense to you!

As a small-handed pianist (barely able to reach an octave in my LH), I have spent my entire professional career seeking creative strategies for performing on standard-size keyboards. I have become a guru of innovative fingerings and have learned how to employ ergonomic movements and compensatory gestures in order to perform technically challenging repertoire on the conventional piano. Since the life-changing moment I started practicing on a ergonomically scaled piano keyboard (ESPK), I have experienced a whole new level of artistic and technical freedom. Research related to the use of ESPK suggests similar benefits for small-handed pianists, including less pain and injury, greater technical facility and accuracy, and ease of learning (Donison, 2000; Deahl and Wristen, 2003; Leone, 2003; Wristen and Hallbeck, 2006; Yoshimura and Chesky, 2009; Boyle, 2012). (Don’t fret: list of resources below!) Carol Leone (http://www.carolleone.com/) has been a longtime advocate for Steinbuhler and alternative-size keyboards. Rhonda Boyle, founder of Pianists For Alternatively Sized Keyboards (http://www.paskpiano.org/) and http://www.smallpianokeyboards.org/, has put together these wonderful web resources that she lovingly updates.

While I shall certainly blog about specific insights at a later date, I wanted to share a few eureka moments that stand out. If you have small hands, then you owe it to yourself to try one of these DS5.5TM (“7/8”) or DS6.0TM (“15/16″) keyboards manufactured by Steinbuhler. After learning a new work not previously in my repertoire, as well as revisiting an old musical friend, I have noticed several things:

•I am a better pianist that I thought (those of you who know me will realize the gravitas of that statement). Many of my previous struggles were related to playing the wrong-sized keyboard. How ecstatic I am that I can play four-voiced chords at any range of the piano without performing gymnastic feats to align my torso, elbow et al at a precise angle in a millionth of a second (and this is just for Schubert, people!). Now I can simply focus on how I want it to sound (Cue chorus of angels).

•My teaching often betrays my small-handed bias. After all, I’ve spent literally thousands of hours practicing with small hands. This is what I know. So, my suggestions for my students reflect that. Being able to hop from keyboard to keyboard in my office has allowed me to experience passages that shed light on the impact of hand size on musical choices, body alignment, technical solutions, etc. Every single teacher with whom I have worked had large hands (able to play a 9th or more; edge a 10th). Most of the technical advice I received, while valid for someone with larger hands, had to be translated in order for it to work for me. Think about it.

•No size keyboard will make up for faulty ergonomics. There are basic principles of biomechanics that work for everyone (Do yourself a favor and get this book by Thomas Mark: http://www.pianomap.com/book.html). That said, the degree of movement (how much you rotate, how far your torso needs to move, etc) varies based on hand size, length of arm, etc.

•I don’t really want to play the BIG piano again. Sigh.