23 October 2017 How A Piano Is Made

How A Piano Is Made

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The piano is one of the best known and most loved musical instruments. It also has the broadest range of any instrument, meaning music for all other instruments can be composed on it. You’ll often find the piano played solo. But when combined with any other instrument, including voice, you’ll find it creates pleasing harmony.

Technically speaking, the piano is also one of the most complex instruments. With over 2,500 parts, a lot of work goes into keeping a piano in playing condition. 

The piano is a stringed instrument organized into one of five general areas: the case, the soundboard, the iron plate, the strings, and the action. How A Piano Is Made

The case has many structural parts. It’s the case that protects the inner-workings of the piano. It’s also the part of the piano that connects the legs and the pedals, the rim and the keybed.  A lot goes into production to ensure the casing is perfect for creating sound. Wood must be seasoned until it meets a specific moisture content to hold its contour. It must also be sanded, stained, and glazed properly to ensure sound properties meet certain qualifications. 

The cast iron plate is installed over the soundboard and pinblock to provide strength and to anchor the strings under tension. It is made from molten iron poured into specially created match plates designed specifically for the piano being created. 

A piano has 220 to 240 strings attached to hitch pins along the curved cast iron plate. It uses tuning pins to connect and vary the sound. Piano string isn’t string at all. Instead, it is made in specialized mills and consists of carbon steel wire. You’ll find the bass strings also wrapped in copper winding to add weight and thickness to the steel core strings, so they vibrate more slowly and produce longer, deeper sounds. 

The piano action is the most complicated part of the process. It includes the keys, hammers, and action that creates the sound as the keys are struck. The keys balance and pivot on a set of rails that are covered with felt to prevent noise. Guide pins are inserted to help with balance. The keys are covered with black or white plastic. The voice depends on the quality of the hammers. Many materials are used in this process depending on the manufacturer, which today’s processes includes a premium wool felt. 

A piano is usually named depending on its size. Grand pianos come in concert, baby and smaller apartment size. The vertical comes with five standard sizes recognized in the industry: spinet, consolette, console, studio, and professional. 

Our current modern day pianos haven’t changed much in the past century as far as appearance, but they continue to be refined based on today’s technology. You’ll find better materials, more refined processes, and smoother finishes are a standard in everything produced today. 

Ultimately, it comes down to sound. Stop by today to hear the difference in today’s modern piano. 

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19 October 2017 Tips For Succeeding As An Adult Piano Student

Tips For Succeeding As An Adult Piano Student

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A child piano student has one distinct advantage for succeeding in learning to play the piano: a parent! As a parent, we gently nudge our children along to ensure they reach their goal. 

As an adult, life gets in the way. No one is standing off to the side, encouraging us to get things done. No one is setting the timer for us and assigning practice as a part of our daily tasks. 

It’s up to us and us alone. 

The goal of playing the piano is challenging. We all have dreams of sitting down and making beautiful music. But what started out as a dream can quickly become frustrating when you can’t play at the level you anticipated. Tips For Succeeding As An Adult Piano Student

Like everything, your goal of becoming a piano player is more than doable with a little planning involved. These are a few things adult piano students have in common. 

Long Term Goals

Why are you taking up piano in the first place? Are you hoping to carry your newfound talents into the future? Do you want to play for people or simply as a way for relaxing? Do you have particular pieces in mind? Work with your teacher to structure your long term goals into a timetable you can both reach out and explore. It will give you more patience and more focus, especially through the difficult times when you seem to be stuck in the process. 

Setting Up Piano Practice Routines

Like anything in life, the only way to become better at something is to work at it a little bit at a time. Consistency is crucial for long term success. Consider your daily priorities; where can you cut back to make the time for practice? Can you give up a group that no longer suits your needs? Can you shut off the television and invest a half hour into practice instead? Sometimes calendaring it is the best way to go, especially at the beginning. 

