31 March 2018 Tips For Making A Wise Piano Purchase

Tips For Making A Wise Piano Purchase

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Thinking of buying a piano for your home? Want your kids to start taking piano lessons? Or maybe you’re ready to pick up a hobby you’ve left behind long ago. 

Playing the piano can create a lifetime of enjoyment and intellectual stimulation. But if you don’t purchase the right piano from the start, you can have more frustration than playing. 

When purchasing a new or used piano from a retailer, you’ll find:

  • New pianos come with a host of features. You’ll receive a manufacturers warranty, have complimentary moving to get it into your home, and be able to select from a wide array of cabinetry and finish choices.Tips For Making A Wise Piano Purchase
  • Used pianos are reconditioned and come with a dealer warranty.
  • How about a trade up policy? This gives you the opportunity to easily trade up to better equipment when the time is right.
  • Knowledge and quality are standard. You won’t have to second guess about the quality of the piano because it stands behind the name and reputation of the dealer.

When purchasing from a private party, you’ll find:

  • They are generally less than retail.
  • You’ll have to go to several homes for comparison, and you may or may not be able to see the quality just by sight.
  • There is no warranty.
  • You’ll have to move the piano on your own.
  • You’ll have to take what you see and deal with the consequences.
  • Extra service is often required to restore the piano’s touch and tone.

What’s the best choice for you?

It depends on your circumstances. 

But if you are ready for a piano that will play at its best and be a part of your home for years to come, investing in a high quality piano from a reputable dealer is the way to go. 

What questions can we answer for you about your piano purchase?

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25 March 2018 5 Mistakes Beginner Piano Students Make

5 Mistakes Beginner Piano Students Make

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Starting any new project is an exciting time. For a budding musician, sitting down at the piano can also be a daunting task. So many keys, so many positions, so many things to learn. Where do you begin?

The first step for any piano player is to avoid mistakes from the beginning. Bad habits are difficult to correct once they are ingrained in your mind. Here are a few things you should watch out for as you’re learning to play. 

Flat Fingers5 Mistakes Beginner Piano Students Make

Playing with flat fingers may seem natural at first. But playing the piano with flattened hands limits your control of speed, accuracy, and dynamics with the keyboard. The proper pattern is with rounded fingers and palms, resting just the tips on the keys. It’s as if a small ball is placed in your palm and you don’t want to grasp it too hard. This allows you to maximize the thrust from your hands and forearms. 

Warm Ups Too Fast

As with any activity, warming up is a part of the process. For most piano players, that means practicing a simple scale or exercise. It’s always tempting to rush through it to get to the good stuff. But these are there to help you learn. Take it slow and methodical. What can you learn from the process? 

Not Using A Metronome

By instilling a rhythm into your practice, you can learn to play at an even tempo. This can slow you down and ensure that your technique is intact throughout your practice. It reinforces your rhythmic confidence and allows you to build your skills the right way the first time. 

Bad Posture

Still sitting on a chair to play? Kids can’t touch the floor while sitting on the bench? Then bad posture might be impacting your play. Poor posture limits your ability to practice and play properly. It leads to bad playing technique that will impede your ability to focus on the skills you are learning. 

Forcing Practice

Practice should be something fun; something you enjoy. If you do it simply to check it off the list, you’ll quickly find resentment setting in. If you’re not into it, push it back to when you’re more comfortable, more relaxed. That’s not to say that you shouldn’t develop discipline with your practicing routine. But if you’re having a bad day, put it off until you’re better. Playing the piano should be enjoyable, not a chore. 

Are you or someone in your family ready to play the piano?

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21 March 2018 7 Tips For Good Piano Posture

7 Tips For Good Piano Posture

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Playing the piano is more than sitting in front of the keyboard and tapping a few keys. You need a quality piano to have the perfect sound. And you need to feel your best and sit at the keyboard with good posture to ensure that sound comes through. 

Relax your fingers

Tense fingers won’t roll across the keyboard naturally. To find the right finger shape, place your hand gently over your kneecap. Feel the curve of your hand? That’s how you want to approach playing the piano. Keep your fingers gently curved and relaxed as you set out to play a song. 

Balance7 Tips For Good Piano Posture

The piano seat you use will help keep your body in alignment as you play. You should sit up tall and straight, with your head aligned over your body so your back and shoulders don’t experience undo stress. Wiggle your shoulders to help you relax. You can gently turn your head until you feel it come into alignment on your shoulders. 

Use a footrest 

As kids learn to play the piano, they often have trouble sitting properly at the keyboard. They tend to slide to the edge to have easier access to the floor. In order to keep them properly positioned on the bench, place a footrest or a few books on the floor so they sit comfortably at the piano. Having their feet on the ground will help them relax their upper body. 

