I played my first Shigeru several weeks ago. Personally, this is one of the finest instruments I have ever played! The action was even & responsive, the tone was beautiful, rich & vibrant. I could have played for hours....
Thank you so much for making and sharing this amazing film! As I own SK-6, this video makes me more proud to be the owner of Shigeru Kawai. I was invited to evaluate SK-EX last week. I couldn't stop playing the piano... I was there for about 5 hours. 😉 As I said in the interview video, SK-EX is the perfect piano for real professional in any genre of pianists. Shigeru Kawai is the best. 👏👏👏
I don't know why there are so few videos of real professional artists who are playing on a shigeru kawai. I deeply recommend KAWAI to find real professional artist who are playing a KAWAI Shigeru - and show it on RUclips. So great sound but almost no sample of the power of such a great grand piano.
Hi, you can fin a lot of videos of Mr. Mikhail Pletnev playing Shigeru Kawai. He is known as one of the best pianists ever. Mr. Pletnev plays only SK-EX grand pianos.
I recently purchased a Shigeru SK2, it's like nothing else I have ever played. I am highly surprised that there hasn't been more RUclips videos made (reviews etc by the music industry) on these pianos, relative to all the information you can find on Steinways and other prestigious European-made pianos. Pound for pound these pianos should be right at the top. Not sure why, if they are just not heavily marketed, or it's a well-kept secret.
They seem absolutely wonderful to me. The great pianist Earl Wild moved to Shigeru Kawai after Baldwin's concert department ceased, and his last CDs were my introduction to the sound of the Shigeru Kawai EX10 concert grand. I had opportunity briefly to play a couple of the pianos early this year at Jacques Samuel pianos in London and they fully lived up to my high expectation. These are superb instruments, really up there with the very best in the world.
The Washington Post had an article which referred to the 'Steinway Monoculture.' When individuals, even those who do not know much about pianos think of a concert instrument, they think of a Steinway. Kawai, Yamaha, etc. have had to work very to break through that barrier.
this is nonsens...best piano players worldwide prefer yamaha and kawai. shigeru kawai is nearly benchmark and best japanese craftsmanship. Today Steinway is a statussymbol for a non playing dentist in his living room. i grow up with a steinway....my choice today is a shigeru kawai. piano playing is my job. 😎🎶🎶🎵🎵🎶
Well said mate . . . I've have had the good fortune of playing on a few so called "household name" pianos like Steinway etc. . . even a Fazioli (the new darling of the elite). . . and the Shigeru Kawai would be the one I'd take home if I could afford it ! : ) I heard an SK 7 recently - it was to die for !
Oliver Cromwell VII I wish that were true. While some fine players prefer Yamaha or Kawai, many fine players are Steinway Artist, at least in the Classical world. In the pop and jazz worlds, then it changes. But Steinway has a good presence at least in the jazz world.
i've played on many of these and in my opinion the other brands don't compare - not even steinways. they sound muffled in comparison to the shigeru kawai
Kawai, and to a lesser extent Yamaha, has to break the cultural bias of many in the Classical music world. For some, the best pianos have to be European, and usually are German. Not to take anything away from the German pianos, or fine European pianos, but Shigeru Kawai should be up there with them. I think Yamaha's upper line as well. But, judging from what I hear from a lot of people selling pianos or evaluating them on youtube and on forums and that I've met, European/German is best and Asian pianos just aren't as good. I totally disagree. The other problem is Kawai makes digitals and lower-priced pianos. But Shigeru Kawai is a hand-made, rare instrument. It's a very premium product. But to some people's mind, it's a "Kawai" and Kawai makes mass-produced instruments.
@@wesmusic2072 It is non-living thing. It can not have soul....soul, or maybe to be realistic, the depth of touch depends on the skill of a player. And crystal clarity does not mean it is a great piano. Fazi. and Steinway has more bright sound and s.kawai is with a deeper and warmer sound generally. Quality and level wise, all of them are in the same line. (EX: SK, CFX, Imperial, F etc.) however the tone and colour of sound are about personal preferences. So you should not make any judge meant by your preferences.
I remember playing a Faiziol and then a Schimmel grand After that I couldn't play an SK 3 at Parsons music Hong Kong . I'm sure it was not voiced by the mpa. At Tom Lee after playing Steinway and Bosendorfer grands the Yamaha C3 x sounded terrible. I suppose it needed to be voiced as well. I think Kawai and Yamaha pianos are more affordable than European ones and probably we must get the best one we can afford. After that practise and play music..
i play piano even if i cant read sheet note. but i love classic music, how can i learn classic music? By the way, what the title of the clasic backsound?
