Qu. 11 & 13. The question, is either pianist more suited to one of the pianos, engaged a large number of participants to respond to establish significant differentials. Kevin Hunt was heard and seen to be suited more to the Stuart piano, and Simon Tedeschi was heard and seen to be more suited to the Steinway.

The overall result shows that 85% of participants found Simon Tedeschi’s pianistic style to be more suited to the Steinway sound, and 83% of participants found Kevin Hunt’s pianistic style to be more suited to the Stuart sound. Coupled to this perception is the 85% preference for jazz to be played on the Stuart piano. The psychophysical influences involved in this perception could be many, though some obvious influences were apparent. As he played, the researcher Kevin Hunt was focused on the differences of the new sound and how it responded for the sake of the research, so his pianistic style and technique could have been influenced by the inquiry process. Simon Tedeschi, a concert pianist was more used to playing the Steinway throughout his 30 years of performing in large concert halls, mostly on Steinway pianos. An added question that perhaps needs tighter scrutiny, asked whether each pianist’s individual ‘sound’ on either piano could be deciphered. A strong response to this question revealed that the pianists’ contrasting styles were apparent to the listening audience.

Percussive’ piano sound.

The rhythmic and percussive aspect of jazz style may be coupled with the 58% majority perception that the Stuart sound is more percussive than Steinway. A listen to the sounds of both pianos at pianissimo, supports how a majority of 58% would perceive the Stuart sound to be more ‘percussive’