Piano Forum

Topic: Are Pianos One Size Fits All?  (Read 2979 times)

Offline classicarts

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 363
Are Pianos One Size Fits All?
on: October 03, 2005, 09:05:01 PM
Have you ever wonder are pianos for short people?  Have you ever had to stack  books on your wooden bench just to play a piano?  These days, you can buy a artist's adjustable bench for $350 and up, but that sometimes doesn't have enough adjustment in height to accurately sit and play a piano.  I have known people who are 5'2'' who stopped playing the piano because she couldn't sit properly.  At a normal height of a piano, it is made for people who are 5'10'' and above.  Why can't they come out with pianos with shorter legs on a grand and different height sizes for upright for short people?   :P I am 6'2'' let me remind you but my girlfriend is 5'3''.  And she is constantly complaining about this, and I don't blame her. :(

Offline alzado

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 573
Re: Are Pianos One Size Fits All?
Reply #1 on: October 03, 2005, 10:48:39 PM
I wish I could give you some practical suggestions.  I believe there are adjustable benches, rather expensive.  I'm not sure how one could readjust keyboard height, however.

For what it is worth, the organist at the cathedral, who is is brilliant organist, is a very small person.  He can't be more than perhaps 5'2". 

Watching him play, his feet reach the pedals with no difficulty.

I wonder how he does tenths.

Good luck--

Offline allthumbs

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1632
Re: Are Pianos One Size Fits All?
Reply #2 on: October 04, 2005, 02:44:36 AM


Why can't they come out with pianos with shorter legs on a grand and different height sizes for upright for short people?   


I have the solution for you.  ;D

Check out

https://www.stihl.ca/products_chainSaws_professional.asp

Cheers

allthumbs

Sauter Delta (185cm) polished ebony 'Lucy'
Serial # 118 562

Offline leahcim

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 1372
Re: Are Pianos One Size Fits All?
Reply #3 on: October 04, 2005, 01:09:23 PM
Have you ever wonder are pianos for short people?

Children of all ages play them.

Quote
Why can't they come out with pianos with shorter legs on a grand and different height sizes for upright for short people? 

Perhaps this will help you, err, I mean your short girlfriend :)

https://www.balancedpianist.com/bpseatingguide.htm

Offline Axtremus

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 507

Offline pianorama

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 362
Re: Are Pianos One Size Fits All?
Reply #5 on: January 18, 2006, 07:32:25 PM
I'm only 4'5" and I've never had this problem, and I can easily reach the pedal. I can't see why your friend has this problem.

Offline clef

  • PS Silver Member
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 118
Re: Are Pianos One Size Fits All?
Reply #6 on: March 01, 2006, 07:44:48 AM
 I have been learning piano for 9 years, and in that time I have just about doubled my height.  I am 15 years old, 180 cm and since the very beggining I have never really had to worry about the size of pianos.  I wonder if anyone has done any research on this stuff...

Offline cy_shuster

  • PS Silver Member
  • Jr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 52
Re: Are Pianos One Size Fits All?
Reply #7 on: March 01, 2006, 10:20:04 AM
One way in which pianos vary is the height of the keyboard above the floor.  Most uprights' keyboards are higher above the floor than those of most grands.

--Cy--
piano.com [/url]

Offline andyd

  • PS Silver Member
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 131
Re: Are Pianos One Size Fits All?
Reply #8 on: March 01, 2006, 12:12:36 PM

I'm a tad over 6' and find that with some older grands, my legs will not fit comfortably under the keyboard.  I have to angle them to get to the pedals.


Andy 

Offline ivrier

  • PS Silver Member
  • Newbie
  • ***
  • Posts: 13
Re: Are Pianos One Size Fits All?
Reply #9 on: March 01, 2006, 03:52:17 PM
I would like to show a picture of the contraption that my daughter uses to sit properly on the piano chair.

How do I attach a picture?

Offline ivrier

  • PS Silver Member
  • Newbie
  • ***
  • Posts: 13
Re: Are Pianos One Size Fits All?
Reply #10 on: March 01, 2006, 03:57:15 PM
This is what my daugter uses to sit properly. The foot board was easily made and will be adjusted accordingly to her growth velocity. She would not be able to press on the foot pedals though. We also have an adjustable height chair.

Offline cy_shuster

  • PS Silver Member
  • Jr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 52
piano.com [/url]

Offline pianorama

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 362
Re: Are Pianos One Size Fits All?
Reply #12 on: March 02, 2006, 01:49:28 AM
This is what my daugter uses to sit properly. The foot board was easily made and will be adjusted accordingly to her growth velocity. She would not be able to press on the foot pedals though. We also have an adjustable height chair.

Nice looking piano! I like the violin too. What brand is the piano? I can't read what it says.

Offline ivrier

  • PS Silver Member
  • Newbie
  • ***
  • Posts: 13
Re: Are Pianos One Size Fits All?
Reply #13 on: March 02, 2006, 05:44:47 AM
Thank you for the comment. It's a 6'1 Gebr Perzina with a  Detoa action. I just love the action and tone of this beauty. It's not a very popular brand. It's made by the Yantai Longfeng Piano Co in China. It's supposedly comes from the best makers in China. It has been boasted to be comparable to the Group 1 pianos and I can understand why.

My daughter also plays the violin. It's a Romnian-made Gliga Maesto violin. That too for it's 3/4 size has a rich  bass and trebel.

Offline tw0k1ngs

  • PS Silver Member
  • Jr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 29
Re: Are Pianos One Size Fits All?
Reply #14 on: March 04, 2006, 05:52:01 PM
I have the same problem, except I am 6'5, and my knees cannot fit under the piano (not that they should anyways), its just that everytime I go for the pedal I normally bang my knee on the keyboard. Also I wear a size 15, so you can imagine how big my hands are and how they always hit the board when I play. But being able to reach almost a 12th comfortably is pretty nice. :)
For more information about this topic, click search below!

Piano Street Magazine:
The Complete Piano Works of 16 Composers

Piano Street’s digital sheet music library is constantly growing. With the additions made during the past months, we now offer the complete solo piano works by sixteen of the most famous Classical, Romantic and Impressionist composers in the web’s most pianist friendly user interface. Read more
 

Logo light pianostreet.com - the website for classical pianists, piano teachers, students and piano music enthusiasts.

Subscribe for unlimited access

Sign up

Follow us

Piano Street Digicert