Piano and Synth Blog

Part of Yamaha’s P Series of digital pianos, the new P85 and P85S (differentiated by their body colour: black or silver) are slim digital pianos featuring high-quality piano sound and feel.

With 88 Graded Hammer Standard keys, the digital pianos feature 64 notes of polyphony, with AWM Stereo Sampling taken from a full concert grand, and emulation of half-pedalling.

The keyboards also comes with a variety of other sounds including electric pianos, organs, strings and harpsichord, and dual voice for playing two sounds at once.

Though it’s not said, the model numbering suggests that this piano sits somewhere between the P70 and P140 digital pianos.

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Roland has announced its new SA-1000 stage amplifier, a super-lightweight and portable stage amp customised for use with organs such as new ATELIER series and digital pianos.

Features include an Organ Enhance button which adds bass nuances to a sound, onboard Anti-feedback function to automatically cancels unpleasant howling from being placed too close to other sound sources, and Stereo Link which allows two SA-1000s to be cascaded into a PA system for small-scale performances and concerts.

The amp boasts 350W of output (75W x 2 plus a 200W subwoofer), and weighs 11.5kgs.

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I love grand pianos but I’m also very fond of upright pianos, having started playing one from the age of 4.

Yamaha continues to introduce quality upright pianos with the introduction of three new models: the M460, M560, and P660.

The new Upright Line includes changes to the Company’s Gallery Collection, Professional Gallery Collection and Professional Collection.

These models are produced in Yamaha’s Taiwan factory, which has a significant history in the company’s expansion in the piano industry. Taiwan Yamaha was the first Yamaha piano factory outside of Japan and has been producing upright pianos since 1969. Its highly skilled and experienced labor force uses advanced Yamaha-designed machinery and adheres to the Company’s superior quality control standards. It boasts extensive experience in building wood grain, designer cabinets for markets around the globe.

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Yamaha has reintroduced its high-end Clavinova CGP1000 digital piano featuring the technologically advanced function of the Clavinova CVP400 Series housed within an elegantly crafted 4ft 11in grand piano cabinet. This hybrid piano combines the accurate reproduction of sampling technology with the richly textured harmonic nuances of a real grand piano.

Designed to address the continued strong demand for a high-end CVP-type digital piano in a grand-style cabinet, the CGP1000 was originally inspired by the Clavinova CVP309GP. It features the dynamic, one-of-a-kind upgrades of the CVP400 Series that add the capability to record and share fully orchestrated performances with vocals. The CGP1000 offers such features as Internet Direct Connection (IDC), enhanced song and lyric LCD displays and a Natural Wood Keyboard with Synthetic Ivory Keytops.

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Roland has introduced two new digital pianos in the RD-GX range. Both feature 88-note fully weighted keyboards. The RD-700GX features Roland’s fully weighted PHA II Ivory Feel keyboard with Escapement, while the RD-300GX offers PHA alpha II.

The RD-GX Piano Designer feature allows the editing of piano sound parameters such as Hammer Noise, Damper Resonance, Duplex Scale, and more.

The RD-300GX features 110 normal tones, while the RD-700GX has 242, including a range of other keyboard instruments. They both have 128 notes polyphony, multi-effects, as well as a number of assignable controls which means the keyboards could also be used as controllers or for basic synth work. The RD-700GX also features three MIDI out ports, and multi-zone keyboard set-up.

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Have you ever been stuck in a situation where the piano, keyboard, or synth you’ve been playing either has no sustain pedal, or the one that is attached works intermittently, or not at all?

I have, a number of times, and let me tell you it’s not much fun at the time.

Without wanting to sound condescending (apologies if I do), if you’re just starting out on the piano or keyboard, or you’re primarily involved with sequencing or computer-based composition, then you may not realise just how vital the sustain pedal is to many pianists and keyboard players.

When it’s missing, it’s very obvious — at least, to you, if not to your audience.

Here are some ideas for how to get around the problem of a missing or malfunctioning sustain pedal. Feel free to add your own hints and tips in the comments section below.

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Roland has announced the launch of its latest digital pianos, the HPi-7S and HPi-6S. Both feature Roland’s DigiScore system featuring interactive, visual lessons aimed at making learning to play the piano more fun and rewarding.

The 7S features Roland’s most authentic grand piano sound and feel, thanks to the PHA II “ivory feel” keyboard with Escapement. The cabinet is fitted with an immersive four-speaker system. It has 100 levels of touch sensitivity, 128 notes of polyphony, 612 tones, 8 types of tuning temperament, and a built-in composer.

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Roland has announced the new DP-990 digital piano, a sophisticated addition to their product line-up offering “amazing sounds and touch”.

It features Roland’s PHA II weighted keyboard with Escapement, which yields a heavier touch in the low range and lighter touch in the upper. It also provides lighter resistance for pianissimo passages and stronger resistance for fortissimo.

Each of the 88 keys features individual multi-samples, and a number of options are available which let the player design their perfect piano sound, by adjusting Damper, Strings and Key-off resonance.

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Perhaps, after you’ve bought a child’s first keyboard, you may decide they need piano lessons.

The Intercom Music Blog has written a seven step guide on How to Make Beginner Piano Lessons Effective For Kids.

Steps include practising consistently at the same time, avoiding interruptions (especially from the dreaded TV), keeping music books tidy:

Numerous educational studies have shown that children are more likely to follow rules and guidelines if they have had input in making the rules. This is a favorite trick of early childhood teachers which can easily be incorporated into piano lessons for children. Have a set of piano practice rules in your head, and ask the child what rules need to be in place for the piano practice. Then gently steer them in the direction of the rules you have in mind.

Preliminary results suggest that Steinway could see a ten per cent growth in the sale of its (legendary) pianos for its 2007 financial year.

Sales to Europe and Asia grew by 23%, while in the US it was a modest 3%.

It was high-end pianos which saw the biggest falls in sale, but the Boston and Essex pianos leapt 36%.

(Via WPRI)