INFO
The conventional piano that we all know and love measures in at 6.5 inches to the octave. Donison-Steinbuhler piano keyboards (The DS Standard) produced by Steinbuhler & Co. offer multiple key widths:
- 6 inches to the octave (15/16 of the standard size)
- 5.5 inches (7/8)
- 5.1 inches (I don't know what this proportion is but it is wonderfully tiny)
As of 2020, Steinbuhler & Co. is the only company in the United States manufacturing reduced-size keys. Pinkham Pianos in the UK also builds them to order, along with a number of interesting developments including “dummy” practice keyboards and magnetic balance action.
www.facebook.com/dskeyboards
www.paskpiano.org
www.chrisdonison.com/keyboard.html
www.pinkhampianos.com
hailun-pianos.com/mysizekeys
taskpiano.org
RESEARCH
Research on the ergonomics of piano playing is slowly expanding, including the effects of large keys on small hands.
newsroom.unl.edu/releases...
paskpiano.org/pianists-hand-spans-australian-study
www.chrisdonison.com/keyboard.html
ACTIVITY
Chair of the Department of Piano Studies at SMU, Dr. Carol Leone is a pioneer in the effort to standardize multiple key widths. Besides her own trailblazing work with these keyboards, students at the university have the option of working with DS6.5, DS6.0, and DS5.5 keyboards. Additionally, the Dallas International Piano Competition held at SMU is the first to offer multiple keyboard sizes to its contestants.
Information about conferences, performances, and competitions is available on the PASK Piano website, as well as how to locate a DS keyboard near you.
www.carolleone.com
www.dcsymphony.org/education/dallas-international-piano-competition
paskpiano.org/resources-and-links
Any pianist in the West Palm Beach area wanting to try out a 5.5 is welcome in my home.