piano 2.0 - playing grand piano with live electronics
- piano 2.0
- For many centuries pianists played the piano exclusively on its black and white keys.
20th century pianists started exploring the inside of the instrument and found new colours by plucking, beating, scratching or preparing its strings and wooden parts.
Ralf Schmid´s solo piano performance “piano 2.0” takes another step by modifiying the sound of the grand piano through effect processors and sampling machines while playing. His compositions and improvisations are based on these extended sound possibilities. 
- Ralf Schmid started using live electronics with the grand piano in 2002.His first setup included two contact mics and some guitar floorboard effects. In his composition MANTRA, he also prepared parts of the piano with nylon screws and rubbers.
- Another composition for this early piano 2.0 setup is called MONOTAURUS.At the piano festival "Tastenfest", Ralf Schmid improvises around this composition.
- Besides his solo piano performance, he uses the electronic setup in various ensembles. Here is a duo improvisation with Joo Kraus (trumpet, electronics) on Dizzy Gillespies "Night in Tunisia".
- In his group "bossarenova trio" with brazilian singer Paula Morelenbaum and Joo Kraus, Ralf Schmid also plays the piano 2.0 setup.
- Ralf Schmid developped the piano 2.0 concept over the years. In his actual setup, he uses 2 Yamahiko contact mics, Korg and Behringer control boards and Mainstage effect software on a Mac.
- Ralf Schmid
- Ralf Schmid (*1969) has studied classical piano, jazz composition and film music in Stuttgart, New York and Los Angeles. He has won numerous prestigious awards and scholarships in Germany and the U.S.He has worked as pianist, composer, arranger or conductor for world reknown artists Herbie Hancock, Whitney Houston, Ivan Lins, Paula Morelenbaum, Michael Brecker, Randy Brecker, Ray Anderson, Natalie Cole, Dionne Warwick, Nana Mouskouri, Pee Wee Ellis, Eliane Elias, the Radio Big Bands of Hamburg, Berlin, Stuttgart and Frankfurt, the Stuttgart Philharmonic, the Budapest Philharmonic, the Henry Mancini Institute Orchestra Los Angeles and many more.He performed in major cities in Europe, the US and Asia and recorded in the studios of La Habana, Cuba and Rio de Janeiro.
He co-founded the New York based record label ObliqSound in 2000.
Ralf Schmid is professor at the reknown Music University in Freiburg, Germany.
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