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If you spend enough time around Yamaha keyboard players, you start noticing a very specific moment of panic.
It usually happens about seven seconds after somebody sits down at a newer model.
Not when they hear the sounds.
Not when they feel the keys.
No. It’s the moment they realise the button they’ve pressed for the last 12 years has moved.
Suddenly there’s a touchscreen. The layout looks different. The familiar shortcut they use without thinking has vanished. For a brief moment, they look personally betrayed by Yamaha.
Honestly, arranger keyboard players are creatures of habit in the best possible way.
Whether somebody owns a Tyros, Genos, PSR-S series keyboard or a Clavinova CVP, they usually spend years becoming completely fluent with the operating system.
After a while, their hands know where everything is automatically.
Registration Memory becomes instinctive.
Direct Access becomes second nature.
Some players could probably find the Fade In button blindfolded during a power cut.
That’s why upgrading can feel strangely uncomfortable at first.
We hear it all the time in the showroom.
“Why have they hidden the Fade In button?”
“Where’s Direct Access?”
“Why does this look like an iPad now?”
And honestly, they’re fair questions.
When Yamaha moved towards touchscreen systems on models like the Yamaha Genos 2 and Yamaha PSR-SX920, a lot of long-time Yamaha players initially felt thrown.
But the funny thing is, the panic almost never lasts.
In fact, it usually follows the same pattern every time:
Take a look at this quick video where Chris shows you exactly where Yamaha moved the Fade In/Out function on newer PSR-SX and Genos keyboards, and how to get it back onto a physical button in seconds.
Once players settle in, they usually realise the newer keyboards are actually faster and more flexible.
The touchscreen gives a clearer overview.
Assignable buttons let players customise the keyboard around their own workflow.
And eventually, something slightly dangerous happens:
Going back to the old keyboard starts feeling slow.
That’s normally when the upgrade has truly clicked.
I think arranger players get emotionally attached to workflow more than almost any other musician.
People build habits around these keyboards. Tiny shortcuts and routines repeated thousands of times at gigs, rehearsals and at home.
So when Yamaha changes something, even slightly, it can feel oddly personal.
But underneath all the grumbling is actually something quite nice.
People care deeply about feeling comfortable when they play music.
They don’t want technology for technology’s sake.
They want the keyboard to disappear underneath them so they can just enjoy playing.
Ironically, that’s exactly what most newer Yamaha keyboards are trying to achieve.
Even if Yamaha do occasionally move your favourite button just to keep everybody stressed.
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These items are sold on behalf of Yamaha, and are sent to us on a per-order basis, typically within 5-7 working days, unless an ETA is otherwise stated.
We'll contact you the moment your purchase arrives with us to organise delivery, based on your selected option.
Example products: Yamaha DGX670, Yamaha P-525, Yamaha YDP-S55, Yamaha Clavinova.
These items must be sent with a heavy-goods courier (typically APC or FedEx). On occasion, depending on which is fastest, we will drop-ship directly from Yamaha to your address via Dachser.
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*If you have included the optional £180 "Yamaha Premium Service" home delivery & setup option offered on selected products, we will contact you regarding arrangements after purchase.
**The Yamaha CSP Series, Yamaha CVP905 & CVP909, Yamaha CLP875, 885 & 895GP, and Yamaha NU1Xa are all sold on behalf of Yamaha and arrive with us on a per-order basis. As soon as your piano has arrived, we will contact you to organise the appropriate dispatch method. ETA for stock is shown on the product page for those items.
***If you have included the optional £99 home delivery & setup option offered on selected products, we will send your details direct to the installation team, who will contact you within 48 hours to make arrangements.
Depending on which option is most appropriate, we will either contact you to discuss a bespoke ePianos delivery surcharge for goods we can’t package for a 3rd party courier, or otherwise dispatch goods via FedEx or APC.
If a courier is used, tracking will be provided by them directly, with a typical arrival time of 1-2 working days.
Example products: Yamaha PSR-SX920, Yamaha P-225, Yamaha NP-15.
These items will be sent via courier (typically APC or FedEx). On occasion, depending on which is fastest, we will drop-ship directly from Yamaha to your address via UPS or Parcelforce.
Tracking will be provided by the courier, with a typical arrival time of 1-2 working days.
Smaller items, such as books, discs, etc, will be dispatched via Royal Mail second class.
After purchase, you can download the file either from the order confirmation page or the "Downloads" tab in "My Account".
If you have selected the option to receive a pre-loaded USB stick, then this will be dispatched via Royal Mail.
We will contact you regarding any pre-ordered items, and let you know when they arrive so as to arrange delivery with you at a convenient time.
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We are closed on all bank holidays, therefore the processing of sales and deliveries will be delayed.
For orders of any stock displaying a 7-10 day lead time, we will contact you as soon as the item arrives with us to schedule a delivery with you.
Occasionally, there may be availability issues with our suppliers, in which case we'll get in touch with you to see if you're happy to wait, or if you'd like to cancel the order and receive a full refund.
This is a special order "agency" item, and comes to us directly from Yamaha on a per-order basis.
It typically takes 7-10 days for this item to arrive with us, whereupon we'll contact you to discuss the arrangement of delivery.
For any pre-orders, we will contact you as soon as the item arrives with us to schedule a delivery with you, and update you with an ETA.
Occasionally, there may be availability issues with our suppliers, in which case we'll get in touch with you to see if you're happy to wait, or if you'd like to cancel the order and receive a full refund.
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Comments:
Excellent Videos,,, easy to follow, even for a 90 year old. Always look forward to the new e=mail.
Thank you…
Rolando HMC 116
(stands for “Happy Musical Cave” and the number of my Apartement)
Thank you so much, Rolando! We’re really pleased to hear you’re enjoying the videos and finding them easy to follow. “Happy Musical Cave” is a brilliant name for your music room too! 😊🎹
Comments like this really do mean a lot to all of us, and we’re glad the weekly emails are something you look forward to.
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