Robin Boyle’s scientific contributions

Hand span data was collected from 473 adult pianists and analysed using descriptive and inferential statistical methods, focusing on differences according to gender, ethnicity and level of acclaim. For comparative purposes, similar data was collected from 216 non-pianist university students and 49 children and teenagers. Gender differences are consistent with those found in earlier studies and ethnic differences are also significant but smaller in magnitude. Highly acclaimed solo performers tend to have bigger hand spans than others. 'Small hands' are defined in terms of hand span metrics, allowing estimates of the proportions of pianists with 'small hands'. The conclusion is that the current 'standard' piano keyboard is too large ergonomically for a majority of pianists. ______________________________________________________________________

For around 100 years, there has been a ‘one size fits all’ approach to the piano keyboard, despite the wide variation in hand sizes within the human population. Much of the literature relating hand size to piano playing is in the performing arts medicine field, identifying small hand size as one of the possible causes of pain and injury among pianists. Adopters of reduced-size keyboards, available since the mid-1990s, report relief from pain and tension, and other benefits, such as improvements in specific technical and musical skills, faster learning times, and greater comfort and security. This paper includes a review of data on hand size in relation to piano keyboards, epidemiological and other literature relating to injury risk for small-handed pianists, and individuals’ accounts of how reduced-size keyboards have benefited their own playing. The authors conducted a questionnaire survey of North American adult pianists who play reduced-size keyboards. The aim was to explore the nature of the technical, musical and health benefits, focusing on their experiences with reduced-size compared with the standard keyboard. Finally, the paper summarises one of the author’s (Rhonda) initial reactions to playing on a 7/8 keyboard, and suggests further areas for research.