15 September 2017 Are Your Ivory Piano Keys Worth Anything?

Are Your Ivory Piano Keys Worth Anything?

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One of the most common questions we receive pertains to repair and renovation of old family heirlooms. When a piano has been around for generations, there is a greater chance they were created with ivory keys. Are ivory keys worth anything?

Since ivory is scarce, people often think they might hold value on the second-hand market. The opposite is true.

Ivory is illegal to buy and sell. Try selling ivory on eBay, for instance, and your product will be removed immediately. You can’t transport ivory overseas and in some cases even throughout the United States. So the market for selling ivory keys would be limited at best.

So what can you do with them?Are Your Ivory Piano Keys Worth Anything?

The best you can do is give them to the piano renovator as you have your piano restored.

Many times a technician will keep some ivory key tops in case they have a call for historic renovation. No two pieces of ivory are the same. When they try and match based on historical representation, they will try and find something as close to matching as possible. If they have a big enough collection of old ivories, they will have a greater chance of matching.

Before laws tightened, a set of ivory keys may have been worth thousands of dollars. If you find anyone selling or trading ivory today, you should use caution as laws are complex. Laws exist throughout the world for animal protection; dealing even with existing ivory can jeopardize the safety of those animals.

Do you have a piano with ivory keys?

Filed Under: Piano Renovation, Piano Restoration Tagged With:
12 September 2017 Finding The Time and Place For Perfect Piano Practice

Finding The Time and Place For Perfect Piano Practice

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Time. It’s something we all seem to never have enough of.

So we do what rises to the top and commands our attention. Until we collapse at the end of the day.

Whether you’re new to playing the piano or have played for years, finding the time to play can often be difficult at best. Did you know it might not be time that’s holding you back, but the quality and condition of your practice space instead?

If the piano is in the cold, dark basement, no wonder it feels like drudgery to make the time to practice.

Finding The Time and Place For Perfect Piano PracticeFind A Quiet Space
Distractions are a piano player’s worst enemy. If a child can see other family members doing other things, it can be a distraction. If an adult has access to hear a timer going off in the kitchen, or a mobile device dinging in the background, it can stop practice in its tracks.

Seclusion Isn’t Necessary
While quiet is necessary to keep your attention focused, it shouldn’t be so isolated that you feel concealed and forgotten. Instead of keeping the piano in the family room, maybe it’s better suited for the living room. Instead of the basement, why not try making a music room upstairs?

Keep It Private
Practice can be difficult, messy at best. It can be downright embarrassing as you stumble over the notes. If people are around and you don’t want them to hear your mistakes, you’re less likely to play. If you simply can’t get away, it may be time to invest in a digital piano with headphones.

Or Keep It On Display
Sometimes it’s nice to have an audience. That’s why many piano players invest in more than one. Nothing is more fun than having an attentive, encouraging audience nearby to keep them on track with practice and assignments.

Acoustics
Have you ever listened to music in dead space? How about high ceilings and an echoey room where the sound bounces around? Not a lot of inspiration as the music dies. If you don’t have the perfect space, you can create it with various soundproofing measure.

Create Inspiration
Piano playing lights up the senses. Make sure the surrounding area adds to the experience. A dingy room depresses, not inspires. Instead, add life to the room with color, artwork, plants, or flowers. Make it a room that welcomes you every day.

What do you love about the place you practice your piano?

Filed Under: Piano Lessons, Piano Playing Tagged With:
8 September 2017 Should You Buy A Digital Grand Piano?

Should You Buy A Digital Grand Piano?

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Ready to buy a digital grand piano?

Digital grand pianos off you all the features and functions you’re looking for in a grand piano while combining the technology you’re looking for in a digital product. If you purchase the right digital grand piano, you’ll get a realistic feel, beautiful sound, and the second best option right under a grand piano.

Yet before you make the final selection, what should you look for? It’s important to understand some basic differences between the different types of pianos to aid you when making your purchase.

Size is different when comparing upright with grands.Should You Buy A Digital Grand Piano?

