10 March 2022 Learn To Play The Piano Now – Why Learning Is Better as an Adult

Learn To Play The Piano Now – Why Learning Is Better as an Adult

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There are many times in our lives where we sit down and create lists to help us find our passions. We may do it as we enter college. As we become more secure in our jobs. When New Year’s Eve rolls around each year. As we retire and have more time available to find outside interests. 

It usually starts with a wish: I wish I could …

What’s your wish? 

We often give our kids the gift of music. We push them to start piano lessons, or join the school band. 

But what about as you age? Are you too old to start up something new? Is it too late to learn to play the piano? 

Not at all!

In fact, it may be even easier to learn to play as an adult. 

Why? Because as an adult, you have more drive and determination. As a child, a lot is vying for your attention, and it’s easier to get pulled into different directions by a lot of outside influences. There isn’t enough time for a child to do every after school activity they wish to do. Something has to give. And it might be making music. 

But now, your focus has changed. It’s not a race. It’s about following through on something you choose to do. 

Stop worrying about if it’s possible. It is! You just have to sit down and play, and move forward one piece of music at a time. 

Purchase a piano and place it in an area that is conducive for playing. 

Don’t think of it as practice. Simply enjoy that you get to play the piano every day. 

And set small goals. Move from the first level of piano playing into the second. Find things that entertain you, and help you keep going. 

But most of all, do it for you. 

Because that’s really the biggest advantage of learning anything as an adult. You have what it takes to set goals and see them through. 

Why not start playing the piano today? 

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7 March 2022 Should I Buy a White Piano?

Should I Buy a White Piano?

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Ebony and ivory, live together in perfect harmony. That’s how the song goes. 

But when you are considering purchasing a new piano, you may notice that most pianos are black, brown, or wood in style and color. What about a white piano? What if your interior is light, airy, filled with white and natural colors? What if the thought of a dark piano will do nothing for your decor?

When pianos started filling concert halls, schools, churches, and homes, mass-production ensured everyone had access to a high-quality instrument. Sameness was necessary to provide high-quality throughout. 

Brown and darker colors became the norm. But it didn’t change the fact that for many piano purchasers, “the norm” wasn’t something they were interested in. 

If you have a contemporary home designed around white fixtures, light, open areas, and windows to let you see as far as the eye can see, nothing but a white piano will do. 

Imagine a black baby grand piano on display. It won’t work for a lot of piano players. They want white instead. 

If you’re looking for a white piano, we can help. From white uprights to white baby grands, we can help you find what you’re looking for. White pianos today have both charm and innovative style to be a welcome addition to any room in your home. 

Thanks to today’s desires for uniqueness and individuality, you can find the piano you’ve been dreaming of. 

How can we help you find the perfect piano for your home? 

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4 March 2022 Rent or Buy a Piano – Which Is Right For You?

Rent or Buy a Piano – Which Is Right For You?

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So you want to introduce your child to music. Where do you begin? 

For many parents, a piano is the most logical choice. Piano builds a solid foundation for musical education. For a child that starts with a piano, they will have more advantages when moving to other instruments. That’s because the piano plays a wide range of notes. And with that, learners can quickly become accustomed to a full range of notes, including sharps and flats. They can also understand both bass and treble clef, and give a good foundation in reading music. 

Piano also helps develop a good sense of pitch. This can translate to other instruments, making them more musically inclined. 

All of that can start with the piano. But when you’re just starting out contemplating where to start, the price tag of a piano can leave you feeling a bit intimidated. 

Should you buy a piano when you’re unsure if your child will continue? Or is renting a better option? 

The good news is that as a piano dealer, we meet with people in your circumstances all the time. We can help you navigate your best course of action. 

Just like you wouldn’t give your child a flat soccer ball and expect them to play, you shouldn’t give your child anything but the best to start navigating learning how to play. 

Renting may work – as long as you rent the piano you’re considering investing in. It’s important to have a high-quality instrument for ensuring your child fully understands what it means to play. 

Also realize there are different levels of pianos. What makes a good starter piano won’t necessarily work as your child progresses. A high-quality piano dealer understands this, and offers buy-back programs to ensure you have the piano that best suits your needs. 

