8 August 2015 Taking Up The Piano At Any Age Can Be Beneficial For Your Brain

Taking Up The Piano At Any Age Can Be Beneficial For Your Brain

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As a parent, we want to expose our children to the right activities. We want to set them up for success with everything they do. We want to expand their knowledge, try a little of everything, then help them make the right selections to carry with them for the rest of their lives.

The power of a music background is obvious almost from the moment you hear of it. We’ve all heard of theories like The Mozart Effect. Yet pushing a child into something that may be a little different from the norm can sometimes be difficult. If “the gang” is all hanging out on the soccer field, what motivation does a child have for sitting in front of a piano?Taking Up The Piano At Any Age Can Be Beneficial For Your Brain

Yet piano playing isn’t just for kids; that’s what extends its power throughout a person’s life. The more scientific research is performed, the more is discovered about the benefits it can have from childhood through old age.

Health benefits are numerous and include things like:

  • auditory improvement
  • increased cognitive skills
  • improved coordination

The therapeutic value in not only included in playing the piano, it can be equally as valuable to listen to piano music.

  • It has a pacifying affect which helps reduce stress
  • It can maintain a level of mental engagement
  • It can improve language skills, including listening, reading, verbal fluency and memory

And as an afterschool activity, it can give your child the extra stamina they need to do even better in school. Piano playing has been shown to increase test scores, improve SAT scores, even help with both reading and math related technical skills. Yes, music majors are often highest in their class when it comes to moving into pre-med related studies.

Its not just a passive exercise, it is an interactive experience.

For all of these reasons, playing the piano provides a wealth of benefits, no matter what age each member is in your family. It all starts with owning a piano, and having it available to play and practice at any time. Take some time today to visit and find the perfect instrument for you.

Filed Under: Piano Lessons, Piano Playing Tagged With: ,
5 August 2015 Why Your Piano Repair Should Come With A Warranty

Why Your Piano Repair Should Come With A Warranty

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As a regular piano player, you value the sound it makes. In order to keep it working properly, you invest in regular tuning and repair. Pianos are not something you need to replace all the time. With a little tender loving care, it can not only last a lifetime, it can be passed down from generation to generation.Why Your Piano Repair Should Come With A Warranty

Owning a piano shouldn’t be a burden. It’s a big investment, something that should be considered carefully so that it provides all the benefits you need as your practice improves and your ability to create more advanced sounds continues to grow.

A piano is made of materials like wood, felt and wire which are subject to wear and tear over the years. These materials can wear as a piano is played over and over again, but other things impact them as well. Temperature change, climate change, even the final resting spot your piano has in your home will all impact the playability of a piano over time.

Along the way, a piano should be tuned. A newer piano will have to be tuned more frequently as the strings stretch. Over time, regular tuning is also necessary to keep the sound at its peak performance.

Yet as time progresses, materials continue to wear down.

  • Felt hammers wear
  • Strings break
  • Keys become damaged and worn
  • Action parts wear out
  • Action needs to be regulated

Piano tuning is a part of regular maintenance. Piano repair needs a professional to perform more extensive care.

And once it is performed, a good piano repair company will also provide a warranty on both parts and labor. This provides you with assurance that the repair job was performed properly, and that quality parts were used that will provide you with long time performance and enjoyment.

Have any questions about the condition of your piano? Does your piano need tuning or repair? The best place to start is by asking questions. We’re always here to help.

Filed Under: Buying a Piano, Owning a Piano Tagged With:
1 August 2015 Piano Problems? You May Need Properly Bushed Keys

Piano Problems? You May Need Properly Bushed Keys

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The last time a piano technician came into your home to tune your piano, did you hear him mention your piano keys may need rebushing? What are properly bushed keys? And why is it important to the overall playability of your piano?

Properly bushed keys provide the foundation for accurate key leveling and spacing, and create a more solid and secure feel to the action of the keyboard.Piano Problems? You May Need Properly Bushed Keys

Each key on a piano is held in place by two pins. The balance rail pin is near the center of the length of the key, and the front rail pin is at the front. There is a hole near both sections in which the rail pins fit into place. Each of these holes is bushed with a thin layer of felt.

