Official Trailer ✅: S3 E17 Hannah Reimann -- Creator of Stretto Piano Concerts

20 Apr 2023 · 3 min

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This content was created by The Piano Pod with Yukimi Song. This content was uploaded by The Piano Pod with Yukimi Song. This is a YouTube trailer titled "Official Trailer ✅: S3 E17 Hannah Reimann -- Creator of Stretto Piano Concerts" (created April 20, 2023). It is a conversational interview between host The Piano Pod with Yukimi Song and guest Hannah Reimann about "stretto" (narrow-key) pianos — what they are, how they’re measured (examples: conventional octave span ~6.35 in vs stretto spans of ~6.0, 5.9, 5.5 inches; a reduced-width 88-key keyboard at 44 inches), their benefits for small-handed pianists, and Reimann’s advocacy work including the International Stretto Piano Festival and Stretto Piano Concerts. The excerpt also promotes a video premiere (Tuesday, April 25th, 8 PM Eastern) and notes the audio podcast will be released in two parts with links in the description.

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So most people don't know about pianos with narrower keys to accommodate small hands, which is why pioneers like myself and some other lovely people who I'll tell you about have taken it upon themselves to raise awareness by collaborating with different people in the industry and creating concerts and rebuilding their pianos. Have you ever wanted to experience what it's like to play a piano that has narrow keys? Keys that could cut your practice time in half and make stretches feel easy? My name is Hanna Reimann, and I'm delighted to introduce you to the world of stretto pianos. Stretto means narrow in Italian.
What is a stretto piano?
Stretto piano is any instrument with a keyboard that has keys that are narrower than than the conventional size of piano keyboard. It can be calculated different ways. You know, most piano keyboards with 88 keys are 48 inches. My reduced-width keyboard is 44 inches with 88 keys. But my colleagues around the world and other people have established a new way of measuring, and that is with an octave span. So the octave span of the conventional keys is 6.35 inches. 6.5 inches. Stretto pianos are 6.0 or 5.9 or 5.5, and there are even some people making smaller ones. They can be in any kind of keyboard instruments, electronic instruments, wood and metal pianos. They don't have to have 88 keys. Piano is the only instrument that doesn't come in multiple sizes in terms of keys for a wood and metal piano. Even though it does not seem like an issue to most people, there really is a history of pianists as they play more and more difficult repertoire, getting injuries. I mean, imagine playing a violin or a viola with a really small hand for years and years and playing extremely difficult music. Even if you have a perfect technique, you're much more comfortable with something that fits you. And lots of pianists have not had that opportunity yet, including smallest children who are virtuosos. So, you know, this just opens up a whole other way of thinking as it becomes embraced.
More on this conversation with Hannah Reimann, pioneer and advocate of stretto pianos and creator of the International Stretto Piano Festival and Stretto Piano Concerts. Please join the chat during the premiere of this special episode this Tuesday, April 25th, 8 PM 8 PM Eastern on my YouTube channel. The audio podcast will be split into two parts. Part 1 will be dropped on your favorite podcasting platform at the same time of the video premiere. Don't forget to subscribe or follow The Piano Pod with Yukimi Song with Yukimi Song with Yukimi Song. All the links are in the description.