‘'…the most challenging obstacle for embedding this idea into the piano world is the culture. Since the current keyboard size became the ‘standard’, anything outside ‘normal’ may be discriminated against.’
Dr Eri Yoshimura & Dr Kris Chesky, Texas Center for Music & Medicine, University of North Texas, Denton, Texas, USA, 2009, p 10.
From the Editor of Clavier Companion magazine, Sept/Oct 2015, Pete Jutras: ‘I’m excited about the opportunities that smaller-sized keyboards present for our profession and for the musical world. I’m excited about the opportunities these keyboards create to help pianists play comfortably and avoid injury. I’m excited about the practice applications and the fact that these keyboards can help pianists direct more focus to tone and artistry’.
PASK Campaign
A global action network: Pianists for Alternatively Sized Keyboards (PASK) was launched in August 2013.
Please email: [email protected] if you'd like to be directly involved or receive email updates from time to time.
Visit the website: www.paskpiano.org
If you are on Facebook, this is the PASK site:
https://www.facebook.com/pask.piano
PETITION TO MANUFACTURERS
PASK has launched a petition to piano manufacturers in December 2015: NEED PIANO KEYBOARDS THAT FIT OUR HANDS. Please sign this petition and forward to as many of your friends and contacts as possible via email and social media. Include groups or organisations of piano teachers and piano technicians, as well as pianists and their parents. Even if you are not a pianist yourself, you will be helping many others around the world who love the piano and want this revolution to come soon. We need to tell the manufacturers that there is a huge potential market for these keyboards!'
Please email: [email protected] if you'd like to be directly involved or receive email updates from time to time.
Visit the website: www.paskpiano.org
If you are on Facebook, this is the PASK site:
https://www.facebook.com/pask.piano
PETITION TO MANUFACTURERS
PASK has launched a petition to piano manufacturers in December 2015: NEED PIANO KEYBOARDS THAT FIT OUR HANDS. Please sign this petition and forward to as many of your friends and contacts as possible via email and social media. Include groups or organisations of piano teachers and piano technicians, as well as pianists and their parents. Even if you are not a pianist yourself, you will be helping many others around the world who love the piano and want this revolution to come soon. We need to tell the manufacturers that there is a huge potential market for these keyboards!'
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Please sign now --->
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YOUTUBE CHANNEL
PASK now has its own YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/channel/UCdiQ0iwCWFsGjZ1QI41KSBg
For three videos that summarise the key issues, show performances and share the experiences of pianists, and present facts on hand size, go to the 'PASK Videos' playlist:- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHBn-VaaOCGe0Q5RFTjH05s5ASxVy-_la. These are well suited to use in presentations. Japanese versions are also available on the same playlist.
For videos of performances on alternatively sized keyboards, including pianists trying them for the first time, go to the
'Alternatively Sized Keyboards in Action!' playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHBn-VaaOCGcJDCJ8f-BZx5VZS-IXcxDi
Contributions to this channel are welcome - they can be excerpts (comparisons of a pianist playing the same excerpt using the conventional and a smaller keyboard are particularly useful where the difference is apparent) or complete performances by professional or amateur pianists of any age on a keyboard with narrower keys. If you have a movie to contribute, please be in contact via: [email protected]
TWITTER
Rhonda Boyle@smallpianokeys: Use the hashtag #smallpianokeys
PASK SUMMARY HAND-OUTS
The following PASK summary documents are available for download here: www.cicadabay.com/pianos
PASK WEBSITE QR CODE
PASK now has its own YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/channel/UCdiQ0iwCWFsGjZ1QI41KSBg
For three videos that summarise the key issues, show performances and share the experiences of pianists, and present facts on hand size, go to the 'PASK Videos' playlist:- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHBn-VaaOCGe0Q5RFTjH05s5ASxVy-_la. These are well suited to use in presentations. Japanese versions are also available on the same playlist.