A few savants can hear a piece and play it flawlessly, without sheet music. The rest of us take lessons, starting with the basics, learn to read music, and practice, practice, practice. It can be a fulfilling discipline, even if you don't become a professional pianist. The piece in the background is Chopin's Scherzo no.2, op. 31
I don't think every one knows how serious the Japanese take "craftsmanship". Not just in hand-crafting a grand but to also making JP kitchen knives and JP swords (which are made as they were 1000 years ago...with only the hammering process modernized using a modern foot controlled hammer machine...there are some sword smiths who even hammer and fold the iron manually...i digress A lot of other companies use more machines and computers. CNC machines. At some point in making some of the parts. out-source. Lot of the German brands use a Renner action. If one understood or seen how they make knife and sword blades today ...they'd get a good idea of Japan's skill level in anything they build. Skills lost soon as mechanization became a thing. "faster and cheaper". Very few musical instruments are totally "hand-made" today. Or any product.
Matteo Epis Some people just put European pianos above Japanese. It's unfortunate. That said, Steingraeber and Sohn are some of the best German pianos made, they have to be included. I don't think there's a best. Maybe 8 best makes, according to preference and style of music. I also like Stuart and Sons of Australia. And the vintage Baldwins.
@@benjaminsmith2287 August Forster too .. There is something about the German piano that others don't have. Listen to Kayserburg Artist KA 275.amd Yangstee River concert....( Made in China)
It's definitely my dream piano!!!❤
I played my first Shigeru several weeks ago. Personally, this is one of the finest instruments I have ever played! The action was even & responsive, the tone was beautiful, rich & vibrant. I could have played for hours....
Yes indeed. This is a piano that is worth seeking out.
Thank you so much for making and sharing this amazing film! As I own SK-6, this video makes me more proud to be the owner of Shigeru Kawai. I was invited to evaluate SK-EX last week. I couldn't stop playing the piano... I was there for about 5 hours. 😉 As I said in the interview video, SK-EX is the perfect piano for real professional in any genre of pianists. Shigeru Kawai is the best. 👏👏👏
I still have to plan the ex concert grands
absolutely best japanese craftsmanship........😎🎶🎶🎵🎶
I've been using a Shigeru SK-6 for about 4 years in my jazz recordings for my label. The most impressive lows I've found in a 3/4" EVER.
An outstanding instrument - More than worthy of an audition alongside the other premium brand pianos.
I purchased a Kawai grand piano & it's absolutely a SUPERB instrument in EVERY way!
I played this... stunning
would love to have one of these!!!
My favourite piano next to Hamburg Steinway
i really love it
I played this piano a couple time and it was like being in heaven.
I don't know why there are so few videos of real professional artists who are playing on a shigeru kawai. I deeply recommend KAWAI to find real professional artist who are playing a KAWAI Shigeru - and show it on RUclips. So great sound but almost no sample of the power of such a great grand piano.
Hi,
you can fin a lot of videos of Mr. Mikhail Pletnev playing Shigeru Kawai. He is known as one of the best pianists ever. Mr. Pletnev plays only SK-EX grand pianos.
The great pianist Earl Wild recorded his last two CDs (at age 88 and 90) on a Shigeru Kawai EX10 concert grand. Magnificent.
I recently purchased a Shigeru SK2, it's like nothing else I have ever played. I am highly surprised that there hasn't been more RUclips videos made (reviews etc by the music industry) on these pianos, relative to all the information you can find on Steinways and other prestigious European-made pianos. Pound for pound these pianos should be right at the top. Not sure why, if they are just not heavily marketed, or it's a well-kept secret.
They seem absolutely wonderful to me. The great pianist Earl Wild moved to Shigeru Kawai after Baldwin's concert department ceased, and his last CDs were my introduction to the sound of the Shigeru Kawai EX10 concert grand. I had opportunity briefly to play a couple of the pianos early this year at Jacques Samuel pianos in London and they fully lived up to my high expectation. These are superb instruments, really up there with the very best in the world.
The Washington Post had an article which referred to the 'Steinway Monoculture.' When individuals, even those who do not know much about pianos think of a concert instrument, they think of a Steinway. Kawai, Yamaha, etc. have had to work very to break through that barrier.
this is nonsens...best piano players worldwide prefer yamaha and kawai. shigeru kawai is nearly benchmark and best japanese craftsmanship. Today Steinway is a statussymbol for a non playing dentist in his living room. i grow up with a steinway....my choice today is a shigeru kawai. piano playing is my job. 😎🎶🎶🎵🎵🎶
Well said mate . . . I've have had the good fortune of playing on a few so called "household name" pianos like Steinway etc. . . even a Fazioli (the new darling of the elite). . . and the Shigeru Kawai would be the one I'd take home if I could afford it ! : ) I heard an SK 7 recently - it was to die for !
