Upcoming and recent conferences, performances and other events
Dr Jessica Johnson, professor of piano at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, will give a pedagogical workshop at the East Carolina University on 1 November, 2018. Using videos of performances on a DS5.5® keyboard manufactured by Steinbuhler & Company, this workshop will demonstrate effective strategies for teaching students with small hands. Further information: http://calendar.ecu.edu/event/jessica_johnson_pedagogical_workshop?fbclid=IwAR2spSBo6dtMg6AFMKH3cSCF5DJUicDfHR1fAKg5gAhjtehWUk3TiAIkYa0#.W9f5_pNLiMq
A piano teachers' festival was held on October 13-14 2018 at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.
One of the presentations were given by Erica Booker, Ju-Yang Chi and Bronwen Ackermann about alternatively sized keyboards and the research underway at the Sydney University Medical School under Bronwen's guidance. A student performed on a piano with 6 inch octave keyboard. He was connected to motion sensors to monitor muscular activity on both this keyboard and the conventional 6.5 inch octave keyboard. Results were displayed on a large screen in real time.
A piano teachers' festival was held on October 13-14 2018 at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.
One of the presentations were given by Erica Booker, Ju-Yang Chi and Bronwen Ackermann about alternatively sized keyboards and the research underway at the Sydney University Medical School under Bronwen's guidance. A student performed on a piano with 6 inch octave keyboard. He was connected to motion sensors to monitor muscular activity on both this keyboard and the conventional 6.5 inch octave keyboard. Results were displayed on a large screen in real time.
Ju-Yang Chi presented at the PAMA conference in Orange, CA (30 June-3 July) on his doctoral research program: 'Hand span and muscle activity levels on pianos with different sized keyboards'. Ju-Yang's supervisor is Dr Bronwen Ackermann (University of Sydney, editor of MPPA journal). The pianist trials are making use of the pianos in Erica Booker's Sydney studio.
For more information about this symposium, see:http://www.artsmed.org/symposium/registration-and-fees
For more information about this symposium, see:http://www.artsmed.org/symposium/registration-and-fees
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Canadian pianist Linda Gould has released this video of excerpts from her performance of Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue on a DS5.5® keyboard installed in a Yamaha G2, recorded back in 2005. We think that this is probably the first public video of anyone performing on this size keyboard! |
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Boston pianist, Anna Arazi, ran a whole-day event on 15 January 2018 for local teachers and students at the Church of Our Savior in Brookline involving a Cunningham grand piano with DSS5.5® keyboard. The program included a presentation and discussion, try-out sessions and a short recital by Anna.
Concert pianist Kathryn Mientka, who performs on a DS5.5® in a Yamaha grand piano, gave four recitals this summer in Sedona, Arizona, and in Paonia, Grand Junction and Montrose, Colorado.
Works by Liszt and Rachmaninoff - normally reserved for big-handed pianists - were featured.
See this story in The Daily Sentinel:
https://www.gjsentinel.com/entertainment/going-smaller-pianist-uses-new-keyboard-to-conquer-big-handed/article_6bc91776-f18a-11e7-b8b7-10604b9f6eda.html
Internationally distinguished performer and pedagogue, Dr. Barbara Lister-Sink will be running her annual intensive training workshops in well-coordinated, injury-preventive piano and organ technique on June 4 - 9, 2018 at Salem College, Winston-Salem, NC. Salem College has two DS6.0® keyboards available. For further information, visit: http://mailchi.mp/a1aa40062bfb/intensive-keyboard-technique-training-workshop-1270081
Professor Carol Leone (Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas) gave a presentation and performance at the Juilliard School in New York in November 2017. There was much interest from both teachers and students.
The keyboard she used was DS6.0® installed in a Yamaha CFX concert grand piano.
Canadian pianist, Monique Fournier presented a recital and seminar at the Lipnicki piano store in Calgary on 3 November 2017. She performed on her own brand new DS5.5® keyboard in her grand piano.
https://www.facebook.com/events/886000394910612/
For media stories about this event, go to Recent media coverage.
https://www.facebook.com/events/886000394910612/
For media stories about this event, go to Recent media coverage.
