I am asking for an opinion on the piano key mechanics…

Member

Posts: 1
City: Roma

October 24, 2023, 17:20

Good evening everyone, I should preface that I have been a piano student for 3 years and I own a Yamaha U1 which I practice on daily. I love the sound of my piano and I also like the keyboard response (heaviness, key return) even though I find it slightly light. The problem arises when I go to lessons with my teacher, who has a German Schulze-Pollmann with a completely different keyboard and sound. As far as the sound is concerned, it is not a problem; in fact, sometimes I appreciate it even more than mine, which results in being very "modern" (forgive the term, from a sound perspective). However, when it comes to the keyboard, playing becomes a true nightmare for me due to the absolute difference in key response. As I already said, I don't know anything about piano mechanics, but by sensation I feel

1) the keys are much "deeper" in terms of stroke and descent

2) an inhomogeneity in the sound that rises significantly in the highs

3) some keys that you either press with force and concentration, otherwise they do not emit sound.

4) some keys rise halfway and when you go to press them, they are halfway through the stroke, sometimes causing you to go out of time

I have been studying with this teacher for a long time now and this has never been a problem, but now that the pieces are starting to become more difficult, I would like to give my best in lessons and transfer what I learned at home without creating new apparent technical problems that I didn't have during the practice phase.

The main question I am wondering about is that I wouldn't want my hand to be "spoiled" after a few years of study by a piano that, even according to the tuner, is a gem, but does not allow me to have that heavier touch which on mine is annoying but would help me improve. The last two things: I notice that when I practice a passage a lot, the problems on that piano are reduced, even though on mine it would have required less effort anyway

I also notice with extreme pleasure that when the teacher plays that piano, excluding some evident mechanical defects (keys that don't sound even for her, much fewer) due to wear caused by students, I notice that in reality the piano sounds very good. I have read around that it is possible to increase the key stroke by a few millimeters; I wonder if doing so on my piano might benefit me later during lessons. What do you think? Help me, as you are more experienced than I am, thank you.

francescochopin90

Member

Posts: 355
City: .

October 25, 2023, 13:31

Hello. You have a nice Yamaha piano, certainly with different tonal characteristics than a Schulze-Pollmann, but equipped with a secure, precise, and reliable action, worthy of being competently regulated. After ruling out "wear and tear" issues (which can be resolved in a workshop), the technician will only need to perform a good regulation of the action and keyboard and, after tuning the instrument, proceed with a calibrated voicing that allows for the elimination of the timbral inconsistencies that seem to bother you (and not just you!). Rely on a good technician and explain to them what you want to achieve and where you want to go, and they will evaluate based on what the instrument can provide (especially the Yamaha!).

pianoexpert

Moderator

Posts: 3,876
City: rocca di papa

October 25, 2023, 20:07

So: while keeping Francesco's observations in mind, which are correct, you find differences because your teacher's piano needs a thorough inspection. The fact that you see her playing and orienting herself well—aside from her ability and experience—is simply that she has become increasingly accustomed to the inconsistencies and impediments of that piano, which is anything but docile (and you are experiencing this). Its mechanics should be checked because your description is precise and makes it clear to me that both the hammer action and the mechanical friction prevent a good performance on the Schulze Polmann piano, which is already not always docile in itself.

I will spend a few words once again on the phrase "my keyboard is too light etc...". A keyboard that works well is docile and has a downward weight proportional to the return weight. Encountering keyboards that do not work or are "harder" should not make us wish to study on a heavy keyboard "so that when I find an unyielding keyboard, I feel safe." Not at all. The development of our technique happens because we gradually manage to understand how to play "out of tension"! "Out of tension" produces energy!!!! Instead, believing that you are "working muscles" to become more powerful... is an unsound principle! Furthermore, forcing our musculature with exhausting exercises kills our proprioceptive sensitivity (or playing with a mute!!!!) and does not help us understand how to resolve certain difficult passages; instead, these will be resolved when the hand, the arm, and the entire muscular apparatus find the right balance and the agile ability to always stay comfortably ahead of the keys. Sometimes after a concert, without commenting on my interpretations, someone has said to me: "...then it seems that when you play... you do nothing"....And that is the best compliment!

Tutto questo discorso per affermare, uno degli scopi di questo forum, che il buon funzionamento del nostro strumento è fondamentale per capire come sviluppare le nostre abilità tecnico-musicali. Tecnica viene dal greco Thekné, cioè "arte arte del fare". Quindi niente palestre, niente ore di Hanon o di scale non pensate come tonalità ( così, invece, sono utili) Buono studio