5 October 2016 How Music Affects The Human Brain

How Music Affects The Human Brain

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Your brain is the control center of your body.

The right brain processes information in an intuitive, creative, and engaging manner. The left brain processes information in an analytical, thinking way. This is the side that controls your verbal and mathematical skills. The corpus callosum connects the two hemispheres together and facilitates the communication between the two.How Music Affects The Human Brain

In recent years, studies are showing just how powerful music is to our well being. Music impacts the human brain in a variety of ways.

Music has the potential to alter a person’s state of consciousness. With music therapy, for instance, it’s possible to shift perception of time from virtual time, perceived in the left brain, to experimental time, with is perceived through memory. Virtual time is described in hours, minutes and seconds, while experimental time is based on memories throughout our lives.

Music can also allow communication between the left and right brain to take place. Music may activate the flow of stored memory. When the right and left brain hemispheres come together to work in harmony, it triggers a therapeutic nature to flow between the two sides of the brain.

Have you ever heard the music … even when there isn’t any music playing? That’s because imagining music can activate the auditory cortex almost as strongly as listening to it.

Music can also trigger synesthesia when one sense activates a perception in another sense. If you experience music synesthesia, you may begin to see color, smell something, experience a taste, or feel a change in the environment all from the music you hear playing. That’s why music can transport us back in time, take us to places that have significance in our personal lives.

Music also triggers creativity. Do a search for many apps, programs, and playlists that use music as a single trigger. Highly creative people have a different pattern of brain waves than normal or non-creative individuals. Music stimulates both alpha and theta waves in the brain. Big bursts of alpha brain waves induce creativity. Combine them into music you listen to every day to heighten your awareness to the creativity within.

Filed Under: Owning a Piano, Piano Playing Tagged With:
2 October 2016 How People Judge Music

How People Judge Music

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Think about music for a moment.

Music is something we listen to. It’s an auditory activity. We pop earbuds into our ears and listen to our preferred songs. We hit a few buttons in the car and listen to preselected music stations, all chosen for our preferred listening habits.

But is music just for listening? Do we judge what music we like simply by what we hear?

It’s not always the case.How People Judge Music

While music is auditory, we associate music with visual preferences. Watch your favorite musician in action. You enjoy the performance just as much as you do the music.

It also impacts musicians at every level of performance.

Classically trained pianists that compete regularly are often judged differently depending on whether judges have audio or visual access. It’s not just amateurs or non-professional musicians that judge it differently; seasoned judges view it differently as well.

When we see someone perform, we judge more than the music they create. We judge their passion, their creativity, the way they move, the theater they put into their performance.

Overall, humans have evolved to weigh visual information heaviest. We rely on visual cues to identify different traits. While you may be able to hear great playing in a recording, when you add in body movements, costume design, even performance backgrounds into the picture, it can sway how a person really feels.

Music is truly an art form, one that can change and grow depending on the person it’s impacting. Get into it. Let yourself go. And enjoy all it has to give.

Filed Under: Piano Music, Piano Playing Tagged With:
30 September 2016 Tips For Teaching Piano to Adults 50+

Tips For Teaching Piano to Adults 50+

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There are two approaches to teaching piano. The first is the pedagogical model, where teaching is teacher directed. Teachers choose what to teach and what the student will learn in logical step-by-step format.

The second approach is student directed. A student sits down and chooses what they wish to learn and approaches every lesson based on their desires for what to play.Tips For Teaching Piano to Adults 50

The second approach is often just what’s needed to keep adult learners engaged. After all, when an adult chooses to learn to play the piano, they have a pretty good idea of what they wish to play. Yes, they understand the need for some of the basics. But overall, they have a goal and a plan already in mind. They have their desires already laid out.

That’s also why in many cases adults over 50 are also easier to teach.

They have the most expendable income of any other age bracket – they choose to spend on what they most desire. That means a quality piano, the right accessories, and quality lessons.

They know what they want to learn. They may have a particular song in mind they want to learn.

They also have a better understanding of music. Even if they’ve never picked up an instrument before, they have years of experience in listening. They understand rhythm. They understand melody. And in many cases, it’s easy to “hear” that just by plucking a few notes on the piano.

When it makes sense, they become more interactive. They choose to play because they have the desire.

With older students, get them to play right away. Don’t introduce theory or basics in the beginning. Realize those will come over time. Instead, listen to what an adult student has to say. They set the stage for all that you can teach.

Also, don’t be too much of a stickler on proper finger arrangement. Adult students have a lot of experience in keyboarding. They’ve typed away at the computer for years. And in many cases, fingers will naturally fall into place, be comfortable to do what they need to do. You can adjust when difficulties arise in the future. But from the beginning, the most important thing is just to start playing.

