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There's this little piano school I attend. I play either on an upright, unbranded, Riemann action I am told, or on Yamaha C5 grand. Also at home I have a Yamaha U1 upright

Now I felt strange playing the unbranded upright and I realized the keyboard was lower than usual. So I took some measure, from the key tops to the ground:
- Unbranded upright: 66 cm
- Yamaha C5: 76 cm
- My own Yamaha U1 upright: 72 cm

Is this normal ? There is no standardization here ? What are the consequences on the technique of playing ?

I for one feel good with 72cm, Ok with 76, not so good with 66. My height is 180.

Anyone has comments ?

Thanks,

M.

There's no standard. Pianos will differ in height, and one that is identical to another might be put on tall caster cups or a dolly.

You have to do your best with adjusting the bench height.

I agree.

However, I would think the keyboard height of the same make and model piano would be really close if not exactly the same. On the other hand, other makes and models would vary, and some quite a lot, as in the the case of the unbranded upright.

Either way, it sure is nice to have an adjustable bench. Wish I had one.

Rick

Generally grands have 70-72 to white tops, upright can be everything. Concert uprights are quite high, my is 75cm, Steingraebers are known to be super high as well. Despite me being 188 tall my body definitely feels better at lower positioned grand than high positioned uprights. Too low is bad either.

And indeed no standard here

Regarding that Yamaha C5 - maybe it is on unusually high wheels?

@maucycy,

Yes, it has some 7/8 wheels and a pad below those. Makes sense what you say, tx.

Well, they certainly give that impression!



Is a 9' grand precise to the 1/4"? Maybe it is (I know pianos have to be pretty precisely made), but I wouldn't be surprised if one Model D just happened to be 8'11 1'2"

Yeah, I get it's just a conversion from the 274 centimeter number.

I think its quite a good thing that there is height variance in uprights as it gives opportunity for choice.

I have very long legs and the keyboard of my U3 was a bit too low to fit my knees underneath and operate the pedals whereas the Kawai we now own is a lot higher. Interestingly my wife, who is the opposite end of the height spectrum to me, is also very happy with the Kawai's height (although she prefers the bench a bit lower than me).

I once tried to play a Pearl River spinet. The piano was not only small - as spinets usually are - but the keyboard was so low that I could not get my knees under the keyboard. Nothing I could do or say; there was no adjustable bench (although that would not have helped, given the length of my leg from foot to knee) but the owner was proud of the piano!

Evidently, that is an extreme case; note that I am of normal height and proportions.

Regards,