11 January 2018 7 Resolutions You Should Keep As A Piano Player This Year

7 Resolutions You Should Keep As A Piano Player This Year

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Is one of your goals for the New Year to be an even better piano player? Do you hope to make music an increasingly important part of your life? Then here are a few steps you should take as we move into the next few months. 

1. Hire a professional to tune your piano

Pianos need regular tuning, whether you use them every day or not. On average, pianos should be tuned twice per year. If it’s been awhile, schedule your tuning today. 

2. Practice a new song

Repetition gets old. Instead of starting the new year out with the same old music, invest in something new, something motivating. Great songs from today’s greatest singers can get your fingers snapping again and give you just enough motivation to want to play even more. 7 Resolutions You Should Keep As A Piano Player This Year

3. Practice speed

Some of the most successful piano players achieve greatness because of their ability to speed things up. Those fast-paced tunes capture attention. Pick one up and see what you can do. Even if you have no desire to play professionally, there’s still something satisfying about playing a song at a quick pace. 

4. Listen to the professionals

When was the last time you were inspired by professionals? Take a trip to your local symphony and listen to the best. Better yet, make it a habit to seek out the best players in the world. How about a trip to New York to see the New York Philharmonic play? Or expand your horizons even further with a trip to Austria and see the homes of Mozart or Strauss. 

5. Learn more about famous composers

Piano playing is more than tapping out a few tunes. Discover the history of the art of piano playing, and it’ll inspire you even more. It may give you new inspiration as you discover what the likes of Bach, Beethoven, or Mahler created. 

6. Play a duet

Instead of playing by yourself, incorporate your music into someone else’s life too. If you work with a teacher, ask to be a part of a group performance. Play with another piano player, or incorporate another instrument into your tunes. It will help you listen differently and play in new ways. 

7. Teach someone to play

Share your knowledge with someone else. You don’t have to become a piano teacher to influence someone else to make music. Even a child with several years of playing can gain excitement about the art of piano by helping someone else realize their dreams in the process. 

Do you have any piano goals for the coming year?

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7 January 2018 Prepping Your Piano For The New Year

Prepping Your Piano For The New Year

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With the new year comes new goals and resolutions. Has playing the piano made it to your list this year? If so, there are a few things you can do to help keep you playing all year through. 

Create A Piano Friendly Environment

Take a look around the space where your piano sits. Is it conducive for piano playing? While you don’t have to invest in a perfectly acoustically space, you should make it user-friendly for desiring to play. Who wants to head down into a dark basement to practice every day? Place your piano in a light and airy part of your home. Give it center stage. Add lights to make it easier to see the music. Put it on display and watch how much more activity it receives. Prepping Your Piano For The New Year

Change Out Your Music

Are you still playing the same old music every year? It’s time to put your old music to rest. Head to your favorite piano store or do a little research online. You can invest in all kinds of sheet music, from the classics to updated pop. 

Change Your Seating

Is your piano bench still working for you? This is especially true if you originally purchased your piano for a child. Not all piano benches are created equally. And if your hands aren’t placed properly on the keys, you could be feeling stress in your arms. Get comfortable. Change up the way you sit. 

Give Your Piano A Little TLC

When was the last time gave your piano a little love? Maybe it’s time to call in a piano technician. Pianos need regular tuning to sound their best. And depending on their age, they may need a little more than that. Find a technician you know and trust and they can help keep your piano in excellent condition. 

Is playing the piano a part of your New Year’s resolutions? Whether your current piano needs a little extra care, or if you’re in the market for an upgrade, we can help. We look forward to helping you with all of your piano needs. 

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3 January 2018 Upgrading Your Piano Progress for 2018

Upgrading Your Piano Progress for 2018

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The new year is filled with goals and resolutions to make this the best year yet. For many, their goals include becoming a better piano player. No matter if you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, the key to better playing is to improve the way you play. It’s not all about getting into more difficult music patterns. Sometimes your approach needs a little tweaking. 

