4 June 2020 It’s Time To Upgrade Your Piano If …

It’s Time To Upgrade Your Piano If …

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You wanted your child to play the piano, and they’ve been doing well with it for months. You’re happy with their progress. But now, their instructor is telling you it’s time to upgrade your piano. 

What does that mean? Why do you need to upgrade? Isn’t a piano a piano? 

Let’s look at the number of reasons why upgrading might be a good idea. 

Touch

A lot of parents are initially shocked at the price of a piano. Then they struggle with spending money on an instrument they aren’t sure their child will continue to play. So they invest in something inexpensive, often digital. Something they find at their favorite big box store, perhaps. While this may be good in the beginning, it can’t help your child learn the intricate details of playing the piano. 

The biggest reason is because of touch. Traditional pianos have touch weight, which refers to the resistance the keys have when you press them down. This weight is designed to teach a person dynamic response. Over time, you learn to press into the keys with varying weight to receive different responses from the tonal quality of the music being played. If your piano doesn’t have that capability, you lose out learning this critical step. 

Action

Pianos have thousands of parts, each put together in such a way to create sound. Over time, these parts can start to wear down, creating friction in the way they come together. Imagine if strings are loose or broken; the sound quality won’t be there. How can you play if the music being made isn’t right? 

Size

The standard keyboard has 88 keys. Many digital pianos are built compact for size and flexibility. But without a full range of keys, at some point, a piano player simply can’t play what they desire. 

Size also matters in the overall construction of the piano itself. If you’re received a piano from a friend, you might have an older, more compact size. Pianos were built for a variety of reasons, one for compact living space. Everything about the piano was reduced, including the size of the keys themselves. Again, it’s back to the feel of the piano. If your child wants to move forward with their musical talent, they have to understand how to get full depth from the instrument. And that’s simply not possible on all instruments. 

Tone

Of course, tone is also a big reason to upgrade. Basic pianos will never sound as good as concert level pianos. Moving up improves the overall quality of the sound. If you want to hear the difference in piano tone, give us a call. We can share with you the differences, and help you make the right choice for your needs. 

Filed Under: Buying a Piano Tagged With:
28 May 2020 Secure Your Piano Before You Move It

Secure Your Piano Before You Move It

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Are you planning a move in the coming months? What’s the most difficult thing in your home to move? 

Pianos are notoriously difficult to move because of their size. They are also surprisingly fragile, and can be damaged quickly in many different ways. Take a look at the tiny legs on your grand piano. Or the delicate keys and how they are interconnected inside on the soundboard. 

Now imagine how you’ll do that, especially if you have stairs, lots of tight corners and curves, an elevator, or a maze of pathways to navigate. 

Not only do you risk damaging your piano, but you also risk injuring yourself and any others who may help you during the move. Pianos are heavy and awkward, which is why you should leave it to the professionals. 

Ask for help – don’t rely on a standard moving company; they don’t have the right expertise. Don’t ask a few of your buddies; they are even less prepared for a move than traditional movers. They don’t have the right equipment to keep them safe from injury every step of the way. 

Secure the piano – every aspect of the piano needs securing before you attempt to move it. That means protecting the keyboard lid, so it doesn’t bang as it moves. It means removing delicate legs, so they aren’ damaged or broken. It means wrapping the piano with blankets and padding to protect every inch of the surface area. 

Lift the piano – you can’t carry a piano – especially a grand piano – with just a few people surrounding it. You need a variety of moving helpers, such as a furniture dolly and moving straps. You should ensure you have the right support and balance to move it every inch from where it’s currently setting to its final resting position. 

Securing the piano in the truck – just because your piano is safely moved out of your home doesn’t mean your job is over yet. It’s also important that it’s placed safely in the truck and won’t be damaged as it’s moved from one location to the next. Moving trucks aren’t always clean, level, and perfectly sized. However, a piano moving company ensures your piano is placed securely on the ground to stay level throughout the ride. It’s strapped in so it won’t move and bang around as the truck moves and stops. It’s designed to stay safe the entire way. 