When the piano is new, the bushings are loose enough to allow the key to move freely up and down, yet tight enough so that the keys don’t slip back and forth.

With a lot of play and repetition, the felt bushings become worn and compressed. You may start to feel the wiggle from side to side as you play, and may even knock together with neighboring keys. As a long time player, this can be more than a little disconcerting. But to a new player, this can eliminate the desire to play.

There is a proper way to fix worn key bushings and replace them altogether. This must be done with precision, as the work is delicate and misplaced bushings can drastically impact the sound of the piano.

Each felt bushing must be steamed and lifted out.

Next, the right thickness of felt must be created to assure a proper fit. The felt is held in place with special cauls and hot hide glue, while the edges are carefully trimmed to prevent them from poking up and disturbing the fit of the key.

After the glue is dried, the cauls are removed and keys are put back into place. If the rebushing was performed correctly, little adjustment is needed to get the piano back into proper working order.

Have a question about the playability of your piano? Give us a call today.

Filed Under: Owning a Piano, Piano Restoration Tagged With:
29 July 2015 Do The Felt Hammers On Your Piano Need Recontouring?

Do The Felt Hammers On Your Piano Need Recontouring?

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Every time you play a note on your piano, the felt hammer depresses down onto the string, striking it to create sound. This happens over and over again as your fingers run across the keyboard pressing down note after note.Do The Felt Hammers On Your Piano Need Recontouring?

In all pianos, vertical and grand, the felt hammers become grooved over time from this action. As they strike against the string, it compresses the felt just a little. Over time, this can begin impacting the sound your piano makes.

If your piano is rarely played, this process may take decades. If your piano is heavily played, it may take a few years. And if your piano is used daily in a practice room at a music school, for instance, the time frame may shorten considerably.

When hammers are new, only a very small area of the hammer is striking the strings. As the grooves begin to wear into the felt, a half inch or more of the face of the hammer may be striking the string every time it is played. This can cause a harsh and uneven tone.

If you open up your piano and look down at the hammers, you will notice the grooves in the felt, with almost a dirty or heavily worn look to them. The hammers should not be fixed so they look “clean”. Cleaning the felt will not fix the problem. Some attempt to take off a thin layer with a dremel tool to fix the problem, yet this is largely a cosmetic fix that will not impact the overall tonal quality. Others have even attempted to clean the felt with soap and water; this only risks further damage to your piano.

An experienced piano technician can recontour the hammers, restoring them back to original shape. The hammers are “filed” in such a manner as to take off very thin layers of the felt until no string grooves remain. This allows the original curve of the hammer to once again take place.

Keep in mind that the felt hammers can only last so long, even with regular maintenance and recontouring as needed. Eventually the hammers must be replaced.

Filed Under: Owning a Piano, Piano Restoration Tagged With: ,
25 July 2015 When Moving A Piano Does It Need To Rest Before It Is Tuned?

When Moving A Piano Does It Need To Rest Before It Is Tuned?

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When a piano is moved, it can go out of tune due to a number of factors:

  • Humidity levels may change
  • Temperature levels may change
  • Bumps and bangs can knock it out of tune

It also depends on the length and distance of the move. Are you moving it from the living room to the family room? Are you moving it 10 minutes away? Or will it be moved half way across the country?When Moving A Piano Does It Need To Rest Before It Is Tuned?

Longer moves will typically provide more opportunity for a piano to expand and contract based on the different environments it resides in. Yet even a slight movement can sometimes have a big impact.

Where is a piano coming from, and where will it be moved to? Some pianos are well taken care of, tuned every four months, and being moved from your old home to your new home. Other pianos may have been stored in a basement for years without tuning, and moved into a home for a young child to begin lessons. Big difference in the care it had before the move; big difference in the approach to take to bring it back in tune.

If a piano is on a regular maintenance schedule, it’s probably okay to keep to that schedule and your piano will continue operating at peak condition.

