14 July 2022 Are You Looking For The Perfect Church Piano?

Are You Looking For The Perfect Church Piano?

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Today’s churches bring music into their congregation in many ways. And while that increasingly means everything from robust recording systems to full-blown bands, it almost always starts with a piano. 

Piano has been the base for music inside a church for decades. Yet finding the perfect piano is anything but easy. We find that many churches “deal” with an old piano they’ve had for years. Or they “adopt” one from a member giving one away. 

If this sounds like your story, how is it working for you? Is the piano doing its job well, or do you feel there’s room for improvement? 

When we talk with directors and decision makers, we often make a few recommendations to help them select the perfect piano:

Consider the final location

Churches are notorious for placing a piano in harsh conditions. Is it in an area where temperatures and humidity levels change frequently? Especially if you move the piano around a lot, it may deal with extreme heat followed by winter cold. And humidity may move up and down the scale. Pianos consist of more than 10,000 parts, and none of them stand up well to extreme conditions. Wood soaks up everything that happens in the environment, contracting and expanding over and over again. That can be hard on all parts, causing the piano to consistently go out of tune. If you take into account the conditions of the piano from the start, it will help you make a better decision at the time of purchase. 

Skip the free pianos

Churches are always on the lookout for ways to save money. If someone is offering a free piano, there might be a reason. Was it sitting in a garage or basement for years gathering dust? If it wasn’t well cared for throughout its life, it’d be of little value to you now. Finding the perfect piano for your church ensures a lifetime of playability. This is something you’ll use almost daily, bringing your community together. And if it doesn’t sound good, everyone will hear it. 

What are your needs?

Small congregations may do well with a standard acoustic piano. Larger churches may need something to plug into the PA system. Instead of thinking about it after the fact, make it a part of your considerations from the beginning. Hybrid pianos are specifically built to offer you the benefits of a high quality acoustic with the performance quality of a digital. This ensures the right sound is presented in every situation. 

Pianos are hard to move

If you require more than one piano, purchasing one for all locations may be your better choice than moving it. Pianos are delicate instruments that can be impacted even with tiny adjustments. If you will be moving the piano regularly, maybe it’s time to think about purchasing more than one piano. 

Have a question about buying a piano for your church? Just ask. With our expertise, we’ll help you find the right piano for your situation.

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10 July 2022 Are Your Child’s Piano Lessons Successful?

Are Your Child’s Piano Lessons Successful?

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Investing in your child’s education is an all-consuming process. You work diligently to ensure you choose the right teachers, the right activities, and do what you can to keep them happy and engaged. 

Music is one of the best core activities you can give them, which is why so many parents bring a piano into their homes the first few years of a child’s life. Unlike sports, music stays with a person for life. They can play at 5 and continue to play until they’re 105. It’s the gift that keeps on giving.  

Still, it’s difficult to track how well your child is doing. You’ve hired private piano lessons, but are they working for your child? What does it take to make piano lessons successful? 

Every child is different. Piano teachers have their own approach to learning. Before you sign up with a private teacher, it’s a good idea to understand their approach for the first year before you bring your child to their first lesson. This gives you an idea of how to help your child strive for a goal. 

The first month – this is all about the basics. Teachers will help students understand placement of both the right and left hand on the keyboard. They’ll start to play simplistic songs that use just five fingers on each hand. No stretching to multiple octaves yet. It’s all about coordination. 

Three months – as a student discovers finger placement, they’ll start putting note names to the music. They’ll find bass clef and treble clef, and be able to identify notes quickly. They’ll also pick up rhythm, learning the difference between whole notes, half notes, quarter notes, etc. 

Six months – by now they’ll have a practice routine in place. Students will understand scales and be able to play them with ease for warmups. They’ll be familiar with basic composition, knowing how sharps and flats work. They’ll be able to take their learning and apply it to new music. They should be able to play simplistic versions of their favorite songs.  

One year – comfort continues to build with creating music. They should be able to easily identify notes and increase comfort levels of playing scales. They’ll move into chords and be able to add sophistication to their music. Depending on their age and ability, they may pick up chords easily. This is a time to grow and stretch with what they’re learning. 

Do you see your child anywhere on this list? Open communication is a must with your child’s piano teacher. Ask how you can help your child continue to love playing the piano. 

Piano lessons are an ebb and flow throughout their lives. The important thing is to continue to love the process. That may include playing in a group, joining a band, or simply using it for relaxation and enjoyment. 

Are your child’s piano lessons successful? What’s your secret?

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7 July 2022 Summertime Piano Practice Tips

Summertime Piano Practice Tips

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It’s summertime! Time to slow down and enjoy a few weeks of lazy days and summertime play. 

But before you put your books on the shelf and close the lid to your piano until cooler days, think again. 

