Subject: (fwd) Roland RD-600 Tendonitis Subject: Roland RD-600 Tendonitis I've been playing piano for over 30 years and have never had any hand problems. That is until I started playing digital keyboards. Now I have a case of tendonitis that is very frustrating. Any ideas? Newsgroups: rec.music.makers.piano Subject: Re: Roland RD-600 Tendonitis >Getting back to the keyboard itself........ >When I have compared the RD 600 action to Kurzweil and others it is by far (to >me) the heaviest. > Did your pains start after you played the Roland awhile ? > .......Sound like doctor don't I ? Damn it Jim....I'm a doctor not a piano >bench seller ! >But seriously folks the RD 600 is a fine Keyboard but it does tire my >digits..more than others....try one for about 20 minutes. > Carl > that's probably due to the fact the Roland RD-600 feels more like an acoustic piano while the Kurzweil feels more like a Synth Keyboard. Newsgroups: rec.music.makers.piano Subject: Re: Roland RD-600 Tendonitis > I have an RD-500 and do not have that experience. Are the actions different > between the RD-500 and the RD-600? Yes, the RD-600 has the PA4 Hammer Action also found in the A90 Controller, the RD-500 has the predecessor of this action. But it has been mentioned that the weight of this action seems to differ quite a bit from action to action, though it seems to be on the heavier side of actions found in DPs (i myself own an A90 and the action really suits my needs). But at comparing two actions it has to be considered that the velocity-volume curve can be adjusted at most DPs, and this relation can be a significant part of the "feeling" of the action. If you really have to bang on the action to actually hear a tone, then the action feels much heavier than the same action trimmed to produce a tone at the slightest touch. Newsgroups: rec.music.makers.piano Subject: Re: Roland RD-600 Tendonitis Date: Wed, 18 Nov 1998 11:45:50 GMT >> I've been playing piano for over 30 years and have never had any hand >> problems. That is until I started playing digital keyboards. Now I have a >> case of tendonitis that is very frustrating. >> >> Any ideas? > >Are you playing standing, or in some other position differently than you do on >your acoustic? I play both types everyday. I agree, it sounds like the angle that your hand is in relation to the keyboard is slightly different. Whenever I get a electronic keyboard, I make sure that my adjustable seat is exactly at the right height so that my hand position is the same as it would be on an acoustic piano. I use a good drum throne for this so that I can tweak the seat height and get it just right. It's $125 well spent especially if you play 4-5 hour gigs. Newsgroups: rec.music.makers.piano Subject: Re: bench height WAS Roland RD-600 Tendonitis >What is the proper height for the keyboard? I use a stackable >desk chair (the kind made out of bent steel tubing, non folding) >with my X stand at the lowest setting and I still feel too low >unless I stick a folded blanket on the seat. I assumed that I should >be set up like a computer keyboard. I'm 5'11". I need to get >a better bench but I've partly been put off by figuring how to choose >one. > >Is this important? Aren't the benches that come with >accoustics typically fixed in height? Even if the bench adjusts, >the piano doesn't and you have flex your knees to a greater or lesser >degree. How do children reach the keyboard and the pedals? For them >isn't the piano keyboard like reaching for the top manual of an organ? > >Why are piano benches benches in the first place? Should you really >shift while playing? Four-handed pieces? Looks cool? All good questions, most of which have been answered in other posts. The only good answer I know is to buy a sturdy, adjustable bench with comfortable seat; eg, the famous "steinway bench". Newsgroups: rec.music.makers.piano Subject: Re: bench height WAS Roland RD-600 Tendonitis > Is this important? Aren't the benches that come with > accoustics typically fixed in height? Even if the bench adjusts, > the piano doesn't and you have flex your knees to a greater or lesser > degree. How do children reach the keyboard and the pedals? For them > isn't the piano keyboard like reaching for the top manual of an organ? > > Why are piano benches benches in the first place? Should you really > shift while playing? Four-handed pieces? Looks cool? Bench height is very important for comfort and can reduce the risk of injury. Non-adjustable chairs/benches/stools can be "raised" with pads of various thickness, but I find an adjustable-height bench more useful. Both my young son and I can "fit" properly by moving the top up and down. Stools were once common (particularly with uprights); I've often thought we used benches to minimize the chance of falling off when playing "dynamically"! :-) Newsgroups: rec.music.makers.piano Subject: Re: Roland RD-600 Tendonitis Date: 17 Nov 1998 10:50:12 -0600 Electronic piano keyboards sit on keyboard stands. I have yet to find a keyboard stand that puts the keyboard at the same height as an acoustic piano keyboard. If you are using a standard piano bench, that could be the problem. Measure the distance between the bench top and the keyboard when you are sitting at the acoustic piano, the one that never gave you any trouble. Ensure that the same distance is in effect at the electronic. That distance affects your wrist and elbow angles, which might account for the problem. Also, the RD-600 action is different than an acoustic. You might be playing it harder trying to get the same feel, which is not possible, even in the best of electronic keyboard actions.