Keys

Piano keys were once made of ivory. Because it is a natural material, it feels nice to the touch. Of course there are good reasons for not using it now (ask the elephants, oh you can't). Actually there were always good reasons but it is only recently that people agreed they were good reasons.

Unfortunately today we have plastic piano keys that are rather shiny. Any sweaty pianist will sometimes find it gets rather slippy on there. I mean, I have played on these pianos, and it's OK. Not at all the same, but there's no major problem for me. What I was wondering though is why a better, less shiny, synthetic surface has not been created for modern pianos. I guess people consulted about their choice of plastic key coverings, but why then are they not better?

I claimed above that natural materials feel good compared to synthetic ones. Obviously that's not always true. What about nettles or Poison Oak? They're natural! I hope no-one will start using them on piano keys...

I wonder what the choices were when Steinway moved into plastic?