What have you found helps your adult students to play?

Filed Under: Piano Lessons Tagged With: ,
27 September 2016 Buying A Used, Cheap Piano … Really

Buying A Used, Cheap Piano … Really

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We Google just about everything. How many times have you pulled up Google and typed something in today?

We use Google maps for directions. We search for product reviews. We look up concepts we may not know.Buying A Used, Cheap Piano … ReallyBuying A Used, Cheap Piano … Really

Yep, Google is like having an all-knowing best friend in our back pockets.

Pull up “Buying A Used Piano” or even “Buying A Cheap Piano” and you’ll receive millions of responses. (As of this morning, over 10 million.) Many of the ranked titles you’d expect.

  • What to look for in a cheap used piano
  • 8 things you must know before buying a used piano
  • How to buy a used piano on Craigslist

Then I added new search terms – “high quality” and “good.” My results went down. And so did my choices. My returned results looked something like this:

  • Tips for buying a new piano
  • Choosing the piano that’s right for you
  • How to buy a good piano

Yep, very few related to finding a high quality used piano.

Buying a used piano isn’t hard. In fact, it may be a very easy thing to do. You can probably find a lot of used pianos right here in our community. Ask around. Or do a quick search.

Look on eBay. Or head to Craigslist. You’ll find them there.

But used pianos are not all the same. Sure, you’ll find a few great pianos out there. Pianos that have been well maintained, well cared for, and will still give you years of useful life. And you may find it on your first try.

Or not.

Are you willing to take the chance?

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23 September 2016 Learning The Lingo Of Buying A Piano

Learning The Lingo Of Buying A Piano

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New to piano? Just like any industry, there are a lot of terms you have to learn. When you head into a piano dealer for the very first time, you’re likely to hear words like soundboard and action. What do they mean? And how important are they when making your final selection?Learning The Lingo Of Buying A Piano

The Back
The back of a vertical piano has five or six vertical posts that serve as stays against the frame. These posts provide added strength to resist the pull of the strings inside. These posts should be sturdy enough to provide adequate support in proportion to the piano.

Soundboard
Across the back of the piano is a soundboard, which translates the vibrations of the strings into the tone of the piano. The soundboard is one of the most vital parts of the piano. The soundboard is what conducts the sound. So it’s important it’s sturdy and straight and made of top quality materials.

Plate
The plate is a piece of cast iron bolted to the back of the frame. It holds one end of the string and provides the support for almost 20 tons of pressure from the pull of the strings.

Bridges
The treble and bass bridges are made of long, hard maple wood and are attached to the soundboard, transferring the vibrations of the string connecting the two.

Action
The working section of the piano is the action. The action contains around 7,500 parts, all taking a role in the act of creating music. Grand pianos have horizontal action, while upright pianos have vertical action. This is the process of sending the hammers against the strings when the keys are struck.

Hammers
Piano hammers are formed by felt being molded into a wooden hammer under tremendous pressure. Hammers are often referred to by weight, such as a 12 pound hammer. This refers to the weight of the sheets of felt that were used in the process.

Keys
Each key is balanced by a center pin and bushed with fine wool to silence it and provide proper clearance in the key bed. The keys are not made of ivory, instead, are molded plastic and designed not to crack or yellow. The black keys are made from similar material.

Pedals
Most pianos have three pedals. The sustaining or damper pedal on the right dampers the strings so that the tone is sustained after the keys are released. The una corda pedal mutes the tone by shortening the distance the hammers travel by shifting the action. The sostenuto is optional, not on every piano. It is used to sustain select tones at the pianist’s discretion.

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19 September 2016 How To Find A High Quality Used Piano

How To Find A High Quality Used Piano

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Are you looking for a high quality used piano?

Have you been burned by finding one that wasn’t really that good?How To Find A High Quality Used Piano

Yes, there are too many pianos out there that need a lot of work to bring them into ready condition. Trying to weed through them can sometimes feel like a full time job.

But it’s not impossible, not if you know what to look for.

Don’t settle for an overused piano

The most frequent mistake I see people make is settling for an overused piano to “try it out.” They buy an old upright through a “great deal” and assume they can always upgrade down the road if their son or daughter really enjoys playing the piano. Don’t do it. Old uprights may have been high quality in the beginning, but if they’ve sat around for years – decades – without attention, you’re merely picking up someone else’s problem. And if it’s out of tune and can’t be brought into tune, if it’s not in good condition, your child will never pick up the joy of making beautiful music.

Get an education

A piano is a piano, right? Well… Like all things, choosing a piano brings lots of opportunities. Sure, you may know there’s a difference between an upright and a grand, but what’s the difference between a spinet, a console, and a studio? How many keys should you choose as a beginner? If you purchase a used piano from an individual, they will sell you on their piano. If you shop with a dealer, they will provide you with an education.