Is renting or buying a piano best for you? 

To determine your next step, stop by today. We can educate you on the best way to introduce piano into your life. 

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28 February 2022 Remember When It Was Fun To Play The Piano?

Remember When It Was Fun To Play The Piano?

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Studies show playing the piano can bring back fun into our lives, reduce stress, and help with anxiety. Could it be the release we need as we move forward? 

We’re only beginning to understand the implications the pandemic has had on mental health. 

Statistics show that 4 in 10 adults have reported anxiety or depressive disorder symptoms, up from 1 in 10 during the same time period pre-pandemic. For young adults ages 18-24, the reports of symptoms are even higher, at 56 percent. 

The pandemic has also taken its toll on kids, with more than 25 percent of high school students reporting worsening emotional and cognitive health, at a time where pediatric mental health care coverage is declining too. 

Where do kids retreat to when they need time to relax and unwind? For many, they turn to music. It’s an integral part of our culture, and an emotional communication method that grasps us throughout our lives. How many times have you heard a song and instantly been transported back in time? 

Those feelings further increase when you connect with the song. Playing the piano allows you to connect in a way that listening can’t. You put fingers to the keys, and feel the emotion in your arms as you play. 

Learning the piano is more than tapping out the song on the keyboard. Learning the piano helps you understand every aspect of music, providing both rhythm and structure to how you look at music. 

It’s a gift that allows you to open up and look deep within yourself about how music impacts the world. It’s an outlet for creativity, an emotional expression that once learned, never leaves. It gives you a way to destress and calm down even after your busiest, most stressful days.  

If you’ve ever learned to play the piano as a child, remember how much fun it was to be able to create music? To sit down and relax without the stress of the outside world?

Why not give that gift to your child now when they need it most? 

Learning to play the piano might just be the best activity you can give them as we move forward in this world. 

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24 February 2022 Why Headphones Can Help You Be a Better Piano Player

Why Headphones Can Help You Be a Better Piano Player

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Thinking of investing in a new piano? Ensure you select one that accepts headphones. Headphones can actually help you be a better piano player. Here’s why. 

More practice – one of the greatest challenges of practicing is finding the time and place to do so. In a busy household, you may have to wait until some are through with homework, or another is off a conference call. With headphones, you’re the only one who will hear your music. That means you can get more practice at a time that’s convenient for you. 

Hear a fuller range of tonal quality – have you ever noticed you hear music differently when it’s on a car radio compared to when your headphones are in place? The same works when you’re playing the piano. You’ll hear the little nuances that make up a song while you’re playing it. 

You’ll be less distracted and get more out of practice time – what makes a better piano player is higher quality practice sessions. With headphones on, you’re less likely to be distracted from outside noise, or conversations of the people around you. You’ll pay more attention to what you’re doing with your music. 

Use the piano anywhere – headphones are now available on a variety of instruments, from acoustic to digital pianos. By being able to plugin headphones, you can place your piano anywhere and listen to the music you create. 

Alone or together – headphones aren’t just for individual practice. They can be used to help refine what you play. Many classrooms now manage more refined training by having each student wear headphones to help create a unique learning experience. It allows students to be more focused on their own training, while learning on a larger platform. 

If you grew up with an older acoustic piano and never learned the benefits of having headphones as an option, come in today and see what they can do for you or your child’s piano playing ability. 

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21 February 2022 What To Consider Before Buying or Renting a Piano

What To Consider Before Buying or Renting a Piano

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If you want to play the piano, it’s important to have a high-quality instrument ready for you to play each day. 

Yet if you look at piano prices, they may be a little intimidating. Should you invest in a new piano right now? Does buying a piano make sense? Or should you start by renting a piano first? 

Renting a piano

Many people will tell you that renting makes sense. It gives you a chance to try out a piano without commitment. You’ll be able to test whether your child enjoys the experience of making music without the heavy investment. 

Renting a piano involves a monthly fee and a rental agreement. Many rental contracts come with extra fees for moving it to your home, tuning charges, and potential break fees if you cancel. It might be right for you if you’re on the fence about how well your child will enjoy making music. 