There are ways to incorporate the things you love into your daily routines without it feeling like a chore. Your child doesn’t have to leave all of their hobbies behind, waiting for the school bells to ring again. In fact, it’s better if they keep practicing, and don’t let their newly acquired skills disappear. 

What can you do to encourage piano playing without it feeling like they’re back in school? Consider these piano practice tips to avoid the summertime blues.

Change when you practice

During the school year, you build piano practice into your daily routine. Maybe before your child catches the bus for school. Or immediately upon arriving home from school. Because summertime changes that routine, make your piano practicing routine different too. How about after their favorite morning TV show? Or in the heat of the day when it’s time to cool down from being outside? Selecting a new time can bring freshness to the routine, and make your child a more willing participant. 

Select new music

What music does your child like to listen to? Do they have a favorite musician? You can find sheet music at all kinds of playing levels. If you haven’t searched online for sheet music, try SheetMusicPlus or MusicNotes. You’ll find thousands of arrangements, something perfect for every level of piano player in your home. Push aside more traditional routines, and let your child have fun with how they learn. 

Incorporate piano into vacation plans

Have you found a way to bring piano into your vacation plans? Concerts in the park take place all across the world, and offer a fun way to bring music into your life. Check in with your local symphony; they often bring a traveling orchestra into the community. Bringing your child can open up opportunity. They may see their new hobby in a different light. Depending on where you travel, you may be able to see some of the biggest musicians in the world. Be sure to point out the instruments being played, and talk about their impact on the song. It’s a great way for kids to see what’s possible if they keep pursuing music. 

Summertime is here. But that doesn’t mean you have to push all of your hobbies aside until the days grow cooler. Keep playing the piano, and enjoying all the benefits it brings. With these piano practicing tips, you’ll give your summertime plans a slightly different vibe, one your whole family may enjoy.

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4 July 2022 A Guide To Using Pedals While Playing The Piano

A Guide To Using Pedals While Playing The Piano

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When you’re just getting started with playing the piano, it’s only natural to look for shortcuts to buying equipment and learning to play. 

The piano can be an intimidating instrument when you first look at it. Eighty-eight keys stretched across the keyboard with white and black keys – how will you ever be able to coordinate your hands together to create music? 

And when you look down at the pedals – is it possible to coordinate everything together? 

It’s easy to tell yourself you only want to start simply. Do you really need pedals? And what about all of those keys? Won’t a simple keyboard do?

What pedals do

As you’re first starting to play the piano, you won’t use the pedals. Most teachers pay more attention to hand placement, and coordinating the hands together to play music. Pedals come later as you start to get more comfortable making music. 

Yet it’s still a good idea to have them in place and learn what they do. 

Most pedal setups come with three pedals. 

You’ll find the damper pedal on the right. It’s the most common pedal, and is often referred to as the sustain pedal. When you press it down, it lifts the damper from the strings and lets the notes ring out for longer. It creates a longer, more resonant tone. 

The middle pedal is the Sostenuto pedal. It holds the notes pressed as you press down on this pedal. Any notes you play after won’t carry past the initial play. 

The left pedal is the Una Corda pedal, also known as the soft pedal. When you press a key, it triggers a hammer hitting three strings. If you press a key using the Una Corda pedal, it only hits one, softening the sound. 

Do you need pedals?

Pedals may not be a priority for beginners, but they are a part of the learning process. If you keep playing and want to improve your musicality, pedals will eventually be a part of the process. 

Most pianists start with the sustain pedal. For many musicians, it’s the only pedal they will ever use. 

Pedals are often part of classical music. If you hope to dive deep and wide in discovering music to play, you’ll find yourself experimenting with each of the pedals over time. 

Many pop musicians don’t rely on the pedals at all. They create tonal quality in other ways. 

Are pedals important for learning to play the piano? Only you can decide. 

But for a richer, more well-rounded playing experience, pedals may be just what you need to create music.

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28 June 2022 Tips For Buying a Piano in 2022

Tips For Buying a Piano in 2022

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Want to play the piano this year? It starts by buying a piano perfect to suit your needs. 

But with so many different choices, where do you begin? What are the most important qualities to look for when buying a piano? We can narrow it down to three things:

  • A full 88-key keyboard
  • Weighted keys
  • High quality tonal sound

Whether you focus on purchasing an upright, grand, or digital piano, there are several things you should ensure your piano has. 

A full keyboard

When you first sit down and touch a few keys, having a full 88-key keyboard may seem intimidating. You’ll use the full range sooner than you think. Not having a full keyboard can hinder your progress. Depending on what genres of music you move towards will open up how many keys you use. It’s better to have the proper equipment in place as you start, to ensure you have the equipment necessary when you need it. 

Weighted keys

The more you grow as a musician, the more you may want to transfer your skills to different settings. Want to sit down at a piano in a friend’s home, a local church, or play for a small audience? Pianos are designed with some resistance to increase playability. Learning on weighted keys gives your fingers practice in transferring your skills to any piano you sit down at. Practicing on a piano with weighted keys ensures your skills will last a lifetime. 

