[CAUT] Natural key width

[Porritt, David]

Paul:

 

To the best of my knowledge there is no "standard" for anything!  I've
measured keyboard spans and the old Steinway and Baldwin pianos measured
48" from A0 - C8.  The new Steinways (with Kluge keys) are 48.375".
Yamahas are about 48.25".  We have a Mason & Hamlin concert grand from
the early 1980s where the key width is 48" but the key length from front
to back is about 3/8" short.  Strange!

 

We too have four 7/8 keyboards - two uprights and two grands.  It's
through our teacher here that uses it that you have one there.  It's an
interesting study and there is a small following.  It will be
interesting to see where the alternative keyboards fit the business.  

 

One of our 7/8 keyboard is for our recital hall D giving that piano two
actions - a regular one and the 7/8.  The students who are working on
the 7/8 keyboard need that for the recitals they have to do.  If they
practiced on the small action but had to do recitals on a normal
keyboard it would defeat the purpose.  

 

dp

 

David M. Porritt, RPT

dporritt at smu.edu

 

From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of
Paul T Williams
Sent: Friday, January 25, 2008 12:06 PM
To: caut at ptg.org
Subject: [CAUT] Natural key width

 


List, 

Is there a standard in the industry for piano key width on the naturals.
Nearly all the pianos here are at 23mm except for the five Mason and
Hamlins from the 20's we have which measure 22mm giving them a
disconcerting space between the keys. Think of David Letterman <G>. We
have no European pianos so I can't measure them. 

One of our piano professors is doing some kind of research paper and was
a big advocate for one of our practice Steinways to have a 7/8th
keyboard installed for small handed students.  (It hardly ever gets
played!) 

Thanks 

Paul 

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