Set your budget

Like every activity, playing the piano requires an investment. You’ll have to pay for a piano. And music. And lessons. But the piano is the biggest outlay to get started. Yes, you can find a piano in almost any price range. But don’t forget moving costs – that falls on the buyer if you’re purchasing from an individual. And don’t forget tuning – that also falls on the buyer. And that’s when costs can quickly escalate if you don’t truly understand what you’re buying from the beginning.

Think long term

In some cases, pianos hold their value well. The piano you purchase today may have resell value in a few years when you’re ready to upgrade to a better piano. Because pianos have a long useful life, you should expect to recoup most of your purchase price somewhere down the road.

It all starts with making a wise choice in the beginning. If purchasing a high quality piano is on your to-do list this year, let us show you how easy it can be.

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13 September 2016 Grand Pianos vs Uprights: What’s The Difference?

Grand Pianos vs Uprights: What’s The Difference?

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A piano is a piano, right?

If you’re in the market for a new piano, chances are you’ve been looking at both grand pianos and upright pianos. Both come in a variety of sizes. Both come with a variety of options. All of which will ultimately impact the way the instrument sounds.Grand Pianos vs Uprights: What’s The Difference?

In general, the larger a piano, the longer its strings are, the larger its soundboard. While grand pianos will increase in width, an upright piano will increase in height. And as the piano grows in size, the tone of the piano improves with it.

The grand piano is thought to be the purest form of the piano. Upright pianos were designed after the fact as a way to save on both cost and space. Because they take up less room, they have a lower cost. But this alone doesn’t make upright inferior.

The quality and volume of sound produced by a piano is a function of several factors. It depends on the quality of materials, the craftsmanship, the length of the strings, the size of the soundboard, and the scale design of the instrument. An upright can sound equally as good as a grand, even produce a higher quality sound if the attention to detail is factored in. Of course, the more you move up in capabilities, the more craftsmanship you put into the final product, the more improved sound you will get.

So if an upright can equal in sound quality to a grand, what pushes many to move to a grand over time?

The answer lies in the action.

The action is the mechanical component that connects your finger to the keys, to the hammer striking the strings and making the final sound. On a grand piano, this action moves up and down using gravity to reset the action into resting position. On an upright piano, the parts move horizontally in direction, meaning springs are used to move the components back into resting position.

These springs wear over time, factoring into the final sound a piano will create.

This process doesn’t happen quickly. And an upright can be a great choice for many years to come. Yet it is a reason that many pianists, especially as they more into professional status, turn to a grand piano to create music.

With today’s new pianos, most are manufactured in the United States, Europe, Korea, Japan, Indonesia, and China. You’ll find them distributing pianos under a variety of brand names, many you’ll probably recognize from your youth, such as Yamaha, Baldwin, and Steinway.

Within each brand, you’ll find a variety of models and makes, all with different furniture design, wood finishes, options and price tags.

When evaluating a grand piano and upright pianos, preference is almost always a determining factor. Stop by and listen to the difference. You’ll be amazed.

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10 September 2016 Do Men Or Women Play Piano More?

Do Men Or Women Play Piano More?

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Head back in time throughout the history of the piano and you’ll find it to be predominantly male. No surprises there, right?

While men of high status were encouraged to increase their cultural activities by getting degrees and learning to play the piano, women were refining their cooking skills and learning how to be proper wives. Therefore you’ll find a lack of women pianists prior to the 20th century.Do Men Or Women Play Piano More?

Then things began to change.

Women began taking up the piano and soon were making names for themselves across the platform. But like many industries, the further up you get, the more successful men are over women. When you look at the music world, male pianists outnumber female pianists four to one. When men choose to follow their musical inclination, they do well in the musical world.

But is there a difference between the way men and women play? Is there an inherent difference that causes one to be better than the other? With a lot of research behind us, the answer isn’t what you would think.

When it comes to the differences, the way we play or the ability to create music has little to do with if we are male or female, instead, has to do with our size.

Playing the piano isn’t just a “finger touching the keys” action. Instead, to play the piano, it takes the work of your entire body, from your height and weight, to the size of your hands.

A large man with a wide hand reach can play larger chords more effortlessly. A small woman with a short hand reach will put more into her body movements, use her forearms more to create a similar sound.

So in many cases it would seem that a person with a smaller body size and a shorter hand reach would be at a disadvantage. And in some cases that may be so. However, like all activities, it depends on the passion within as much as it does the physical approach.

Some of the best female pianists barely reach five feet tall. Yet watching their performance will quickly show you just how talented they are.

