It’s Easy to Adapt
The 7/8 keyboard has turned an endurance session into pure pleasure.
A full testimonial from the pianist who, in the summer of 1994, became the first to sit down at a DS Keyboard.
In Her Own Words
On pain, sight-reading, and the fatigue that never arrives.
The pain aspect of the 7/8 keyboard is quite amazing. Sight-reading probably has the most dramatic effect. When you are sight reading difficult music (especially with other chamber musicians) you do not have the time to work out the easiest way of playing a passage, you just plow through it. I am talking about pieces like Brahms Horn Trio, Saint Saens Piano Trios, Frank Trios. I have found on a regular size keyboard I can last about an hour and then my hands and entire arms start to feel tired. If I persist, within about 20 minutes I am in pain and must stop. Playing the similar pieces on the 7/8 keyboard I can sight-read for over two hours completely pain free. It simply is not an issue. I can play large chords, octave passages, leaps, huge dynamic ranges and my brain fatigues long before my fingers or arms. The 7/8 keyboard has turned an endurance session into pure pleasure. I can’t begin to describe how much fun it is to be able to access the notes so easily without fatigue.
It IS Easy!
June 2005
Rhapsody in Blue.
Last year in June (2005) I had a fabulous opportunity to perform Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue with orchestra. My wonderful husband moved my 7/8 grand to both concert halls for the Saturday and Sunday performance. It was fantastic! I felt so secure with the big chords and played the piece with ease. I was freed up from all technical issues and could concentrate on making music.
About Linda Gould
Linda Gould began playing piano at age three and debuted at age eleven. Throughout her youth in British Columbia she won first-place medals six times in provincial competitions. She studied at the University of Victoria under Robin Wood, earning her Bachelor of Music in performance with distinction, and received her ARCT. Having abandoned her concert-artist aspirations because of playing-related pain, she purchased a DS5.5 keyboard in spring 1996, reclaiming her musical career.
Follow the Story Further
Read the Foundation’s full narrative, or explore the benefits pianists have found in narrower keys.