10 July 2020 You Don’t Have To Have Natural Talent To Be a Pianist

You Don’t Have To Have Natural Talent To Be a Pianist

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What does it take to be a great pianist? Do you need natural talent? Or is it something you can work towards, perfecting your piano playing all the time?

If you’ve ever said, “I don’t have talent to play the piano,” think again. You’re not born with the ability to be a pianist. Anyone can work towards developing the talent. 

How do you do that? 

Practice. 

Malcolm Gladwell became famous for his 10,000 rule, which simply states that in order to become successful at something, you’ll need to invest 10,000 hours at it. Perfection takes time. It’s okay to make mistakes along the way. The important part is sticking with it, and ensuring you take the time to get a little bit better every day. 

To become a pianist, you have to invest in what it takes to be good at what you do. You can’t sit down and play scales or simple songs like chopsticks and expect to get better. It takes push. It takes drive. It takes improvement, a little bit each day. 

And it might take a little something else. One pianist suggests it’s passion, not just for playing music, but also for the challenge of hitting your goal. 

Maybe you’ve set Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata as a goal. Or how about Chopin’s Nocturne in E-flat Major? No matter what piece you choose, the challenge of getting there might be all the goals you need. 

Talent isn’t something you’re born with. 

Talent comes from choosing a goal and sticking with it. 

It’s not luck or genetics. To be a better pianist, it just means doing a little bit each day. 

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7 July 2020 How To Practice The Piano Better

How To Practice The Piano Better

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Want to get better at playing the piano? Practice, practice, practice. 

We all know that the key to getting better at something is to work at it a little each day. But is that really all there is to it? 

In reality, you can sit down and spend thirty minutes every day and never improve IF you don’t improve your practicing skills. It’s not the amount that matters. It’s the quality of every session you sit down for. 

How do you ensure you’re practicing the right way?

Start by removing distractions

It’s important to place your piano that gives you a chance to play without interruption. But that doesn’t mean put it in the corner of a dark basement either. Give yourself a pleasant playing space, and avoid areas where you know you’ll be easily distracted. Put your phone in another room if the buzzing and dinging of incoming messages can turn your attention. This allows you to get more done in the time designated for practice. 

Create a structure for each session

If you workout regularly, you know there are specific goals for every workout. You’ll have a warm-up, specifically targeted workout routines, and a cooling down period. Structure your piano practice the same way. Warm-up with scales. Target specific goals with each session. Then cool down by playing your favorite pieces. 

Set a goal for every practice session

Spend some time structuring your piano practice sessions to accomplish different goals. Do you want to learn a specific song? Are you trying to work on finger speed? Are you having trouble with particular sections of music? You can establish short and long term goals to ensure you stay on track with what you are playing. 

Vary your routines

Structure is important. Setting goals is equally important. But if you do the same things over and over and over again, it tends to get repetitious and boring. Change things up in your routine. Instead of playing your favorite song as a cool down in the same way, change it up. Speed a section up. Slow a section down. Or add in your own ideas. Even this little change can keep your interest and make you press on. 

Fix habits early

One of the best reasons to hire a teacher is to have them help you work through problems before they become habits. They see things you don’t, and correct things before they become issues. They tweak your performance and make it better. Don’t stick with the same piano teacher for years. Instead, set specific goals and find new instructors that can help you reach your goals. 

Reward yourself

This can be small rewards, like purchasing new sheet music, or larger rewards like working towards purchasing a new piano. Rewards are positive reinforcement, and they can help push you to take more action, and stick with your goals every day. 

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3 July 2020 It’s Never Too Late To Learn To Play The Piano

It’s Never Too Late To Learn To Play The Piano

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I wish I’d started learning to play the piano earlier …

Have you ever said that? 

Many people have. You hit a certain age and you start to analyze life skills and hobbies you wish you’d started earlier in life. 

There are certain hobbies that you can engage with throughout your life. Football? Other than watching it, it’s a young person’s game. Piano? It’s something you can stay active with from just a few years old until the day you die. There are many benefits to doing so. 

Think about your age right now. If you’re in your forties, you might long for going back to your childhood and learning to play the piano at a time when you could quickly grasp new ideas. But you’re in your forties – you still have decades left! That means by starting now, you can master new skills, you can become the piano player you’ve always wanted to be. 

There are many examples of musicians who got started later in life. And they made it their professional careers!

You don’t have to be young to become good at playing the piano. For some, starting early is a hindrance, not a helper. 

Think back to when you were young. You had so much to do. Was playing the piano anywhere on your list? In some cases, when parents add “playing the piano” to their kids’ to-do lists, it becomes resentment instead of passion. It becomes another chore in the daily to-do list. And that never makes for a good musician. 