Weight – the average grand piano weighs between 550 to 1100 pounds. The average upright piano is closer to 330 to 550 pounds. Also keep in mind that uprights have a smaller footprint, and thus less space is required.

Movement – a grand piano is more difficult to move and pass through doorways. Even moving it from one room to another can be a difficult task.

When you compare a digital to an acoustic grand, you will be able to find a full range of sizes with either, from a baby to a full size. If space is not a factor, you can opt for a full grand digital instrument, whereas if you have restricted space, you can find a variety of smaller instruments to fit your needs.

In most cases, when you buy a piano at this level, you are buying for it to last. You will not be replacing your piano often, so it’s important to look at material and construction, ensuring it’s durable and will last for years. A high quality wooden or fiberglass construction is idealistic; avoid low priced plastic construction that may need replacements sooner. You dealer is happy to show you the difference and should be willing to take the time to help you consider your options wisely.

Your keyboard is another important consideration. What separates a good digital keyboard from an inferior one is the realistic touch and action. Sensitivity, responsiveness of the keys, and weighted hammer action is something will ensure you have a piano that is effective to learn on, practice, and perform.

You should also learn about the sound and voice. Your digital grand piano should offer realistic sound and tonal quality. It should provide you with the same quality as an acoustic. Most digital instruments at this level will have built-in technology and realistic sampling that provides realistic sound, tone, and voice, but it’s important for you to test to ensure you are happy with the results.

And because you are looking at a digital grand piano, also ensure connectivity meets your needs. Some offer USB, MIDI, AUX input/output, along with headphone and utility jacks. Be sure your digital grand piano offers the technology you need today and ensures you’ll have capabilities for many years to come.

What’s the perfect choice for you? If you are looking for a digital grand piano, stop by to see all of the options waiting for you.

Filed Under: Buying a Piano Tagged With:

How To Care For Your Digital Grand Piano  

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Digital grand pianos aren’t much different from digital pianos when it comes to care and maintenance. They don’t need tuning, which is one of the most appealing factors when people are deciding between digital and acoustic.

But like any instrument, to keep it in great working condition, it takes a little maintenance along the way.

You can do that right from the moment you decide on its home. Where will you place it in your home to ensure it will remain in top working condition? Avoid placing it in a location where it will be impacted by direct sunlight. Also, avoid registers and vents as too much heat isn’t safe for your piano either.

You should also avoid using your piano as a piece of furniture. Never place drinks or food on the finish. Spills and crumbs can harm the finish, and if they get inside your piano, they can ruin the integrity of the tone and voice.

The keyboard should be cleaned on a regular basis – just not with cleaning solutions or water. Your digital grand piano is sensitive to a variety of things: dust, dirt, chemicals, to name just a few. Instead, take a dry clean cloth and wipe the keys clean. If you do have smudges or smears that need additional work, consider using a soft cloth sprayed with water, then rub gently ensuring no water trace remains.

Digital pianos also need to be plugged in. Make sure that the outlet you will be using is in proper condition. Your digital piano is a highly sensitive piece of electronics. Consider using surge protection to ensure it isn’t destroyed. When not in use, unplug the instrument for further protection. Don’t unplug it before you turn it off.

If you notice any part of your piano is damaged, don’t use it until it can be evaluated and updated. Using it in damaged condition can cause further damage.

Just like acoustic grand pianos, digital grand pianos are highly sensitive instruments. Don’t try and take on any kind of repair yourself. A highly trained piano technician with experience in digital technology will ensure your repair is handled properly, keeping your digital piano working safely and providing you with the highest quality sound.

Filed Under: Owning a Piano Tagged With:
31 August 2017 The Price You Should Expect To Pay For A Used Piano

The Price You Should Expect To Pay For A Used Piano

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How much does a good piano cost?

Should you accept one for free from a Craigslist ad?

Can you get one for a few hundred dollars?

Will an inexpensive model provide you with years of enjoyment?

We hear questions like these all the time. The Price You Should Expect To Pay For A Used Piano

People want to give piano lessons a try but are afraid to invest in a piano if they don’t continue for the long term. 