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A piano recital followed by a lively panel discussion was held at NCKP (National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy) on 26 July 2017. Four top pianists/professors performed on a DS6.0® keyboard in a Yamaha CFIIIS: Barbara Lister-Sink, Jessica Johnson, Jovanni-Rey de Pedro and Artina McCain.
See the video of these performances --> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXOlTsklCbM |
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Early in 2017, SMU student Tiffany Lu won the university's undergraduate concert competition, performing Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor on a DS6.0® keyboard. Here is her performance of the third movement: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=73&v=EcBcQmhK7kQ
Professor Carol Leone, from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, gave a presentation and performance on a DS6.0® keyboard in a Yamaha CFX grand at the Texas State International Piano Festival. This festival was held at the University in San Marco, June 3-11, 2017. Many professors and students loved playing this keyboard and were excited about the future and how these keyboards could benefit so many, many pianists! (http://tsipf.com/)
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Concert pianist, Anastasia Markina recently performed Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1 with the University of North Texas Orchestra using the university's DS6.0® keyboard. Here are some excerpts from her performance on the PASK playlist:- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4TBEbBrTJc |
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Sydney teacher Erica Booker presented: The benefits of ergonomically scaled piano keyboards for smaller handed pianists: Levelling the playing field at the EPTA (European Piano Teachers Association) conference in September 2016, held in Reykjavik, Iceland. http://asp.artegis.com/EPTA2016.
Rhonda Boyle presented a poster: The 'Standard' Piano Keyboard - Too Big for Too Many at the same conference which is available for download here: www.cicadabay.com/pianos. A new Kawai GM12 150 cm grand piano, owned by Icelandic pianist Berglind Jonsdottir, with octave size a little over 6 inches (approx 15/16 of the conventional size) was available for delegates to try. Here is a video of Berglind trying it out for the first time. |
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Dr Jess Johnson organised an event at her university - the University of Madison, Wisconsin, held on 20 February 2016. It included a workshop, masterclass, try-out sessions and recital. http://www.music.wisc.edu/event/the-joy-of-downsizing-with-jessica-johnson-piano-faculty-event/www.music.wisc.edu/event/the-joy-of-downsizing-with-jessica-johnson-piano-faculty-event/
See also the story in the Wisconsin State Journal: http://host.madison.com/wsj/entertainment/music/a-smaller-piano-for-bigger-artistry/article_38b80090-be0f-5050-9862-32c3c36c6930.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&utm_campaign=user-share
Jessica also attended the July 2016 ISME (International Society for Music Education) Conference in Glasgow, UK. She presented the paper: The Joy of Downsizing: The Benefits of Performing and Teaching on Ergonomically-Scaled Piano Keyboards.
Dr Carol Leone (SMU, Dallas) and Rhonda Boyle were among the presenters on the theme of 'Wellness' at the National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy (NCKP) in Chicago: 29 July-1 August 2015. For details, refer to: http://www.keyboardpedagogy.org/national-conference-info2/about-the-conference/pre-conference-seminars/wellness-for-the-pianist and http://www.keyboardpedagogy.org/workshops/saturdayworkshops.
At the 12th Australasian Piano Pedagogy Conference, held in Melbourne in July 2015, Rhonda Boyle presented the paper: Pianist Hand Spans: Gender and Ethnic Differences and Implications for Piano Playing, by Boyle, Boyle & Booker. http://www.appca.com.au/2015proceedings.php
See also the story in the Wisconsin State Journal: http://host.madison.com/wsj/entertainment/music/a-smaller-piano-for-bigger-artistry/article_38b80090-be0f-5050-9862-32c3c36c6930.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&utm_campaign=user-share
Jessica also attended the July 2016 ISME (International Society for Music Education) Conference in Glasgow, UK. She presented the paper: The Joy of Downsizing: The Benefits of Performing and Teaching on Ergonomically-Scaled Piano Keyboards.