But when you choose to play the piano later in life, it’s on your own terms. You choose to play the piano because you desire to do it. And that right there is a great reason to pursue it. 

It’s never too late to learn to play the piano. Whether you choose to do it yourself, take online lessons, or sit down one on one with a teacher, dedication will see you through to success. 

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29 June 2020 Piano Dynamics And Why Your Piano Should Have It

Piano Dynamics And Why Your Piano Should Have It

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How do you express emotion? Can you pick up what other people are thinking by the way they’re acting?

Of course!

Think of a romantic comedy. A couple meets. They get close. And then something tries to tear them apart. 

Yet one (or both) soon realize the error of their way, and they make an impassioned plea to get back together. It’s heartfelt. It’s emotional! And we can read it in their body language alone. 

Piano dynamics takes that concept to your piano playing. Listen to the greats, and you’ll hear it all the time. 

A soft whisper across the keys making it barely noticeable. Or pounding out the notes to cause a commotion. 

Piano dynamics help you make a song that much more memorable. 

Imagine if you played every song the same, same tempo, same level, same flow. Pretty boring, right? 

That’s why pianos are built in such a way to make everything – soft, loud, and everything in between – possible. 

How do you know where to use dynamics? Your sheet music will feature dynamic marketings to help inform you how to play. You’ll see:

ppp – pianississimo – very, very soft

pp – pianissimo – very soft

p – piano – soft

mp – mezzo piano – moderately soft

mf – mezzo forte – moderately loud

f – forte – loud

ff – fortissimo – very loud

fff – fortississimo – very, very loud

You’ll also find accented notes, crescendos, diminuendos, and a host of other indicators throughout the music to clue you in how to play. 

This is what the songwriter was thinking when they wrote the song. Of course, you can use your own musical skills to put your own personal imprint on it whenever you can. That’s the fun of playing the piano!

While dynamics are important for all piano players, keep in mind that some pianos are better at creating dynamic differences than others. This is where selecting the right piano makes all the difference. 

If you’re not getting the full vocality out of your piano, and are frustrated with the results, maybe it’s time to trade up to something better. 

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25 June 2020 5 Accessories You Need For Your Piano Right Now

5 Accessories You Need For Your Piano Right Now

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The more we stay at home, the more we come to appreciate the little things. 

Music falls into that category. Where we once spread ourselves thin, running from event to event, barely fitting it all in, we now have time to sit back and think about what’s important. 

If you’ve taken a second look at the piano sitting in your living space, and are dedicated to music a bigger part of your life, there are a few accessories you should invest in now.

Piano stool or bench

You can’t pull up a chair and play the piano correctly. Different players need different heights. If you have an uncomfortable seat, it can impact your posture and hand positioning. It can also lead to poor technique. 

Music stand

Depending on the piano you’re using, it’s important to have the right music stand in the right place at the right height. For grand pianos, you can get sophisticated and decorative. For a digital keyboard, something portable may be your top requirement. It’s important to get one of high quality that can withstand years of use. 

Light

Piano practice doesn’t always occur in the middle of the day with perfect natural lighting. That’s why having the right light is so important. Can you see the music without squinting, moving forward, and losing your good posture? Does it add or detract from your music room? With so many options in piano lighting, find the one that’s right for you. 

Headphones

Think headphones are only for keyboards? Think again. With many of today’s pianos, headphones aren’t just optional, they’re required for easy practicing. How many times has your household been too busy to practice? By putting a pair of headphones on, you can practice anytime without disturbing those around you. 

Metronome

All levels of piano players will benefit from having a metronome. It allows you to stay on track with tempo, and improve the way you play through difficult selections of music. It’s great for learning pieces on your own, but is equally important when practicing to play with a larger group. It ensures you’re playing at the proper rhythm. 

Do you have the right piano for your needs? Do you have all the accessories to ensure your piano playing is on target? If not, we can help. Give us a call today, and we can help you outfit the perfect music room for your needs. 

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21 June 2020 Is Learning on a Digital Piano Different Than an Acoustic Piano?

Is Learning on a Digital Piano Different Than an Acoustic Piano?

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Has staying in place made you rethink everything? 

Instead of being out and active 24/7, many of us are learning to appreciate what happens right inside our own homes. We’re more patient. We’re learning to appreciate the little things. 

We’re even taking up things we might have overlooked in the past. Like playing the piano. 

Maybe you’ve had an old acoustic piano sitting in your corner for years. 

Maybe you’ve pulled out that digital piano from under the bed. 

In either case, you have renewed interest in making music. 

Is there a difference between learning on an acoustic piano or a digital piano? 