If a piano has been sitting in storage for years without maintenance, the first tuning may not have full effect. In order to bring it into tune, it may take several attempts, which means working on it from the moment you move it will start the process.

If a piano is coming from a desert community and will be placed in our more humid climate here in Memphis, it may take a few days of adjustment to settle in to its new environment. Give your piano time to adjust to its new surroundings, then schedule a piano tuning session to perfect its pitch.

If a move is in your future, start by talking with a professional mover first. They can help walk you through the process, and provide you with the best advice for maintaining the sound quality of your piano.

Filed Under: Owning a Piano, Piano Moving Tagged With: ,
22 July 2015 A Guide To Keeping Church Pianos In Top Shape

A Guide To Keeping Church Pianos In Top Shape

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Music is an essential part of any church program. From practicing for performances, to teaching music in the classroom, to performing for Sunday events, most functions center around the piano.

With the piano being the highlight at many activities, it’s important to maintain each piano in the church, and keep them in good working condition throughout the year. It’s difficult to enjoy a program if you can hear an off, tinny sound somewhere in the background.A Guide To Keeping Church Pianos In Top Shape

Most churches have a number of pianos throughout the building. Where a piano is located determines how much maintenance it will need.

The sanctuary piano typically is front and center for weekly services, and either sits alone or is used in conjunction with an organ. A sanctuary piano needs first class maintenance. At a minimum, schedule at least two tunings a year, and a regularly scheduled maintenance routine of regulation, voicing, cleaning, etc.

The balcony piano is often used in conjunction with the sanctuary piano, depending on the set up of the choir and the congregation. Yet because this piano is typically out of sight, it’s easy to forget about it during regularly scheduled maintenance. A thorough check up is also needed to keep it in good working condition, providing a quality sound for the various events throughout the church.

Classroom pianos are often designed to help run Sunday school and special events. While these pianos are not typically heard by a high number of people, it is important for them to have good tonal quality because they are usually linked to practice sessions and helping develop an interest in music. If the piano is out of tune or isn’t voiced properly, it can impact the way a child learns to appreciate music.

Fellowship hall or basement pianos might not be front and center of every event that occurs in these rooms, yet when they are in use, full attention is given to the music being produced. To encourage an appreciation for music and for more people to play, quality sound is mandatory.

With all pianos, temperature and humidity control can be a problem. To save on energy costs, many churches keep a careful eye on temperature, keeping it comfortable only when the church is in use. That means heat and cold can impact the various pianos throughout the church in different ways. Be sure all pianos set away from windows and doors where drafts and direct sunlight can impact them most. Also be aware that this temperature variance can play havoc on the tonal quality of the piano, requiring more tune ups throughout the year.

To coordinate a regularly scheduled maintenance routine for the pianos in your facility, start by having a qualified technician evaluate your current set up, and determine a schedule that is right for you.

Filed Under: Owning a Piano, Piano Renovation Tagged With: ,
18 July 2015 Guide Your Child Prodigy Into Collaborative Piano

Guide Your Child Prodigy Into Collaborative Piano

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Some kids are just different than others. They sit down to play the piano, and the rest, as they say, is history.

You don’t have to beg to get them to practice; you have to limit the time they sit at the piano. You don’t have to plead with them to rehearse for a concert; they are creating their own music in heavy anticipation of the upcoming event.Guide Your Child Prodigy Into Collaborative Piano

Yet as your child approaches his or her high school and college years, you may start wondering what’s next. Sure, they want to follow their dreams of going into the music field, but is there really a future in playing the piano?

Enter collaborative piano. Collaborative piano, once called piano accompanying, is a term used to describe a relationship with a pianist and one or more instrumentalists, singers, dancers, or other artists to complete a project. Piano accompanying applied a subservience relationship where the pianist worked for other partners. A collaborative pianist works together with other team members on an equal basis.

That process isn’t taught through hands-on piano lessons alone. Instead, it’s a process taught through years of training – both through hands-on piano playing and through curricula designed to create a successful musician.