Moving in – once your piano is at its final destination, it’s important to do everything the right way with the final move, only in reverse. Be sure the piano is well protected every step of the way, negotiating stairs and tight corners before it’s placed where it will finally rest once again. Be sure to scope out its new home first, avoiding open doorways, vents and registers, and direct sunlight that can damage the surface area. 

Are you planning a move soon? Be sure to secure your piano before you move it, and ensure it arrives safely at its final destination. 

Filed Under: Piano Moving
25 May 2020 What’s The Most Effective Way To Practice Piano?

What’s The Most Effective Way To Practice Piano?

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Practice is one of the most important parts of piano playing. It’s how you learn. It’s how you get better. But like everything, piano practice can grow boring if you don’t have a goal. Is there an effective way to practice piano?

Start with a goal. “I’ll play several times a week” is not a goal. Instead, sit down every session with something specific in mind. “I’m going to learn to play ____ today.” “I’m going to learn the opening of _____ today.” Make sure the goal is achievable, given your level of playing and what you’re attempting to do. 

Slow down. Playing isn’t a race to the finish line. Instead, it’s about playing the best you can. Take the time to learn what you do perfectly. If it takes longer to move through a piece of music, that’s okay. The important thing is to learn, and do it well. 

Pay attention to fundamentals. It’s nice that you want to play music from your favorite band. But learning the fundamentals can make you a better piano player. Spend time mastering scales. Take the time to learn technical skills. You’ll see it in every piece of music you play. 

Use a metronome. It’s one of the best ways to bring a song up to tempo. But that doesn’t mean you have to start at tempo. Slow things done and focus on the notes and fingering. Master music in pieces. Then bring the metronome up to speed until you can play it as intended. 

Listen. Listen to the best piano players in the world. Go to concerts and see them in action. You may even wish to sign up for competitions to learn from others around. You’ll learn a lot from listening to what others have to say about your performance. 

End with fun. The last few minutes of your practice session should be designed for fun. What’s your favorite piece of music? Playing your favorites allows you to leave your session fully energized and ready for your day. 

What’s your most effective way to keep piano practice interesting? 

Filed Under: Piano Lessons, Piano Playing
21 May 2020 How Do You Stay Motivated To Play The Piano?

How Do You Stay Motivated To Play The Piano?

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No matter what activity you integrate into your life, there will be moments where you feel like giving up. You get tired of the same old routine. You feel bored when you think about participating. 

What’s a person to do?

Playing the piano is a lifelong skill. Unlike sports where you’ll cross over from participant to spectator family rapidly as you age, with piano, it’s always there. You can appreciate listening to a wide range of music. You can sit down at a keyboard every chance you get. 

So how do you stay motivated to play the piano when you hit your rough patches? 

Play what you love

Nothing will keep you motivated to play if you aren’t creating the music you love. If you think it’s boring, you shouldn’t be mastering it. That said, don’t say no to stretching and growing either. Sometimes it’s good to think outside the box and pick up a piece of music that is different than anything you’ve played before. The challenge often comes in listening to how you create and learning to do it better. 

Find your inspiration

Stretch yourself in new ways. If you always listen to the same radio station, change things up. With platforms like Sirius, you have access to hundreds of channels. Spend some time listening to new things to get inspired. Then when you find something you love, try it out on the piano. You can find just about any sheet music online; use that to inspire you to play more. 

Structure your play time

It’s easy to get caught in the desire to always play the same things, the music you’ve mastered. While that may be a good warm up exercise from time to time, push yourself into new things. That’s where the challenge comes from. That’s how you grow. 

Give yourself milestones and challenges

To make piano playing more fun, give yourself something to shoot for. Maybe you can volunteer to play holiday music with a group in your community. Or perhaps you have a song you’ve always wanted to play. Set goals and work towards them every day. You can reward yourself with trips to your community orchestra, or even larger rewards such as flying to Broadway to take in a show. 

Want an even bigger reward? How about giving yourself the gift of an upgraded piano? If you’ve longed for a grand piano to create aesthetics in your room, it may be the perfect reward. 

