Here is some information about the stretto piano (which you may already have read about).

Check this link for details:
https://paskpiano.org/you-can-adapt-quickly/

There are competitions where narrow-width keyboards can be chosen, and this is a performance by Anna Arazi  who won third prize.
https://youtu.be/tj1RNLn8K6g?si=BZ_bi1GSo6ryBOeR
The description section says:
“Her first ever experience on the DS6.0 was on Wednesday 11 March. This performance is in the first round the next day! “
I also know several people who found transitioning to a stretto piano easier than expected, but this still surprised me.

Check this link for details:
https://paskpiano.org/manufacturers/
https://dsstandardfoundation.org/products/
A midi controller will do for me because we have Pianoteq, but it's still hard to get…

In Japan, I remember that stretto pianos were listed in catalogs in the 1980s. I believe both Yamaha and Kawai had them. However, they are no longer in production.
Today, there are individuals promoting stretto pianos, some of whom open their homes for free or provide studio spaces for people to try them. This year, there was a store where people could try them, but such opportunities are quite rare.

I agree. It is said that Yamaha and Kawai stopped production because they didn’t sell well.
Although both Mozart and Chopin used pianos with narrower widths than today's pianos.

Hi Stig,

Thank you so much for your very warm comment. I feel as if I am also reminiscing about your son.
You have shared so many recordings—I have listened to some of your ragtime pieces including organ version, and now I found this topic.
https://forum.modartt.com/viewtopic.php?id=8483
I will enjoy your rags, thank you! and Pleasant Moments is wonderful. Truly Pleasant!

By the way, I hope narrower-key pianos become more popular in the future

Thank you Triton for your comments. And thanks for listening to my music (700 pieces now and growing). Some good , some not so good 

I have not heard of narrower key pianos. Interesting, thanks for pointing it out. Had to read about it, the conventional keyboard has a 6.5-inch octave. Many Stretto pianos have 5.5 or 6.0-inch octaves, or anywhere in between.

Questions I’m thinking of:
How hard is it to transition from a conventional to a Stretto piano?
Where can one try/buy these instruments out?
Do you have to buy an entirely new piano?
Have to check out this in my country.

I think it could be a good thing. Someone said:
”If everyone plays the same size, most are playing the wrong size!”

Unfortunatelly I think the industry do not need to make those improvements to prosper. They serve a luxury market that will always purchase luxury grand pianos at high prices.

Best wishes,

Stig

Thank you so much for your very warm comment. I feel as if I am also reminiscing about your son.
You have shared so many recordings—I have listened to some of your ragtime pieces including organ version, and now I found this topic.
https://forum.modartt.com/viewtopic.php?id=8483
I will enjoy your rags, thank you! and Pleasant Moments is wonderful. Truly Pleasant!

By the way, I hope narrower-key pianos become more popular in the future

William Bolcom revived ragtime in the modern era by performing old rags, which can be heard on CD, and composing his own.
This “Graceful Ghost” has been my favorite since my youth and is probably Bolcom’s most popular piece.
In the preface to the sheet music, he wrote, "written in memory of my father’s death in 1970" and I find that deeply resonant.
I would be happy if someone enjoys this.

CASIO PS-X1000
Pianoteq 8.2.1 - NY Steinway D Classical Recording

https://youtu.be/1YlsyUeEjtU

There are some technically shaky parts here and there, which I think are mainly due to the small size of my hands. I guess I just don't have the skill to fully compensate for that right now.

Nice that you are not playing too fast, Wonderful! Very gracefully played. This is the way it should be played.

I really enjoyed your playing Triton.  So  deep! I remembered my son again and the happy days we had (dad, show me what  you have recorded…) ..…Past away 2018, only 45 years old. When your beautiful playing stops, and I ”woke up” and found that he, my son, is gone. Thank you Triton for this beautiful moment.

I have small hands too, my left hand is smaller than yours and I have small hooks on little fingers so my playing requires a special technique.sometimes.  I've always had a complex about my small hands so that's why they never appear in my videos.

btw, I have played ragtime too, at least 10 Joplin ragtime pieces. Here is one from 2022, if interested. Pleasant Moments - I try to play a little bit like Sue Keller played it on yt 2009, to vary the tempo a bit to bring more life into the music.

Thank you Triton for sharing your wonderful music.

https://forum.modartt.com/viewtopic.php?id=9806

Best wishes,

Stig

CASIO PS-X1000
Pianoteq 8.2.1 - NY Steinway D Classical Recording

https://youtu.be/1YlsyUeEjtU

There are some technically shaky parts here and there, which I think are mainly due to the small size of my hands. I guess I just don't have the skill to fully compensate for that right now.