People want to fulfill their desires of playing the piano but want to do so with the least expensive model they can.

Sound familiar?

But what is considered a good deal? What price should you reasonably expect to pay for a used piano?

A lot of it comes down to luck and persistence, especially if you’re going to “trust” the online world. Some people get good deals on used pianos. Most don’t. Of course, it’s always the good deals that make you think anything is possible. 

But if you really want to play the piano and enjoy creating music, it’s in your best interest to get the best piano you can. That means one that is clean inside and out. One where the action is reliable. One that plays well and holds a proper tune. One that provides inspiring music now and will continue to do so for years to come. 

Rule #1: A good upright is better than an inferior grand

You may love the looks of a grand piano. But if you shop with budget in mind, focus in on getting the best upright for your money and save your dreams of a grand piano for when you can afford to put in more. 

Rule #2: A piano professional is in your best interest

If you pick up a piano through a classified ad, you are taking your chances on how well it operates. It may appear to play well, but what happens when you bring it home and discover it’s out of tune? What happens when the tuning professional reveals parts are missing and broken when he attempts to tune it? Using a professional to get the best piano possible can save you thousands of dollars in the long run. 

Rule #3: Avoid analysis paralysis

Rather than continuing the hunt for the “diamond in the rough,” invest in the best piano possible at your budget level with thoughts of upgrading in the future when you can afford more. A professional is happy to help you select the best piano for your current investment level, and will also take into account resale value to ensure your upgrade will help you save as much as possible. Don’t debate on what to do today. You’ll miss out on the opportunity of playing and learning you can do in the coming days and weeks. 

Filed Under: Buying a Piano Tagged With:
25 August 2017 Creating The Perfect Piano Room

Creating The Perfect Piano Room

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A piano isn’t like a chair you can tuck into the corner of a room. A piano commands attention. It often becomes the focal point of the room. 

But where do you put it in your home? How do you design a room around a piano? 

Room temperature matters – Place your piano in a spot in your home where consistent humidity and temperature are in place. The less extreme conditions the better. Extreme temperatures and humidity can damage your piano over time. Creating The Perfect Piano Room

Design around the piano – Especially in small rooms, your piano may be the largest piece of furniture in the room. And if it’s going to be a large part of your life, is accessibility is key. The look also becomes important if it will be on center stage. Select the right piano that blends in with your design theme. Personalize the wall around it to reflect a sense of who you are. Don’t select a sleek, black gloss piano if your home is light and airy. Keep with the colors and upholstery congruent throughout. 

Keep it in the living space – It’s easy to tuck a piano into a dark corner where little thought has gone into the room. But what are the chances are it will be played? A piano is always better when it’s on display in a room you use on a frequent basis. Be mindful that you’ll have the chance to play it and won’t be overwhelmed by activities of other family members. But if you can have it become a part of your lifestyle, all the better. 

Use it to add more life to a room – Pianos – especially uprights – can be used in many ways. You can place it at the end of a long room to make it look wider, or build it into a wall unit to conserve space. You can use it as an accent in a large hallway, or put it on display in a room dedicated to music. 

Create a scene – Music is a large part of our lives, which is why many choose to have a room dedicated to the experience. What helps inspire you to bring music to life? A stage in a symphony hall? Playing to a large audience? Serenity and peacefulness in abundance? Use your ideas to create a scene that will help you want to play more. 

Balance – Never throw a piano against a window because it’s the only place in the room. Or put it in the corner so it’s out of the way. The first rule of interior design is balance. Start with the architectural details and incorporate the piano into your decor. They can be used to balance rooms where window or fireplace placement isn’t centered. Or even to divide a large room into different functionalities. 

Modernize it – If you’ve inherited a piano or have a hand me down from past generations, it may not fit with your modern style. There are many ways to bring it up to modern times.  Try adding accents that make it feel like it fits in your space. It may be time for a little renovation – a new finish may do the trick. 

A piano can bring joy into your life if you create the right ambiance around it. 

Do you have a piano in your home? How do you make it a part of your space?

Filed Under: Owning a Piano Tagged With:
21 August 2017 What’s The Easiest And Safest Way To Move Your Piano?