Start with new music

This is one of the easiest places to start. Are you stuck in a rut? Do you tend to go with the same composers or genres over and over again? Break out of your patterns and explore new music. Pick up classical. How about pop? Every artist or genre offers you something new to build into the way you play. If you’ve worked with an instructor for a while, ask for different challenges to improve your skills. Maybe now is the time to move to group lessons or pick up a partner for a duet? Upgrading Your Piano Progress for 2018

Set new goals

While many players simply start the year by saying they want to play better, what does that mean to you? If you pursue a tangible objective, it’s easier to tally your work along the way. Select challenging pieces of music you’ll aspire to play. Or maybe you’ve desired to begin to play in public; a music festival or concert can be a great motivator. Rapid improvement always follows a decisive change in your approach. 

Add a warm up routine

Many piano players sit down and begin to work on their latest piece of music. Like athletics, it’s important to warm up before every session you bring on. Warm ups take a few minutes but can make a world of difference in your focus, your concentration, and your finger power. Scales are always a good place to start. Watch your movements and focus on how finger joint performs as you increase your speed and velocity. What works for you? What can you change?

Play from memory

If you’ve never memorized a piece before, now may be the time. Playing from memory isn’t required for simple pleasure playing, but the more active you become in the industry, the more it is required. Give yourself a challenge. Start small. Take a short piece and work on memorizing each hand. Learning memorization skills will help direct your attention to the music and the sound you are producing. It sharpens your listening skills along the way. 

Practice pedaling

It might also be time to incorporate pedaling into your piano practice. The use of the sustaining pedal (right) and una corda pedal (left) are commonplace for pianists from the beginning to advanced levels. But how about the sostenuto pedal (middle)? It can be fun to incorporate new sounds and actions into your daily routine. Ask your teacher for ways to use this as you improve your playability. 

With some thought, you can make this year full of changes and advancement that will keep you excited about all the opportunities piano playing brings into your life. 

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27 December 2017 Understanding Polyphony

Understanding Polyphony

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Looking to buy a digital piano? A little confused by all the terms you find associated with a digital piano? 

We understand. It’s a lot to take in. And the last thing you want is to end up with a digital piano that doesn’t meet your needs.   

Let’s talk polyphony. 

Polyphony describes how many notes an electronic keyboard can play at any one time. Why would you need more than ten? You only have ten fingers, right? Don’t forget you also have a sustain pedal and the potential for many notes to sound at the same time. Understanding Polyphony

All digital pianos will display this number somewhere in their specifications. It’s one factor that is very important to consider before selecting your instrument. 

For digital pianos, polyphony is one factor that if it isn’t high enough, it can seriously degrade your playing experience. Meaning you or your child will outgrow your instrument in a short period of time. 

A quick scan of digital pianos online will show you that the various manufacturers show numbers ranging from 32 to 128.On a basic level, it’s easy to understand that one with 128 note range will be far more effective than one with a 32 note range. 

What happens if you hit the maximum number of notes while playing? The instrument stops sounding the notes that have already been played. How it does this depends on how it was manufactured. Some drop the earliest played notes. Others calculate which notes cause the least amount of harmonic disruption. 

Generally, higher polyphony is one factor that will push a digital piano up in price. But it isn’t something to skimp on. Particularly if you are planning on getting into complicated pieces of music. 

Polyphony is easy to hear. So don’t overlook this factor when making your final selection. 

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23 December 2017 Recording Your Keyboard on Your Computer

Recording Your Keyboard on Your Computer

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Your child is excited about the opportunity of transferring their music from a keyboard to the computer. They’re ready to make music and share it with the world.

But what does that mean? Do you have all the pieces you’ll need to record the notes played on a keyboard over to your computer?

Let’s get one of the most common confusions out of the way. Many people confuse the difference between making a MIDI connection from their keyboard, and actually recording live sound.

