New models at Yamaha piano fair

By Do Je-hae

A rare occasion to experience the grand piano is underway for fans and experts of the instrument.

The Yamaha Grand Piano Fair is introducing a mix of traditional and digital grand pianos through Feb. 29 at COEX, Samseong-dong, southern Seoul.

On display are various traditional models as wells as the new Disklavier grands (which play by themselves) and digital grands.

“For pianists, a grand piano is a partner for life once it is chosen. Even the same model piano can have different sounds and touch, so one must have the opportunity to experience these instruments before making the final right choice,” said Shin Na-rae of Yamaha Music Korea.

Yamaha Music Korea has organized the fair since 2004 for pianists, students, teachers and fans.

On Feb. 10, the piano maker organized a mini recital by pianist Son Yeol-eum, second prize winner of the 2011 International Tchaikovsky Competition, on a Yamaha grand.

A highlight of the fair is the recently introduced “AvantGrand,” a hybrid grand piano and the latest example of Yamaha's innovation. It's a blend of real piano masterwork and the latest in recording technology.

Young visitors try a variety of Yamaha pianos at the Yamaha Grand Piano Fair, which will run until Feb. 29. / Yonhap

While many digital pianos do a fine job of recreating the sound of a 9-foot concert grand piano, the “AvantGrand” goes a step further by replicating the sound through four strategically placed speakers.

Another first is the application of the Tactile Response System that allows the vibrations typically felt on an acoustic piano to be experienced when playing the AvantGrand. The instrument costs around $20,000. Compared to its string-and-hammer based equivalents, it's considered a bargain.

Also available for viewing are the Bosendorfer pianos, which rank among the world's oldest piano manufacturers, rich in tradition and known for its outstanding quality. The Austrian piano maker was introduced to the Korean market for the first time in 2011 through its Japanese owner Yamaha. Bosendorfer’s Korean debut coincided with Liszt’s bicentennial. To mark the occasion, the handmade piano maker produced 25 Liszt models and one of them is currently in Korea.

Yamaha has been making pianos since 1889. Today, besides being a leader in digital pianos, Yamha has also been creating useful apps for pianists and students.

Yamaha debuted last month new apps for iPad and iPhone that help keyboard players get the most out of their instruments, including NoteStar, a digital sheet music application for the iPad; Page Turner, another application for the iPad with wireless page-turning ability for the Yamaha EZ-220 keyboard; and Scale Tuner, an application for both the iPad and iPhone that allows users to change the tuning of a compatible Yamaha keyboard.

For more information, visit kr.yamaha.com.