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mopinko

(72,922 posts)
Sun Sep 7, 2025, 03:12 PM Sunday

narrow key pianos.

x posting from music appreciation.

meet athena, the world’s 1st narrow key digital piano.
https://www.narrowkeys.com/athena

it’s a 5.5 keyboard, as opposed to the standard 6.5. (inches/octave) if u want to know if this is right for u, measure the span of your hand, spread out. if it’s less than 6 1/2” it wd likely help u. mine is only 5 1/2”. there r 6.0’s out there.
they’re spendy rn, but i suspect the price will come down. i’m anxiously awaiting mine. i bought at an introductory price, which i think is still available. will b delivered in the next month. put my order in in the spring.
not sure where they r built, but the company is in canada. i was worried about the tariffs, but just got an email saying they will absorb them.

to me it is a political issue. most piano students r female, but they only very rarely win competitions, or even make it to the finals. they suffer repetitive stress injuries at a much higher rate than men. i find it insane that steinway built a piano like this long, long ago, but pretends they dont exist. they will make a special order upright, but they wont make a grand.
i tried to tell the local dealer that they wd b smart to market them. where i am, u can get a free piano any day of the week. u can get a used/vintage grand for a few k. there’s no reason to buy new. THIS wd b a reason for every suburban dad w a talented daughter, or a son w small hands, to buy new. but noooo.
you can retrofit an existing piano, but there is a 2-3 yr wait from the only guy who makes them rn, and it’s hard to find a mechanic who will do it. (it’s not hard.)

i admit that i am not making a lot of progress learning to play, but i wanted to put my money where my mouth is on this topic.
i do try to noodle a bit daily, and hoping to get back to my lessons soon. i’ve been terribly sick all year.

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narrow key pianos. (Original Post) mopinko Sunday OP
I wonder if this explains why my wrists are so sore after playing for an hour. TY for posting. nt in2herbs Sunday #1
how big is your hand? mopinko Sunday #2
Mine go almost 9 inches in2herbs Sunday #3
that's not the problem, then. mopinko Yesterday #4

in2herbs

(3,897 posts)
1. I wonder if this explains why my wrists are so sore after playing for an hour. TY for posting. nt
Sun Sep 7, 2025, 06:13 PM
Sunday

mopinko

(72,922 posts)
2. how big is your hand?
Sun Sep 7, 2025, 06:43 PM
Sunday

spread your fingers and measure from your pinky to your thumb. standard piano is 6.5”/octave.

mopinko

(72,922 posts)
4. that's not the problem, then.
Mon Sep 8, 2025, 12:06 AM
Yesterday

but there is good and bad technique. there r ppl who study the ergonomics of music. i’m sorry i dont recall the 1 i read about. it’s starting to b a medical specialty.

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