What’s The Easiest And Safest Way To Move Your Piano?

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Sometimes the easiest way to spruce up your home is to rearrange the furniture. And while that’s easy with a chair or a coach, it becomes much more difficult with a piano. Inspiration is the easy part – moving the piano into place is considerably more work. 

Not only is it risky for your piano, but can be dangerous for you as well. You’ll want to hire a professional piano moving company if you are going between tight spaces or moving it to another floor in your home. But if your location is only a few feet away, we have some advice for your more.What’s The Easiest And Safest Way To Move Your Piano?

Prepare the path

The very first step is to determine the final resting spot for your piano. Make sure you have a clear path with nothing to block the path from beginning to end. If it has a lid, close it. This is especially important to ensure your fingertips aren’t injured in the move. 

Make sure there aren’t any rugs that can get in the way, pieces of furniture that can bump or block your path, or cords that can cause tripping hazards. Measure every crucial detail, including doorways and spaces you’ll have to travel through. 

In some cases, grand pianos can be easier to move as they often have wheels to get it to where you desire. While wood flooring can be easy, be especially careful on carpets, where the wheels can stick and be difficult to budge. It may be simpler to remove the legs rather than put them at risk for damage. Upright pianos may be easier to handle, but they can be top heavy and more prone to falling sideways. 

Gather your tools

Pianos are the bulkiest, heaviest pieces of furniture in your home. This is especially true with pianos that do not have wheels. A dolly can help make the move easier. You’ll need several people on all sides of the piano as it travels from place to place. 

Depending on how complicated your move is, you may also wish to invest in moving pads and straps. Be sure to strap down the lid to prevent it from being damaged, or from hurting you during the moving process. Blankets and pads will protect your walls from being scuffed and your piano from having exterior damage. 

It’s better to be over prepared and have too many tools on hand rather than putting your piano or your health at risk. 

And if it’s something you can’t handle, give us a call. 

Filed Under: Owning a Piano, Piano Moving Tagged With:
15 August 2017 Diagnosing and Fixing Sticky Piano Keys

Diagnosing and Fixing Sticky Piano Keys

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If you’ve played piano long enough, it’s probably happened to you.

You run your fingers over the keys. Your fingers press the keys up and down. But one of them won’t pop back into position. You press down, and it doesn’t make a sound.

So you stop and focus in on that note. You press the key. You press it again. It sticks. And no matter how you press it, it won’t produce the sound you’re looking for.

You might have a sticky piano key.

Several things can impact your piano keys and make them stick.

There may be something between the keys. It could be as small as a particle of dust, or larger, such as a crumb of food. Vinegar and water solutions can be used to quickly clean between the keys and loosen the sticky piano key.  Do not get the keys damp. Instead, rub with a dampened cloth and gently rub the impacted keys. In the future, be sure to have clean hands every time you sit down to play the piano, and never eat over the piano.

Diagnosing and Fixing Sticky Piano Keys

There could also be changes in humidity. Changes in moisture content  be trapped and build up between the keys, which can also lead to creating cracks and warping issues. Investing in  a humidifier is a good start, air conditioning systems, and digital hygrometers can be used to keep humidity at acceptable levels. It’s important that your piano is always located in a climate controlled environment, and is never stored in excessive heat, cold, or humid conditions. 

There may also be excessive moisture between the keys. If keys are warped and no longer fit side by side, it may be time for repair or restoration services. It’s more difficult to fix than simple cleaning between the keys. A professional piano technician can clean the keys and tune up the piano and provide new life to a wonderful instrument.

Some things can be do-it-yourself projects. Proper cleaning and maintaining is something you should work at on a consistent basis. But when the job stretches beyond simple maintenance, choose a professional that will give your piano a proper check up and ensure it is in proper playing condition.

If you have any questions about sticky piano keys or any other problems, we’re here to help.

Filed Under: Piano Playing Tagged With:
13 August 2017 Digital or Acoustic, What’s The Best Piano For Your Child To Learn On?