High quality sound

If you’ve ever heard the tinny sound that comes from a toy piano, you know not all sound is created equal. Because every piano is built differently, you’ll notice a different sound from each instrument you play. Playing the piano is about making music. If you don’t like the sound you hear, you’ll never fully enjoy playing the piano. Sit down before you purchase a new piano. Do you like the way it sounds?

While many focus on price as their starting point for purchasing a piano, finding one you’ll be excited to play for years to come should be your top priority. 

If you have questions about buying the right piano to suit your needs, we can help you out. Stop by today and see our complete selection of pianos, and discover which is the right one to suit your needs. 

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24 June 2022 The Benefits of Teaching Your Kids to Love Music

The Benefits of Teaching Your Kids to Love Music

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Music has a big impact on each of our lives. Think back over time – chances are you can associate music with different points in your life. 

  • The first song you remember on the radio
  • The first song you danced to
  • The song you fell in love to
  • The song that pulled you out of a slump

Throughout history, music has been an important part of the human experience. It’s a language that holds us together as a culture. 

For kids, it does even more. 

Teaching kids to love music benefits them in many ways:

  • Playing an instrument significantly increases higher levels of mathematics proficiency by grade 12
  • Improves SAT scores
  • Increases both attendance rates and graduation rates throughout school
  • Lowers current and lifetime substance abuse
  • Teaches self-discipline
  • Shows as higher creativity throughout life

The benefits are many. 

Want to give your child the gift of making music?

Participate

The first step is making it a big part of your lives. Make it something you do together as a family. Introduce music in different ways – place a piano in your living space, listen to music together, or sing together in the car. Kids learn best when it’s a family affair. No need to worry if you sing slightly off-key. 

Expand

The good news is music is a huge part of our culture, and there are many ways to participate. You’ll find free concerts in your local park in the summer. Or go big and attend a show by your favorite musician. Move across genres, too – when was the last time you heard your local symphony? Check out a musical at your local theater. You may just find you fall in love with a music type you’ve never considered before. 

Together

The wonderful thing about music is that you can participate no matter your age. Sing together. Take piano lessons together. Attend concerts and musicals together. As a family, it gives you something to talk about. It brings you closer because of the way you learn and grow together. 

Chances are you remember music from your life, from when you were a small child to today. It’s impacted you in a big way. 

With all the benefits music can bring, why not expand music in your lives together, to give your child a huge leap of knowledge that will help them throughout their lives. 

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21 June 2022 When You Find a Good Teacher For Learning To Play The Piano

When You Find a Good Teacher For Learning To Play The Piano

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Want your child to fall in love with playing the piano? It starts by finding a good teacher who shows them the path of wanting to play. 

When you decide to give your child the gift of music, you buy a piano, find a piano teacher, and hope they play and appreciate playing. 

As parents, we often think about the gifts a piano teacher gives our kids. But have you ever stopped to think about what gifts your child is giving a teacher? There is a difference between an average and great piano teacher. Spending your time searching for a great one can be worth their weight in gold. 

As you start lessons for the very first time, a piano teacher begins with the basics. They have a specific formula for getting a child excited about playing. 

  • Learn the keys
  • Start reading music
  • hand/eye coordination skills
  • Create a recognizable song

Yet it goes beyond all of that. 

An average piano teacher may follow the formula, selecting a teaching path and sticking with the guidelines. Your child will learn skills in one level of training before moving to the next. 

And your child may learn. They may even develop a love of playing the piano. 

But a great piano teacher pushes a bit harder. They ask different questions. They respond with different activities. 

A great teacher may recognize when a child starts to struggle. Maybe they’ve plateaued, are becoming bored with the process, or simply have other things on their minds. 

That’s when a great piano teacher goes to work. 

They look for other ways to reach out and inspire a child to continue to process. 

They may select different music, connect them with other players. Encourage them to join a band, or maybe sign up for a competition. 

They will read the child’s interests, and help them move to the next level. 

So think about that when you drop your kid off for their next lesson. 

Have you selected an average teacher? Or are you moving them to work with a great instructor? 

What can you do to motivate your child to be all they can be as a piano player?

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18 June 2022 Change It Up This Summer With These Fun Piano Practicing Tips

Change It Up This Summer With These Fun Piano Practicing Tips

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The different seasons give us a break from the normal routine. What sounds fun and exciting in the heart of the winter can feel repetitive and boring as we enter the warmest months of the year. 

That’s why some parents find it difficult to keep their kids practicing the piano all summer long. They get a break from school, so why not from the piano too?

Studies show that taking a break can set back their learning skills enough they might choose not to continue at all. 