You approach piano playing from within. What you desire to produce comes from the way you approach it. And when the desire is there, anything is possible.

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8 September 2016 Piano Lessons: What To Expect The First Year

Piano Lessons: What To Expect The First Year

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Not sure if piano lessons are right for your child? Nervous about how well they’ll do their first year? You’re not alone. The piano can be an intimidating instrument. With so many keys and so many rules to learn in the process, will your child ever pick it up well enough to enjoy it and play something they know and enjoy?Piano Lessons: What To Expect The First Year

The piano playing journey is one your child should enjoy. The focus should never be placed on how well they do compared with others in the field. Instead, it’s all about mindset. Whether your child ends up playing professionally, or simply uses piano playing as a stress reliever throughout their lives, starting small is always the best strategy.

The first lesson is always designed to introduce you to the instrument. Your skills will grow from that point forward.

Finding A Good Teacher
The first step is finding a good teacher. What may work for a friend might not work for you or your child. Be flexible in your quest for finding the right instructor. Establishing a solid teacher-student relationship is important to ensure a long-term relationship with playing the piano. Before you begin, find out how the instructor works:

  • What does a typical lesson look like?
  • What equipment, books or other accessories will we need?
  • What is the policy for rescheduling lessons?
  • What is expected of a student the first year?

Then approach an instructor with goals of your own. Include things like:

  • I’ve always wanted to play pop songs. How long before I can play? Give specifics.
  • I prefer digital piano. Is this a problem?
  • I hope to write my own music. How long before I can do this?

No matter who you choose as your instructor, the better they understand your goals from the beginning, the more succinct your education will be while working together.

Be Patient
Your results will depend on your state of mind, and how well you put into practice what you learn. Someone who practices 30 minutes a week won’t have the same results as someone who puts in an hour every day. Give yourself a chance to build over time. Your first lesson will probably start with a major scale, probably in the key of C Major. And thought the basics might not be the most exciting thing at first, realizing it will give you the control you need for the future can help make every step more enjoyable.

Think for the long term. Piano is truly a one of a kind instrument. No other instrument gives you the total range of the orchestra right at your fingertips. Learning the basics can give you a lifetime of pleasure, one that can take you anywhere in the world you desire.

Filed Under: Piano Lessons, Piano Playing Tagged With: ,
3 September 2016 Basic Piano Finish Care

Basic Piano Finish Care

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If you’ve chosen to bring a piano into your home, it serves a unique purpose. Not only will it provide you with years of playability, but it will also serve as a piece of fine furniture for your home. Piano manufacturers understand this, and create a piano finish that will stand the test of time. Yet without proper maintenance, it will quickly fade.Basic Piano Finish Care

A piano is finished with a variety of materials, from traditional lacquer to modern polyurethanes and polyester resins. A piano finish is designed to protect the wood from dirt and spills, and reduce the effects of modern day living impacting the quality of the instrument.

Today’s modern finishes are also designed to provide years of beauty without the need of polishes or waxes. In most cases, a piano can be maintained simply by keeping it clean and avoiding exposure to extreme elements, such as direct sunlight, hard temperature variations, humidity, and water.

Dust
The best way to clean your piano is with regular dusting. Dust is an abrasive element that can scratch the finish is wiped away with a dry cloth. Instead, use a feather duster to move dust away. You can also use a soft damp cloth, being careful to avoid getting the piano too wet. To avoid swirl marks, always wipe with long straight strokes rather than with circular motions. Wipe with the grain of the piano to ensure the look of your piano. Also, take care in only dusting the wood casing. Because some exposed parts within your piano are fragile, it’s best to leave those to an experienced technician who can handle the cleaning process when a regular tuning is scheduled.

Cleaning
Occasionally you may have to remove more than dust. Smudges and fingerprints can most likely be cleaned with a soft damp cloth. If heavier cleaning is needed, choose a small amount of a mild soap solution. Avoid using polish on your piano. Most manufacturers will recommend against using it because of the potential for damage to the finish and contamination of other parts of the instrument.

If you’ve purchased a used piano that seems to have a gummy, oily or streaked finish, it may be from too much polish. Adding more polish will not correct the problem. To remove polish, use a cloth dampened with a mild soap. Wipe with the grain, applying pressure to the dulled areas. Dry with a soft cloth. Repeat until you see results. Be careful not to cause white marks or streaks with an older finish. If stronger cleaning is necessary, you can choose a wood cleaner or wax remover, be sure to speak with a technician first to avoid damaging the finish further.

It may also be time to talk with a technician about repair or renovation. If damage has occurred to the finish, it may be impacting the playability of your musical instrument. A good technician will be able to provide guidance.

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