31 August 2016 What Is Piano Pedagogy?

What Is Piano Pedagogy?

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Piano pedagogy is the study of teaching piano playing.

Where standard music education taught at many college level programs pertains to teaching music in school classrooms, or group settings, piano pedagogy is focused more on teaching music skills in a one on one platform. It can be done via private or even semiprivate instruction. When a piano teacher – a piano pedagogue – teaches piano, it is referred to as piano pedagogy, or simply a piano lesson.What Is Piano Pedagogy?

The professionalism of piano teachers is vast and wide. A lot goes into creating a piano teacher with a competency that can be passed on to their students. And it’s not always as simple as asking them how long they’ve played. In includes competence in musical performance, music history, knowledge of musical genres, theory, piano repertoire, experience in teaching, and being able to adjust teaching methods depending on the personality of the student.

Here in Tennessee, piano lessons can be offered by piano teachers who have not received a degree. They do not need focused education in piano performance or piano pedagogy in order to offer their services. Some may have learned through classical training, some may have been self taught.

Still, others may have studied through academic programs culminating in a bachelor’s, masters, or even a doctoral degree at a music college or conservatory. And although most piano pedagogy programs include a significant portion of performance-based study, the pedagogy major can separate from other performance majors and focus more on teaching rather than performing.

Many piano teachers hold memberships in professional organizations in order to show their commitment to the art of pedagogy and to help them network and learn from others in the field. It’s a great way to find a qualified piano teacher if you’re looking for one. Organizations include:

American Council of Piano Performers
Music Teachers National Association
National Guild of Piano Teachers

And if you need any recommendations for a piano teacher here in Memphis, just ask.

Filed Under: Buying a Piano, Owning a Piano Tagged With:
25 August 2016 Why A Digital Piano Is A Great Addition To Tight Spaces

Why A Digital Piano Is A Great Addition To Tight Spaces

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Let’s face it; in our modern world, we’re not always on a quest to increase the size of our homes. In some cases, downsizing is best. And it’s not just when we face an empty nest. Even today’s families are running from oversized homes and finding more comfort in smaller spaces.Why A Digital Piano Is A Great Addition To Tight Spaces

Yet no matter how small your home space is, you still wish to have all the comforts of home. What’s in your home is still important. Quality becomes key in everything you own. And if that includes a piano, the baby grand from your music room may not make the cut.

That doesn’t mean you should give up on playing the piano. It simply means you should alter the piano you own. A digital piano is a great way to conserve on space, yet give you a high quality instrument too. But not any digital piano will do.

A good digital piano is better than a mediocre upright. And in some cases, it can be difficult to tell the difference between the two. Yet you can’t expect to pick up a bargain priced keyboard at a discount store and expect it to be high quality. It still takes effort to find the right piano that will perform up to your expectations.

Still, there are many high quality digital pianos on the market today. And the options are increasing all the time. Look for:

  • A full size 88 key model that gives you access to everything you need
  • Weighted action which simulates actual piano hammers
  • A proper piano stand that keep your piano at proper height, for proper posture

An added bonus is the capability of adding headphones and being able to play anywhere, at any time. It’s especially beneficial in tight spaces where people choose to do different things at the same time. Plus the people around you don’t have to listen to you struggle with a new piece of music; you can practice, become proficient, and then play for others.

Purchasing a high quality digital piano is key to loving the music you make. If you’re not sure where to begin, we can help you start the journey. Stop by today.

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18 August 2016 Yes, Learning The Piano Can Turn Into A Lucrative Career

Yes, Learning The Piano Can Turn Into A Lucrative Career

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When our kids are born, we hope to give them every advantage. We want them to lead happy, productive lives. And most of all, we want them to be happy.

That’s why from day one, we push. We choose good schools. We provide books and help them learn. We steer them into sports; after all, that’s where the most opportunity lies, right?Yes, Learning The Piano Can Turn Into A Lucrative Career

Think again.

While music programs have increasingly gone away in many school districts, getting your kids active in music as early as possible has its benefits. And while very few kids today will ever end up turning pro in sports, there is a good chance your child can turn their love of music into a lucrative career.

If your child learns to play the piano at a young age and sticks with it throughout school, they have a beneficial skill that will last a lifetime. And they can do a lot more with their skills as well.

Video Game Audio
One of the fastest growing careers in the music business is a career in video game audio. While they might have to start as low person on the ladder as they learn their skills, assisting wherever needed, they can quickly escalate to the position of an audio engineer, who creates music mixes in studio, to audio director who oversee video game audio production. Audio tool developers can easily pull in a six figure salary for writing original code.

