24 June 2017 Buying A Piano Online

Buying A Piano Online

posted by

Have you ever tried to buy a piano online? 

You’re probably thinking it’s easy. After all, a quick search brings up millions of results. You can find pianos everywhere. 

Need a piano in a hurry? You’ll find them listed on Craigslist or eBay or your favorite local classified section. A quick call will have you the proud owner of a piano in no time. 

Buying A Piano OnlineYou can buy a sweater or a book or shoes online. They are easy to see through photographs, easy to mail to your home, and easy to return if they aren’t as promised. Manufacturers know this, and so they have turned to the online world in droves. 

But you won’t find that with an acoustic piano. Because acoustic piano manufacturers know that it isn’t the look of a piano that matters most. 

Piano manufacturers have dealers to sell their pianos to the public because they understand it’s more than the looks that make a piano a great investment. They understand it takes a solid evaluation to determine if a piano is high quality and worth the money you pay for it. 

Pianos are also one of the bulkiest pieces of furniture you’ll ever own. From the time they are manufactured, they are moved and wrangled and maneuvered into place. They are played and wrestled into tune again and again throughout the years. They aren’t something you and a buddy can move easily; a professional mover ensures it arrives at its final destination in good shape. That’s what makes pianos next to impossible to buy and ship easily through website sales, especially when it’s halfway around the world. 

A piano isn’t something you can run to the hardware store when something goes wrong. You can’t pound a new piece of wood into place when you accidentally drop it. You can’t rig in a new piece of plastic when a key fails. The strings in a piano aren’t strings at all. If someone attempts to “fix” a piano without the technical knowledge to do it effectively, the piano won’t be worth playing at all. 

So when you say “yes” to a piano online on Craigslist or eBay, what are you truly saying yes too? 

Filed Under: Buying a Piano Tagged With:
18 June 2017 Benefits Of Learning Piano As An Adult

Benefits Of Learning Piano As An Adult

posted by

Many people think of the piano when it’s time to get their small children involved in activities. However, many adults could benefit as well.

Maybe you didn’t take them seriously as a child and gave piano lessons up long before you learned the mechanics of playing. Maybe it’s been a lifelong desire. In all cases, it’s important to realize it’s never too late. There are many benefits to learning to play as an adult.

One of the biggest advantages is relaxation and stress reduction that comes along with playing an instrument. Many people have high demanding jobs and look for ways to calm and settle down when they return home for the evening. Playing music facilitates relaxation and renewal after a challenging day. benefits-of-learning-piano-as-an-adult

The opposite is also true. If you have a mundane job where repetition is key, playing the piano on your off hours can put challenge into your life. It can push you to learn new things and give you a little creativity boost into an otherwise lackluster day.

Another benefit comes from learning something new. Increasingly, studies are showing that playing music can impact brain health. It’s been proven to help in all kinds of situations, from helping children test better, to improving stability in Alzheimer’s patients, to becoming a helpful therapy in a variety of cases.

It can also induce a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction from being able to play a complex instrument. Playing the piano takes time and practice to become proficient. It’s a skill that can be worked on for the rest of your life. The beauty of it also lies in the fact that for most, they can play the piano at all ages. Compare that to other hobbies, such as riding a bike or joining a softball team.

It can also provide the creative outlet you’ve needed to boost your career. One creative activity often leads to others. It can help inspire you to add magic to your sales presentations or design a new piece of computer code. It can help you discover answers to problems and find the new approach you’ve needed to move forward with a demanding customer or employee.

Is this the year you learn to play the piano?

Filed Under: Piano Playing Tagged With:
15 June 2017 Watering Your Piano

Watering Your Piano

posted by

Your piano is ever-changing, constantly fluctuating depending on the weather and the climate. It’s only natural that your piano will act differently depending on its environment. 

If you have a piano that has been passed down for generations, you may have heard the term “watering your piano.” No, that doesn’t mean you should pull out your watering can and drip water over it. In fact, it’s the quickest way to ruin it. 