Differences between acoustic and digital

Just looking at the two different types of pianos will tell you many things separate them. 

The most obvious is sound. When you press down on the key of an acoustic piano, it requires action to move the hammer inside to connect with a string. The sound depends on which strings it connects with, and how hard you press down on the key. 

For a digital, it relies on producing sound based on the key you touch. Each note is played and recorded from an acoustic piano. How well the sound is replicated depends on the quality of the piano. For this reason, it’s important to understand that all digital pianos are not created equally. If you truly desire to learn to play the piano, you will have to invest in purchasing a digital piano that replicates both the sound and the action of creating music on an acoustic piano. 

Size is also a consideration. Acoustic pianos take up quite a bit of space in your home. That’s fine if you live in suburbia, but if you’re trying to save space in a small urban condo, or even wish to bring your piano with you as you travel, digital might be a better way to go. 

Do digital and acoustic pianos play differently?

The sound may be the biggest difference between the two pianos, depending on the quality of the instruments. But there is something else that may be of concern. 

Some digital pianos are created to be a toy, not an instrument. They aren’t created to stand equally with an acoustic piano. The keys aren’t properly weighted, meaning when you press down on them, they don’t provide the same resistance as an acoustic piano. That means you can’t transfer your skills from one to another. If you hope to move forward with your musical skill, you’ll start over and have to learn how it feels. 

Which is right for you? 

If you truly wish to add piano into your life, quality is your most important goal. 

There are a range of factors for you to consider if you’re purchasing a piano to learn to play. 

If you already a digital piano, but aren’t satisfied with the sound, it may be time to upgrade to an acoustic piano. Give us a call today. 

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17 June 2020 How To Clean A Used Upright Piano 

How To Clean A Used Upright Piano 

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If 2020 has done anything for us, it’s taught us all to clean a little harder. Thanks to the coronavirus, we’re scrubbing, sanitizing, and organizing more than ever before. Even things we’ve forgotten in the corner are seeing new life as we move them, clean them, and do it all over again. 

But what about that used upright piano you brought into your home? You can’t throw it into the dishwasher. You can’t spray it down with a hose. 

Is there a right way to clean a used upright piano? 

Dusting – Dusting is the best course of action for your piano. Don’t let the dust settle in, inside or out. Every week, keep the surfaces dust-free to prevent buildup of harmful particles where they shouldn’t be. You can use a dry cloth or a duster to gently cover the surface. 

Deeper cleaning – Pianos and water don’t mix. Because a piano is a delicate instrument, never place anything around or on it that can damage the surface. A glass of water, a bottle of juice, a can of soda, a potted plant – keep everything that could potentially damage the surface of your piano away. If you want to remove smudges or spots, use a well-ringed out damp cloth, ensuring it dries quickly to avoid damaging your piano. 

Polishing – It’s recommended that you don’t use polish on your piano. They are bad for the piano finish and can do more harm than good. For complete guidelines, always check with your piano’s manufacturer before applying any product. 

Now let’s talk about the keys. This is the one part of your piano that will need more than a simple swipe of a duster. Touching them every day can release oils and grime to the keys. Clean them with a damp cloth. Be sure to ring all the water out, leaving it barely damp to the touch. You don’t want water seeping between the keys, damaging the internal workings of the keyboard. Use a separate cloth for the white and black keys, to keep the colors true to the keys. 

When you open up the top of either your upright or grand piano, you might find a dusty mess waiting for you. A vacuum with a hose attachment will be your friend as you keep it clean. Be careful as you move throughout the piano, being careful not to knock any pieces loose. You can invest in a can of compressed air to reach into tiny places. Pay attention to any damage you may find. If you haven’t paid attention to the piano in years, or have recently purchased it from someone else, you might find a variety of things inside that shouldn’t be there. Any of these things can cause extensive damage, and may require repair or even refurbing your piano. 

Not sure if you want to do it yourself? Have questions about the extent of damage you find on the inside of your piano? We can help. Give us a call today. 

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14 June 2020 4 Things To Think About Before Hiring a Piano Teacher

4 Things To Think About Before Hiring a Piano Teacher

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Ready to learn to play the piano? There are a variety of ways you can go about doing it. 

You can buy a beginning book and try to learn yourself. You can invest in an app and use it to become more proficient with the learning process. 

But no matter how much you try on your own, you’ll eventually find it works better by hiring a teacher. For you or your kids, there’s something better about working one on one with someone who already has piano skills in place. They can make you into a better pianist, and make your playing more enjoyable, no matter what you choose to play. 

What do you look for when hiring a piano teacher?