Wrist action

While many people think piano playing depends on the fingers, most of the movement actually comes from your wrist. It’s important to keep your wrist flexible to transfer energy from your arms into your fingers while you play. The wrist should be able to help bounce the fingers into play and then up again all through the song. It should always feel comfortable and relaxed. 

Arm alignment

When sitting at the piano, the elbow, wrist, and pinky finger should all line up. Kids have a tendency to rotate their hands so their wrists are bent. If you focus on keeping the wrist straighter, you’ll be more comfortable throughout your playing. 

Allow gravity to help you play

Move your chair or bench away from the piano and practice holding your arms as if you are playing. Feel how they bounce and move? Your arms should never have resistance or be anything but comfortable while you play. Practice relaxing your arms from the shoulder down. Once you have this feeling down, transfer it to the way you play when you’re sitting in front of the keyboard. The action should come from your arm, not your fingers. 

Sit and Lean

Kids sometimes have a hard time sitting in one place. They slide all over the piano bench. But for proper hand placement and to learn piano efficiently, they should sit in one place and lean into position as the notes of the song change. Again, a footrest can help them root into the bench and give them more strength as they play. 

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18 March 2018 The Worst Thing About Playing The Piano

The Worst Thing About Playing The Piano

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What’s the worst thing about playing the piano? No, it isn’t the constant barrage of requests you’ll get from your family and friends. It isn’t the daily practice routines you’ll place on your calendar. 

If you don’t practice the piano the right way and pick up bad habits, you’ll be wasting your time. 

How do these bad habits form?The Worst Thing About Playing The Piano

Many bad habits are caused by stress from practicing pieces that are too difficult for your playing level. To overcompensate for what you can’t do, you reach beyond your means to play in any manner you can. 

Another bad habit is using the damper or soft pedal too frequently. This is a sign of an unqualified teacher. Overusing these pedals only makes bad playing that much worse. 

Some pianists will play without any regard to musicality. They bang away at the notes simply to get through the song. If a student equates completion or loudness with achievement, the result is playing simply to master the notes. But playing the piano is so much more. It takes a trained ear to listen while they play. Creating the right sound involves feeling what you play. 

Then there are incorrect finger and hand movements. This is common without formal training, and is also connected with beginners who simply bang away on the keys. Weak fingers are caused by not allowing your arms to do the work. And when a student continues to play this way, it takes time to be retaught to connect with the full dynamic range of the piano. 

Stuttering can be caused by stopping at every incorrect bar. If you focus on your mistakes, it only makes the mistakes more apparent. Instead, play the music from beginning to end. Don’t stop and correct it. Make a mental note of where you stumble and go back and play that section again. Work on specific areas until you can take it to the next level. Then start the process again.  

The worst thing about bad habits is they can take a long time to eliminate. We fall back into old patterns easily. 

Therefore nothing creates better learning more than learning the right way the first time. For example, a good piano instructor will set you up for positive learning right from the start. And learning to play on a high quality piano will give you the musicality you need to succeed. 

Bad habits can happen. But if you take the right steps and give yourself all the tools you need to play better, you’ll enjoy the process that much more. 

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14 March 2018 Building Piano Habits or Correcting Piano Mistakes

Building Piano Habits or Correcting Piano Mistakes

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What does piano practice mean to you? Unfortunately, for many parents, they associate practice with time or repetition. Have you ever said this to your child?

  • It’s time to practice the piano for 30 minutes.
  • Play the song 25 times before you get up.

In both cases, playing the piano becomes a chore. They associate it with something they are forced to do. They start watching the clock. Or counting and speeding up the song to get through it quickly. Neither of which instill the love of music into their hearts. Building Piano Habits or Correcting Piano Mistakes

Talk with their piano teacher about finding ways to encourage them to play without making it a chore. Here are a few ideas as well:

Start a practice journal. This doesn’t work for everyone, but if your child is motivated by seeing how well they do, recording their progress can give them a log of how much they accomplish. It gives them things to strive for each time they sit down and play the piano. 

Good practice is more than learning particular pieces. It’s also about building good habits and learning strategies that make playing easier. That’s why we play scales. That’s why repetition is good. 

Practice should also be about incorporating what makes a child feel good. Each child has different goals and dreams. Are they motivated by playing particular pieces? Are they motivated by receiving gold stars? This should be about encouraging your child to do better for themselves, not solely to meet your particular goals or desires. 

Use technology. There’s no getting around technology everywhere in our lives. Why not give them piano skills through different gaming and training apps too? These tools can encourage your child beyond just playing and give them the desire to improve their skills too. How about conducting? Or developing their own music? There are literally apps for that. The key is finding what motivates your child the most. 

