Learning a new language is never easy, whether it’s human language, programming language, or harmonic language. It takes time, effort, and more importantly, drive to go through the process, but it doesn’t have to a be painful and dreadful experience all the time. Of the many strategies that make learning languages both fun and effective, Duolingo is perhaps the best-known service. What few people realize, however, is that the green owl has been teaching music for over a year now, applying the same principles it uses in teaching Spanish or Mandarin to do-re-mi’s. Unlike smartphones and spoken languages, however, music has to be played to really be learned, which is why Duolingo has come out with a small digital piano so that you can do that anywhere you are.
A piano isn’t the only instrument you can use to learn music, but it’s one of the most convenient and can be designed into an electric and portable form that doesn’t require minding strings that could break. You don’t even need a full-sized piano to get started, but you do need one that’s small enough to be carried around yet has a decent size and a decent sound as well. Rather than relying on a smartphone piano app that doesn’t give the same tactile experience, Duolingo teamed up with Loog, a popular brand of musical instruments for kids and beginners, to make one.
That’s what the Loog x Duolingo Piano brings to the table, figuratively and literally. It’s basically a special version of the Loog piano themed with Duolingo’s iconic green hue. It’s still the same piano made with solid wood panels that enhance the acoustics, making it sound almost like a real classical piano. It also has the same velocity-sensitive keys that implement proper dynamics, meaning that you can hit the keys harder to make the note sound louder, just like a real piano.
It’s not just a Duolingo-branded Loog piano, though, as this particular kit is designed with the easy-to-use and fun learning service in mind. There’s a wooden phone stand that matches the aesthetics of the piano, perfect for holding up the phone while you learn and play. And for a more offline learning experience, the package includes Piano Flashcards as well.
The Loog x Duolingo Piano is more than just a simple digital piano. It can be used as a MIDI controller when connected to an instrument via its USB-C port, and there are also ports not just for headphones but also for pedals and octave shifters. It might look like a kid’s toy, but this piano definitely has the guts to stand proudly as a proper musical instrument so that its use doesn’t stop after you’ve already mastered everything Duolingo has to teach.
London-based design studio Based Upon is renowned for its out-of-the-box work and their latest creation is marvel on its own. Upgrading the classic piano design to a level that’s worthy of a grand art exhibition, is the Twist/D. A radical piano that breaks all norms for a creative twist.
Previously the studio has collaborated with names like Rolls-Royce and Tiffany & Co. to create collectible pieces which adorn the spaces of the rich and the famous. Building on the success of The Baby edition of five baby grands, this exclusive piece brings the grand expanse of the universe to your living room musical symphony.
According to Ian Abell, the essence of every piece crafted at the studio focuses on the right balance between functionality and artwork. Ian emphasis that the piano as a subject for them has “always been to create a credible piece of art while preserving the integrity of the instrument.” Twist/D tends to heighten the experience of the player as well as the listener. To everyone’s surprise, the autonomous piano is an amalgam of sculpture and technical features that delivers the touch, feel and sound of an exquisite concert grand.
The musical instrument has a spiralling shape that embodies dynamism of a dancer’s motion. The minimal silhouette of the piano is inspired by the proportions of the Golden Spiral. For the auditory brilliance, there are 12 computer modelled Steinways and Bechsteins from different eras for a vivid tonal qualities. Just like the form of this piano, the sync between strings, cabinet resonance and pedal mechanism of the symphonies is emulated perfectly for a rich sound. So has the integration of Isle of Skye site-specific audio samples that employs impulse response reverb techniques to create signatures of the island subterranean landscape.
Based Upon has managed to craft a musical instrument from advanced material and techniques to create a deep connection with the natural world. Twist/D has a lightweight frame made out of a composite material that makes possible the unconventional shape without compromising the structural integrity. Those keys are made from sustainable ebony and ivory alternatives for an environmentally friendly design. The price of $194,600 is meant to adorn the living rooms of music composers who value the good things in life.
This takes Pavlov’s bell to a completely different level!
Pets react to different music in different ways. For instance, my doggo would curiously nod his head from left to right and right to left at every note he heard. But he would instantly forget it all and run for the bowl on the first note of his food dropping into it.
Food is dearer to music, but music is a certain entertainer: this is not only true for humans, but for cats and dogs as well. If you agree, there is a musical way to keep your pet entertained and fed when you’re at home or away with the Pet Piano, a cross of an automated pet feeder and a piano.
Essentially a DIY project carried out by YouTube channel Smart Solutions for Home on the behest of YouTuber Aaron’s Animals, the smart piano pet feeder is now a buyable product, available on preorder from the pet piano website. If you’re a DIYer, you can still follow the step-by-step instructions to build a piano for your cat (as it was initially intended to be), otherwise, you can buy a ready-to-ship product and get your pet trained to play Beethoven while keeping her fed even when you are away.
The interesting pet piano is created to release a measured quantity of food whenever the pet presses the key(s). Treat from creating music will be a phenomenal experience for your pet considering that a reward mechanism inculcates a behavioral change in a dog or cat’s cognitive development and mood. So, a reward (food) in return for pressing keys – that make melodious sounds – a positive behavior can in inculcated. As a safety measure, the Pet Piano is created to dispense treats at a moderate pace, which also promotes healthier eating habits.
Further, your pet can also leverage the auto tutoring mode of the pet piano, which automatically trains your pet to level up her piano skills over time. And for days when the pet is not in the mood to play the instrument, the feeder can be scheduled to dispense food – at a scheduled time – through the dedicated mobile app which can also be used to control and monitor the meal portion and other features.
In comparison to other plastic and visually jarring pet feeders, the Pet Piano is made from durable MDF wood in a matte black finish so it can easily merge with your home aesthetic. Usable with cats and dogs of all shapes and sizes, it is provided with a locking mechanism to prevent break-ins and runs off batteries or can be plugged into a power source for nonstop functioning. We can’t guarantee your pianist pet will trend on TikTok, but it’s worth a shot, no?
For over 300 years, the piano has stood as an emblem of artistic culture, captivating audiences with its majestic sound and elegant design. However, despite its enduring popularity, the grand piano has remained largely unchanged in its fundamental form. That is until now. Enter the Ravenchord, a revolutionary wing-shaped instrument that seeks to redefine the piano’s very essence, liberating its form, function, and usability.
Before we delve into the Ravenchord, let’s take a brief journey through the history of the grand piano’s evolution. The piano, as we know it, has its origins in string instruments like the harpsichord and clavichord. Over centuries, the piano technique underwent significant development during the transition from harpsichord to fortepiano playing, culminating in the modern piano. The emergence of virtuoso pianists and changing musical styles during the Classical and Romantic periods also contributed to the piano’s evolution and the various “schools” of piano playing.
In the year 1000 AD, keys were applied to the monochord and contemporary organs, marking the initial steps toward the piano’s design. The 14th century saw the invention of the clavicytherium, a harp-like triangle arrangement of strings. Progress continued with the clavichord in the 16th century, where additional strings and pins fastened to the keys allowed for string vibration through pressure. Clavichord advancements in the 17th century included assigning individual keys to strings and adding a cloth damper between strings.
Fast forward to the 18th century, and Cristofori introduced the first hammer-action pianoforte, credited as the piano’s inventor. Early pianoforte designs often favored the wing form, with manufacturers recognizing its advantages for superior sound quality, volume, and engineering. Eventually, the grand piano took center stage in piano making, becoming the preferred style for concert settings and homes alike.
Now, in the latest chapter of the piano’s evolution, a daring proposal named the Ravenchord has emerged. Conceived by a visionary designer named Harden, the Ravenchord resembles a bird’s wing, with strings fanning out from the center. Unlike previous attempts at redesigning the grand piano, Harden’s concept breaks away from tradition entirely, resulting in a piano that is unrecognizable in appearance but still retains the familiar keys and pedals cherished by pianists.
The Ravenchord sets a new standard for the immersive musical experience it offers, captivating the audience on multiple sensory levels. A remarkable aspect of this revolutionary instrument lies in the visual connection it establishes between the performer and the audience. Harden’s ingenious design strips away the mystique of the piano, revealing its internal mechanisms—the hammers, dampers, and strings—unveiling the magic behind the music and adding a new dimension to every performance. Just like the bow sliding against violin strings or drumsticks striking the drumhead, the Ravenchord transforms the grand piano from a mere instrument into an expressive work of art, captivating both the ears and the eyes of the audience.
To enhance the visual appeal, the Ravenchord offers an optional subtle light behind each string, illuminating the impact of the hammers. This unique feature not only adds an aesthetic touch but also provides a clear visual representation of the instrument’s function. As the hammers strike the strings, the illuminated strings amplify the sensory experience. Ultimately, this vulnerable, exposed instrument, along with the performer, bridges the visual disconnect from the piano’s past, inviting the audience to partake in a truly immersive and captivating musical journey.
Beyond aesthetics, the Ravenchord also poses interesting implications for sound projection. With the absence of a lid, the instrument could potentially alter sound dynamics within a confined space. While this remains theoretical until a built prototype emerges, Harden believes that the sound will bounce off the Ravenchord’s wooden soundboard and flow directly toward the audience, creating a more immersive listening experience.
Despite the exciting possibilities the Ravenchord presents, challenges lie ahead. Constructing a frame capable of withstanding the immense tension exerted by the 18 tons of strings will be a formidable task. Additionally, achieving the perfect tone with this untested shape will require meticulous craftsmanship and fine-tuning.
The grandeur of the piano was in its size, which could be incorporated into this though it should be kept in mind to make it look like a thick block from any angle. The grand piano despite its size would never look like a chunk of material placed anywhere because of its slimmer legs. Having said that, the Ravenchord embraces the practicality of modern life. In a world where urban spaces are increasingly limited, this wing-shaped piano offers a compact alternative, appealing to aspiring pianists who crave the grandeur of a traditional piano but lack the space for one. Additionally, with a design that allows for a 20% reduction in weight compared to a grand piano, the Ravenchord becomes a more manageable and portable instrument, expanding its accessibility to musicians worldwide.
Ultimately, the Ravenchord’s success hinges on its ability to win over pianists who have spent their lives mastering the traditional grand piano. Convincing these passionate musicians that their beloved instrument is ripe for reinvention will undoubtedly be the biggest hurdle.
The Ravenchord’s innovative design ushers in a new era of piano performance, where artistry, technicality, and visual allure converge in a symphony of boundless creativity and pushing the boundaries of design and function. Harden’s innovative vision has the potential to reshape the piano’s role in both concert halls and homes, ushering in a new era of musical artistry and creativity. As we eagerly await the first built prototype, it’s with a blend of boundless curiosity and a touch of skepticism that we look forward to witnessing this transformative step in the grand piano’s storied history.
The good old piano has not seen much evolution in design all these centuries but Casio and Donner have already shown us they’re willing to break the ice. Now for their 50th-anniversary celebration, Japanese music gear pro, Roland has also decided to bring something fresh to the equation. That uniqueness comes in the form of this concept piano designed to commemorate five decades of the Osaka-based brand.
As a part of the concept study in collaboration with Japanese furniture maker Karimoku, the design has the apparent influence of the “future filled with past creativity and future possibilities”.
The 50th Anniversary Concept Model Piano is centered on the PureAcoustic Modeling engine announced by the brand back in 2018. This makes the musical instrument not only look anything like other contemporary options but also ahead in intuitiveness. Case in point, the instrument modeling combined with the multi-channel loudspeakers for a dash of sonic realism. The patent-pending keyboard recognition design brings to the fore a very natural response along with the realistic mapping and reproduction of the pedal noise.
The 88-key piano keyboard instrument is honed by the unibody cabinet that’s purely a result of the Karimoku association in this creation. That eye-grabbing presence of layered Japanese Nara oak pieces arranged in flowing lines and sublime contours. This is perfectly matched to the piano stool having rounded padding on top. Once you lift the lid, there’s a color display panel to toggle all the player settings or the adjustable metronome. The app integration lets one make all the subtle adjustments on the fly.
Roland’s Concept Model Piano is powered by a button on the left and the gold-colored volume control lets you take control of the piano tones on the speakers. Other than that; it goes without saying, the piano looks absolutely stunning in a contoured wooden finish and is all set to embellish a modern living room. For now, there’s no word when this cool piano will be available to burn some cash on, but when it arrives, it’ll surely be on the collectors’ list.
Some musicians will probably tell you it doesn’t matter how an instrument looks as long as the owner knows how to play it. It’s true: Beautiful music can be made by anyone who knows how to play a musical instrument.
It’s not the instrument but the musician that creates and controls the sound. However, it wouldn’t hurt if the instrument is of excellent quality and looks nice like this Donner Digital Piano (DDP-80). The stylish piano is eco-friendly and appears like a modern furniture piece.
Designer: Donner
Acoustic-wise, the DDP-80 is at par with a French grand piano. It’s stylish but remains affordable while able to offer premium audio. The minimalist style makes it an eye-catching addition to any room. It’s a modern furniture item that can make lovely music.
When played right, it offers pleasure to the ears. It’s designed to be pleasing not only to the ears but also to the eyes. The piano’s aesthetics will meet any minimalist’s standards with its wood finish. It comes with 88 full-sized weighted keys, so it feels like a real piano.
Donner’s latest feature-rich electric keyboard is appealing in its wooden finish. The mid-century modern style can fit most interiors, especially those into the minimalist aesthetics. It will probably remind you of those vintage cabinets from decades ago.
The digital piano is environment-friendly with its low-formaldehyde, biodegradable material in either walnut or cherry wooden finish. The piano comes with slim legs that are also angled, resembling a study desk. The buttons, knobs, and controls are placed on the rear to keep its simple look.
The Donner DDP-80 is more than just its charming form. Its digital piano technology functions excellently. It offers USB-MDI connectivity so you can use it with your tablet or smartphone. It also works with other digital audio workstations so you can create more beautiful music.
Donner DDP-80 is a fully-weighted keyboard, so it feels like you’re playing a real piano. It offers the same experience as an acoustic piano, complete with the full tone. The only difference is that this Donner piano is smaller and is more alluring than your other pieces of furniture. It has a matching piano bench and foot pedal, but you need to buy them separately.
This retro piano decor is ready to grace any room with its wooden texture and charming presence. The meticulous workmanship is very obvious in every corner. It’s compact enough for easy transport and storage and is also easy to assemble.
At one point or another, most kids whose parents could afford to let their kids study the piano. Those who loved it or had the talent continued to play into adulthood and some may have even made a career out of it. There are also those, like me, who eventually lost interest or didn’t have the chops to be good at it and who consider tinkling the keys to just be a pleasant memory. If you like pianos as an instrument or as a decoration, this is something that might interest you.
The Yamaha Design Laboratory partnered with the Department of Design at Chiba University to come up with piano designs that are styled as furniture based on the Edo era. They tried to imagine what it would have been like if the piano was allowed to evolve independently in Japan without any modern Western influence. What they come up with is prototypes of three variations of the Sumida Toy piano that were displayed in a space designed as an Edo-era piano store.
The first one is called SUKIMA and the design is blended with the wooden partitions in Nagaya houses in downtown Tokyo during the Edo-Sumida era. These free-standing screens were previously used as partitions for small spaces in the houses and is see-through to still give the feeling of transparency with a hint of privacy. The prototype looks a bit like a piano with a harpsichord background but would look at home in an Edo-era house.
The OTO-TSUKUE prototype meanwhile is inspired by the traditional writing desks that were used in local educational institutions called “terakoya”. Instead of opening up to a writing table, you get a piano under the plane and above the distinctive legs of the desk. The design is what we would have seen if there were already pianos during the Edo era and it would follow that there would have been terakoya music schools.
