Yes, Hannah makes quite the case for narrow "Stretto" (Italian for narrow) keyboards. There are many skilled pianists around the world who simply cannot play some pieces on a standard width keyboard.
Our company, Reyburn Pianoworks, Inc. builds custom keysets as small a 7/8 of normal, which is 5.5 inches per octave. Normal keyboards have 6.5" per octave. Here's a link to a pic of our CNC laser layout for a 7/8 Steinway M bass section. We can build almost any size for almost any piano.
https://www.reyburnpianoworks.com/keyboards
We use our premium "Ivocor" mineral plastic which feels very much like Ivory, and ebony sharps, and beech key buttons help with with strength on the angled key buttons.
We use as custom spruce blank, with a sugar maple sandwich (maple is the bread on top and bottom). The sandwich area is from the back of the headscale to just in front of the capstan. This provides extra needed strength since the angle of the doglegs approaches 45 degrees in some cases. In the bass we use extra sugar maple below the key, between balance rail and middle of the black key, all to stiffen the keys.
-Dean
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Dean Reyburn, RPT
Reyburn Pianoworks
Reyburn CyberTuner
1-616-498-9854
dean@reyburn.comwww.reyburnpianoworks.comwww.cybertuner.comwww.reyburntools.comFacebook:
www.facebook.com/dean.reyburn------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 05-26-2024 19:13
From: Steven Rosenthal
Subject: Stretto pianos
Growing interest in narrower keyboards.
https://thepublicsradio.org/npr/pianist-hannah-reimann-advocates-for-narrower-pianos-to-help-those-with-small-hands
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Steven Rosenthal RPT
Honolulu HI
(808) 521-7129
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