Roll-up Piano

[soundtrk]

Has anyone tried one?

Hecsan sells a 49-key one for $150 (US), and Yamaha has a 60-some key one for about $219 or so.

I'm just curious. OF COURSE it will never replace the feel of a real piano, but I'm curious of if anyone has touched/tried/played/owned one, what you think of it.

I'm going on an 8-month exchange trip to europe in a small town where access to a piano seems unlikely. Would having a roll-up piano be better than nothing at all?

[rich_galassini]

sound,

I have played the roll up piano by Suzuki. It is a somewhat touch sensitive plastic sheet. There is no touch, but if you have nothing else, it might be the right thing. It seems that it should take up only a little more space than a pair of socks.

Have fun in Europe. Where will you be?

[pianonut]

ahahahahaha!  do you have an 11 foot roll up?  how about one with different flavors?

[pianonut]

ok. seriously, do you have to blow it up?

[pianonut]

i mean the bench.  ok.  i'm really crazy. 

now, i vaguely remember seeing a keyboard like that one time.  it WOULD be lightweight and if confiscated at the airport, you wouldn't be out a whole keyboard.

rich,  you sound like a very knowledgeable sales person.  if i could ask one question to marc-hamelin, it would be 'which cadenzas do you play to the mozart piano concerto K467, and why?'  i am doing a research paper on this subject and have not finished it yet (due in april). 

[goose]

Didn't they have one of these on Star Trek once? Just touch your communicator badge and ask Jean-Luc Picard where he got his.

[pianonut]

yes, if you have a good imagination you can hear what you are playing, i suppose.  unfortunately, for me, this piano would ruin my ear (as do most of the practice pianos).  i need a well tuned bosendorfer.

 

[thierry13]

Hahahaha, I just made a search to see what was a rollup piano... it's hilarous. But I really think it's better than nothing. I wish you the best of lucks to play on this piano for 8 month   

[rich_galassini]

pianonut,

Where do you go to school?

By the way, I try to always carry a rollup Bosie Imperial in my pocket. You never know when you might need a concert grand.

[pianonut]

Dear Rich,

I am attending West Chester University and learning about Sturm und Drang all over again.  I relate this concept to my life sometimes, with wide leaps of thought, irrational behavior, and general disinterest in the calm weather of 24/7 motherhood.  i should be satisfied totally with having a family, but i constantly see myself  on stage having a really great time playing a piano concerto (on a bosendorfer),too. 

Am impressed with your quick answers and the fact you deal with artists all the time.  I wish there was sometimes an opportunity after a recital for all the pianists to have a sit-down chat with the artist, but they are probably very tired.  I would ask Marc-Hamelin questions on my own, but have no idea where to write.  Does he teach at Temple University?  My teacher is very busy, too, and hasn't responded yet to my barrage of questions about the Mozart (cadenzas).  Just copied Beethoven's cadenza to Mozart's K466.  I like Murray Perahia's the best of all modern composers (where could i find a copy of his K467 cadenza, i wonder?)

[rich_galassini]

Piano,

Marc does not teach. He performs. That is his niche and he needs to do nothing else, although speaking with him is a blast. I was an undergrad student at Temple when he was a grad student, so we go back a year or so.

WCU is a good school. Who do you study with? Richard Veleta?

[pianonut]

Dear Rich,

Wow.  It is so great that you both share a common tie and friendship.  You can learn so much from each other.  I found a book on amazon you probably know about ('giraffes, black dragons, and other pianos' - or something like that).  Am sure that your knowledge of pianos helps him a lot, too.

My teacher at WCU is Dr. Cranmer.  He is a performing artist, too.  It is so great to watch someone like that play.  I think when i first became addicted to the idea of the performing artist was when I took piano lessons in Anchorage with Jean-Paul Billaud (a french/american concert pianist).  The level of intensity, memorization, and actually enjoying performance was new to me.  I found it a huge challenge.  I like challenges and beating what others think is relatively impossible (and for me it probably still is - but i try anyway).

I am a crazy person for real.  when we first moved to Pennsylvania i decided (upon the advice of a friend) to 'go for it.'  and, immediately looked up all the piano schools in the area.  WCU has got to be one of the best (as Temple is) because of the variety of degrees you can get in music and the teachers qualifications.  There are so MANY excellent teachers (as the one you mentioned - Dr. Valleta).  I heard one if his students at juries last semester and was AMAZED. 

I also like to challenge myself in the outdoors.  I signed up for one of those community college flyer hikes and hiked part of the appalachian trail (in the rain - once and sunny the other time).  i often visit the audubon trail and love the birds and animals near/on the bike trail (from audubon to philly).  there is so much history, natural wonders, and music here - that i hope we never have to move again.  anyway, if i were to choose another career besides music- it would probably be 'park ranger.'