Oliver Cromwell VII I wish that were true. While some fine players prefer Yamaha or Kawai, many fine players are Steinway Artist, at least in the Classical world. In the pop and jazz worlds, then it changes. But Steinway has a good presence at least in the jazz world.
Is the sound really coming from a SK7 or is it being "voiced over" using a EX?
i've played on many of these and in my opinion the other brands don't compare - not even steinways. they sound muffled in comparison to the shigeru kawai
It’s got to be a fairly intense place when the craftsmen wear a shirt and tie underneath their shop apron! (6:27)
Kawai, and to a lesser extent Yamaha, has to break the cultural bias of many in the Classical music world. For some, the best pianos have to be European, and usually are German. Not to take anything away from the German pianos, or fine European pianos, but Shigeru Kawai should be up there with them. I think Yamaha's upper line as well. But, judging from what I hear from a lot of people selling pianos or evaluating them on youtube and on forums and that I've met, European/German is best and Asian pianos just aren't as good. I totally disagree.
The other problem is Kawai makes digitals and lower-priced pianos. But Shigeru Kawai is a hand-made, rare instrument. It's a very premium product. But to some people's mind, it's a "Kawai" and Kawai makes mass-produced instruments.
Ah yes, Kawai and Shiguru Kawai should never be confused.
Yamaha is garbage
This piano cannot compare to a well voiced Fazioli. Fazioli has the soul and the crystal clarity.
@@wesmusic2072 It is non-living thing. It can not have soul....soul, or maybe to be realistic, the depth of touch depends on the skill of a player. And crystal clarity does not mean it is a great piano. Fazi. and Steinway has more bright sound and s.kawai is with a deeper and warmer sound generally. Quality and level wise, all of them are in the same line. (EX: SK, CFX, Imperial, F etc.) however the tone and colour of sound are about personal preferences. So you should not make any judge meant by your preferences.
I remember playing a Faiziol and then a Schimmel grand After that I couldn't play an SK 3 at Parsons music Hong Kong . I'm sure it was not voiced by the mpa.
At Tom Lee after playing Steinway and Bosendorfer grands the Yamaha C3 x sounded terrible. I suppose it needed to be voiced as well.
I think Kawai and Yamaha pianos are more affordable than European ones and probably we must get the best one we can afford.
After that practise and play music..
What’s name the song?
i play piano even if i cant read sheet note. but i love classic music, how can i learn classic music?
By the way, what the title of the clasic backsound?
A few savants can hear a piece and play it flawlessly, without sheet music. The rest of us take lessons, starting with the basics, learn to read music, and practice, practice, practice. It can be a fulfilling discipline, even if you don't become a professional pianist. The piece in the background is Chopin's Scherzo no.2, op. 31
I don't think every one knows how serious the Japanese take "craftsmanship". Not just in hand-crafting a grand but to also making JP kitchen knives and JP swords (which are made as they were 1000 years ago...with only the hammering process modernized using a modern foot controlled hammer machine...there are some sword smiths who even hammer and fold the iron manually...i digress
A lot of other companies use more machines and computers. CNC machines. At some point in making some of the parts. out-source. Lot of the German brands use a Renner action.
If one understood or seen how they make knife and sword blades today ...they'd get a good idea of Japan's skill level in anything they build. Skills lost soon as mechanization became a thing. "faster and cheaper". Very few musical instruments are totally "hand-made" today. Or any product.
the best are kawai and fazioli !
Than bosendorfer steinway Yamaha and bechstein
Matteo Epis Some people just put European pianos above Japanese. It's unfortunate. That said, Steingraeber and Sohn are some of the best German pianos made, they have to be included. I don't think there's a best. Maybe 8 best makes, according to preference and style of music. I also like Stuart and Sons of Australia. And the vintage Baldwins.
@@benjaminsmith2287 August Forster too ..
There is something about the German piano that others don't have.
Listen to Kayserburg Artist KA 275.amd Yangstee River concert....( Made in China)
not well tuned enough
I played this piano a couple time and it was like being in heaven.
+Carl Hopkinson Thank you very much.
I played this piano a couple time and it was like being in heaven.