A MIDI interface will only transmit your performance data. This MIDI information can be used to play software instruments on your computer, but is not a recording of the sound.Recording Your Keyboard on Your Computer

Instead, if your keyboard has a USB-MIDI connection, you are set to go. Otherwise, you’ll need an interface with MIDI and Audio to make the connection. If you can connect your piano or keyboard to your computer via a USB port, then in most cases this will be the only connection you’ll need.

To record your keyboard, you connect the line output signal from your keyboard to a suitable audio interface. Then connect that interface to your laptop, desktop, iPad or smartphone. And that’s it! Simple, right?

Let’s go through the process to ensure it’s set up correctly.

Step 1: Where is the sound coming from?
Your keyboard may have speakers. But to record, you’ll need to find the line level output. Check the instruction booklet that came with your keyboard. It may be labeled “aux out” or “line out.”

Step 2: What device will you record on?
The audio interface is simply the box you need to take the sound from your keyboard and convert it into a digital sound transmittable into your computer. Be sure you purchase a device suitable for your needs – you don’t want one that connects via laptop if you’ll always be working with your iPad.

Step 3: Choose audio interface
You will need an audio interface to make a quality recording of your piano. There are hundreds online, so the critical components are that it must have two line level inputs. Without line level inputs you will not have a good recording when you are through.

Also, consider what else you want the interface to do/ Record vocals? Be sure you have a mic input. Record a guitar? Make sure the interface has an input suitable for directly connecting the guitar.

Step 4: Connect the cables
This is where it helps to ask an expert. They can ensure you have the right cables for the right connections. If you don’t have the right cables, your sound won’t be high quality as you input it into your computer.

Step 5: Software
Don’t get too hung up on software in the beginning. Many audio interfaces come with recording software, and that’ll be fine in the beginning. There are also plenty of free or inexpensive apps. Audacity is free and excellent on both Macs or Windows laptops. You can also use Garageband.

Step 6: Play with the results
As you record, listen to the recordings through the interface. You can plug in your headphones or listen through the speakers on your monitor. Remember that the sound quality is only as good as your equipment. Upgrade as you see fit.

Are you ready for a new keyboard?

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21 December 2017 What You Need To Know To Get Started With Digital Pianos

What You Need To Know To Get Started With Digital Pianos

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For many parents, they press their young children into music because of the positives music brings to our lives. For a small child, playing the piano has many benefits. In fact, we’ve written quite a lot about it:

Should Kids Do Sports or Music … Or Both?

7 Reasons Music Is Good For Our Brains

The Life Lessons You’ll Learn From Piano Lessons

Taking Up The Piano At Any Age Can Be Beneficial For Your Brain

How Piano Lessons Help Your Memory

What You Need To Know To Get Started With Digital PianosBut sometimes your older children have a strong desire to move into music. Sometimes your tween or teenager will want to play the piano and have specific desires in mind. 

Not only do they want to play the piano, but they also want to create music. They have a strong desire to be as creative as possible, sharing their songs and ideas online. And thanks to digital technology, it’s easy to do. 

The starting point is a digital piano. Not just any digital piano you’ll find in a big box store, but a high quality digital piano that is made for creating music. 

Digital pianos are not the same as keyboards. 

Digital pianos are designed to mimic a real piano. They’ll have 88 keys and depending on the quality, will mimic an acoustic piano as closely as possible. 

Keyboards do not imitate this fundamental characteristic. Instead, keyboards often have 76 or even 61 keys, providing you with less opportunity to create. 

Digital pianos are also designed with weighted keys to provide the same feel as an acoustic piano. 

Keyboards are light in comparison, and are often nothing more than toys. 

What makes a digital piano so powerful is being able to connect it up to your computer and transferring the sounds to further create. Be sure your digital piano is up to date on the latest technology and has the ability to work with software and hardware you already have in place. 

Should You Buy A Digital Grand Piano?