Orchestral Musician
Though many community music programs have witnessed shrinking budgets over the past few years, there are still opportunities to get involved as an orchestral musician. Starting in the local community may give a person a low paying job. But with experience and improvement, moving to the largest symphonies across the nation can quickly escalate into a six figure career.

Music Therapists
Baby boomers are aging; currently, about one in seven Americans is over the age of 65. And we’re just beginning to see how music can soothe the soul and help many overcome symptoms from a variety of diseases with the help of music therapy. Of course, it doesn’t stop with the aging. Benefits have been seen in many different programs, from learning disabilities in kids, to rehabilitating prisoners, to dealing with PTSD. Developing an outpatient private practice can easily net a music therapist a six figure income.

Movie/TV Music Production
Top Hollywood actors and directors are still producing high budget films. Television shows are as diverse and as far reaching as ever. And in order to create that much content ever year, someone must be in charge of creating the music that goes into it. Enter the position of music supervisor. While salaries are usually low, associated only with one project at a time, a top producer can easily move into the six figure level and beyond.

Music Attorney
Every successful musician needs a lawyer. And a lawyer that is familiar with all things music ensures a thorough knowledge base for her client base. There are many intricate details to music law, including copyrights, trademarks, and contract negotiations. The bigger more successful the client base, the more lucrative a music lawyer can make.

Still think sports is the only way to give your child all she needs to move into a successful life? Maybe today’s the day you give her the gift of music. Let’s get her started on playing the piano today.

Filed Under: Piano Playing Tagged With: , ,
15 August 2016 What Piano Playing Can Do For Your Brain

What Piano Playing Can Do For Your Brain

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Remember when your parents pushed you to play the piano? They encouraged you to keep practicing, to spend time every day trying to get a little better. They said it built character. That said it would help you become a better person.What Piano Playing Can Do For Your Brain

Turns out they were on to something.

According to a National Institutes of Health (NIH) Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Study of Normal Brain Development, musical training doesn’t stop at improving your musical ability, it also provides tremendous benefits to a child’s emotional and behavioral maturation as well.

In the study, the analyzed brain scans of children 6 to 18 years old and found that the more a child trained on an instrument, the more it accelerated cortical organization in attention skill, anxiety management, and emotional control. As cortical thickness increases, memory function, attentional control, and organizational skills improve with it.

Because of that, musical training is thought to potentially be a powerful treatment for many different cognitive disorders, including things like ADHD.

And it doesn’t take a lot of formal training. Even small doses of musical training, from listening to different types of music, to playing basic songs can do the trick.

These results continue to challenge the current direction of education within the school system.

In our current American education system, three out of four high school students rarely or never have received lessons in music or the arts. Without dedicating adequate time and resources to music training, we are potentially robbing kids of not only the joy of bringing music into their lives, but the opportunity for becoming more successful in their pursuit of education, and the chance of having a more well-rounded life.

Is it time we rethink the power of music in our lives?

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14 August 2016 Hire A Mover Or Move A Piano Yourself

Hire A Mover Or Move A Piano Yourself

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Are you the proud owner of a grand piano? Does it have an honored place in your living room? You’re not alone. Many piano owners find that their grand pianos take center stage.Hire A Mover Or Move A Piano Yourself

Pianos are relatively easy to care for. Frequent tuning, regular cleaning, an occasional repair, and your piano will give you decades of enjoyment. But what about when you move?

Pianos are notoriously difficult to move. We’ve all seen movies and cartoons where something goes wrong, and the grand piano falls from great heights, smashing to smithereens. In reality, it’s not a laughing matter.

Can you move it on your own? Can you get a few friends together and push and pull, tug and shove it from one location to another?

Or should you trust it to movers who have experience with the task? Someone who understands the nuances of moving a piano, has the proper tools for the job, and can ensure safety from beginning to end?

Moving a piano is no easy task. It requires training, a lot of muscle, and teamwork from beginning to end. Before you even begin, there are many questions to answer. How will you get it through doorways? How will you move it up and down stairs? How will you get it into the truck? Each step of the way is a moment of opportunity for something to go wrong. That’s where training and experience come into play.

To do it yourself takes a truck, a few friends, and lady luck being on your side for the day. Drop it, bang it, drag it and you can cause thousands of dollars of damage. Pull it the wrong way and you (or your friend) could wind up with a trip to the emergency room.

Professional movers wrap your piano for full protection. They use specialized equipment made for the job. They take precautions to avoid damaging yourself and the piano. They take full responsibility and have relevant insurance to ensure if something does go wrong, you’ll be covered.

To get a clear picture of all that is involved in the process, contact us today.