Practice Piano Well

Twenty minutes of quality practice is much better than two hours of mundanely striking the keys. Make sure your head is in the game every time you sit down to practice. Take a few minutes to stretch, reflect on the music, or simply listen to others playing as inspiration. Mindfulness is one of the best ways to become better at playing. Then sit down and concentrate on the music. Plan out what you hope to accomplish. It could be something as simple as perfecting a scale or a certain section of a song. Reward yourself for every achievement you make. 

Find The Right Teacher

As an adult student, you have many resources at your disposal. Finding the right teacher may take time and a little research, but it can mean everything to accomplishing your goals. Don’t fall into a routine, instead, talk with a teacher and ensure your needs are being met. Also look for someone who can incorporate all kinds of lesson plans into your schedule, from online to apps, to meeting in person. They should be willing to work with your lifestyle, not the other way around. 

What have you found helps you stick with your piano practicing routine? 

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15 October 2017 Practicing The Piano: Sometimes It’s About Reflection

Practicing The Piano: Sometimes It’s About Reflection

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As a parent, sometimes it’s difficult helping our children practice the piano. We want them to get better. To learn to love creating music and do it well. So we push. 

When they sit down, we listen for the details. We expect to hear warm ups – scales are usually in the mix. Then we expect to hear music. Possibly running through a song or two, or practicing a certain part. Over and over again. Practicing The Piano: Sometimes It’s About Reflection

We listen for it. We time it. We probe when we don’t hear what we anticipate. 

But sometimes there’s more to practicing the piano than hitting the keys and hammering out a tune. Sometimes it’s the introspect that makes a difference too. 

Imagine for a moment you’re making a fancy dinner for a special night. You’ve planned for this for days. You’ve shopped for the best ingredients. You’ve laid out the silver and china. You expect perfection. 

You add a little of this. Stir. Add a little bit more. It simmers. It blends. 

You take a spoonful and taste. You reflect. You determine it needs a little more of this. Or a little more of that. 

Reflection is a natural part of a cook’s repertoire. It’s something she does to ensure her meal turns out just the way she planned.  

The same can be said for a piano player. 

Music is something you create, you feel, and you hear. And each of those skills must be refined over and over again. 

Sure, you can practice several hours a day, beating out a tune over and over again. But what did you truly learn?

Instead, sitting down and feeling the music means the notes become an extension of who you are. That means understanding the music. That means feeling the notes. And reflecting on how you can put you into every step of the process. 

If you really want your child to love playing the piano and improve his or her skills, don’t just listen for the music. Ask about reflection. What does a song do for her? How does she feel it before she plays it? 

A little reflection can go a long way. It can help turn her into a lifelong lover of music. 

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12 October 2017 Tips For The New Piano Owner: Does My Piano Need Regulating?

Tips For The New Piano Owner: Does My Piano Need Regulating?

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With every new hobby or activity you take on, there’s always a learning period, a time when you have to pick up the buzz words and understand what they mean. 

If you’re new to the piano world, you may have heard the term “regulation” used a time or two. Regulation by definition means establishing laws, rules, or policies. That’s how most of us understand the concept in the real world.

With regards to your piano, regulation means to reestablish the proper adjustment of the action. This is the mechanism that connects the piano keys to the piano hammers. Action occurs when the piano keys are struck and the hammers connect with the strings.  Tips For The New Piano Owner: Does My Piano Need Regulating?

This process is one of the most crucial parts of piano operation. It’s also one of the most delicate processes in the piano. The piano has hundreds of moving parts, each with its own important role. If one piece is out of operation, off in just the tiniest of ways, it impacts the sound. 

The piano actions are made mostly of wood and wool felt. That means the environment can impact the condition of the actions every day. If the piano is in a humid area, the felt can lift away from the wood. If the piano is in a dry climate or is subjected to harsh sunlight, the wood can warp. Each of these parts swells and contracts over and over again, with every change in temperature. 

While many think the more you play, the faster you’ll need to provide your piano with a little TLC, in reality the two aren’t always connected. Playing the piano regularly does put added stress on the movements, the hammers, the strings, and the felt. But in some cases, standing still can impact the piano equally so, just in a different way. Like everything, over time, your piano will wear. 