For videos of performances on alternatively sized keyboards, including pianists trying them for the first time, go to the
'Alternatively Sized Keyboards in Action!' playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHBn-VaaOCGcJDCJ8f-BZx5VZS-IXcxDi
Contributions to this channel are welcome - they can be excerpts (comparisons of a pianist playing the same excerpt using the conventional and a smaller keyboard are particularly useful where the difference is apparent) or complete performances by professional or amateur pianists of any age on a keyboard with narrower keys. If you have a movie to contribute, please be in contact via: [email protected]
Rhonda Boyle@smallpianokeys: Use the hashtag #smallpianokeys
PASK SUMMARY HAND-OUTS
The following PASK summary documents are available for download here: www.cicadabay.com/pianos
- Summary for Pianists and Teachers
- An Opportunity for the Piano Industry (Also available in Japanese)
- Summary for the Media
- Quotes and Personal Stories
- Common objections or questions and suggested responses
- FAQs
- QR codes for PASK website and petition
PASK WEBSITE QR CODE
ENCOURAGING CHANGE
Here are some of the ways pianists can encourage change. Being linked into PASK will help us coordinate our efforts and share relevant information. Some support may be available for developing presentations etc, though much of the information needed is on this website.
1. Spread awareness of the benefits of alternatively sized piano keyboards and availability of Steinbuhler, Laukhuff (and any other) keyboards – to piano teachers, parents, health professionals, academics.
2. Lobby the music departments of your local universities and schools to support acquisition of smaller keyboards. Benefits from having these keyboards in universities include:-
3. Identify sources of sponsorship or run a fund-raising concert to assist acquisition by universities and schools.
4. Talk to representatives of piano manufacturing companies to make them aware of the very significant potential market and encourage them to invest.
5. Help remove some of the barriers, including pushing for in-principle acceptance of alternatively sized keyboards in piano exams, rebutting comments from those with no experience of these keyboards (for example: they can ‘can ruin your technique’, or ‘it would be too difficult to adapt after many years using a conventional keyboard’, or ‘hand size does not matter; it’s all about technique’.)
6. In regions where several institutions and teachers are using these keyboards, strongly encourage their availability in piano competitions, or set up a new competition which provides a choice of keyboard. Ensure such competitions are well publicised.
7. If you are a private studio teacher, consider acquiring one piano with narrower keys and gradually encouraging parents and students to follow where possible.
8. Provide new or updated information for posting on this website and on the Facebook site, for example, upcoming conferences where alternatively sized keyboards will feature, details of new research publications.
‘Another major concern regarding the culture is that pianists genetically fortunate to have been born with large physical traits might label the use of an ergonomically modified keyboard as ‘cheating’. This perspective has been observed and should be considered irresponsible and unsympathetic. Perhaps representing the pinnacle of such perspectives, some small-handed pianists are considered ‘less talented’ because they struggle with a repertoire that requires playing larger chords or because they are no longer able to play due to pain…’
Dr Eri Yoshimura & Dr Kris Chesky, Texas Center for Music & Medicine, University of North Texas, Denton, Texas, USA, 2009, p 11.
References
Jutras, P. (2015). Editorial, Clavier Companion, Frances Clark Center for Keyboard Pedagogy, USA, September/October. http://www.cicadabay.com/pianos
Leone, C. (2015). Ergonomic Keyboards: Size Does Matter. Piano Professional, EPTA (UK), Summer. http://www.carolleone.com/ergonomic-keyboards/
Leone, C. (2015). Size is Key. Clavier Companion, Frances Clark Center for Keyboard Pedagogy, USA , September/October. http://www.cicadabay.com/pianos
Booker, E. (2010). Pianos: one size fits all…big adults. Tempo, Suzuki Talent Education Association of Australia (NSW) Inc., Autumn, 8-9. http://www.cicadabay.com/pianos
Booker, E., & Boyle, R. (2011). Piano keyboards – one size does not fit all! Pianistic health for the next generation. Proceedings of the 10th Australasian Piano Pedagogy Conference: Leading Notes to Effective Teaching: Resolving the past - Exploring the future. Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, 4-8 July 2011. http://www.appca.com.au/2011proceedings.php
Boyle, R., Boyle, R. & Booker, E. (2015). Pianist Hand Spans: Gender and Ethnic Differences and Implications for Piano Playing, Proceedings of the 12th Australasian Piano Pedagogy Conference, Beyond the Black and White, Melbourne, July 2015. http://www.appca.com.au/2015proceedings.php
Deahl, L. & Wristen, B. (2003). Strategies for small-handed pianists. American Music Teacher, 52 (6), 21-25.
