Why digital?

Yamaha is the world's leading maker of both acoustic and digital pianos. Each has its own advantages, but these are some of the benefits enjoyed by digital owners:

• Smaller size
• A choice of sounds
• Easier to m
• No maintenance
• Never needs tuning
• Volume control
• Private practise (with headphones)
• On-board recording

What's so good about weighted keys?

Weighted keys mimic the feel of an acoustic piano. This is important for two reasons. Firstly it helps the student to develop the manual dexterity and muscle strength required in the hands to play more demanding compositions. Secondly, it eliminates any difference in feel to a player who is already accustomed to playing an acoustic piano, thus removing the possibility of having to climb another learning curve.

Why is touch sensitivity important?

A string on an acoustic piano will resonate louder the harder it is struck by the hammer. For a digital piano to sound realistic, this effect must be reproduced. Additionally, the sound from a single note will be unique when the string is hit at different velocities. On Yamaha digital pianos, a separate sample is taken for each note at a number of different strengths. When the digital piano is played, the appropriate sample is triggered according to the force of the key press.

An Informed Choice

"Clavinovas are an essential part of music education on every level and are highly respected by leading educationalists.

"On a practice level the fact that you can listen on headphones is a huge advantage for many a student. Anyone who lives in a flat or semi-detatched house is likely to encounter complaints from neighbours, so the Clavinova is a serious alternative. It is also highly desirable in terms of price, size and consistency of pitch; there's no need for tuning bills!

"Being able to choose from a wide range of sounds, and use rhythm tracks and CDs as you play makes many of the traditionally tedious skills far more accessible and enjoyable. Also, refining and controlling rhythmic security is made so much easier by using the Clavinova's built-in metronome or by playing along with a recorded track."

Murray McLachlan Chairman, European Piano Teachers Association and head of keyboard at Chetham's School of Music

Digital pianos in examinations

"Candidates may present the pieces and requirements on an electronic instrument only if they have access to one at a school or a teacher's studio where visit arrangements have already been made for other candidates. An electronic instrument will only be acceptable, however, if it has a clearly recognisable piano tone, a touch-sensitive keyboard with full-size, weighted keys, and an action, compass and facilities which match those of an ordinary piano, including sustaining pedal."

Associated Board

Yamaha at The Royal Academy

"The Clavinova is the first digital piano I have encountered that gives the distinct sensation of playing on a resonating instrument with varying dimensions, string lengths and tensions, and resulting tone quality. The instruments now encourage a more musically sensitive approach to the variety of tasks that students are asked to undertake at the Academy."

Roderick Chadwick Head of Supporting Studies at the Royal Academy of Music