Regulation is designed to bring a piano back into working condition. Proper adjustment is done in terms of hundredths of an inch in most cases. That means each adjustment may be barely visible in terms of movement, yet can make a world of difference in the sound. 

If your piano is more than ten years old, your piano is probably in need of some regulation. Parts wear out. Things go out of adjustment, similar to your car. And like your car, periodic maintenance is needed to keep it in good working condition. 

If you suspect something is wrong or you would like to get an expert opinion, give us a call. 

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9 October 2017 Do You Know What’s Inside That Piano?

Do You Know What’s Inside That Piano?

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If you’ve decided to purchase a piano, you’ve probably started the process by doing a little homework. That’s probably what’s brought you to this site here. 

As a piano dealer with decades of experience, you’ll find a wealth of information for what to look for when you’re buying either a new or used piano. 

Expert Advice For Choosing A Piano

The Price You Should Expect To Pay For A Used Piano

Buying A Piano Online

Buying A Child’s First Piano

What Wood Is Best For Making A Piano

Do You Know What’s Inside That Piano?We know how confusing it all can be. What makes a one manufacturer different from another? How can you find a good used piano? What makes each piano different? And more importantly, whose advice should you trust? 

Some people will have you believe that a piano is a piano – they are all about the same no matter where they come from. Not so. Some will tell you there isn’t much difference in sound from one piano to another. Not true. 

In fact, it’s easy to compare how well a piano is built no matter where it’s assembled. It’s not just the sound; it’s the way they are made. Open up every piano you are considering and take a look at what’s inside. 

The soundboard – a great piano will be made of spruce (the most common wood used in piano production) with continuous parallel grain. Look for consistency in both the grain and the color. 

The plate gap – for the soundboard to work efficiently, it needs to move freely. A good piano will float the plate gap between the frame and the soundboard to allow that freedom of movement. 

The frame – on an upright, look for a solid wood frame construction with backposts that reinforce the plate. 

The bass bridge – the shape of the bridge will tell you the quality of construction. A curved bass bridge is designed to connect with the sweet spot of each string, whereas a straight bass bridge will muddy the lower notes. 

The action – each action should be consistent and made of similar wood. If you see grain differences and spots on the wood, it can change the voice and the sound. 

The differences matter in both the sound quality and longevity. Don’t rely on a salesperson telling you it’s a great piano. Do a little investigation to determine its quality on your own. 

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4 October 2017 How To Use A Metronome In Piano Practice

How To Use A Metronome In Piano Practice

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Learning the piano isn’t just about plunking out a tune on the keys. Learning how to keep time and pace on the piano is one of the most important skills you’ll develop over time.

It’s also one of the most difficult skills to master.

That’s where a simple tool called a metronome can help.

A piano metronome is a small device that is designed to keep a beat at a certain timing. It’s used to help musicians play songs with proper time signature and at the right pace.

You’ll find today’s metronomes come in analog, electronic, or digital, each with their own individual characteristics.How To Use A Metronome In Piano Practice

The very basic analog metronomes are made of wood and use a small pendulum to keep time. They are sometimes best for a beginner because you can see and hear the tempo.

Electronic metronomes look like tiny radios. They sometimes can double as a tuning instrument too.

Digital metronomes are probably the easiest to find thanks to today’s technology. Look no further than your smartphone – there’s an app for that.

A metronome improves your musical abilities by helping you focus on your rhythm. While it’s important to know the notes of a song, it’s equally as important to know when and how fast or slow to play them. A metronome forces you to pay attention to time.

Metronomes force you to become a better learner. With a complicated piece of music, it can slow down the beat to help familiarize yourself with the music before speeding it up to its anticipated speed.

Metronomes are also great to help practice tempos outside of your comfort zone. A lot of today’s music is played in the standard 4/4 signature. But if you freestyle or play pieces using less common signatures, you can use the metronome to improve your technique and skills. Helping you become a better piano player overall.