Have any questions about motivating your child to become better at playing the piano? We can help. 

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11 March 2018 Does Your Child Need A Better Piano

Does Your Child Need A Better Piano

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Where did you get the piano currently sitting in your home? Is it in good working condition? Does it allow your child to practice in the best way possible?

Pianos are a complex instrument. And without regular maintenance, many things can go wrong. 

Take, for instance, a sticky key. Let’s say one of the most common keys on your piano sticks when you press it down. The only way to get it to return to its upright position is to gently tap under the key and push it back up. Does Your Child Need A Better PianoIt’s not difficult. It doesn’t take force. But it does need a tap to get it to rise back to its original position. That process can build in your child’s practice and performance. It can become ingrained in the way she plays. So much so that she’ll tap the key on every piano she plays. 

Of course, there are many other things that can impact your child’s performance. There are a wide range of things that if not repaired, can impact not only her ability to play, but her desire as well. 

When a child practices the piano, the goal is to establish good playing habits and to let them have a positive musical experience. The instrument they play every day should be able to respond to both. The piano should be in tune so that your child can develop an accurate sense of pitch. If the piano is out of tune, it won’t sound good at all. Which means the experience won’t be where it needs to be to keep her playing. 

Do you have an acoustic piano? 

Some older pianos are beyond repair. A qualified technician can give you an idea of how much it will cost to make the repairs. But if you’ve owned it for years without tuning it regularly, or have found it for free or low cost on a Craigslist ad, it might be in poor condition and not able to provide the proper piano playing experience. 

It’s okay to purchase electronic or digital piano as well. For some families, moving to the digital world just makes sense. 

If your older acoustic piano can’t be fixed, it’s time to consider a new piano. If you’re using a keyboard with less than the standard 88 keys, look to move into something full sized. The quality of your piano makes the experience that much more enjoyable for you and for her. And it gives her the chance to develop a lifelong skill she’ll enjoy. 

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7 March 2018 Is A Digital Piano The Same As A Keyboard?

Is A Digital Piano The Same As A Keyboard?

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Are you thinking about buying a piano? Already decided to invest in digital rather than acoustic, but not sure what the difference is between digital pianos and keyboards? 

Digital pianos lie somewhere between acoustic and electronic keyboard. Their goal is to mimic an acoustic piano as closely as possible. In general, the higher the quality, the more realistic it becomes. It will be the same length as an acoustic with 88 piano keys. It will allow for a greater variation in sounds due to sound modification. Is A Digital Piano The Same As A Keyboard?

Digital pianos not only have the 88 keys to match an acoustic piano, but they also tend to have weighted keys, which makes them feel more like an acoustic piano while being played. They have built in speakers to further qualify the sound. 

Most digital pianos have a MIDI output which allows you to connect them to a computer via the interface. This allows you to record and edit your playing as well as control other sounds and instruments at the touch of a button. 

Keyboards are typically smaller than a traditional acoustic piano. You’ll often find electronic keyboards with 61 keys – 4 or 5 octaves – as opposed to the traditional piano which has 6 octaves. What makes keyboards unique is their portability. They also provide a wider range of sounds and have the ability to interact easily through MIDI or USB connectors. 

When playing a keyboard, you’ll notice the keys tend to be a bit smaller and easier to press than a traditional piano. This can take getting used to if you are proficient on a traditional piano. While young children might find this process easier, it’s important to keep in mind that transition to an acoustic can be difficult for someone who’s learned on a keyboard. The shift in feel can be difficult to translate. 

Acoustic pianos are larger, bulkier, and difficult to move. In general, you’ll place an acoustic piano in your home and leave it there. 

With keyboards, they are portable by nature. You can pack them up after each session, sliding them into a closet or underneath the bed. They work well in apartment or dorm living because they are flexible with their movement. You can also use the headphone feature which makes the playing silent.

Digital pianos mimic acoustic pianos. They can take on any size. You can select an upright to place up against the wall, a stage piano -portable piano – to use with a live band, or even a grand piano to make a statement in any room. 

Which piano is for you – digital or a keyboard? We can assist you in any way. 

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4 March 2018 How Long Does It Take To Learn Piano

How Long Does It Take To Learn Piano

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Ready to start playing the piano? The piano can give you a skill you’ll enjoy for a lifetime. 

But one of the things that hold people back is the complexity of the instrument. Maybe you’ve sat down at a piano and plunked out a few notes. Maybe you’ve taken a few lessons and are wondering where it all ends. 

How long does it take to learn the piano? 

The real answer depends on what that question means to you. How Long Does It Take To Learn Piano

How well do you want to be able to play?

For some, they want to learn to play the piano for the joy of music. They have a few songs in mind they’d love to play. 