Whatever questions you have about pianos, we’re here to help. 

Filed Under: Piano Playing Tagged With:
18 May 2020 Should I Cover My Piano When Not In Use?

Should I Cover My Piano When Not In Use?

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This is a question we get a lot around here. And it makes sense, you spend a lot on purchasing the right piano for your home, protecting it seems only natural. 

In most cases, it isn’t necessary to cover your piano. If you have a grand piano, covering it can be quite a chore. Especially if you play your piano regularly, covering and uncovering it each time can take away minutes that would be better off playing. 

If you do have a grand piano and are worried about keeping the inner workings in the best possible shape, it’s better to close the lid when you are done playing. This can help with the integrity of your piano, and protect wood and strings from dust and humidity. Air conditioning can be especially hard on it. You can’t completely stop your piano from being impacted by the elements, but closing the lid reduces exposure, and can slow the aging and degradation process. 

Your piano is designed to be inside your home and be played. With proper cleanings and tunings, it can last for decades. You can’t stop exposure to the elements, even if it’s covered or you close your lid. Aging and wear happen naturally. 

But there is one thing you should do before you place your piano in its final resting spot, and that’s paying attention to the way sunlight streams into your home. Sunlight is possibly your piano’s worst enemy. 

Sunlight can wear down the finish, warp wood, and tighten the tension throughout your piano. It can cause the soundboard to crack. It can degrade the finish, taking away your piano’s classic good looks. While you should consider moving your piano to a better location, covering it to protect it from the sun’s rays would be the next best step. 

Do you have other questions about your piano’s condition? 

Filed Under: Owning a Piano Tagged With:
14 May 2020 Do You Have The Right Piano Posture?

Do You Have The Right Piano Posture?

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How do you sit and play the piano? That might sound like a funny question. To most people, the answer would be a simple – pull out the bench, sit down, and start to play. 

In theory, that’s correct. But that’s like telling an office worker to pull out a chair and sit down at a computer and type, expecting they will automatically do it correctly. 

If you do it incorrectly, you’ll pay the price. You’ll notice it in your neck, back, arms, and hands almost immediately. 

Yes, there is a right piano posture. Here’s what you need to know. 

Sit correctly

Just like you can’t slouch at the computer, sitting straight while you play piano is important too. Place the bench away from the piano, sitting comfortably at the front half of the bench. Your arms should be fully extended as they reach the back of the keyboard. Your feet should rest comfortably on the floor, with the pedal easily within reach, lightly extended. Your arms should fall at a 90 degree angle, with your forearms, wrists, and hands level as you play. Don’t let your wrists dip as you sit and play. Your back should be straight with shoulders relaxed. 

Never play with tension, this is your time to relax

If you’ve ever played a sport, or taken a class at the gym, you know the most important part of staying safe is the warm up. The same holds true with playing the piano. Before you sit and play, take a few moments to stretch, take a few deep breaths, and relax. If you’re tense, you’re more likely to suffer an injury. Focus on areas that you might have trouble with; drop your shoulders, move your hands, wiggle your fingers. Breathe energy into all the spots you’ve felt stress before. 

Play from the core

You can’t sit sloppily at the piano and expect to play well. For the best performance, you have to play from the core. Sitting up straight, engaging the core while you play will all make a difference. This helps the rest of your body engage and participate in creating beautiful music. 

Arms heavy, hands soft

People often assume music comes from the fingers. The power actually comes from your arms. This is why it’s important to stretch before you play and let your shoulders relax, your arms feel dense and heavy. When you sit properly, your arms guide your hands into the keys, allowing you to control how the music comes out. You sink your fingernails into the keys, following the heaviness of your arms leading the way.   

Yes, pianists can face stress from playing the wrong way. It’s similar to working incorrectly at the computer, and always results from poor form. Study the greats. Get help from a teacher. And practice playing with the right piano posture to ensure you not only enjoy what you do, but you create great music too. 

