I was wondering since my piano is a little crummy. I would give it to my sister as a birthday present when I'm older and get myself a disklavier. It's just that as it has electrical stuff in it. It will fall apart and go wrong and I will need to put new batteries in and I will need to call technical support and they will put me on hold and I will hear some jazzy music and I will have to...

Am I just exagerating or is a disklavier good. I quite like the feel of Yamaha pianos (the ones they have in exams). But it has stuff connected to the hammers so will it affect the feel?

Dare I say it - is there a local stockist where you could go and try one? You might have to act up a bit if you're aren't 100% serious about buying one then and there, but it's the only way you'll know for yourself!

Actually I'm only 13 so even if I do a performance worthy of an Oscar. No-one will take me seriuosly. But I could bring my parents along.

The closet place I know is Harrods in Knightsbridge. But I could look around a bit.

So you think of giving your crummy piano to your sister....
I hope she doesn't want to learn to play then.

I saw some in Chappell's in Bond Street yesterday. There was one playing all by itself in the window.

Actually she's learning it right now. But some smooth words and the next thing you know it's gonna be at her house. I mean can you turn down this offer?

"Hey, do you want a free piano. It's a classic, they don't do them in the shops no more trust me it's a real good piano, a real good one"

Don't worry about disklavier pianos; Yamaha's electronic stuff is quite reliable. I played on disklavier pianos and there is no quality difference with normal pianos.

Worst case, as fas as I can tell with the way it's done - if the electronics fail, you've still got a perfectly good acoustic piano. From what I've read though, there aren't any problems with reliability.

Sorry for my ignorance, but what is a disklavier?

I think its what Sparky had

Ok I know .....you're all to young to remember Sparky

Actually, if it's any small comfort, I'm not....

NEVER!!! ......or after watching that video clip, maybe you ARE Sparky???

Perhaps I saw the repeats....

'Sparky, put your fingers on my keys, Sparky'

While our fellow forum members disscus this sparky guy, I will tell you what it is.

It's an acoustic piano fitted with electronic stuff and maybe a computer. The piano can read the notes you play, how hard and for how long. Then it can play back what you just played. Pretty cool huh? Also if you have it fitted with a computer, I think that it an write down the notes your playing so if your composing it saves you the trouble of writing it down and it won't have mistakes.

Hmmmm I've done some "Sparky" research after reading that you SAW the repeats. I see you can now get it on video/ DVD....... in my day it was only available on 78's

I only heard it on a record too....

I THINK - but I'm not certain - I THINK I heard it on the wireless!

"Uncle Mac" ????

That's exact, and what's more: if you can't play as well as you wish, you can insert discs into the system, and make the piano execute music played by professional pianists ! Usually when you buy the instrument in a shop, you get some demos along. They are available in all styles of piano music. Many hotels and bars make good use of this.

Please, no, NO!

That record spooked me out so much I had to leave the room if it came on 'Junior Choice'. I still can't bear the thought of it.