A Little Ragtime & Classical on a Janko

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Paul Vandervoort

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Feb 7, 2012, 8:24:33 PM2/7/12
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I recently had an interesting meeting with a few Janko Keyboard enthusiasts in the San Francisco area.  I believe it was Noel Cragg who mentioned that there are few, if any, internet videos of people playing classical music on a Janko.  I did learn Chopin's Black Keys Etude on my 4-row Janko in 1987 (not at Chopin's suggested light-speed tempo, I must confess).

I dug through my attic and found a VHS tape I recorded around that time. It doesn't include the Chopin, but it does include a 1920s ragtime piece and a Bach prelude, as well as some other material which might be of interest to some folks.  I think it's actually a pretty good demonstration of the what can be done with the keyboard.  So I ripped it to YouTube.  The funniest thing about watching this video today is to think that I found time back then to learn somewhat-difficult pieces like these.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cK4REjqGc9w

Paul Vandervoort

dominique.waller

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Feb 8, 2012, 4:37:59 AM2/8/12
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Great, Paul ! Thank you. Dominique
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Ivaylo Naydenov

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Feb 8, 2012, 4:46:47 AM2/8/12
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Wow, Paul
you made my day with that video. I admire you as the person I know who is dedicated to the idea of reinventing the piano keyboard (aka Daskin) with all the respect to Janko and (I forgot his name... it was with a composer with a M... my bad!).

I must have been at 6 at that time (in 1986) having no idea about piano keyboards and its alternatives. Now, 26 years ahead form that time I believe i designed the ergonomic and the simplest piano keyboard of all. I think I sent you my treatise (on Pentatonics) a few months back. There I offer a prototype which is not the final design of course (cause I am applying for a Design Registration).

Keep up spreading the word. I think soon I could share the final design of my piano keyboard. :)

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 --- van Loyden 

Treatise On Pentatonics (e-book)


PJP...@aol.com

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Feb 8, 2012, 5:05:26 PM2/8/12
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Hi Paul!!
 
Enjoyed your video - (nice sounding instrument) Nice to get another good look at expert playing on a 6-6 keyboard !
 
(makes my video on you tube look silly - but I did mention that all my videos were 'bad' 'on the fly' free improvisation - I haven't been practicing regularly in a few years.....)
 
[I had a WTF moment this morning - I was drinking my coffee - with milk and sugar - "Why does this coffee taste like FISH!!" - I then looked a the milk carton, some one had the bright idea to include 'Omega 3's' in the milk - I tasted the milk alone - it taste's like fish blah............not a great idea]
 
Thanks again for the 6-6 performance
 
PaulPb

jason....@gmail.com

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Feb 8, 2012, 6:21:42 PM2/8/12
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Yes, I love the 6-6 design.  Does anyone make them?  Seems like a manufacturer could just use existing black and white keys?

Jason


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The Integrated Musical Notation

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Feb 11, 2012, 11:19:38 AM2/11/12
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Thanks Paul for sharing your video; your vision and persistence
someday should pay off; leading comes at a high price and risk but
planets are aligning, Consolidation of ET + Instruments with
Janko-like note layout + IMN-like system + Multi-touch velocity-
sensitive-like screens + just one powerful company = Bang!

This is a process, it still may take some time, we don’t have to be
visionaries to see that the sum of all benefits is significant enough
when compared with stuck and handicapped standards.

I think this multi-touch and eventually velocity-sensitive technology
allows a feasible introduction of alternative instruments so that
people can try and get some skills before investing in a real McCoy.

By the way the Janko layout is my favorite for its simplicity,
suitability to our anatomy and best correlation with the principles
the IMN mainly supports, I cannot imagine such performances on
Wicki/Hayden.

Enrique.

Ken Rushton

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Feb 13, 2012, 8:10:22 PM2/13/12
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 I cannot imagine such performances on Wicki/Hayden.
 
I can!
 
Or at least something comparable - the different layouts make for a somewhat different instrument - not worse, not exactly better.
However, already I'm finding that having the second full keyboard available allows me to do things that I have just not the skill to play on one hand.
 
And I know - its time for some demos...
 
Ken.

Joseph Austin

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Feb 14, 2012, 12:55:45 PM2/14/12
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Thanks to Paul, and I agree with Enrique.

I've probably said before, to all you entrepreneurs out there:
consider starting with TOYS, and inexpensive beginner instruments.
If Janko and IMN are so easy a kid could do it, let's make it economically feasible for kids to do it!

You don't need symphony hall tone quality or rock band tour ruggedness to get children started. Or even velocity sensitivity for that matter.
These days just about every toy in the store has a sound chip in it--it can't be that expensive!

Once you get the kids hooked, the parents and music teachers will follow!
In my generation, I saw it happen with guitars.
When I was growing up, the music establishment said the guitar was not worth learning, because there was no literature for it!
So the kids taught themselves. The rest is history.

Joe Austin

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