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Original poster

Yamaha Clavinova Digital Piano?

31 replies

Demented · 02/11/2004 14:20

Wondered if anyone had any experience of these?

I used to play the piano and enjoyed it but haven't played for about 12 years. I always thought that if I ever had the chance to have a piano again I would get a nice overstrung upright however DH plays electric guitar and I can see myself playing more in the way of modern stuff rather than classical, it would be nice to be able to play together and the modern stuff is more fun.

I was looking at one of these Clavinovas at the Ideal Home Exhibition the other week and although I didn't play it (didn't have the guts after 12 years to make my debut in the SECC) I did have a feel of the keys and they were very convincing. The piano will be situated in the cellar and I would imagine the Clavinova takes a lot of the problems of getting it down there out of the equation, as far as I can gather they are easily transportable and don't need tuned but perhaps someone can confirm?

Would love to hear your experiences good or bad and if you have any pointers about which model to go for.

OP posts:
roisin · 02/11/2004 14:33

We have one at church which I play every Sunday, and it is great to play. It's 5 years old, and has never needed any servicing. It is still quite big and heavy, but nothing like an upright piano, so more manoeuvreable.

I've got a very nice upright piano at home, but if I didn't I would definitely consider a Clavinova.

Oh - final recommendation - my sil has one. She's a superb pianist; went to Cheethams, now teaches piano to very high level, and does some big concert playing too. When they move house her aim is to have space for a baby grand, but she says the Clavinova is fine for practising on!

roisin · 02/11/2004 14:42

Yorkiegirl rates them and she (I think) teaches piano too. this thread has some opinions on them (both sides) if you skim through.

Original poster
Demented · 02/11/2004 16:41

Brilliant Roisin, didn't realise you played piano and didn't realise this subject had been covered already! It's nice to hear that both yourself and your SIL enjoy playing it. Now all I have to do is find a good one secondhand and then talk DH into buying it!

OP posts:
KBear · 02/11/2004 17:01

My mum bought one earlier this year and thinks its wonderful.

Yorkiegirl · 02/11/2004 17:02

Message withdrawn

muddaofsuburbia · 02/11/2004 19:38

Demented - I've got a Clavinova too (5 years old - can't remember the model atm). They don't need tuned as they retune themselves every time you switch them on.

Very transportable - the top can come off the legs fairly easily. The weighting of the keys is Associated Board approved, but you can adjust the "feel" anyway if you want to play a grand piano rather than an upright for example.

As it's digital, you can hook it up to your computer and do all sorts of clever things that I don't understand, but someone techy could explain. Volume control and headphone socket are invaluable for dodgy practice sessions I'm Grade 8 standard, but v rusty now and I think they're fab although they don't look quite as glam as a baby grand!

Original poster
Demented · 02/11/2004 19:59

The more I hear about them the better they sound! Like the idea of closing my eyes and pretending to play a grand piano. I'll leave all the fancy stuff with the computer to DH, he's already talking about how he's going to set everything up so we can play along with each other. Love the idea that it doesn't need tuned, that's one less thing to worry about.

You sound very accomplished Muddaofsuburbia, Grade 8 wow! I passed my Grade 5 exam and started on some Grade 6 stuff before stopping my lessons but did enjoy playing the piano and would have liked to have got to Grade 8.

Yorkiegirl I can't mail you just now as DH has got my laptop (some nonsense about needing it for his work the last couple of days ) but will mail you when I get it back. Are you a piano teacher then? Oh, I've just remembered about the problem with the MN Mamas spreadsheet, DH once again not here just now to ask but have you got it sorted out or do you still need help?

OP posts:
muddaofsuburbia · 02/11/2004 20:03

Demented - I never sat Grade 8, but my lovely piano teacher always insisted that I should tell people I was grade 8 standard. Was due to sit grade 7 at uni, but got glandular fever and had to pull out - so almost there I suppose I'd love to sit grade 8 one day so I could maybe teach in my spare time. I could probably get the playing ok, but it's all the scales etc that throw me off!

Yorkiegirl · 02/11/2004 20:09

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Original poster
Demented · 02/11/2004 22:36

That's great Yorkiegirl, I'll not get my laptop back until tomorrow afternoon/evening (when DH expects me to work, pah!) so won't be able to get back to you until then but if you send it through I'll make sure and ask DH what's going on with it. Pub pianist sounds good enough to me! I play a bit more like Les Dawson!

Mudda, when I was younger I really wanted to teach piano and was supposidly going for a degree in Music (ha!) but I am interested in what you say that getting to Grade 8 would have been enough. Maybe that would be enough motivation to get on with it!

OP posts:
unicorn · 02/11/2004 22:47

Please can I butt in please please!!!
I want to ask you experienced musicians .. is it too late to learn piano at 40?
It is something I have always wanted to do.. and dh actually threatened to get me a Clavinova for my 40th (but we ran out of money!)

So.. a) Could I learn and b)Would a Clavinova be better than a piano (which I have previously favoured)

judetheobscure · 02/11/2004 22:56

My dh has just started learning - he's 43 - and doing quite well. No reason to suppose he couldn't get to Grade 8 if he has the time.

