From: kos@cunyvms1.gc.cuny.edu (Bob Kosovsky)
Subject: Re: Yamaha Clavinova as a piano
Reply-To: kos@cunyvms1.gc.cuny.edu
Organization: Computer Center, CUNY Graduate School, New York NY 10036
Distribution: na
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1992 13:50:20 GMT

In article <dlhanson.10.722123613@nap.amoco.com>, dlhanson@nap.amoco.com (David L. Hanson ) writes:
>We bought a Yamaha Clavinova, CLP-560... The fact that we didn't
>have to have it tuned and that it fit in our living room were major 
>criteria for the purchase. It is touch sensitive and is supposed to have
>the feel of a traditional piano.
>
>Since then the boys, who practice 1-1/2 to 2 hours every day, occasionally
>complain that it doesn't feel the "same" as their piano instructor's Kawaii
>studio piano.
>
> ...Is the difference in feel going
>to hinder their piano advancement?  (I had an idea that there was probably
>as much difference in feel between different types of traditional pianos
>as their is between a traditional piano and the Clavinova.)

Perhaps you will want us to say something like:  "Since your boys will
probably not be musicians, it doesn't matter."  But it does matter in a
larger sense, for those of us who take music seriously.

First the local problem.  Yes there is a difference between a Clavinova
and a non-electric piano (I suppose we will soon call them "acoustic
pianos").  The "touch" and "feel" of the Clavinova are programmed into
the device by the velocity at which the fingers strike the keyboard.
This is fine if the only variations you need are loud and soft.  But
this is far from what piano playing is about.  A piano needs to become
an extension of your arm and fingers - the more sensitive you learn to
be, the instrument should respond accordingly.  This will not happen to
the fullest extent with an electronic instrument and I believe the reason
is that we are not 100% aware of what are the parameters of the physical
creation of sound.  As it is unmeasurable, it is unprogrammable.

This brings us to the larger problem.  If you let your boys -- and everyone
else who buys Clavinovas and such - think that they are just as good or
better than pianos, they will learn from the "insensitivity" of the 
instrument, and consequently not be able to learn or be sensitive to
various forms of expression which are crucial elements of music.
It is my belief that one's inability to learn to express one's self through
creation will deaden whatever ability one has.  People grow up thinking
that music is just the sound of the pitches and their concommittant
rhythms, not realizing that this is an outlet for human expression.
The "mass" of people (at least in government) often think that "The Arts"
are just some kind of hedonist entertainment that can be stopped when
it interferes with some other purpose.  But I believe that appreciation
through the arts is as essential to human existence as laws governing
people.

Back to your situation.  I suppose it doesn't make a difference if your
boys loose interest after a few years.  But they may not, and I think
that if you are really going to give them the opportunity to grow,
and mature, you will have to consider getting a real piano after a
couple of years.  (Think of it this way:  in case they fight as to
when to practice, they can always alternate.  And when you want to
show them off, they can play piano duets.)

Bob Kosovsky
Graduate Center -- Ph.D. Program in Music(student)/ City University of New York
New York Public Library -- Music Division
bitnet:   kos@cunyvms1.bitnet        internet: kos@cunyvms1.gc.cuny.edu
Disclaimer:  My opinions do not necessarily represent those of my institutions.
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