1
00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:06,680
So most people don't know about pianos with narrower keys to accommodate small hands,

2
00:00:06,680 --> 00:00:12,800
which is why pioneers like myself and some other lovely people who I'll tell you about

3
00:00:12,800 --> 00:00:19,200
have taken it upon themselves to raise awareness by collaborating with different people in

4
00:00:19,200 --> 00:00:26,520
the industry and creating concerts and rebuilding their pianos.

5
00:00:26,520 --> 00:00:32,960
Have you ever wanted to experience what it's like to play a piano that has narrow keys,

6
00:00:32,960 --> 00:00:39,280
keys that could cut your practice time in half and make stretches feel easy?

7
00:00:39,280 --> 00:00:45,720
My name is Hanna Reiman and I'm delighted to introduce you to the world of stretto pianos.

8
00:00:45,720 --> 00:00:48,880
Stretto means narrow in Italian.

9
00:00:48,880 --> 00:00:51,080
What is a stretto piano?

10
00:00:51,080 --> 00:01:00,200
Stretto piano is any instrument with keyboards that has keys that are narrower than the conventional

11
00:01:00,200 --> 00:01:03,080
size of piano keyboard.

12
00:01:03,080 --> 00:01:05,600
It can be calculated different ways.

13
00:01:05,600 --> 00:01:09,620
Most piano keyboards with 88 keys are 48 inches.

14
00:01:09,620 --> 00:01:16,540
My reduced width keyboard is 44 inches with 88 keys, but my colleagues around the world

15
00:01:16,540 --> 00:01:22,160
and other people have established a new way of measuring and that is with an octave span.

16
00:01:22,160 --> 00:01:27,360
So the octave span of the conventional keys is 6.5 inches.

17
00:01:27,360 --> 00:01:36,160
Stretto pianos are 6.0 or 5.9 or 5.5 and there are even some people making smaller ones.

18
00:01:36,160 --> 00:01:42,280
They can be in any kind of keyboard instruments, electronic instruments, wooden metal pianos,

19
00:01:42,280 --> 00:01:44,200
they don't have to have 88 keys.

20
00:01:44,200 --> 00:01:49,280
Piano is the only instrument that doesn't come in multiple sizes in terms of keys for

21
00:01:49,280 --> 00:01:51,240
a wood and metal piano.

22
00:01:51,240 --> 00:01:55,640
Even though it does not seem like an issue to most people, there really is a history

23
00:01:55,640 --> 00:02:01,200
of pianists as they play more and more difficult repertoire getting injuries.

24
00:02:01,200 --> 00:02:07,240
I mean imagine playing a violin or a viola with a really small hand for years and years

25
00:02:07,240 --> 00:02:09,880
and playing extremely difficult music.

26
00:02:09,880 --> 00:02:13,740
Even if you have a perfect technique, you're much more comfortable with something that

27
00:02:13,740 --> 00:02:15,320
fits you.

28
00:02:15,320 --> 00:02:21,280
And lots of pianists have not had that opportunity yet, including the smallest children who are

29
00:02:21,280 --> 00:02:22,760
virtuosos.

30
00:02:22,760 --> 00:02:28,800
So you know this just opens up a whole other way of thinking as it becomes embraced.

31
00:02:28,800 --> 00:02:34,040
More on this conversation with Hanna Reiman, pioneer and advocate of Stretto pianos and

32
00:02:34,040 --> 00:02:39,420
creator of the International Stretto Piano Festival and Stretto Piano Concerts.

33
00:02:39,420 --> 00:02:45,080
Let's join the chat during the premiere of this special episode this Tuesday, April 25th,

34
00:02:45,080 --> 00:02:47,760
8pm Eastern on my YouTube channel.

35
00:02:47,760 --> 00:02:51,160
The audio podcast will be split into two parts.

36
00:02:51,160 --> 00:02:56,120
Part 1 will be dropped on your favorite podcasting platform at the same time of the video premiere.

37
00:02:56,120 --> 00:02:59,000
Don't forget to subscribe or follow the PianoPod.

38
00:02:59,000 --> 00:03:10,360
All the links are in the description.