Looking for a free metronome app? Here’s JoyTunes, a free app that is packed with a lot of different features. Even better, it coordinates with your Apple watch, making it always available to use.

Filed Under: Piano Lessons, Piano Playing Tagged With:
29 September 2017 Expert Advice For Choosing A Piano

Expert Advice For Choosing A Piano

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Even a beginner needs a piano that plays well.

To give a child a piano to play on that is out of tune is similar to giving a child a ball that is flat. Sure they can play with it, but they’ll never effectively learn the skills required to play the game. They’re at a disadvantage even before they begin. And if they can’t play effectively, what’s the point?

There’s an adage that says: never judge a book by its cover. That applies to pianos too. Just because the outside is beautiful doesn’t mean the inside is worth anything at all. Many of the prettiest pianos are the lowest quality instruments barely able to perform.Expert Advice For Choosing A Piano

Instead, a beginner needs a piano that plays well. It should have a pleasing tone and a responsive touch. If they can’t feel and hear what they are doing, they will never progress beyond being a beginner.

Is there a recommendation for the best piano to buy?

We’re asked that all the time. Unfortunately, there are thousands of different makes and models of pianos if you factor in new and used. And even once you select a particular brand, there are good and bad examples abound. What works for one might not necessarily be the best for another. That’s why there are so many preferences and choices.

The key isn’t necessarily in finding a recommendation for the best piano; instead, it’s about finding a reputable piano dealer you can trust. A good dealer isn’t going to try and sell you a bad piano. Instead, they are going to listen carefully to your needs and provide you with ample selection to fit within your requirements.

They know that if you succeed with your choice, you will more than likely remember them when it’s time to refer a friend, or even upgrade your own piano.

There’s a wide range of pianos on the market. Age isn’t a factor – some of the best pianos in the world are decades old. Instead, it’s always vital to see, hear, and play the piano for yourself before making any decision.

A reputable dealer will select their pianos carefully and restore or repair used with the aim of providing the best tone and touch possible. Their work will be guaranteed.

What questions do you have about choosing a piano for your home?

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25 September 2017 2 Things To Look For When Buying A Good Digital Piano

2 Things To Look For When Buying A Good Digital Piano

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In today’s world, sometimes it makes sense to invest in a digital piano rather than an acoustic. They take up less space than traditional pianos. They require less regular maintenance. And if you’re ready to combine your piano playing with online editing, mixing, and sharing, it’s the best choice around. 

Still, not all digital pianos are created equally. To ensure you don’t purchase a digital piano you’ll be sorry to own almost as quickly as you bring it home, look for two important things. 

2 Things To Look For When Buying A Good Digital PianoThe Piano Sample

Digital pianos don’t create sound by connecting the keys to strings via an action mechanism. Instead, digital pianos create sound by playing back recordings – called samples – of a real acoustic piano. The better quality of the recordings, the higher quality of the piano being recorded, the more the digital piano will create a realistic sound. 

With both acoustic and digital pianos, it’s important to play every note and hear the sound being produced. Start at the bottom and work your way up, paying special attention to the lower notes on the keyboard. Strike a note on an acoustic. Hear how it bursts with energy in the beginning and gradually fades? Now do the same with the digital. Is the sound similar? The lower notes are usually a dead giveaway with more quality of sound. 

The Action

It’s not just the sound that’s important. It’s also the quality of the hammer action. 

When you press down on a key, it’s the back of the key moving up that is making the sound. Each key is weighted for feeling because each of the 88 keys has a different hammer size. The hammer strikes the strings to create sound, with hammers varying from largest to smallest as the notes move from lowest to highest. 

This hammer action is what makes a piano feel like a piano. That’s also where digital pianos have lacked over time. Fortunately today, some manufacturers are getting very close with the feeling. And that’s where you should spend your time – make sure the “feeling” is there to ensure your skills in piano playing cross over between playing both acoustic and digital. 