Digital or Acoustic, What’s The Best Piano For Your Child To Learn On?

Digital Piano: Is There A Difference Between Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced Playing Needs?

Like an acoustic piano, the best way to find the perfect digital piano is to come in and try. The more you see, the more questions you ask, the more you’ll learn. 

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18 December 2017 Are You Ready To Book A Studio?

Are You Ready To Book A Studio?

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Is your budding musician ready to move to the next level? Have they been asking for a way to record their music?

While some will be content to record their music from home, others will want to experiment with recording in ways beyond home spatial and technical means.

While every piano player envisions themselves being the next Bach or Beethoven, there are many steps between playing the piano for fun and creating a recording that can be shared with the public.Are You Ready To Book A Studio?

Am I ready?
The most important question to ask in the process is: Is my music ready? Do you have the ability to complete the songs in a high quality way? A music engineer can’t fix being out of tune or not having perfected arrangements. They can’t help you finish writing a song. Their jobs are to help edit and process it into a final arrangement.

What are you trying to achieve?
The first thing an engineer is going to ask you is what your objectives for the studio are. If you are paying money to create something, you should know your ultimate goal. Do you want a single or an entire album? This can also help you select the right studio for your goals. Have they worked with other artists like yourself? Can they provide resources to help you accomplish your goals? The more you know going in, the better fit the studio will be.

Do you have the resources?
Studio space is expensive. If you don’t have realistic expectations, you might blow your budget long before you get your final results. A good studio will help you create a realistic budget and help you move along on schedule. Be sure you understand the process and how you’ll proceed if things go off track.

Do you have the right equipment?
Is your piano in tune and recently serviced? There’s no excuse to enter a recording session without having instruments playable and at your expectations.

Before you head into the studio, you might choose to play with your own recording devices. A quality digital piano can help you play better and record your music to digital output, which can be edited using online resources. It’ll give you a better idea of what you want to create once you book studio time and head in for your first recording.

Are you ready to book a studio for the first time?

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14 December 2017 How To Clean Piano Keys and Keyboards The Right Way

How To Clean Piano Keys and Keyboards The Right Way

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Have you ever sat down to play a piano where the piano keys didn’t feel right? Maybe the color had changed, the keys felt rough or sticky. They felt gritty to the touch. 

The piano keys are the most usable part of the piano. Which makes them the most susceptible part of the piano for becoming dirty. 

There are certain things you can do to ward off potential problems. 

  • Dust the keyboard regularly
  • Wash your hands before you play
  • Keep the keyboard covered when kids or pets are around

How To Clean Piano Keys and Keyboards The Right WayIn time, dust, dirt, debris, and oil from your fingertips settle on top of the keys. It comes with age, from simply being in your home and available to play at any time. 

But the piano keys aren’t something you can clean as if it were an average piece of furniture. Do it the wrong way and your keys may stop working. The wrong way could leave you with a piano that doesn’t work. 

Start with a soft cloth – microfiber works well. If you don’t have a microfiber cloth, an old cotton t-shirt works well; cut away any seams or embellishments to ensure you don’t hurt the keys. 

Use an empty spray bottle – you can re-use one from something else. Just ensure there weren’t harmful chemicals in it before you use it. You can pick one up from your favorite big box store for low cost. 

Use a mixture of water and gentle liquid soap – make sure there aren’t any harsh solvents or chemicals in the soap. Castille soap works well.

Use one to two tablespoons of liquid soap per bottle depending on the size. Give a quick shake and you’re ready to clean. 

Never spray the water directly onto the keys. Instead, spray the soft cloth until slightly damp. Then starting at one end of the keyboard, gently slide the cloth from the back of the keytops to the front with gentle pressure. You may have to repeat this several times to remove all of the grime. 

Avoid wiping across the keyboard as that can shove small particles of dust and debris between the keys, which will result in “sticky” keys, those stubborn keys that don’t go up and down when you press them. 