Dr Carol Leone (SMU, Dallas) and Rhonda Boyle were among the presenters on the theme of 'Wellness' at the National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy (NCKP) in Chicago: 29 July-1 August 2015. For details, refer to: http://www.keyboardpedagogy.org/national-conference-info2/about-the-conference/pre-conference-seminars/wellness-for-the-pianist and http://www.keyboardpedagogy.org/workshops/saturdayworkshops.
At the 12th Australasian Piano Pedagogy Conference, held in Melbourne in July 2015, Rhonda Boyle presented the paper: Pianist Hand Spans: Gender and Ethnic Differences and Implications for Piano Playing, by Boyle, Boyle & Booker. http://www.appca.com.au/2015proceedings.php
At the same conference, six well-known Melbourne pianists performed on a Kawai GM12 150 cm grand piano with octave size a little over 6 inches (approx 15/16 of the conventional size). These pianists all chose repertoire they found challenging or uncomfortable on the conventional keyboard, and they had very little preparation time on the different keyboard size. In the panel discussion afterwards, they spoke very positively about the benefits of this keyboard. The hand spans of these six pianists covered a wide range - from a woman with very small hands to three men with 'average' size spans for males. As one of the participants, a successful teacher of elite young people, Glenn Riddle, said afterwards: 'These pianos should be everywhere!'
Left to Right: Erica Booker & Rhonda Boyle (organisers), Tim Young, Julia Hastings, John Blanch (General Manager, Kawai Australia), Elyane Laussade, Glenn Riddle, Rohan Murray, Kenji Fujimura
Left to Right: Erica Booker & Rhonda Boyle (organisers), Tim Young, Julia Hastings, John Blanch (General Manager, Kawai Australia), Elyane Laussade, Glenn Riddle, Rohan Murray, Kenji Fujimura
The University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond hosted a piano wellness seminar entitled Within Reach on 25 April 2015. Both keyboard sizes, the DS6.0® and DS5.5® were available for public viewing and playing. Dr. Carol Leone (from Southern Methodist University, Dallas) gave a presentation as well as an evening recital.
The Southern Methodist University (SMU) ESPK team gave a presentation to the MTNA Collegiate Piano Pedagogy Symposium on Saturday, January 17, 2015, at SMU Meadows School of the Arts, Dallas. The team used both DS5.5® and DS6.0® keyboards for student and faculty performances.
Dr Carol Leone (Chair of Keyboard and Associate Professor of Piano at SMU) gave a lecture-presentation on ESPKs at Trinity Laban Conservatory in London in March, 2015. http://www.trinitylaban.ac.uk/study/music/piano-and-keyboard-instruments
Dr Carol Leone has given several recitals using DS6.0® and DS5.5® keyboards in Texas (Southern Methodist University, University of North Texas) during 2015 and 2016.
For information about piano competitions that provide ESPKs for competitors and videos of performances, see the pages: Piano competitions that provide keyboard choice and Videos, CDs and other resources.
The Southern Methodist University (SMU) ESPK team gave a presentation to the MTNA Collegiate Piano Pedagogy Symposium on Saturday, January 17, 2015, at SMU Meadows School of the Arts, Dallas. The team used both DS5.5® and DS6.0® keyboards for student and faculty performances.
Dr Carol Leone (Chair of Keyboard and Associate Professor of Piano at SMU) gave a lecture-presentation on ESPKs at Trinity Laban Conservatory in London in March, 2015. http://www.trinitylaban.ac.uk/study/music/piano-and-keyboard-instruments
Dr Carol Leone has given several recitals using DS6.0® and DS5.5® keyboards in Texas (Southern Methodist University, University of North Texas) during 2015 and 2016.
For information about piano competitions that provide ESPKs for competitors and videos of performances, see the pages: Piano competitions that provide keyboard choice and Videos, CDs and other resources.