Studies also show that by changing the routine, you can give your kids renewed interest in a skill that will last a lifetime. 

Teachers have a host of ideas for keeping your kids motivated and playing all through the summer months. But you can approach them and find options that you know will work for you. 

Maybe your child would benefit from playing with a group? Do they have a friend who loves playing the violin? Or is taking up playing the flute in school? How can you incorporate practice time together? 

Maybe your child needs a change in what they are playing. The school year is all about following a natural rhythm to learn music and comprehension. But the summer is for fun. What kind of music would they like to play?

  • Movie or television themes
  • Broadway show pieces
  • A classic rock song
  • Modern day pop music
  • A favorite country song
  • A jazz piece with a funky beat

You might be surprised at what your child takes an interest in when you introduce them to different options. 

Want to go even deeper? Explore music summer camps. Ask your piano teacher for guidance, or do a search using Google. You might be surprised at the music camps in your local area. For older kids, you might even explore weeklong camps in other parts of the world. They can grow immensely from discovering how music impacts our world. 

And it keeps their love of playing the piano alive and well. 

What activities have you found work well to keep your kids practicing the piano all year long? 

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14 June 2022 How To Move a Piano and Why You Shouldn’t Do It Yourself

How To Move a Piano and Why You Shouldn’t Do It Yourself

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Moving day. You’re excited about moving into a new house. But the move itself is stressful at best. 

How do you fit everything into boxes? How do you pack it all on a truck? 

While it’s easy to throw a box into the backseat of your car, moving a piano isn’t as easy. It’s not an afterthought. It takes careful planning to ensure it makes it safely to its final resting spot. 

Many homeowners choose to move a piano themselves. It may seem like a great way to save money, but it might not be the best way. 

If you choose to move it yourself, know that a piano weighs anywhere from 400 to 700 pounds or more. Its weight distribution isn’t the same as with a mattress or sofa. The delicate parts can break and crack with even the smallest of bumps. 

You’ll have to navigate through doors, hallways, staircases, and more as you move it from one place to another. You can’t just flip it on its side and shove it through the door as you would with other furniture. 

Are you starting to see the benefits of hiring an experienced piano mover? 

They often save you money in the long run. That’s because they’re professional piano movers who understand how to do the job. They avoid damaging the instrument, which can save hundreds or thousands of dollars in costly repairs. They can also save in property damage repair, if a non-experienced mover takes a corner wrong and damages the furnishings. 

Professional piano movers have all of the right tools. Dollies, straps, moving pads, grip gloves – they have it all ready to go. They understand the best way to prepare it for the move. They use the necessary equipment to get it out of the house, into the truck, and to its final resting spot. They take care of it the entire way, ensuring it arrives safely and is ready to play. 

And they won’t face injury from handling bulky equipment. A piano is unlike any other piece of furniture you own. One wrong turn may be bad for the piano, but it could also be bad for you. One wrong move can put feet, knees, back, or shoulders under strain. 

Are you moving to a new home soon? Congratulations! 

It’s time to ensure all of your personal assets arrive safely in your new place. Schedule a piano mover, and ensure it arrives safely, ready to play. 

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10 June 2022 Should You Take a Summer Break From Piano?

Should You Take a Summer Break From Piano?

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June is a time for winding down lessons and practice and getting ready for vacations and relaxation. It’s a time for kids to take a break from busy lifestyles, and change up their daily activities. 

But as they step away from the school halls, does that mean taking a summer break from piano is a good thing too?

Summer camps and outside activities may take center stage. But does that mean you should put piano lessons on hiatus? 

There are a few reasons why you shouldn’t. Piano playing isn’t the same as taking tests and studying hard. Piano is a lifelong activity that has many benefits to your lifestyle. 

Certain skills should never be put on hold. That’s why teachers provide reading lists for the summer. It’s a way to keep comprehension, vocabulary, grammar, and critical thinking active every single week of the year. 

The same applies to an instrument. If you stop playing the piano, a child can quickly lose interest. Too long of a break can break motivation and reduce skills enough, making starting up again less enjoyable. 

That’s why a change in the summer routine may be a better approach. 

Change up the schedule. During the school year, it may make sense to practice when arriving home from school. During the summer, try a practice schedule in the early morning before the day’s activities set in. 

Use different music. Make it more enjoyable. Is there something your child has wanted to play? Your piano instructor may be filled with ideas for creating an environment filled with fun. You can also find a variety of ideas online to help change up the routine. 

Use this time to create an atmosphere of self-discipline and self-discovery. Music should bring enjoyment and relaxation into your life. Playing the piano is all about stress relief and enjoying the process. 

What can you do to encourage your child to build a stronger love for the process? What will have them enjoy the process of creating music rather than looking at it as a chore?  

Summer break is here. But that doesn’t mean it’s time to step away from the things that bring enjoyment. What works to keep your child active and interested in playing the piano?

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