You can clean both the black and white keys in this manner. There is no special treatment for either key. 

Once you clean the tops, you can move to the piano key fronts and clean in the same manner. Slide the cloth from the bottom of the key up to the top, trying to take dust with you as you remove the cloth from the key. 

There is no difference between an acoustic and a digital keyboard. They should be cleaned in similar fashion. 

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7 December 2017 Gifts For The Piano Enthusiast In Your Life

Gifts For The Piano Enthusiast In Your Life

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Looking for the perfect gift this holiday season? If you have a piano enthusiast in your life, there are a number of things they may enjoy. 

Metronome – These useful tools come in analog, electronic, or digital, each with a selection of characteristics. All can help your budding piano player play just a little more dramatically. 

Piano Apps – Why not combine their love of technology with their love of the piano? There are many piano apps you can gift your budding music star and have them continue to learn about something they love. 

Upgrading Technology – Do you have a community computer in your home? Maybe it’s time to upgrade and give your budding musician an upgrade in technology. Even today’s iPads or tablets offer a world of opportunity to a piano player. Pick the best technology for you. Gifts For The Piano Enthusiast In Your Life

Keyboard – Maybe it’s time to add another way to make music into your home. Sure, they’ll still love to sit down at your traditional acoustic piano for lessons. But a new high-quality keyboard can bring variety into their lives. 

Digital Pianos – Love the look and feel of a grand piano? How about going digital? With today’s options, you can have any combination you choose. 

Piano Bench – Not all benches are created equal. Is your piano bench the right height for your child? A growing child has changing needs and now might be the perfect time to invest in something that will make playing even easier. 

Upgrade Their Sheet Music – Playing the same old thing can become boring at best. What’s their favorite band or genre of music? Surprise them with new sheet music to challenge them in new ways. 

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3 December 2017 5 Reasons A Guitarist Should Learn The Piano

5 Reasons A Guitarist Should Learn The Piano

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Have you been playing the guitar for years? Maybe it’s time to take up the piano too. 

Many guitarists dismiss the piano as a bulky instrument, more of a piece of furniture. And let’s face it, fans scream over guitarists, not piano players. There is something inherently sexy about playing a guitar; a piano, well, not as much. 

Yet as a guitarist, learning the piano can make you a better musician.

You’ll become a better composer

The piano is the gold standard for composition, especially if you are writing for other instruments. With the piano, you can cover everything from bass lines, melodies, chords, and vocal arrangements and hear how it all comes together. Thus the writing process becomes more efficient. 5 Reasons A Guitarist Should Learn The Piano

Music theory is easier to comprehend

On a piano, every note is laid out in front of you. This takes a lot of the guesswork out of fingering and playing. With guitar, it’s not so easy. It’s a quirky instrument when it comes to how the notes are arranged and how a song is played. Because the notes are in front of you on the piano, it’s easier to learn along the way, especially when getting into complex music theory, such as inversions. 

You can try out new sounds

Playing a guitar can provide a lifelong learning experience. Yet it can’t hold a candle to the different sounds and experiences you can create with a digital piano. It’s a lot of fun experimenting with different rhythms, different instruments, different options, and you’ll find yourself understanding composition in new ways. 

You’ll have more opportunities

If your goal is to incorporate music into your career, you’ll have more opportunities if you play the piano. Piano is used in many different ways – singers need accompanists. Dancers need something to dance to. Even community productions often use the piano when they are creating their entertainment. 

You’ll become a better guitarist

With a piano, your hands get more of a workout. They stretch and reach to capture every note in specific rhythm. With a piano, it’s important to play every note evenly and distinctly as you stretch and reach for every note. You build evenness and speed, accuracy and strength. All of which will help you when you pick up the guitar once again. 

The piano may be one of the most difficult instruments to learn. But if music is a part of your life, the benefits far outway the costs. Learning something new stretches and gives you new opportunities. And that can mean better playability for you. 

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