Buying a piano

For many families, the act of buying a piano signals more commitment to the process. By purchasing a piano, you’re showing your child that you have an interest in their desire to make music. You’re committed to helping them become the best they can be at making music. 

Buying a piano may seem like a big commitment. But when you work with a trusted dealer, we can help you find the right starter piano to suit your needs. Then when you’re ready, you can easily upgrade your instrument to one that offers you more options. 

While renting may seem like the better option at first, many families find owning to be a smarter choice. After considering upfront fees, purchasing through a dealer can allow in-house financing to meet any budget. 

And you’ll own the piano for life. 

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18 February 2022 Where To Put Your Upright Piano

Where To Put Your Upright Piano

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With most home purchases, you buy it, bring it home, and put it someplace convenient with little thought. A new appliance may be placed on your countertop, or stuffed into a cupboard. 

But a piano is a little more difficult to maneuver. When you bring it home, it’s going to take up a lot of space. If your home is crowded, you may move a table, or wedge your new piano between a couple of pieces of furniture. That’s the beauty of an upright piano – it takes up less space. Why not place it anywhere? 

There are good reasons why you should pay attention to placement. When deciding where to put your upright piano, keep in mind that placement has a huge impact on sound, how much you play the piano, as well as overall condition. If you want your piano to last for years, and want to give yourself the best chance of regular playing, keep these tips in mind. 

Uprights belong next to a wall – this may seem obvious – most people buy uprights to save space – but it is the best placement for an upright. It helps control sound. It also helps regulate temperature. An inside wall is better than one outside to ensure the temperatures stay the same. Cool air or a changing air supply can cause the wood to expand and contract, leaving your piano vulnerable to cracks and changes. 

Uprights should stay away from windows and vents – placing your piano near the window can allow sunlight to fade and warp the various components of your piano. It can also allow cold, drafty air to impact the tonal quality of the piano. Pianos are best kept in areas where changes in temperature and air supply are at a minimum, to fully protect wood, metal, and other parts from corroding or breaking. 

Acoustics change based on placement – sticking your upright piano in a corner, surrounded by other furniture, may seem like the best choice, but it might not be the best placement for high quality sound output. Every room has its own acoustic properties. Vaulted ceilings can make the sound echo; too much furniture may dull the sound. Play with placement to find an area that brings out a rich quality that entices you to play more. 

Playability – nobody likes sitting in a corner, hidden from view. Tuck your upright piano away and you may find yourself never wanting to play. Uprights don’t take as much room as grand pianos; bring it out to be included in your room design. Make it a welcome part of your environment, and you’ll be more likely to play it.  

Have more questions about where to put your upright piano? Just ask. We’re happy to help. 

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14 February 2022 Are Piano Lessons Really Worth It?

Are Piano Lessons Really Worth It?

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Many of us are rethinking where we spend our time. We’re getting back to simpler times, where we spend more time at home doing things we love. 

Does that include making music? Are you contemplating bringing a piano into your home? Are piano lessons really worth the time and effort? 

Hobbies are what give us inspiration for a life well lived. From cooking to sports to making music, it can be a stress reliever as well as keep us motivated. 

Yes, you can learn piano on your own. But should you? Are piano lessons really worth it? This guide will help you evaluate your options and determine if lessons are the right avenue for you. 

Learning has changed over the years

As adults, many of us were introduced to music at a young age. Your parents may have placed you in piano lessons in grade school, or introduced you to music through your local school band. 

Do you remember playing and practicing prior to the internet? Chances are you visited a home in the neighborhood where someone provided lessons one day a week. You learned based on how well that person played. You didn’t have opportunities to “shop around” for the best instructor. Unless you thoroughly loved making music, and pursued it in school, your hopes and dreams grew or died based on how well that person performed their instruction. 

That’s no longer the case. Thanks to the internet, you have the opportunity to learn in any style that works for you. Want one-on-one instruction? Prefer video challenges? Want group format? Prefer to make a game of it? All of that is possible … and more. 