Instead, what “watering your piano” refers to is a phrase used to explain the presence of a piano humidifier. Watering Your Piano

A piano is made up of thousands of parts, the vast majority of them made up of wood. And wood is sensitive to the presence of water. Too much water and wood begins to swell. Not enough and the same wood begins to crack and warp. The right amount means a stable, happy piano that continues to make beautiful music. 

Ideally, the humidity level in the room where your piano is on display should be around 45 to 60 percent. When in doubt, err on more humidity, as dry air will cause more damage to a piano than humid air. That being said, too much humidity can cause mildew and mold to set in, especially if dampness exists in the corners and crevices. 

By picking up a hygrometer from your local hardware store, you can measure the humidity levels of your home. You may wish to store it in your basement or crawlspace where dampness can be a problem. But you should also occasionally check the room where your piano is housed. Also, keep in mind that it will be different in winter months than in the summer. 

Based on your findings, you may need to introduce a humidifier to regulate the humidity levels around your piano. There are many different options, from a room humidifier to a whole-house option. 

Now, back to the “watering your piano” concept. Decades ago, before modern technology offered our current HVAC systems that include proper heating, cooling, and ventilation systems, people would worry about the condition of their pianos. They knew low humidity was bad for a piano, so they would keep a jar of water inside the piano to maintain humidity. 

If you find an old piano in a back room at your grandmother’s house, passed down for generations, the jar may still be there. However, a jar of water inside the piano is never a good idea. Water is damaging no matter where it spills on a piano. And if it introduces too much water, which can be the case here in our humid environment, what you may introduce is mold and mildew instead. 

Filed Under: Owning a Piano Tagged With:
13 June 2017 Does Your Piano Need Regulation?

Does Your Piano Need Regulation?

posted by

When you hear the word regulation, your piano probably doesn’t pop into your mind. Regulations have to do with laws, rules, and behavior, not your piano. 

But regulation of a piano means to restore the action to its proper adjustment. The action is the mechanism which connects the keys to the hammers. The action is what takes place to connect the keys to the proper strings in order to create a sound. Does Your Piano Need Regulation?

Regulation involves adjusting hundreds of moving parts. Each has an important role in making your piano play and sound the way it does. If one part is missing, loose, or not working at its proper function, your piano will not be able to provide proper sound. When these parts are played, there is the potential of something going wrong. And if this process is allowed to continue, it can impact other parts throughout the piano. 

A piano technician understands the piano and knows how every part interacts together. 

Since the piano actions are made up of wood and felt, they are impacted by the surrounding environment. If there is a lot of humidity, these parts can swell and contract as the moisture levels change. But these levels aren’t as big as you might think. Tiny changes can have big impact. 

All aspects of the piano are tightly woven together to create sound. To regulate a piano means to change each of these positions, which have very tight clearances and adjustments overall. A technician may twist and turn fractional units at a time. And while it might not seem like a whole lot to you and me, to a technician and the piano he’s working with, it can be a lot. 

When was the last time your piano was regulated? If it’s been over ten years, your piano is in need of an adjustment. Parts wear out. Wires stretch. Felts deteriorate. Wood adjusts. And all of that creates a piano that doesn’t perform at its optimal level. 

Playing at a less than optimal level won’t provide you with the sound quality you need to “feel” the music. And that’s why most of us play – we choose to create an artistic sound. Even if it’s subtle, you know it. You feel it. And that can be the difference between playing and not playing.  

If you suspect something is wrong or if years have passed by and you haven’t had maintenance work performed on your piano, give us a call. 

Filed Under: Piano Tuning Tagged With:
9 June 2017 Piano Lesson Myths

Piano Lesson Myths

posted by

As an adult, it can be scary to jump into something new. It’s that fear factor that holds us back from doing things that sound interesting. It’s that fear factor that prevents us from moving forward in a big way. 

