Play the piano even with a physical handicap
The piano is a challenging instrument for anyone to play, but for a person with a physical disability, it can seem like an impossibility. The combination of feet (pedals) and hands (keys) that a player must use simultaneously can seem beyond the capacity of some. However, adaptive devices can help the handicapped play the piano, and certain considerations in selecting the right one will allow anybody to play.
Instructions
1. In selecting a piano, make sure you can access it comfortably. If you are in a wheelchair, make sure you include the height of your armrests in the keyboard height that you will need or you may have to bend forward uncomfortably while you play. Consider a piano that is similar to a synthesizer, with a keyboard that can be tilted and adjusted by height.
2. Attach a wrist support to the front of the keyboard to make holding your wrists straight for long periods of time less difficult. Two or three wrist-support platforms designed for computers and work desks should do the job. Screw the support brackets into the bottom of the keyboard or attach them to the keyboard stand to hold them firmly in place.
3. Purchase an adaptive pedal controller. PianoDisc and Steingraeber & Söhne both make adapters, with Steingraeber & Söhne filling custom orders for their "bite-splint" pedal controller. Some controllers can be used with your mouth, pressure from your hips or with light interruptions enabling you to control the pedals if you are unable to use your legs.
4. Download a free version of Finale NotePad software for your PC. NotePad enables you to write music on a virtual keyboard, complete with inflection, that you can play back in its entirety. If hand or finger control is an issue, this is an excellent way to play the piano by enabling you to enter one note at a time.