Start with your goals

Some just want to play their favorite songs. Some have hopes of turning it into a career. Depending on your goals should direct you to finding the perfect piano teacher. If you have hopes of a professional career, be sure to look for someone who is doing what you want to do. Their experience will be the perfect guide for your next steps. 

Don’t worry about location

In today’s world, you don’t have to rely on someone you can visit face to face. Thanks to technology, your perfect instructor can be a half a world away. The important thing is getting what you need from the instructor and learning all you can. 

Personality is everything

Learning piano is a lifelong challenge. It’s not something you’ll gain overnight. Instead, it takes hard work and endurance. And at times, you’ll become challenged, possibly even frustrated with the process. That’s when personality matters most. Do you have an instructor who meshes well with your temperament? Do they challenge you in the right ways? 

Price is everything

Look beyond the dollar amount. Is the piano instructor you are considering a good value? Will they help take you to the level of professionalism you desire? If so, find a way to include their fees in your monthly budget. You’ll be happy you did. 

Becoming a better piano player starts by having a great instrument to play. If you don’t have the right equipment, no matter how much a piano teacher pushes you, you’ll never achieve the results you’re looking for. Start with a great piano. Whether used or new, we can help. 

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10 June 2020 Using A Metronome For Better Piano Practice

Using A Metronome For Better Piano Practice

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Want to be a better piano player? The key is with better piano practice. 

Unfortunately, not everyone is an expert at understanding rhythm. Sometimes it takes work to get the beat right. 

That’s why incorporating a metronome into your practice will help you improve the way you play. A metronome can help you understand the right tempo and develop perfect timing for each piece you play. 

What is a metronome?

Metronomes emit a sound on each beat. It sets the tempo, then ticks off the counts to help you adjust the rhythm and understand the feel of the beat. Most metronomes can be set between 40 and 240 beats per minute. Some pianos have built in metronomes. You can also purchase apps that allow you to take it anywhere. 

How it can help identify technician issues

When you play without a metronome, you can glide over technical issues you might have with your playing. Spots where you’re dragging or rushing become apparent when you play it with the beat of a metronome. Practice the song with the clicking beat; you can do so just a few bars at a time. 

Getting up to speed

When you work with a teacher, they can help you through spots you might not be playing well. But most of your practice will be done alone. That’s where a metronome can help you along. Start by playing slower until you can play the notes effectively. Then speed it up until you’re at the proper dynamics. This works very well to overcome technical issues. It also ensures you play the music as intended by the creator of the piece. 

Do you have the proper tools to ensure your piano practice is effective? If not, we can help. From new and used pianos, to metronomes and sheet music, we can point you in the right direction to make every practice session its best. 

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7 June 2020 Beginning Piano Students – Do You Suffer From One Of These Problems?

Beginning Piano Students – Do You Suffer From One Of These Problems?

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When you decide to learn to play the piano, you’re excited about the possibilities. You dream of the day you can sit down at the keyboard and play your favorite music. 

But quickly you realize there’s more to it than that. You discover it’s difficult, you hit problems you can’t seem to overcome. 

Before you get frustrated and quit altogether, realize you’re not alone. Every beginning piano student faces problems. Here are some of the most common. 

Not using the right tools

Yes, there’s more to playing a piano than just the piano itself. 

Let’s start with the piano bench. You can’t pull up any old chair and expect to play. You need the right space to reach the keyboard and the pedals without straining your muscles. Your hands should be perfectly placed. You shouldn’t have to stretch to reach the floor. 

How about a metronome? Using a metronome can assist you in practicing, so you start to gain a sense of rhythm. Beginners often slow down as they come across new material, or hit challenging spaces in the music. Metronomes keep them on track, setting the rhythm to help keep you in time. 

Of course, there are also many other ways to learn about music. Apps are a great way to feel more comfortable with playing scales or learning more about musicality. A good instructor will ensure you are well versed, to enjoy playing that much more. 

Not finding the right piano teacher

This isn’t about using your next door neighbor because she has a piano. A good teacher can be the difference between quitting and playing for a lifetime. Too often, people buy into online apps because they want to test the waters, and see if their child is truly interested. That isn’t gifting your child the love of making music. You have to find an instructor that can help your child hold interest, especially when the first challenges come their way. 

Not practicing the right way

There’s a saying in the music field: practice doesn’t make perfect, perfect practice makes it perfect. You can practice something incorrectly over and over again; it won’t make it right. 

Instead, it’s about learning the way to perfect the time you do spend at the keyboard. And that’s where a good instructor can help. 

Keep in mind that instructors have different approaches. As your child grows, they may learn better from other instructors. Find ways to challenge your child. Give them role models they can aspire to be like as they age. 

What beginning piano problems are your students facing? 

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