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10 August 2016 7 Reasons People Stop Playing The Piano And How To Break The Habit

7 Reasons People Stop Playing The Piano And How To Break The Habit

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The drop out rate of piano students deciding to stop playing is high – some estimates list it as high as 80 percent.

While playing the piano may seem like a daunting task, especially after the first lesson or two, there are many reasons to stick with it and create a lifetime of learning.7 Reasons People Stop Playing The Piano And How To Break The Habit

It’s easy to hear a song or watch a performance and think to themselves “I’d love to play like that.” Yet in most cases, they don’t realize the level of commitment it takes to achieve what looks easy in a professional performance.

Piano is different than many other instruments a child may pick up and begin playing. You can’t put your fingers on a strong and strum and be able to play a song. It takes effort to create music. It takes determination to master the art of reading music. It takes skill to learn to read music while each hand operates at a different pace.

It takes baby steps over and over again to realize a dream of playing the piano for life.

With every beginning piano student we see, there exists a very wide gap between their initial expectations and the realities of what it takes to make beautiful music.

  •  They get frustrated after months of practice, and they know very little beyond the basics.
  •  They get frustrated at how slow their growth is despite their daily effort.
  • They don’t realize that practice is a never ending process, and they will only improve a little at a time.
  •   They get frustrated at how the teacher and other advanced students seem to play effortlessly.
  • They have other things – family, school activities, obligations, other commitments – that constantly get in the way of practice.
  • They feel alone in their routine, with no support system to help them get through difficult days.
  • They mistakenly believe that one day they will wake up and magically be able to play all they desire flawlessly.

It’s easy to lose your passion if you don’t have realistic expectations from the start. The more you learn up front, the easier the process will be in the long run.

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7 August 2016 Do You Have The Correct Piano Playing Posture?

Do You Have The Correct Piano Playing Posture?

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Playing the piano means plopping down in any direction and gliding your fingers over the keys.

Or does it?

In reality, playing the piano effectively also means having a correct piano playing posture. Try it without and you’ll quickly feel the results in your shoulders, arms, and fingers.Do You Have The Correct Piano Playing Posture?

But what does it mean to have a correct piano playing posture? It starts with four things:

1. The piano bench
It’s not as easy as dragging any old chair in front of the piano in order to play. A piano bench should put you at proper height to play. Make sure your elbows are aligned with the keyboard. Don’t sit too far or too close – avoid the uncomfortable backward pointing elbows. And move the bench, so you’re sitting on the edge; this one act helps provide you with a better posture from the beginning.

2. Your back
Sitting hunched over or slouching will allow the energy to die within. Instead, keep your back straight and well aligned. It’s not only good for playing the piano, but it’s also good for your overall health.

3. Your legs and feet
Never place your feet under the piano bench or cross them at the ankles while playing. You need stability while playing. Keep your feet near the pedals and flat on the floor, which will keep your overall body structure well grounded.

4. Your arms
Always, always avoid tension. If something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t. Your arms should be relaxed. Your shoulders should be down, with your elbows a comfortable distance from the body. Wrists should be flexible and relaxed. Hands and fingers should also be well rounded and able to move comfortably from key to key.

Do you have the correct piano playing posture while you play? If not, it may be time for a new piano bench.

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31 July 2016 Are All Piano Tuners The Same?

Are All Piano Tuners The Same?

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The piano is a complex series of wood and metal, a refined piece of machinery that is crafted to perfection. With a peak underneath the lid, you’ll find hundreds of parts all lined up ready to do their job. But it’s a work of art to make sure each piece comes together in such a way as to produce a quality sound you can’t wait to hear over and over again.Are All Piano Tuners The Same?

Yes, there may be 88 keys laid out in front of you ready to pressed and put into action. But every time one is pressed down, many parts go into play. This means several hundred strings are pulled and pushed through a complex series of twists and turns to create the perfect sound you are looking for. And because they move with every push of the key, occasionally they don’t return to their original position.

It takes time. It’s a gradual process. You’ll never notice it after one touch of the key. But it’s there just the same. It’s like having to tune a guitar before you play a song. Or having to tune your car before you run it in a race.

Working parts have to be tuned over and over again to maintain precision.

And while many people can work on a piano, anyone can claim to know how to turn a wire and add weight to the hammers, there is a difference in the approach that they take.

Pianos have to be tuned on a regular basis, whether they are played daily or not. It’s not just playing that impacts a piano; it’s also its location, the climate, maintenance routines, and more.

It’s also the experience of the piano tuner. A great tuner understands all the nuances that go into play; they know the right questions to ask, and more importantly, understand what to look for in the piano before they begin.

Before you hire a piano tuner, ask a few questions to anyone vying for the job.