Filed Under: Piano Playing Tagged With:
9 May 2020 Cleaning Your Piano To Reduce Coronavirus

Cleaning Your Piano To Reduce Coronavirus

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Have you taken on the task of cleaning your home with a vengeance since the coronavirus was first announced? 

Do you scrub every counter, vacuum the floors, add baking soda to every load of laundry? Yet you still wonder if it’s enough – what more can you do? 

At some point, you might take a brush and cleaner to everything in your home. What about your piano? Is there a right way for cleaning your piano that will prevent germs from spreading? After all, the piano is a touchy-feely place your family spends time at. 

Human hands might be one of the top causes of spreading disease. If we touch something carrying viral or bacterial pathogens, we transfer it by touching something new. That’s how it moves from a door, to a shopping cart, to a steering wheel, and ultimately to our eyes or nose as we touch. 

Your piano’s keyboard is also ripe for opportunity. Inside your home, each person that sits down has the possibility of transferring germs from one to the next. If it’s just your family, you keep the transfer within your unit. If you welcome in students for practice and training, it opens up potential in many ways. 

That’s why it’s more important than ever to clean and sanitize your keyboard regularly. However, you can’ spray cleaner or you risk harming the keys. You can’t use just any product, or you might be calling for repair to fix the finish and the mechanism. 

Water

Let’s start with the basics. If you’ve had your piano for a while, you know that chemicals can be harmful to the finish of the keys, whether they’re plastic or ivory. Many experts will tell you the best way to keep keys clean is with a damp (not wet) towel. Rub over the keys to remove dirt, and let dry. However, water won’t kill germs. It can remove them from the keys, but it won’t kill them. 

Vinegar

Many people add vinegar to water for a natural cleaning solution. There isn’t a definitive answer on how well vinegar works at killing germs. And vinegar can harm ivory, even dull plastic over time. Be sure to dilute well if this is your cleaning method of choice. 

Disinfectant wipes

If you have any disinfectant wipes on hand, using them on your keys especially after students may seem like a good idea. But the chemicals will damage the surface, and eventually wear down the keys. Chemicals and ivory don’t mix. Even chemicals and plastic can dull the finish over time. And if any of the chemicals seep between the keys and get down into the inner workings of the piano, it can spell a lot of trouble for the health of your piano. 

Other tips to keep in mind

Avoid bleach-based products at all costs. Don’t use citrus-based disinfectants as they also can damage the surface. 

Never spray directly onto the keys. Always spray onto a soft cloth, and gently wipe the keys back to front. Always follow with a dry towel to ensure moisture doesn’t seep between the keys.  

Filed Under: Piano Playing Tagged With:
7 May 2020 Is Playing The Piano Good For You?

Is Playing The Piano Good For You?

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Staying in place has helped many find new hobbies. A playing the piano is leading the list. 

That’s because unlike binge-watching television, or spending hours on video games, there are scientifically proven benefits to playing the piano. 

Stress relief 

Staying in place is difficult at best. We’re not used to staying home every second of every day. And while we love our family members, sometimes we need a break. Studies show that playing the piano can help in all kinds of ways, including reducing your stress, improving your mental health, and lowering anxiety and depression. 

Concentration 

Have you ever had brain fog? Or felt like you couldn’t concentrate on the task at hand? Playing the piano may help you. Playing the piano requires you to use split concentration methods as you focus on each hand playing differently, while working the pedals and reading the music at the same time. The more you improve this skill, the easier you’ll find it is to concentrate. 

It’s an easy hobby to take up

Did you know that piano is one of the easiest instruments to play? Intuitively, we all can pluck a few notes and pick out a song from the moment we come in contact with it. From the beginning, teachers have you playing simple songs, and you can move up to your favorites fairly quickly. 

It improves your health

There are many studies showing all the ways playing the piano improves your health. It improves hand-eye coordination. It helps sharpen fine motor skills. It lowers stress, which in turn can help you control blood pressure. It’s good for your arm and hand muscles, giving you added strength. Therapies are being developed to help patients with everything from autism to dementia. 

It creates a more beautiful world

Listening to music makes you more aware of your world. You start to notice things you ignored before. 

