How many keys?

Piano by Stuart and Sons

Do you notice anything unusual about this piano? Can you work out what the lowest and highest notes are?

Unlike the standard piano that you would see at Mitchell Conservatorium, it has 8 octaves, from F to F. For more than a hundred years, pianos have been manufactured with 7 and a quarter octaves, with a total of 88 keys.

The Thursday, 21st October, 2010 Sydney Morning Herald announces that Wayne Stuart, the manufacturer of the piano pictured above, has extended this range even further by creating a piano with 102 keys, from a very low C to the high F on the piano pictured.

Some composers are writing for the extended range, but the existence of the strings on the piano can enhance its sound, even if the actual keys are not included in the piece of music being played.

If you would like to hear how these pianos sound, Stuart and Sons are offering a free demo cd at their website, where you can also read more about their interesting, Australian-made pianos.

But for a wonderful live performance on a beautiful Bechstein grand piano [with 88 keys], you won't want to miss Elena Day-Hakker's concert at 2.30 PM on Sunday, 31st October at Mitchell Conservatorium, in the west wing of Bathurst Court House in Russell St.