Yoshimura, E. & Chesky, K. (2009). The application of an ergonomically modified keyboard to reduce piano-related pain. MTNA e-Journal, November.
Here are some of the ways pianists can encourage change. Being linked into PASK will help us coordinate our efforts and share relevant information. Some support may be available for developing presentations etc, though much of the information needed is on this website.
1. Spread awareness of the benefits of alternatively sized piano keyboards and availability of Steinbuhler, Laukhuff (and any other) keyboards – to piano teachers, parents, health professionals, academics.
2. Lobby the music departments of your local universities and schools to support acquisition of smaller keyboards. Benefits from having these keyboards in universities include:-
- providing a career path for talented piano students with small hands
- attracting talented students to the university
- availability for further research
- availability for conferences
- use in public performances and competitions.
3. Identify sources of sponsorship or run a fund-raising concert to assist acquisition by universities and schools.
4. Talk to representatives of piano manufacturing companies to make them aware of the very significant potential market and encourage them to invest.
5. Help remove some of the barriers, including pushing for in-principle acceptance of alternatively sized keyboards in piano exams, rebutting comments from those with no experience of these keyboards (for example: they can ‘can ruin your technique’, or ‘it would be too difficult to adapt after many years using a conventional keyboard’, or ‘hand size does not matter; it’s all about technique’.)
6. In regions where several institutions and teachers are using these keyboards, strongly encourage their availability in piano competitions, or set up a new competition which provides a choice of keyboard. Ensure such competitions are well publicised.
7. If you are a private studio teacher, consider acquiring one piano with narrower keys and gradually encouraging parents and students to follow where possible.
8. Provide new or updated information for posting on this website and on the Facebook site, for example, upcoming conferences where alternatively sized keyboards will feature, details of new research publications.
‘Another major concern regarding the culture is that pianists genetically fortunate to have been born with large physical traits might label the use of an ergonomically modified keyboard as ‘cheating’. This perspective has been observed and should be considered irresponsible and unsympathetic. Perhaps representing the pinnacle of such perspectives, some small-handed pianists are considered ‘less talented’ because they struggle with a repertoire that requires playing larger chords or because they are no longer able to play due to pain…’
Dr Eri Yoshimura & Dr Kris Chesky, Texas Center for Music & Medicine, University of North Texas, Denton, Texas, USA, 2009, p 11.
References
Jutras, P. (2015). Editorial, Clavier Companion, Frances Clark Center for Keyboard Pedagogy, USA, September/October. http://www.cicadabay.com/pianos
Leone, C. (2015). Ergonomic Keyboards: Size Does Matter. Piano Professional, EPTA (UK), Summer. http://www.carolleone.com/ergonomic-keyboards/
Leone, C. (2015). Size is Key. Clavier Companion, Frances Clark Center for Keyboard Pedagogy, USA , September/October. http://www.cicadabay.com/pianos
Booker, E. (2010). Pianos: one size fits all…big adults. Tempo, Suzuki Talent Education Association of Australia (NSW) Inc., Autumn, 8-9. http://www.cicadabay.com/pianos
Booker, E., & Boyle, R. (2011). Piano keyboards – one size does not fit all! Pianistic health for the next generation. Proceedings of the 10th Australasian Piano Pedagogy Conference: Leading Notes to Effective Teaching: Resolving the past - Exploring the future. Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, 4-8 July 2011. http://www.appca.com.au/2011proceedings.php
Boyle, R., Boyle, R. & Booker, E. (2015). Pianist Hand Spans: Gender and Ethnic Differences and Implications for Piano Playing, Proceedings of the 12th Australasian Piano Pedagogy Conference, Beyond the Black and White, Melbourne, July 2015. http://www.appca.com.au/2015proceedings.php
Deahl, L. & Wristen, B. (2003). Strategies for small-handed pianists. American Music Teacher, 52 (6), 21-25.
Yoshimura, E. & Chesky, K. (2009). The application of an ergonomically modified keyboard to reduce piano-related pain. MTNA e-Journal, November.