Schools today have moved towards teaching collaborative piano:

New England Conservatory, The Boston Conservatory, Longy School of Music,  Juilliard to name but a few. The goal is to give a pianist the skills and the opportunity to ensure they are knowledgeable, flexible and sensitive as a collaborator, able to work in many situations. This is what opens up opportunities for life.

Do you or your child have any experience with a collaborative piano program?

Filed Under: Piano Playing Tagged With:
14 July 2015 5 Biggest Challenges To Avoid When Moving A Piano

5 Biggest Challenges To Avoid When Moving A Piano

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Moving even under the best of circumstances is stressful at best. But when you add in oversized items that have special meaning, the stress can increase tenfold.

Proper planning is the starting point for a successful move, followed by having access to the correct resources for the job. Many times problems can be avoided simply by relying on resources that have experience doing the task at hand. A general mover has experience in moving standard items – boxes and furniture. When you throw in out of the ordinary items – like a piano – the struggle begins.5 Biggest Challenges To Avoid When Moving A Piano

Packing and Unpacking

When a mover comes into your home, they have experience in moving everyday items. They bring the right box for your dishes, for example, and understand that by wrapping each in bubble wrap, and tightly fitting them together in the box, they will most likely make the move in perfect condition. The same does not apply with out of the ordinary things. A grand piano cannot fit in a box, and bubble wrap will have little effect. A proper piano mover has access to the right equipment and the right protection to make sure your piano is moved safely from location to location.

What if it breaks?

A grand piano can be worth thousands of dollars. A grand piano may have sentimental value, or have been in the possession of one of the greatest piano players of our time, making its value priceless. Regular movers don’t understand that as they are trying to “heave-ho” it through a small doorway. And in many cases, they won’t offer full value when mistakes are made and your piano is damaged. Regular movers may say they “cover” and insure whatever is on their list to move, yet you may think twice about the likelihood of your prized possession actually making it to its final destination in one piece.

Safety

Imagine two guys lifting a grand piano onto its side and trying to wedge it around a corner, down the stairs, and through tight doorways. That’s a lot of stress on a piano. It’s even more stress on the bodies of the people moving the piano. Moving is a high risk job, with injury potential at every turn. And when you add in out of the ordinary items, risk and injury is almost guaranteed … unless you have the skills and the tools necessary to do the job the right way.

Moving day

When moving day arrives, the day stretches on and most often takes far more time than anticipated. Now add in additional time for moving a large, bulky piano. What if it gets wedged in around a staircase? What if it simply won’t go down? A move can increase from a day to several days if you don’t have the proper resources in place. And calling in an expert with emergency expectations is always far more stressful than having it planned from the beginning.

Storage

What if you are moving into a rental until your new house is complete? What if you downsize into a home and your piano simply doesn’t fit? Where will you store your piano until further accommodations can be made? A general mover may recommend a storage unit out by a warehouse. A piano mover can guide you to proper placement to keep your piano in the safest conditions until decisions can be made.

Generalists are rarely the answer when doing out of the ordinary things. If you are planning a move in your future, start by calling an experienced piano mover first, and reduce your stress immediately by having one less thing to worry about on moving day.

Filed Under: Owning a Piano, Piano Moving Tagged With: ,
11 July 2015 Is Piano Repair Really Necessary?

Is Piano Repair Really Necessary?

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When was the last time you repaired your car?

It probably started with a small noise. If you ignored it, the noise escalated. And if you continued ignoring it, eventually the car stopped working, and the repair became a major event. What started out as a simple fix – replacing a belt for instance – became a major repair – replacing the engine.Is Piano Repair Really Necessary?

The same holds true with your piano.

A piano first shows signs of a problem in simple ways. A note goes out of tune, or a piano pedal sticks. If you ignore the problem, it escalates to the point of severe damage.

In many cases this happens when people are living on a tight budget, or if they stop playing the piano and it becomes a piece of furniture they ignore. Pianos need tuning and repair to keep them in top playing condition, whether they are played regularly or not.