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

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Digital pianos are turning up everywhere. You’ll find them at your big box store. And you’ll find them to be more affordable than the standard acoustic piano. But does that mean they are the right choice for your child to learn on?

One of the main advantages of a digital piano is that they are significantly less expensive than an acoustic piano. For many people, that’s a significant advantage, especially if you aren’t sure if your child will enjoy it. Digital or Acoustic, What’s The Best Piano For Your Child To Learn On?

Digital pianos are also more compact than acoustic pianos, and can be used in a home of any size. While traditional instruments have to find a corner to tuck into, or in the case of a grand piano, be prominent in a large living space, digital pianos can be folded up after every practice and stowed away. They can also be transported with ease for lessons or to play in a band. 

Unlike acoustic pianos, digital pianos don’t require the regular maintenance schedule. Digital pianos never require tuning, and can also be played in more extreme conditions, unaffected by heat or humidity. 

And if you live in close proximity to others, such as in a dorm or apartment, digital pianos also offer the convenience of working with headphones, meaning you can practice in silence anytime you choose. That can be convenient for roommates, or in family situations where other kids are doing homework or sleeping. 

Despite all the conveniences of digital, there are a few drawbacks as well. 

A digital piano will never sound or feel like the real things. Moreover, only the most sophisticated digital instruments are able to mimic the key dynamics of a real piano. In other words, digital pianos may play the same way, but they rarely sound or feel the same. 

That means the less expensive instrument you buy may not be benefiting the player in the same way as if they were playing on an acoustic. And if they aren’t practicing with the real thing, they are missing the opportunity to “hear” what they play. 

Part of the pleasure of learning to play the piano is to “feel” the music. If the notes are all wrong, the sound isn’t quite right, and you can’t “feel” the notes, some budding pianists lose interest. 

It’s like playing soccer with a flat ball. 

If you’re in the market for a piano – digital or acoustic – it’s important that you purchase the right piano for your needs. We can help. 

Filed Under: Buying a Piano Tagged With: , ,
10 August 2017 Piano or Sports, Which Is Better For Your Kids?

Piano or Sports, Which Is Better For Your Kids?

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For a few years in a child’s life, parents run through the activity list as if it were a marathon. A busy child is a safe and happy child. They can’t get into as much trouble if they are active. And if they’re with friends, they’ll enjoy the activities they are in. 

So as a parent, we try a little bit of everything. T-ball. Gymnastics. Swimming. Soccer. 

What about piano? Piano or Sports, Which Is Better For Your Kids?

The piano is the ultimate instrument in terms of skill and demand. It requires two hands playing together simultaneously while navigating 88 keys. At any given time, two hands can play up to 10 notes at a time. All of those options require the brain to think in a unique way. 

Pianists have to overcome something innate in all of us: the ability to use both left and right hands equally. In most people, we have a dominant hand that we favor throughout the day. Pianists have a demonstrably more symmetrical brain than others when put to the test, possibly because they continually build their brain muscles by putting the two together on a frequent basis. 

Studies show that the more experience a piano player gains, the more efficient their brain becomes. That means a person who plays regularly can be more effective as improvisation skills needed to navigate the day, including problem solving, language, spontaneity, and decision making tactics. Pianists tend to integrate all of the brain’s intake and make more efficient decisions in the process. 

It doesn’t stop there. 

Trained pianists work every day with a complex instrument that taxes the whole brain. Scans show that the longer they play, the more efficient the blood flow becomes as it moves into the brain. Less blood flow means less energy is needed to accomplish the same tasks – to concentrate, to perform certain tasks. When less blood flow is needed in one area, it increases the ability to send blood to other areas. It allows other areas to remain active and engaged at the same time. It can completely change communication skills because it allows the brain to respond in different ways. 

That gives the brain more energy to multi-task and to jump into different situations with less doubt and hesitation. 

While there is a need to keep kids bodies healthy and active through exercise, the same can be said for keeping their brains healthy by giving it an activity that can help them develop and become smarter over time. 

Maybe it’s time to encourage them to play the piano. 

Filed Under: Piano Music, Piano Playing Tagged With:
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