Clavinova vs. Acoustic — Bad Technical Habits?

[thomy]

Hi all,

I'm an intermediate pianist (took lessons a ton during high school and childhood and am now in college and just practicing on my own), but lately I've been spending much more time on it and I'm planning to audition for my University's conservatory (to take lessons there and perhaps do a piano minor). I play a Clavinova (older model, but decent tone and feel), which is great because I can use headphones and not bother my neighbors in my apartment. My question is, though, will practicing extensively on the Clav be detrimental to me when I audition / take lessons on an acoustic? My school has practice rooms that I can use, but it is only for an hour at a time, and it's about a 30 minute drive. I plan to put in about a month of practice on an acoustic before I audition, but I didn't know if you all thought playing an electric piano would develop any bad habits or make it hard to adjust.

For comparison, I've played a Yamaha acoustic at my parents home, and a BEAUTIFUL Kawai grand piano at church, and though there is more dynamic range (and just in general amazing feel/resonance/tone etc.), I feel like they're pretty similar in overall playability to the Clav.

Any opinions / experience with this issue? Thanks!

[Derek]

I had a Roland F-100 for a while, and I've played my sister's Yamaha Clavinova. My dad just got a Yamaha something or other synthesizer, that I think has the same grand piano sound and action to the clavinova.  I've also played a Kawai upright, a Petrof Model III grand,  and now my Roland HP-302 digital.  Here's how I felt about comparing all of these types:

Roland F-100, Clavinova, Yamaha synth thingie: no escapement, no "bounce" in the action (but they are weighted actions). It does not feel very real. The action is very light and easy to play. As for sound, none of these instruments can come close to the sound of an acoustic. In particular, cross string resonance, and the subtle changes in the tone as a string is hit more than once, is totally absent in these instruments. The feeling of a sound "swelling" due to three strings vibrating in sympathy with one another is not there either. The sound is looped during the decay.

Roland HP-302: This digital piano comes strikingly close to the sound and feel of an acoustic grand. The sound is modelled from the ground up in combination with sampling of a real acoustic grand, there is no looping and it has modelling of cross string resonance and the changes in tone as you strike strings more than once. The slow pulsations in unisons that one hears on a grand are present. The sensation that sound "swells" briefly after hitting a note is there.  The action simulates escapement and feels very very close to that of a grand.  But...it is not QUITE the same as a grand piano.   But for someone who cannot afford the money or space for a grand piano it is about as close as you can get.   I forgot to mention it simulates the dampers so you can use pedal subtly, not just on or off..also like a real grand piano.

I don't think digitals will ever be quite good enough for those who are trying to be concert pianists, but they are easily good enough for serious amateurs these days...I'd reccommend a Roland HP-302 or any Roland in the "SuperNATURAL" line, if you want as authentic a grand piano experience as is possible with today's technology.

One thing I notice is even though the HP-302 is pretty darn close to feeling like a grand, it is actually still easier to play, the action is still a bit freer than a real grand. Thus I find my hands get tired sooner when playing a real acoustic piano.  So yes, it is quite possible you may find it a challenge to play what you've been practicing on your clavinova just as well on an acoustic at your university.

[sucom]

Hi

I own a Yamaha CLP 280 and really enjoy playing it.  I used to own a Steinway B grand, which I purchased new.  Which do I prefer playing?  The Steinway of course!  The tone, the control - what can I say?  But ..... if you have a good quality digital piano, the actual feel of the piano and the control you need for practice is all there; it won't harm your playing at all and you will still be able to perform well on an acoustic.  The great thing about digitals is that you can practice at any time of the day or night and not disturb anyone. And for someone like me, who now suffers from tinnitus due to the massive amount of hours practising over the years, a digital is a godsend because it allows me to continue to play as much as I want without causing any discomfort or further damage to my hearing.

It's possible that you could continue to practise on your digital but alternate this with the practice pianos that are available to you.