Hire A Piano Technician As Soon As Possible

The right time to hire a piano technician for tuning is at the first indication something is not right. A qualified technician can repair it quickly and bring it back to proper condition. A large number of piano owners realize the potential savings regular tunings have on the quality of their piano, and choose to have their pianos tuned twice per year. This will ensure a quality sound all the year through, and provide you with a quality instrument that can be passed down from generation to generation.

Hire a Highly Experienced Piano Technician

Unlike today’s cars that can be plugged into a computer to show the technician what is wrong, a piano requires a personal touch. Although a piano player may pick up a few things about tuning as they play over the years, there is a difference between doing it yourself and hiring a professional with many hours of experience. A professional learns the fine tuning skill by practicing and learning and working on a variety of pianos. He understands what indicators to look for and what sounds may need further repair. Never judge a piano technician by price alone. Instead, find out how many years they have performed piano tuning, and how many hours they have spent in the process.

Why Tuning Is The First Step Towards Repair

In general, the first indication of a problem begins with piano tuning. A piano technician will spend time working with each note to ensure it is properly in tune. As he works through the process, he may indicated other problems – felt that is loose, or a potential problem with a hammer. As he notices things, he will make you aware of the situation and decide the best course of action to ensure your piano remains at optimal level.

Typically a quality piano tuning process will take anywhere from one to three hours. Anything less may be an indicator that a piano tuner doesn’t understand his job.

If you have any questions about the piano tuning process, give us a call today.

Filed Under: Owning a Piano, Piano Renovation Tagged With: ,
10 July 2015 5 Signs Your Piano Needs Refurbishing

5 Signs Your Piano Needs Refurbishing

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Some projects are perfect for the do it yourselfer. Some projects aren’t.

Changing the color of the walls of your family room is a perfect do it yourself project; grab a bucket of paint and go. But when it comes to refurbishing the piano that takes center stage in your family room, it’s best left to the hands of a true professional.5 Signs Your Piano Needs Refurbishing

Start with the keys

The easiest place to start when checking the condition of a piano is with the keys. The keys should be played one at a time listening to them closely. The tuning may be off, meaning you might not hear a quality pitch as we walk from note to note. Listen beyond for buzzing sounds or harsh multi-tones even when you’re pressing just one key. Also pay attention if a key creates no sound at all, which could be a sign of further internal damage.

Test the pedals

When you press down on a pedal and find it non-responsive, it can be an indication of a bigger problem. Many people ignore the pedals, with little intention of using them in the first place. Check them anyway as it can be an indication of larger problems inside.

Inspect the hammers for wear

Each hammer within the piano is covered in felt. Timbre is achieved when the hammerhead felt strikes the strings and produces the desired note. Worn felt reduces both timbre and tone. Make sure felt is intact and wood does not show through. Also keep in mind that felt is attached to the hammers through pressure, not through glue. In many cases it can be easy to spot a do it yourself attempt to improve the quality, which can actually work against you.

Examine the bridge and pinblock

The bridge is the wooden piece between the soundboard and the hammers. It helps keep the piano in tune. This wooden piece should not be out of position, warped or cracked. The pinblock holds each string ensemble in place with tuning pins. Likewise, the pinblock must not be cracked or warped, and the tuning pins should be tight. Piano strings are attached in groups of two or three, and if the pinblock is damaged, the piano will remain out of tune. If you see signs of rust anywhere, it probably is a result of water damage and may be beyond repair.

Inspect the soundboard

The soundboard is the foundation of the piano. If the soundboard is cracked, warped or damaged, the rods will not move correctly, and the hammers and felts will work improperly, producing the wrong sound or no sound at all.

One of the worse sounds for people to hear is an incorrect note on a piano. But that is not a true indication of a problem with a piano. If damage is at a minimal, and the note is merely out of tune, piano refurbishing can be an easy process. It may be as simple as tuning and replacing a few worn parts. The only way to determine for sure the true potential of the piano in question is to start by having a professional evaluate the piano.

Have questions? Give us a call today.

Filed Under: Owning a Piano, Piano Renovation, Piano Restoration Tagged With: ,
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