a good invention that should exist

[pianohopper]

Is there any such thing as a full 88-key keyboard that could be folded up neatly into a relatively small, cubical package, and carried onto say airplanes so that one could have a convenient, carriable way to practice when you are far away from your own piano, and anyone else you know? 

I know I hate it when hotels have pianos that they lock up and won't let you play.  Or when there's no pianos around, I go into music withdrawal and get very cranky.  This would be a great solution!  Maybe there could be hinges at even points so it would get folded into four parts.  It would be so convenient and easy. 

Anybody mechanically/electrically minded who could make one for me??   

[xvimbi]

Check out:

https://www.dansdata.com/rup.htm
(https://www.suzukimusic.com/education/pages/rollpiano_harmonicas.html)
(https://www.hecsaninc.com/)

[gorbee natcase]

wow a roll up piano I want one, I would immagine it takes some getting used too after playing a fully weighted piano

[prometheus]

Is this a Star Trek invention? TNG episode 6x19 Lessons features one. But it seemed to be a fake one. Air date is 04.05.1993. Seems a real one was made after the idea was featured on Star Trek, like quite a few other inventions.

[stephane]

I've seen these twice on music expositions.
To me it is quite useless. It is flat. Black and white keys are like 2-3 mm embossed plastic. You can't depress it. The sound is horrible. It is not full length.

I guess a real beginner could use it a couple of weeks to learn to identify the keys and maybe a bit longer to learn the pitches (didn't say sound).
Further I don't recall if it had a midi output in which case you could use it as an input device for programs like sibelius.

Besides that I believe it is just a toy for kids (small or big ones) and for that price I would prefer a cheap keyboard.

I don't think a pianist would "enjoy" this type of (totally nothing to do with piano) keyboard.

Stephane

[prometheus]

I imagine it is really handy for people that have to travel a lot. Of course it is pretty useless to most other people.

[ranakor]

Is this a Star Trek invention? TNG episode 6x19 Lessons features one. But it seemed to be a fake one. Air date is 04.05.1993. Seems a real one was made after the idea was featured on Star Trek, like quite a few other inventions.

you picked my curiosity there. what other inventions have been made after they were featured on star trek?

[prometheus]

I am not really sure. But of course people have always been interested in making those ideas real. I think the hypospray exists now. Also very simple things like voice recognition on computers are ideas that were using in Star Trek before they were technically possible. This one is kind of obvious though. Try using google, wikipedia or find real Star Trek and scholar.

[apion]

I've seen these twice on music expositions.
To me it is quite useless. It is flat. Black and white keys are like 2-3 mm embossed plastic. You can't depress it. The sound is horrible. It is not full length.

How depressing!

That's not a keyboard: that's garbage. 

[classicarts]

I think it comes really handy for people who travels alot.   It's very portable and adaptable to any enviroment.  If your on the go, and need to practice, this is nice to accommodate it.

[classicarts]

I just bought one!! It's so kool.

[randmc]

I think they should make a machine for musicians where you attach wires to your head and you can learn pieces instantly. Fingering and all.
Or a machine where you can attach wires to your arms and hands and they control you to make you play a piece right. This would help you learn fingering.

[prometheus]

If they can do that they should invent a machine that makes it possible for thoughts to be instantly processed into music. So there is no more need for fingers, keys, hammers. strings, etc.

In that case everyone can be a technical virtuoso after some mental training. And we can all focus on musicality. Plus, we would only need one instrument. We may even be able to play an entire ochestra.