7/8 keyboards

[A440A@AOL.COM]

Susan writes:
>It's not as if you were going to throw away the first keyboard and keyframe.
>I believe that they can be interchanged quite easily. Actually, the Yamaha
>grand at the Banff Centre with a Steinbuhler keyboard has a second
>action as well, so they can be traded in minutes.

Greetings, 
   This is one of two important points about the SB keyboards.  The keys can 
be gradually traded in as the child grows, finally ending up  original .  I 
suggested this to David,  thinking that a new Walter upright would go out 
with the SB conversion, and the original keys would be boxed and sent  along 
with it, or held in storage at the factory.  After three or four years at 
each intermediate size, trading the various fractions back in,  student would 
finally graduate back to his own originals.  The trade-ins could easily be 
used in other pianos, so the pricing should be able to reflect a lease of 
sorts.  
     I don't know  but there is another side to the coin, fired at me by a 
professional teacher.  Many kids are involved in competitions, both as ego 
boosting and as incentive to practise.  A smaller keyboard at home wouldn't 
really prepare them for the instruments that they will have to use at 
competitions, so that is a drawback.  At least, a drawback until competitions 
have a smaller keyboard available.  Think about it,  a 6 year old child 
playing Rachmaninoff!    
    My temperament pianist in K.C.  took approx. 1/2 hour to stop hitting 
9ths instead of octaves, but once she relaxed, it was very easy for her to 
enjoy the ease of reaching.  For the serious home pianist with small hands,  
this is something I have no trouble recommending. 
Regards, 
Ed Foote RPT