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Full-Text Articles in Arts and Humanities
Muscular Forces And Joint Angles In Small-Handed Pianists: A Pilot Study On The 7/8 Size Keyboard Versus The Full Size Keyboard, Brenda Wristen, Alexis Kathleen Wismer, Myung-Chul Jung, M. Susan Hallbeck
Muscular Forces And Joint Angles In Small-Handed Pianists: A Pilot Study On The 7/8 Size Keyboard Versus The Full Size Keyboard, Brenda Wristen, Alexis Kathleen Wismer, Myung-Chul Jung, M. Susan Hallbeck
Glenn Korff School of Music: Faculty Conference Presentations
This pilot study examined whether the use of a 7/8 keyboard contributed to the physical ease of small-handed pianists in comparison with the conventional piano keyboard. A secondary research question focused on the transition from one keyboard to the other. For the purposes of this study, we adopted David Steinbuhler’s postulated hand span of 8 inches or less as defining a “small-handed” pianist. The goal was to measure muscle loading and hand span during performance of the excerpt. Data collection included each participant being monitored using electromyography via surface electrodes, which were attached to the upper back/shoulder, parts of the …
Using Three Dimensional Motion Capture Technology To Describe And Assess Piano Technique: A Case Study, Brenda Wristen, Nikolaos Stergiou, Sharon Evans
Using Three Dimensional Motion Capture Technology To Describe And Assess Piano Technique: A Case Study, Brenda Wristen, Nikolaos Stergiou, Sharon Evans
Glenn Korff School of Music: Faculty Conference Presentations
The purpose of the study was to examine any differences that exist in the quality of motions employed by pianists when they are sight-reading versus performing repertoire. A secondary question of interest was whether or not an improvement in the efficiency of motion could be observed between two sight-reading trials of the same musical excerpt. While data analysis for the full study is ongoing, the following results from a case study are illustrative.