I'm also a "done Grade 7" but didn't do grade 8 because I did a music degree at uni and it would have been too embarrassing to do it with all these star pianists around (I'm a flautist). Love playing and have just got into the habit of practising again as the children are a bit older now. I've got a Yamaha Silent Series piano which is an acoustic piano but has a pedal which switches it to electronic mode. Very useful as headphones can be plugged in etc. Touch is not quite as good in electronic mode as acoustic. Highly recommended although not cheap, £5,000 when I bought mine about 5 years ago (was left some money by an aunt and decided it was now or never.) Didn't play it very much for first few year but it was always there in the corner and every time I looked at it it made me happy. Now I play, dh is learning and dd is learning so well worth it.

Marina · 03/11/2004 00:16

This reply has been deleted

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tortoiseshell · 03/11/2004 01:17

Demented, I apologise for this in advance, but I'm going to be the one who disagrees about Clavinovas. They do have big pluses (like being able to play them with headphones), but the touch is never totally realistic - the pupils I teach who have them find it very difficult transferring to an acoustic piano, and particularly find it hard to achieve the 'singing tone' that lots of piano music requires.

Having said that, it really does depend what you want to do - we actually do have a clavinova, which we use for late night note-bashing! But I would always practise on the real piano for any technique work. You're right that it would be easier to get a Clavinova down to the cellar, and another issue might be that it might cope with the atmosphere down there better (although don't know your cellar arrangements!).

Probably not a lot of help there - my advice would be to try lots of them out in showrooms, and try some 'real' pianos too, and just see what you like. Don't let me have put you off - just thought I'd tell you my thoughts!

GeorginaA · 03/11/2004 08:43

Haven't read the entire thread, but this is exactly what I did a few years back. I got to Grade 8 (but failed) and horribly missed having a piano around.

I did try out the Clavinovas but found they were quite expensive and had tons of features that I didn't really require (my main criteria was an electric metronome, an exceptionally good piano sound and the touch & feel of a real piano). In the end I went for a Roland rather than a Yamaha. It does have a few extra features than that, but the emphasis was more on the piano bit. I love it, can't recommend it enough.

XenaWP · 03/11/2004 09:20

i've had a clavinova for 15 years, because I live in a flat & didn't want to horrify the neighbours or have to carry it up 5 flights of stairs & have always been very happy with it. I think it depends on how seriously you play, but if you're like me and will do it occaisionally it's fab & I would really recommend.
PS have never had any problems with it

Marina · 03/11/2004 09:22

That's very interesting tortoiseshell...I really ought to quiz some of our students to find out why they like our Technics so much...

tortoiseshell · 03/11/2004 23:05

Marina, it can depend on what the practice room pianos are like! Some of the ones I have experienced have been truly !!! I think it does depend what you want to play as well. For me, the main thing I found wrong with them was the inability to play really really quietly but still projecting the tone - if that makes sense! But for learning notes, they really are fine. I'd be interested to know what they like about the Technics one too! How long have you been there btw? I wonder if you know a friend of mine who was there about 10 years ago....won't post the name, but was a v. unusual name! He is v. good pianist!

Yorkiegirl · 03/11/2004 23:16

Message withdrawn

Marina · 04/11/2004 00:00

I've only been there seven years tortoiseshell so unless he became one of our postgrad Klingons our paths may not have crossed. But CAT me with the details, as my colleagues will certainly remember him. Part of me suspects the Technics is favoured because you can SHOW OFF on it in front of quite a busy issue desk. Steve Race and the dummy keyboard, eat your heart out

tortoiseshell · 04/11/2004 00:03

Does it have one of those demo buttons - we used to use those - crank up the tempo, and set it playing the Revolutionary etude by Chopin - how to give your piano teacher a heart attack!

unicorn · 04/11/2004 00:08

ok.. < apologies, thread diversion> so please give me your votes (for a complete learner)...
piano.... or clavinova?

tortoiseshell · 04/11/2004 00:13

piano piano piano

roisin · 04/11/2004 08:10

Piano
If you've no other limitations (space, noise, weight, etc.) I would go for a piano - but a good one. (In fact if money and space are no object get a baby grand Stunning piece of furniture if nothing else!)

Seriously, though a clavinova is better than a £200 second-hand honky-tonk, untuneable upright.

Stripymouse · 04/11/2004 08:33

While I understand Tortoiseshell?s point, it is true that some pupils find transferral difficult, this is mainly because of the standard of piano they are used to in comparison to the even and considered balance of the touch sensitive keys. Often pianos are in such a poor state of repair and condition that pupils "learn" to play in set ways to compensate for this, often picking up bad habits along the way.
I do have a little bit of experience in this - music postgrad., taught music in schools and at home (specialising in piano) for ten years plus now. My husband also used to teach piano and keyboard at Uni and agrees with me.
If you can?t afford a good quality piano with plenty of room to house it and for the acoustic considerations (can?t just squeeze one in anywhere) then a Clavinova is a very practical second best - and much much better than a cheap piano any day. You have headphones - big advantage in a home, you have less space taken up and less to consider in terms of acoustics as it is digital. You have much lower maintenance (and this can add up for keeping an acoustic piano up together) and can even buy those singalong/playalong with a pop band/ big band/jazz band type books with CD and not worry about your piano being so out of tune that they sound terrible.
Please don?t buy a cheap "honky tonk" piano - you will regret it - and so might your neighbours (acoustic piano travels through buildings much more easily than a digital keyboard, don?t know exactly why, but it is true).