Exploring the Future of the Piano with Ergonomically Scaled Piano Keyboards (ESPK)

The presentation will be held at the School of Music, Theatre & Dance in Ann Arbor in room 1370.  Teachers may try out the pianos in room 1215 immediately following the presentation.

Exploring the Future of the Piano with Ergonomically Scaled Piano Keyboards (ESPK): A Study of Student Learning on ESPK

This presentation serves as a demonstration of the presenter’s recently completed DMA dissertation. It encompasses research data on pianists’ hand sizes sourced from different studies according to gender and level of professional attainment. More data on gender issues through the history of piano, on competition winners according to gender, and on the keyboard sizes of early pianos will be discussed. The collected hand span data of University of Michigan piano students will be examined with tables showing the injury rates, and scarcity of small-handed pianists in this institution. Lastly, the case study results of five small-handed pianists who practiced on smaller keyboards will be examined. The presentation includes video demonstrations that showcase specific passages played on different keyboard sizes by both small and large-handed pianists, providing a valuable basis for comparison and analysis.

Ceren is a staff piano instructor at the Piano Pedagogy Laboratory Program at the University of Michigan.