Hi, I hope I've hit the right section for this question. I own a Yamaha upright, a simple T121. My problem is the softness of the keyboard; there aren't any ways, during tuning, to make it harder, right? I'm afraid that if I ask my tuner directly, he will tell me to go to hell straight away. At the moment, I try to compensate by playing a bit with a mute - while keeping in mind how they should sound musically in pieces... let's just say I imagine the dynamics in my head.
Furthermore, is it true that practicing only with a mute can be damaging? Before reaching the level of study I am at now (or not a level, depending on your point of view;) I didn't have this problem. Now, unfortunately, I do, but I cannot buy a nice new piano. Thanks to everyone
The piano, as I have said in many other posts, must have its down weight and its return weight to the keyboard. Thinking of altering these two weights is against common sense. Naturally, some spread the principle that one can acquire more technical ability on a heavier keyboard, but this is completely wrong. In the development of piano technique, it is not appropriate to think about "building muscle" to become more skilled. After a good period of "implantation," the student must have acquired the concepts of articulation, gravitation, pressure, and rotation, and other coordinations between small and large muscles. However, everything must occur without tension. Only in this way will the energy develop that will allow them to "govern" the keyboard. A few words are not enough to illustrate the good basic principles. The Maestro will surely guide these acquisitions. A good book I recommend is "On the Interpretation of Classical Music" [How to Play the Piano] by Georgy Sandor.
P.S. I completely advise against the use of the practice pedal (muffler), a "gadget" invented to encourage the purchase of a piano for those living in apartments. ..."You see, Madam, ...that way the child does not disturb the neighbors when studying"—Not at all! The neighbors hear it... oh yes! The only one who doesn't hear is the poor student, who completely loses the reference of sound in proportion to the energy applied. Once the muffler is removed, they will find themselves completely "back to square one" in learning how to manage the sound.
P.P.S. In any case, it is appropriate to verify this sensation of excessive softness, which, technically, could also depend on an excessive "slowness" of the action, i.e., incorrect friction of the action pins which would cause excessive "wobbling" of the hammers, repetitions, or escapement parts. In this case, the fork pins must be restored and the bushings of the central and front key slot slides must be checked.
Thank you very much, yes I will certainly check with the appropriate person (Sandor's book is interesting). In fact, this keyboard issue is a fixation of mine these days; studying many hours a day has never caused me problems so far (nor have I ever encountered any problems of my own such as tendonitis etc., due to poor weight distribution. It is truly a fixation of mine during these sweltering days). Thanks again, also for the tutorials. I have played forever but I understand little or nothing about mechanics, a limitation I would like to overcome