How do you find a progressive hammer action? A reputable dealer will show you the way. If you’re doing your homework online, just look at what a manufacturer calls the process. A great one will list it as progressive hammer action. The rest will cover it up with phrases like “weighted keys” or “responsive action.” 

What questions do you have about purchasing a digital piano?

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22 September 2017 Why Piano Apps Can Help Motivate A Piano Player

Why Piano Apps Can Help Motivate A Piano Player

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Have a child you’re trying to motivate to stick with playing the piano? There’s an app for that. 

For as long as the piano has been around, parents have worked hard to keep their kids motivated for practice. Today the problem is only amplified with our technological advances. Smartphones, tablets, computer games and even television are far more exciting than the average practice book. It can be tedious at best, especially when so many other things are vying for attention. 

Instead of fighting it, why not give into it instead? New digital tools can liven up your child’s practice routines in new and exciting ways. After all, smartphones have made almost everything in our lives better, why not practicing the piano? Why Piano Apps Can Help Motivate A Piano Player

It only takes a few clicks to open up a world of opportunity. Piano apps can help motivate a child through games or let them become the next maestro by conducting an orchestra. They can help a child write their own music or combine different sounds and record their own songs. We’ve even given you a few of our own favorites right here – and here – on our blog. 

There’s something fascinating about using a smartphone or tablet. You’ll see it in the faces of even the smallest child. Being able to slide, tap, and click away to play in a magical world is exciting. With the inclusion of a tablet into your weekly practice routine, it can add to the “coolness factor” that makes learning the piano even more thrilling. Before a child even knows it, they’ve improved their skills. And they can easily convert their knowledge from something they learned in a game to real world practicality. 

As a parent, it can be difficult to know the difference between playing and practicing. Your child’s piano teacher is a great resource for finding high quality apps that can help in the process. You can also learn more on your own by doing a few simple searches online. Innovative tools are being added all the time and are often just what a child needs to turn even the most frustrating practice sessions into fun again. 

Want to learn piano yourself as an adult? Not a problem. We typically have two things in common. We want to learn fast, and we don’t have a lot of spare time. That’s where an app can help. Apps can provide an interactive learning environment that engages you and provides feedback on your process. It can allow you to understand the nuances of your practicing in far more efficient ways. 

Want to learn the piano? There’s an app for that. And we’re sure you’ll be amazed at how beneficial they can become. 

What are your favorite piano apps?

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19 September 2017 Why Do Pianos Have 88 Keys?

Why Do Pianos Have 88 Keys?

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Sit down at a piano and strike every key. Each makes a different sound. When played together, they create a beautiful sound. 

Pianos have 88 keys on a standard piano. They have more combinations than any other instrument played today. Each key represents a different note, giving the piano a wide array of playability. 

Why Do Pianos Have 88 Keys?But why 88 keys? Why not 50? Or 200? The answer is both historical and practical. 

The piano was originally developed based on the modification of the harpsichord, which has 60 keys. If you travel back in time, you’ll find that era had pianos with 60 keys. 60 keys represented 5 octaves, with 12 notes in an octave. 

As pianos grew in popularity, composers began writing more music specifically for the piano. It wasn’t long before they attempted to create more difficult pieces requiring higher pitches than were possible with the originals. So they began working with piano makers to create pianos with more keys. 

Over the history of the piano, you’ll find many different versions of pianos with different numbers of keys. By the mid 1800s, pianos had reached their modern day 7 octave range, with Steinway creating one of the first 88 key pianos. Other piano manufacturers quickly followed suit.

Today’s modern pianos have 52 white keys and 36 black keys. The white keys represent the musical tones A, B, C, D, E, F, and G. The black keys represent the half-step intervals, known as sharps and flats. The grouping of seven white keys and five black keys together make up the 12 notes of the octave. 

Could pianos be made with more than 88 keys? Yes. But the added notes would make the piano bigger and heavier. And more expensive. In truth, notes beyond the standard 88 keys get into octaves that are more difficult for the human ear to distinguish. While it is possible, many consider it impractical. Which is how 88 became the standard.

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