Disklavier

Overview

The Disklavier is a family of acoustic pianos made by Yamaha that include built-in systems for recording, playing back, and transmitting performance data. From the outside the instrument looks and sounds like a normal grand or upright piano. Inside, sensors capture each key and pedal action, and an array of electromagnetic actuators can reproduce a recorded performance with hammer-strike accuracy.

Origin & History

Yamaha introduced the first Disklavier in 1987, building on the long tradition of mechanical reproducing pianos that flourished in the early twentieth century. Where those earlier instruments used punched paper rolls, the Disklavier uses high-resolution digital data based on the MIDI standard. Successive generations have improved the resolution of the captured data and added internet connectivity, allowing live performances to be transmitted between distant pianos.

How It’s Played

A Disklavier is played by hand exactly like any other acoustic piano. The added systems do not change the feel of the keys for the player. When in playback mode the instrument operates without a pianist, with the keys, hammers, and pedals visibly moving as if an invisible performer were at the bench. Modern models can also integrate with mobile apps and stream performances over the internet.

Cultural Significance

The Disklavier has found use in three main contexts: high-end home entertainment, music education, and concert performance. Educators use it to record students for review and to demonstrate touch and timing. Concert programmes have used networked Disklaviers to allow soloists to perform across continents in near-real time. The instrument also archives the playing of leading pianists, whose recorded performances can be reproduced with strong fidelity at later dates and in different rooms.

Related Instruments

• Player piano – the older mechanical reproducing piano
• Pianola – a roll-driven self-playing piano brand
• Acoustic piano – the underlying instrument
• MIDI controller – the broader MIDI input category
• Clavinova – Yamaha’s digital piano range

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Disklavier a real acoustic piano?
Yes. It is a normal Yamaha acoustic grand or upright piano with electronic recording and playback systems added.

Can you play a Disklavier by hand?
Yes. The added technology does not change the playing feel for the pianist.

Can two Disklaviers communicate over the internet?
Modern models support remote performance, where one player’s input is reproduced live on a distant instrument over the network.

Image: photograph by Jsteeber, CC BY 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons).