Interaction between hand span and different sizes of keyboards on EMG activity in pianists: An observational study

The availability of keyboards with reduced key width has been recently promoted as an ergonomic aid for small-handed pianists to overcome any potential physical disadvantages that may restrict their piano repertoire. However, a lack of biomechanical data exists to support whether reduced piano key size is effective in achieving this outcome. This research investigates the effect of playing on three different key width size pianos (5.5-inch octave, 6.0-inch octave and conventional size with 6.5-inch octave) on hand, arm and shoulder muscle activity levels according to the hand size of the pianists. Results indicate that piano key size affects the muscle activity levels of selected muscles. Furthermore, this effect of different key sizes changed according to the players’ hand spans. Small-handed pianists may benefit from using smaller-sized keyboards to reduce muscular exertion during performance. This investigation provides preliminary EMG data supporting the use of different size keyboards to improve the ergonomic fit according to the dimensions of individual pianists. •The EMG levels were averagely higher in the forearm and hand in small-handed pianists than large-handed pianists.•Especially on 5.5-inch octave keyboard, small- or large-handed pianists generally showed less EMGs in the forearm and hand.•The tendency of reducing EMGs in chord playing with ESPKs mostly occurred in the forearm and hand in small-handed pianists.•Small-handed pianists showed significant decrease in perceived exertion on ESPKs.•Pianists with smaller hand spans preferred ESPKs; larger-hand pianists preferred conventional over 5.5-inch octave keyboard.