If you’re looking for new things to add to your day, to bring peace and tranquility to these challenging times, playing the piano may be the perfect answer for you. 

Filed Under: Piano Playing Tagged With:
4 May 2020 Piano Practice When Everyone’s At Home

Piano Practice When Everyone’s At Home

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Right now can be the perfect time to practice the piano. With everybody home and staying in place, finding the time is no longer a problem.

Yet with everybody at home, it can also be difficult to carve out a few minutes where you can practice alone. Everybody is around, trying to do their thing. And when noise has become the one constant in your days, how are you supposed to find quiet to think about piano practice in the right manner?

Place the piano in a quiet place in your home

If you’ve already found the perfect place for your piano, moved furniture and even decorated around it, moving it may seem like a hassle. But a lot of this comes from knowing who will be practicing regularly. Some people like to be the center of attention. Others may prefer a quiet space where they can practice without others hearing them. While you’re spring cleaning and organizing your house, this may be the perfect time for a little redecorating, and moving your piano to where it functions best. 

Schedule a time for practice

Even when the days all start to run together, they can seem like they fly by without the chance to make it through your daily to-do list. Carve out time during the day for each family member to be able to do something they really enjoy. While one practices the piano, another may choose to paint or draw. Keep the activities going on in the room complimentary, and you’ll soon create a space that everyone looks forward to each day. 

Use headphones

Did you know some acoustic pianos today come with the option of having headphones? It’s not just digital anymore. Being able to plugin headphones gives you the opportunity to practice no matter what else is going on in the room. It helps the piano player concentrate, and allows other family members to do their thing without interrupting.

Create a plan

Even in these trying times, having a plan in place helps. Try and create some structure in your days. Get up at the same time. Go to bed at the same time. Center your activities around meal plans. This will help everyone keep some sense of balance. That also gives you a chance to put what’s important on the calendar – like piano practice. 

The only thing we know for sure right now is we’ll get through this one day at a time. 

Piano practice can add a sense of normality no matter what’s happening in the world. It has calming effects, and can reduce the stress of everyone playing or listening. 

Stick with your piano practice – you’ll appreciate it even more in the weeks and months to come. 

Filed Under: Piano Lessons, Piano Playing Tagged With:
28 April 2020 Why You Should Learn Piano Right Now

Why You Should Learn Piano Right Now

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Looking for a new skill during the coronavirus? Is it time to find something to help you relieve stress? 

Maybe it’s time to learn piano. 

The arts have a meditative quality to them. Pick up a paintbrush and paint; you relax as the strokes move across the canvas. Touch your fingers to the keys; you feel your breathing calm as each note comes alive. 

And that really is the top benefit to learning piano. It requires your full concentration, full engagement of the brain as you work both hands together, while your brain activates by looking at each note on the sheet in front of you. 

If you do any research, you’ll quickly discover that music isn’t just for enjoyment, music therapy is used in all sorts of ways. Anxiety, depression, ADHD, PTSD. Science is finding sitting still and playing a song can help in many ways. 

While it may calm you down and act as a stress reliever, it’s activating the brain. Every time you practice a song, get better, and challenge yourself in new ways, it adds neural connections. That means your brain is learning, growing, and connecting to enhance your thinking skills. 

When people think about physical activity, they often push themselves to run and jump. But there’s more to it than that, and that’s where learning piano can help. Playing piano strengthens hand-eye coordination. It also increases fine-motor skills. You might not be able to play physical sports like soccer or football your entire life, but piano is something you can do forever. Plus it works to lower blood pressure, reduce cardiac complications, lower respiratory rates, and increase immune response. That’s good news right now when we need something to do all that and more. It also strengthens your arm and hand muscles, and builds your focus muscle too. 

You’ve always wanted to learn piano. It’s been on your bucket list for years. 

Whether you choose to pick up where you left off as a kid, or you’re ready to start something new, make this the year you find your musical self once more. Make this the year you learn piano. 

Filed Under: Piano Lessons, Piano Playing Tagged With:
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