Piano World Home Page
Posted By: Mickey Unknown keyboard instrument - 04/20/08 11:25 PM
Could anyone tell me what the keyboard instrument used in these two videos is called?

Dead + Rural

Radio\'s Hot Son

It's similar to a celesta or dulcitone, but I believe it is something else.

Thank you.l
Posted By: Jeanne W Re: Unknown keyboard instrument - 04/20/08 11:48 PM
looks like a toy piano to me, but the young woman is confusing things by holding the keys down as though she's playing an organ. the audio is not good for hearing what she's playing, but i'm thinking her holding the keys down is having no effect on the sound - that the notes are not being sustained, just going "plink" and fading out as on a toy piano.

?

Jeanne W
Posted By: Mickey Re: Unknown keyboard instrument - 04/21/08 03:47 AM
Oh yeah, it is just a toy piano.

These parts are normally played on a synthesizer, so it would make sense if she's used to holding the keys down.

Thanks!
Posted By: JeanDavid Re: Unknown keyboard instrument - 03/07/09 06:18 PM
(I'm a lottle bit late to this thread, but here is some more information for you if you like.)

It is definitely a toy piano. A Jaymar. Jaymar has since been purchased by Schoenhut (you can find them on the web). Some are almost serious, with 37 notes, such as their model 379.

Margaret Leng Tan is an especially good toy piano piano (as well as adult pianos). She may well be the second professional toy piano player, the first being Schroeder. Here are links to some of her toy piano performances:

Eleanor Rigby http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMXVlJoHUSw

Dinky Toys http://www.archive.org/details/OM5LengTanVargas

Nightmare rag -- She plays a grand piano with her left hand and a toy
piano with her right hand.
http://www.archive.org/details/OM5LengTanTwiningNightmare

Satie Blues -- She plays a grand piano with her left hand and a toy piano with her right hand.
http://www.archive.org/details/OM5LengTanTwiningSatieBlue
© Piano World Piano & Digital Piano Forums