Have you ever wanted to play the piano, but hold back because you’re nervous about taking one on one lessons? You’re not alone. There are many piano lesson myths we believe as a culture, and yet once you start, you’ll find your worries were for nothing. Piano Lesson Myths

“I have to start with classical music.”

The piano is often associated with the classics: Bach, Beethoven, Mozart. We assume that if we start in with piano lessons, we’ll have to jump right into the classics. Yet it’s simply not true. Studying music theory means gaining a full perspective of all music, including popular. The key is to enjoy playing – you’ll actually do more of it. While it is true that diving into classical will give you a more rounded musical education, ultimately it comes down to you, your goals, and enjoying what you do. 

“Children learn faster than adults.”

In fact, adults often have an easier time because they are more in tune with music. They’ve listened to different sounds for decades; pressing a note and seeing how they work together just makes sense. Children often become busier as they age, incorporating more schoolwork and more activities in their days. If you play as an adult, music becomes an important part of your life that you automatically choose to integrate into your days. Practice gives you an advantage, and when you are stronger at incorporating into your life on a regular basis, the concepts of music come quickly too. 

“I can never become really good if I start later in life.”

Again, it comes down to your goals. Will you practice one hour a week? Do you have the time to practice several hours a week? Do you have the desire to play for yourself, or do you see yourself on stage in front of a large audience? Remember, you have a lifetime of learning behind you. If you have the stamina from being a great athlete or had a career of working with numbers, you already have an edge in understanding music. That can quickly be moved into the way you play, helping you become better every day. 

“The more practice, the better.”

In reality, shorter practice times more frequently throughout the week will help you be a better player. Short bursts of concentration repeated frequently are much more effective than sitting down for one long session. Workouts tear down your muscles, both physical and mental. And if your fingers and your mind become tired, no matter how much you practice, the concepts simply won’t stick. 

Filed Under: Piano Lessons Tagged With:
4 June 2017 Piano Flooring: Does It Matter?

Piano Flooring: Does It Matter?

posted by

When you set out to invest in the perfect piano for you, you probably consider things like type, style, manufacturer, even color. But have you stopped to consider the surrounding area? 

Will your flooring choice be perfect for your piano investment?

Depending on where you’ve practiced and played, you’ve probably found the rooms to be decorated in many styles. You’ll find wood, laminate, even carpeting underneath. Piano Flooring: Does It Matter?

In general, wood flooring will increase volume, while carpeting will decrease volume. Thicker carpets will also further decrease the volume when compared to a thinner one. 

Look to some of the greatest concert halls in the world, and you’ll find pianos live and on stage, surrounded by hard surfaces. Wood is often the flooring of choice, adding both elegance and ease to move a piano around. 

And while that may provide you with direction for your own room, it isn’t the only factor that comes into play. 

Grand pianos produce sound differently than verticals. What type of piano you own will impact the perfect flooring for your room. 

But it does stretch beyond the flooring too. Projection is key – what sounds are produced when they collide with the surrounding area. 

Loudness comes from voicing the piano and voicing the room. 

Voicing the piano comes through the tuning process and ensuring the hammers create the right sounds for the music. Voicing the room comes from creating the best sound possible. That includes selecting the right flooring. And a lot more. Area rugs, wall hangings, cloth furniture, bookcases with books in them – all of it absorbs sound in different manners. 

By adjusting one thing at a time, you’ll find your piano creates a different sound. Some will sound richer and fuller; some will begin to lose their spark. 

If you’ve invested in a new piano and it simply doesn’t sound the way you’d desired, concentrate on your decor. Add and subtract things within your music room to give off a new wave of sound. You may be surprised at what combinations you can use to compliment the sound you desire.  

Filed Under: Owning a Piano Tagged With:
30 May 2017 How To Improve Your Piano Playing Without Lessons

How To Improve Your Piano Playing Without Lessons

posted by

Have you been taking piano lessons for some time now and feel like you haven’t made any progress? Or maybe you’ve reached a plateau and feel like you just can’t make it to the next level? 