We also have YouTube. If something challenges you, with a little research, you can find videos that will describe how to overcome your questions in a matter of minutes. You can quite literally improve your playing by learning from the best of the best, all over the world. 

Piano lessons today are all about refinement. They’re about getting you the instruction you need, when you want it, in the format that works best for you. 

Today’s lessons include

Are piano lessons worth it? They are if you want to improvise. Luckily, you can find different lesson types in whatever manner works best for you. 

  • Individual instruction
  • Group format
  • Video lessons
  • In person classes

You can find instruction for free on sites like YouTube. Or you can receive master coaching from some of the best piano players in the world. 

Your first step is deciding now is the time to take up the piano, and make piano playing a bigger part of your life. 

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10 February 2022 Turn Your Love Of Piano Into a Career

Turn Your Love Of Piano Into a Career

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When you push your kids towards extracurricular activities, it’s with the hope that they’ll gain knowledge for the future. 

  • Will it give them team building skills?
  • Will they learn goal setting strategies?
  • Will they find a career?

Studies show that when parents push their kids in sports, they have high goals for what’s possible to achieve. According to the National Collegiate Athletic Association, only a small number of high school athletes actually go on to play professionally. Yet the dream is real, with 39 percent of parents believing in the dream. 

Music can provide a bigger, more achievable dream. While there is a low chance of your child ever becoming a rock star, many careers in music can lead to sustainable lifestyles. 

There are classical piano jobs:

  • Concert pianist
  • Piano teacher or instructor
  • Piano player in a band
  • Church musician
  • Music arrangement
  • Solo performance artist
  • Theater productions
  • Backup band member

There are also jobs where you can incorporate your love of piano into a worthwhile skill:

  • Piano technician
  • Piano sales
  • Composer
  • Music therapist
  • Early education
  • Music review and creative writing
  • Historian

While your child might not be the next musical prodigy, there are many different ways they can incorporate music into their lives every day, and get paid for it too. 

Piano teachers can be a good side business, teaching a few students out of your home each week. Or take it further and become a university instructor, helping students take their skills to the next level. 

Music therapy is also a growing field, especially piano skills, which can be used by people in every age bracket. Many studies showcase how music helps with mental illnesses, and can make strides in everything from autism to Alzheimer’s. 

Want to give your child a gift that can keep on giving throughout their lives? Consider signing them up for piano lessons. While they might enjoy the relaxation that comes with it, they may also turn it into a career. 

Filed Under: Piano Playing
7 February 2022 Do You Really Need Weighted Keys To Learn The Piano?

Do You Really Need Weighted Keys To Learn The Piano?

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Want to learn the piano? Why not pick up a small keyboard on sale at your local big box store. 

There’s a reason why that may not be your best course of action. 

Inexpensive keyboards, toy pianos, and other electronic pianos that aren’t designed with actual playing in mind are missing one important detail that can harm your learning skills: weighted keys. 

What are weighted keys?

Weighted keys are created in digital pianos to mimic the playable action used in an acoustic piano. If you’ve ever sat down and played an acoustic piano, you may have noticed the way the keys feel as you press down and lift them back up. This is caused by the way a piano is created. 

The keys are connected to hammers, which snap against piano strings to create sound. There’s a slight tension in the action, and it enhances your playability, your overall technique, and increases your playing habits. Touch a key lightly, you’ll hear a faint sound. Add more force, and you have more voice in the outcome. 

If you continue to grow in your piano abilities, you will move to acoustic pianos. Uprights, grands, and concert pianos will all use weighted keys. If you learn on a keyboard without weighted keys, it changes the dynamics of how you learn to play. 

Do you need weighted keys to learn?

In short, the answer is: Yes. While you can learn the keys and where they are located, you can’t pick up the complete structure of making music. The basics will be there, but the in-depth instruction can’t be learned. 

Transferring your skills to a keyboard with weighted keys will feel different from the beginning. You’ll notice the tension there each time you press down on a key. 

Weighted keys give you the ability to add more depth to your music. It’s what makes you a better player. 

Is it time you invested in an acoustic piano? We can help you find the right piano to suit your needs. 

Filed Under: Piano Playing
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