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News Experience with the SIRIUS 6.0 keyboard

Since February 2023, Nuremberg University of Music has had a Steinway M with an innovative SIRIUS 6.0 keyboard. The octaves on this keyboard are approximately half a key narrower than those on a standard keyboard.

Since then, numerous pianists have experimented with playing on the narrower keyboard to see if it offers any advantages over the standard keyboard. Their initial experiences were documented in a survey.

The results clearly show that pianists with medium and smaller hand spans benefit the most from the SIRIUS 6.0 keyboard, including 90% of women and 25% of men.

Advantages frequently reported are:

- more relaxed hands

- longer endurance when practising

greater tonal freedom

Narrower keyboards open up a wider choice of repertoire and help avoid overexertion when practising and performing.

The complete survey analysis (in German) is available to download here.