Every piano player reaches that point. That’s not the point to become frustrated and quit. Instead, it’s time to start something new. How To Improve Your Piano Playing Without Lessons

Calendar Your Practice Time

It’s easy to let your practice schedule fall to the wayside. Instead, concentrate on making it a bigger part of your life. Schedule the time you’ll practice and play each week. Dedicate similar time slots throughout the week – every afternoon for 20 minutes when you arrive home, for example. Stick with it as much as you can. 

Create A Plan

Don’t sit down and play the same old thing. Instead, create a plan to help you move forward. What music have you wanted to learn? What would keep you motivated? The key here is to not only motivate you forward and help you learn new skills, but also to help you master old skills that may still be lacking. 

Improve Your Reading Skills

How well do you read sheet music? If you have been playing mostly by sight, or still feel weak in reading music, practice and understand concepts of musical notation. Learn advanced musical notations such as dynamics, tempo, key and time signatures, clefs, etc. 

Practice To Improve Finger Placement

Scales may seem a bit repetitious, but they are designed to help you find proper finger placement. Practice two or three scales as a warm up before each session, going up and down the scales at least five times. Ensure you stretch and feel each note to connect with it. 

Improve Your Musical Ear

Listen to slow, simple songs and attempt to hear the notes. Give them a name and see them on the keyboard. Then transfer your knowledge to the piano and attempt to play. Don’t worry if you’re slow at first. Just do a little every day, and you’ll quickly discover how well you begin to hear sounds and learn how to recreate them yourself. 

Practice Your Favorites First

Don’t stick with music you may have used during a lesson. Instead, scan the Internet or head to your favorite music store and buy sheet music that interests you. Then play these songs first to help strengthen your musicality. Steadily increase the difficulty of the pieces you select and play to help you become better at playing. 

Make Use Of Modern Technology

Have you ever done a search online for piano apps? You’d be surprised at how many apps exist that reference music. From sheet music, to metronome devices, to software pianos, to complicated games, to designing music on your own, you’ll find a variety of things that can hold your interest even when you aren’t sitting in front of the computer. 

Filed Under: Piano Lessons, Piano Playing Tagged With:
26 May 2017 Tips For Being A Better Church Pianist

Tips For Being A Better Church Pianist

posted by

Even if you’ve been playing the piano for years and consider yourself to be an expert piano player, there are some things you should consider in order to become a church pianist. Church music is designed to add to the choir and the service, not dominate. 

To be a better church pianist:

Puts heart into the musicTips For Being A Better Church Pianist

Church music needs to be soothing and relaxing. It doesn’t need to be difficult or complex. Work with other members to develop a program that enlightens the topics at hand. If you play joyfully and from the heart, it will show in the final results. 

Practice, practice, practice

During a service, there will be a lot of distractions. You’ll be accompanying singers as well as following leads from other members of the program. Practice in advance so that you know your music really well. Be comfortable with the surroundings so you can be more flexible in the way you play. 

Learn the songs

Because the choir and the band often follow a pianist’s lead, it’s important to come out strong in your performance. Start with songs you know and are familiar with. Work them to the point that you play them well. Then continue to add songs over time. If you memorize chords, there is less likelihood of making mistakes. 

Choose appropriate songs

Like any music, church music has different tones. Light and uplifting or powerful and to the point all bring different meaning to a service. Be sure you match the tone of the day to add even more to a service. 

Be creative

Being creative is a part of a pianist’s nature. But that doesn’t mean you have to make things overly difficult. Simple transitions can often be the best to build interesting bridges between songs and music. 

Play to complement the voice

In many cases, you won’t be the sole sound. You’ll be complementing voices in the choir or even other instruments. Be aware that you are a part of a team. Practice to ensure the right voice appears at the right time. 