Where did you study and for how long? What are your qualifications?

How long have you been tuning pianos?

Where have you worked? What venues and what types of pianos?

Do you have recommendations?

You can always start by giving us a call. We have a list of select tuners we use regularly, ones we know will get the job done correctly every time.

Filed Under: Owning a Piano, Piano Renovation Tagged With:
25 July 2016 Hire A Piano Mover To Transport Your Instrument

Hire A Piano Mover To Transport Your Instrument

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Planning a move to a new home? There are a lot of things to take care of before the big day arrives.

And while a traditional mover can quote you prices on moving things like a mattress, a dresser, and a table, skip the urge for a quote on moving your piano too.Hire A Piano Mover To Transport Your Instrument

Pianos aren’t pieces of furniture. They are costly instruments that can range anywhere from a few thousand to tens of thousands of dollars. A piano can’t be handled like any piece of furniture. One mistake can be a costly venture.

Moving a piano takes special skill. Pianos are heavy, weighing anywhere from 300 pounds on up. To further complicate the situation, their shape can make it one of the bulkiest things in your home. At least three people are needed to move most pianos.

Upright pianos can be moved intact. But moving a grand or concert piano takes special care. Parts must be dismantled and wrapped with special care. Because of their size and shape, they will be wrapped in blankets and strapped securely to a piano board, with a dolly used to move it carefully from your home to the truck, and back again.

Pianos have two parts to preserve: the working parts that create music, and the smooth exterior finish. If either is damaged, it can be an expensive repair.

Good piano moving requires good equipment and even better technique. Piano movers will usually quote you a price based on the piano, the distance of the move, the difficulty of the move, and how much equipment will be needed to finish the job.

To ensure you are getting a reputable piano mover, be sure to ask for and check customer references, licenses, insurance, and guarantees.

Once your piano is in place, your move is complete, and your piano is tuned once again, you’ll be thankful you put your trust in a reputable piano moving service.

Filed Under: Buying a Piano, Owning a Piano Tagged With:
22 July 2016 How Piano Tone Is Created

How Piano Tone Is Created

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What does it take to make beautiful music?

Even the best singer in the world didn’t start out that way. They sang because they enjoyed it. They sang with their favorites songs on the radio. They signed up for the school musical. And somewhere along the way a coach jumped in to help refine their music, hit the notes that made their voices sound magical. And they keep refining to this very day.How Piano Tone Is Created

The same goes with a piano. Piano refining is about creating beautiful piano sound. Piano tone doesn’t happen at the time a piano is built. Piano tone isn’t something that’s set and never needs work again. Piano tone is something that is acquired through work and restoration, over and over again throughout the life of a piano.

And it happens whether it’s with a newly built Steinway or a decades old piano you take loving care of every day.

Why?

Every time a key is pressed and a hammer jumps into place on a string, a system is put into play. If any part of that process isn’t pure precision, the tone of the piano is “off.”

This is where tone regulation comes into play. It’s a multi-step process. It includes:

  • Piano hammer voicing
  • Piano string voicing
  • Piano action regulation

Piano Hammer Voicing
Each time a key is pressed, the hammer strikes the string. This “whack” bends the string ever so slightly before returning to its original state. Piano hammer voicing defines how much pressure is behind the hammer when it hits the string, and how the bend in the string takes place during that contact. To regulate hammer voicing takes a variety of accomplishments, from steaming the hammer felt, to hardening the hammer, to adding or removing hammer weight, and more.

Piano String Voicing
Piano string is a stiff, taut wire. The wire is connected and wrapped around various bends and loops as it connects the pieces together. These bends and turns must occur in a certain way and be consistent to have the string vibrate in a certain way. If the turns or connections are off, the tonal effects will be anything but pleasurable.

String bends must be consistent throughout the piano. Notes use more than one string in order to produce sound; if one of the strings is off, it will impact on sound quality. String voicing is performed on all pianos, from the brand new to the decades old. Without consistent string voicing, tonal quality will always be off.

Piano Action Regulation
The piano action is the series of levers that connect the keys to the hammers. The way the hammer contacts the string defines the quality of the tone. The speed at which the process takes place also has impact. This is where action regulation comes into play. Different accelerations create different tonal qualities. With even a tiny adjustment in the speed, a tone can be dead on or completely off. Furthermore, if the action doesn’t provide precision connection between the hammer and the string, connection isn’t perfection and the result can be noisy and harsh.

For all of this to happen in unison, it takes a specially trained technician to fully adjust every part, every step of the way. With 37 steps in the process, it’s important to have an expert who knows how to retain tonal quality every time.

Filed Under: Piano Music, Piano Playing Tagged With: ,
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