Choosing A Keyboard Stand

A vital part of the keyboard is the piece that does not produce any music at all. Keyboard stands are responsible for making sure that the musician can play in comfort and that the instrument is secure in a certain position. The type of keyboard stand that you choose will be determined by a number of factors.

The type of keyboard you use

High-end keyboards can be quite heavy, but many keyboards remain light and portable. A heavier keyboard, of course, will require a sturdier stand both to keep it in place and to prevent it from collapsing under the weight. Some styles of keyboard, such as digital pianos, include their own stand that gels with the rest of the instrument so that the appearance of a traditional piano is impressed upon the audience.

If you mainly use the keyboard to fool around at home, then a simple collapsible model may be the best for you. These stands are pretty inexpensive, and will get the job done when it comes to holding the keyboard level.

How you play

If you are an informal keyboard player, then you may want to choose a stand that does not so much reflect the discipline of the piano. Serious players, however, may want to choose a stand that reflects the studious practice of the craft by lending a more solid appearance to the keyboard structure.

Keyboard players who specialize in performances, such as rock and roll, may want to consider stands that are sturdier in design. A lot of heavy playing of the keys usually results from a good performance, and the stand should be designed to absorb the impact of the hands.

Where you play

A lot of keyboard players need to have their keyboards with them for the performance; their keyboards are programmed with the range of sounds they will need for the performance, and therefore they cannot substitute for a venue keyboard. These players will need to find a stand that is as portable as possible while still lending a sturdy base for the instrument.

Keyboards which are intended to remain in place will not need a stand that can be moved around as easily. These stands can even include effects devices such as pedals, as they are not really expected to be detached from the keyboard very often, if at all.

Ergonomics

More and more musicians are becoming aware of the potential hazards posed by repetitive motion injury. Keyboardists can avoid this type of injury by selecting a keyboard stand that is adjusted to their height and arm length, or their position while sitting. This is pretty vital for anyone who plays their instrument often, as one of theses injuries may mean that you will be forced to quit playing.

Keyboard players who play multiple instruments at the same time also usually include several stand heights while performing, in order to differentiate quickly between which keyboard is to be used at the current moment in the song. Practicing the routine will allow you to automatically switch to the right keyboard based on height alone.

Keyboard stands are as vital to performance as keyboard cases are to properly maintaining and transporting your instrument.

Clavinova – An Overview

The Clavinova which was originally developed by the Yamaha Corporation, is a model of digital piano. Similar to acoustic pianos, clavinovas come with many features common to the digital piano. For example, they have the ability to save and load songs as well as being able to access different voices.  Some of the recent models can connect to a computer via a USB cable or even a wireless network.

Two of the more popular clavinova series are the CLP and CVP models.  These provide a digital alternative to the acoustic style pianos.  The CLP reproduces quite accurately the touch and sound of the acoustic piano while offering other voices in a limited number.  The CVP series offers a wider variety of voices while adding built-in rhythms as well as accompaniments for a more complete performance.

Clavinova Technical information

Some Clavinovas (in particular the CLP and CVP-Series) feature graded hammer technology. This technology is simply a mechanical system of small metal hammers.  The hammers are weighted to be similar to those of a real pianoforte.  The real ones hit a digital pressure sensor which is then translated into sound. By implementing this technology the clavinova has enjoyed much success as an affordable substitute for acoustic pianos. The ‘Graded’ action in these series tends to reproduce more accurately the varying weights of the hammers of an acoustic piano. The newer models of Clavinovas, incorporate real wood keys for added realism. This is a trait of models such as the CVP-407

The built-in synthesizer contains many samples of real instruments and produces the sounds of these while using electronics to modify those sounds. Information is supplied via a MIDI or similar format.  It comes either directly from the piano keyboard or from a stored source within the piano.  It can also be provided by a computer or external sequencer. The synthesizer can imitate acoustic instruments, electronic instruments and other unique sound effects. The newer more recent CVP Clavinova contains hundreds of such voices. These usually include many types of stringed instruments, organs, pianos, percussion, woodwind and brass instruments. And that’s not to mention available effects.

Pricing of a clavinova can range to as high as $12,000.00USD.