All churches have different services and arrangements, so it’s important to be enthusiastic and energetic as you approach each new service. You’ll quickly become an integral part of the team. 

Filed Under: Piano Playing Tagged With:
22 May 2017 Tips For Boosting Summertime Piano Playing

Tips For Boosting Summertime Piano Playing

posted by

Summertime means stepping away from the daily rush we experience all year long. It means vacations. It means slowing down. It means having fun. 

But that doesn’t mean it’s time to forget everything you’ve spent the past year learning. If you’ve been adding piano lessons into your weekly routine, how do you ensure your child stays at his or her best during the lazy summer months? Tips For Boosting Summertime Piano Playing

Start A Reward Program

Kids often have things they want while they are away from school. Maybe it’s something from the store. Maybe it’s a trip to the amusement park. Work out a system where practice earns stars. If they earn enough stars, they can turn them in for prizes. It’s a great way to teach them about savings too. 

Download an App

Even when you’re traveling and on vacation, make piano playing fun. Check out one of the many piano apps you’ll find for your phone or tablet. Be sure to pack headphones for in the car or on the airplane to ensure everyone stays happy. 

Track Progress and Set Goals

Life is slower in the summer months. That might mean notching down piano learning goals too. But you can still set goals and help your child achieve them. Select songs they’ve wanted to learn and motivate them to practice a little each day. Be enthusiastic; how about a concert on family night? This is the time for them to have a little fun with it and learn things that will keep them happy on those long, boring days. 

Team Up

Chances are friends or cousins are having a hard time sticking to a schedule too. Why not team up for double duty practice and playing? Encourage your pianist to have a friend over to practice songs together. Duets are exciting when you have a friend to giggle with. 

Piano playing is supposed to be fun. And the more enjoyable you make it throughout the summer months, the more they’ll be ready to hop back into the normal routine come fall. 

Filed Under: Owning a Piano, Piano Playing Tagged With:
18 May 2017 Piano Acoustics: Setting Up Your Room For Sound

Piano Acoustics: Setting Up Your Room For Sound

posted by

Buying a piano without considering the final room placement is similar to buying an expensive home theater and expecting quality sound in any room in the home. 

It’s not going to happen. 

Because sound is dependent upon acoustics, defined as the properties or qualities of a room that determine how the sound is transmitted to it. Piano Acoustics: Setting Up Your Room For Sound

Every room has an invisible foe; acoustic distortions that impact the sound quality in the room. They distort the sound you’re trying to hear by covering it up with other sounds already a part of the space. 

Sound bounces. It’s not a one-time impact. Any time you produce a sound, it reflects based on the direction of the sound produced and what materials it finds in the process. 

Place a grand piano with the lid opening to the wall. Now change it and have it opened to the center of the room. Hear the difference?

Everything in the room, everything in your piano’s surrounding area impacts the final sound produced. It filters it. It masks the details. It either creates clarity or mashes it up. 

In the ideal world, your goal is to make the acoustics disappear, so that you’re only hearing the pure sound coming from your piano. Of course, you wouldn’t be able to create that room in reality; different frequencies always come into play. 

But critical listening is a part of good placement. And that means every aspect of your room – floor, walls, ceiling – all have an impact on the final sounds you hear. 

Music studios work meticulously to create the right environment so perfect sound is the norm. They invest heavily in creating perfect balance: absorption, diffusion, and reverberation. This means covering all surface areas with the right amount of treatments and absorbers to create the perfect sound every time. 

Luckily, if your goal is to play and not to record, you have a little more leeway in the sound produced. 

Realize everything in your room impacts the end sound. Add a rug, and you’ll reduce volume. Add wall hangings, and you’ll change the voice. 

Also, remember that the “right” sound isn’t the same for everyone. Your ear is key. What sound the best for you?

The better it sounds, the more you’ll play. And ultimately that’s what matters most.

Filed Under: Owning a Piano Tagged With:
« Previous Page
Next Page »