Lastly, the HIKI-TANSU was inspired by the chest drawers that were given as gifts during important occasions like weddings. The piano is in the middle of the three drawers and is designed as a baby shower gift. This symbolizes a happy future for the baby and the family and maybe music playing a big part in that life. The prototype has distinctive etchings or carvings from that era as well.
These Sumida toy piano prototypes will be displayed in the Yamaha Ginza Store in Tokyo by May 2022.
The Mozart Console Piano is an upright digital piano with an integrated HD display screen for easy playing and learning.
If everyone could play piano like Mozart, we would. One of the most sought-after skills to learn, playing the piano is no easy feat. It takes practice, musical knowledge, and some natural rhythm to pull off the melodies and chord progressions we hear on the radio.
That being said, learning how to play the piano is worth it if you’re interested in progressing your musical expertise. The Mozart Console Piano, an upright keyboard with an attached screen display, was designed by Hs2 Studio to merge the digital world with the classic piano for easy playing and learning.
The Mozart Console Piano merges the conveniences of technology with the artful craft of analog devices to turn the piano into a musical experience that anyone can enjoy. The Mozart Console Piano appears like any other classic, upright piano, except for its 32-inch HD touch display that’s propped right in the center of the piano.
The 32-inch HD display is multipurpose, offering both distance learning features for amateur players to follow along with and familiarize themselves with piano playing. Just like a regular piano, the 32-inch display screen also functions as a digital songbook, showcasing music sheets for piano players to follow.
As our world is immersed deeper and deeper into technology, our non-tech devices have been getting supplemented with digitized features for optimization. The crafts and skills that might have felt just beyond our reach, like learning a new language or reading 100 books over the span of a year, have become easier to obtain through technology. Innovations like audiobooks and Duolingo are testaments to how technology makes everyday activities feel a little more accessible. The Mozart Console Piano aims to bring that same touch to the world of music.
An accompanying seat comes along with the upright piano.
The Mozart Console Piano’s digital display screen can showcase sheet music in real time.
The Mozart Console Piano maintains a simple silhouette and all-black glossy finish.
Because why shouldn’t I add a bit of piano accompaniment to the natural percussion I produce on the toilet, FireBox is selling this $18 Toilet Piano. The foot-operated piano features a full octave of keys (13 – 8 white, 5 black) so I can vainly attempt to cover the sounds I’m making in the bathroom while party guests knock on the door and politely ask me to hurry up. I hate being rushed!
The roll-out Toilet Piano is powered by 3 AAA batteries and includes both a songbook and ‘DO NOT DISTURB’ sign to let the rest of your family know that your private music lessons are currently in session, and it’s probably best not to enter the bathroom for another thirty minutes after they’ve concluded. Good lord, light a match or something!
Obviously, I plan on recreating the scene at FAO Schwarz from Big where Tom Hanks and Robert Loggia play ‘Heart and Soul’ and ‘Chopsticks’ on the giant foot piano, except in my own bathroom. Now, I just need to find a partner…
Genius: you know it when you see it. And I saw this motorized piano BBQ grill crafted by YouTuber Handy Geng, and I knew instantly he was ahead of his time. Did he travel back from the future to showcase this marvel of modern music and grilling technology? It would be hard to argue otherwise. Now play the Oscar Mayer Wiener song!
Handy Geng’s ‘BBQ Car,’ as he calls it, consists of a piano that can be driven around on a motorized base. When a key is pressed, it not only plays the proper note but also rotates the corresponding rotisserie skewer above. Honestly, it’s hard to imagine someone being so ahead of their time. It’s scary. Did anybody else just get the goosebumps?
The video details the entire build of the BBQ Car, and if I were any handier I would definitely try building my own. I’m not handy though, and I’m fully willing to admit even attempting to build my own motorized BBQ car would result in an inextinguishable fire, and, much more than likely, the total loss of my security deposit.
