2009 economic times pune 25 jun 2009 sakal times 27 jun 2009Will the traditional grand piano become obsolete one day? It’s an interesting question. In an age of advanced technology, there seems to be less and less place for traditional “manual” instruments.

Musicians trade in their “old school” equipment and replace it with fancy-looking gizmos that cost a small fortune. But of course there are still the die-hard traditionalists.

And in one way it’s hard to imagine a world without the traditional grand piano. For one thing, classical music seems to require it. Can you imagine a great pianist taking the stage only to perform behind a keyboard? It’s almost laughable.

The situation for the average person, however, may be a little different. Not many people can afford a traditional grand piano. And when there are digital alternatives like the Yamaha P95, it’s easy to think that the grand piano will die out. At least in the average person’s home.

You also have to think about the economy. Times are tough. People don’t have as much money to spend as they once had. So if it’s a choice between a $10,000 traditional grand piano or a $700 digital one, most families will opt for the latter.