On the subject of sound aesthetics, experts from the fields of sound engineering and musical instrument construction met at the Robert Schumann Academy of Music in Düsseldorf for a three-day seminar in the summer of 2018. The lectures covered topics in piano and sound engineering with the aim of gaining better conditions for sound recordings and performance techniques.

At the end of the seminar, a comprehensive system for Steinway&Sons-D pianos only was presented, which regulates resonance processes in and on the sound body. This involved altering the natural gravitational forces of the lid position from an angle of about 60° to about 90°.

This measure seemed too cumbersome and expensive for normal use. The incorporation of the normal gravity into the sound event made more sense. At that moment the idea of the wing lid membrane bridge was recognized, developed and consequently pursued with a patent application.

Various preliminary stages led to specially manufactured silicone balls with a lead-through for a cord, which decouple the mass of the lids from the sound body in a well thought-out system and integrate them into the sound event as adequate membranes. Due to their traditional proportions, the lids prove to be the balance rod of the sound of harpsichords and grand pianos, leaving behind 400 years of neglect of their sound potential.

In principle, such a sound – gain can be achieved with similar means also on the normal piano. This method for pianos is included in the DE – patent.