For others, they have visions of world-class classical pianists in their frame of reference. They see themselves playing Bach or Rachmaninoff’s concertos with ease. If that’s you, it may be years of concentrated study with a piano master to play them well. 

Most people have their desires fall somewhere in between. 

Whatever level you’re hoping to achieve, your progress depends on how diligently you practice and how much time you put into the process. It also depends on your teacher, how motivated you are, and how quickly you learn throughout the process. 

For many of the learning programs out there today, piano studies are grouped into about 10 levels of play. When you reach a certain level, you can expect to be able to master any piece at that level with just a few weeks of practice. You’ll learn both playing skills and technical prowess along the way. 

In general, it takes about a year of dedicated study to achieve every level. But again, this is only a rough guideline. Someone who dedicates hours of practice each week is going to progress faster than someone with only one or two. 

If you are serious about maximizing your progress, find a great teacher that knows when to push. They will ensure you have all of the skills and resources in place to push you as far as you choose to go. 

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28 February 2018 4 Times Your Child Shouldn’t Be Practicing Piano

4 Times Your Child Shouldn’t Be Practicing Piano

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Practice. Practice. Practice. 

As parents, we push our kids to be the best they can be. That means ensuring homework is done every night. That means getting in quality practice for each activity they take on. 

But when is enough, enough?

When should you say NO to practice, because doing so will actually work against what you’re trying to achieve? 4 Times Your Child Shouldn’t Be Practicing Piano

When a child is exhausted

Our kids are busier than ever before. And sometimes they come home after a long day at school and are simply too tired to do high quality work. As a parent, you know when your child has reached their limits. Attempting to get a child to practice when they are physically or emotionally tired will only result in frustration. 

If you push, you won’t see high quality results. And the more you push, the more likely they will be to hate the piano rather than love it. 

As a punishment

Sometimes we create lists of to-do’s to ensure everything is completed in a timely manner. The problem with putting things on a to-do list is it becomes a chore. Piano playing should be something a child enjoys. If you push lessons or practice on them as something they have to do instead of something they should enjoy, you’ll be fighting an uphill battle. Piano playing is a happy activity that gives them peace and enjoyment after the busy days they’ve had. 

A rushed activity

Remember how well you did with homework you’ve tried to cram in before heading off to a class? Piano practice isn’t something you rush to do before you head off for lessons. Piano practice is something to improve your skills and help you become a better player. If parents feel rushed or stressed about fitting everything in, a child will too. 

A frustration

Children sense our stressors. They know when we’re happy … and when we’re not. If you don’t feel your child is making headway with their lessons, try not to bring that up to your child. Don’t correct them or point out their mistakes. In most cases, they already know. If you trust the piano teacher you’ve selected, let them teach in their own manner. If a teacher isn’t working for your child’s temperament, find someone else. Finding a way to make it a joyful experience will always win out. 

Want your child to love piano for many years to come? Give them everything they need to succeed. Have a question? We’re here to help. 

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24 February 2018 Common Beginner Piano Problems

Common Beginner Piano Problems

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Every piano player takes his or her own path when they sit down to play the piano for the first time. Most simply want to make music. They have their idols they hope to mimic and they want to play something recognizable in the short term. 

Children differ in expectations from adults. Yet ultimately all want the same thing. To play. And to play well, no matter what level you’re at. Common Beginner Piano Problems

Teachers will tell you there are several beginner piano problems that hold players back. And if you don’t correct these problems quickly, they can lead for more significant problems. 

Technique

Kids and adults alike pick up a keyboard or a piano and start playing by themselves. Maybe they download an app to play. Or maybe they tinker out a sound. But in the process, they start developing bad habits. They hold their wrists in the wrong positions. They don’t play while seated properly. They use the wrong chair, the wrong setup, or even incorrect sizes for their physical form. 

When you create good habits from the beginning, you play faster, better, easier from the very start. You don’t have to go back and unlearn problem habits that can make your style and position wrong. 

Engage the ear properly

Have you ever played a piece of music only to realize you have no idea what you played? Reading notes isn’t the same as understanding the music you created. It’s important to listen to the sound you create and critique your playability along the way. Engage your ear and listen to every note. Hear what you’re playing. Visualize what you’ll be playing and then ensure it sounds like you anticipated.  

Mindset 

Mindset is different for children and adults. Children usually approach lessons with little expectation. Adults, however, are more likely to be discouraged when they don’t pick up the process somewhat faster. 

In both, mindset is everything. It’s important to realize that to be good at playing the piano takes time. Don’t go into it with unrealistic expectations. Have an instructor help you create realistic goals. Then use those goals to stay on track as you move and adjust based on your interest and your needs. 

Playing the piano takes time. But with a little work, you can enjoy playing for many years to come. 

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