Be My Valentine

FAMILY from page 65A acoustic piano and add electronics. The second way is to start with a digital piano (a high-level keyboard) and add acoustic parts to it.

Let’s look at the first way. A hybrid acoustic piano starts with the full meaning of a “real” piano and adds digital components. With the touch of a button and a slide of the pedal, a fully acoustic piano becomes fully digital – Haydn’s instrument becomes Herbie Hancock’s.

Immediately at your fingertips are found a full and almost unimaginable range of sounds, midi capabilities, recording capabilities, and Bluetooth.

Additionally, “there’s an App for that,” as they say! And of course, the “anytime” part of our example means that your acoustic piano becomes silent with the use of headphones, but doesn’t lose the touch or feel of the acoustic piano that it is.

The second way a hybrid piano is constructed is in the reverse approach. A manufacturer will take one of its high-level keyboard models and incorporate acoustic materials. This means wooden parts.

The wood on a piano makes the sound resonate, reverberate, “sing,” if you will, and transfers the energy of the keys to the sound of the notes.

A hybrid digital piano might have components like a wooden soundboard, wooden keys, and wooden hammers, to enrich the tone of the music and the touch of the action.

The keyboard will, of course, have its inherent ability for a myriad of sounds, recording capabilities, streaming capabilities, and programs. And, of course, headphones for that “anytime” capability. Hybrids aren’t just automobiles, they’re instruments, too! And while they couldn’t order any late-night pizza for you (yet), they could indeed hook into your TV sound system and stereo broadcast your favorite movie’s soundtrack while you watch a midnight flick.