What Is The Difference Between High-End and Low-End Digital Pianos

What Is The Difference Between High-End and Low-End Digital Pianos

Thinking of purchasing a new digital piano? In today’s world, a digital piano can be the perfect choice for a budding musician. They can be very practical if you are short on space and don’t have the room for a traditional piano; they are easy to transport, which can be a big benefit if a budding musician starts up his own band; and they are easy to maintain, which means no regular tuning sessions to keep it in top form.

If you have already started the hunt for a good digital piano, you’ve probably already noticed there can be a big difference in pricing. There is a reason for that.What Is The Difference Between High-End and Low-End Digital Pianos

So the first question to have answered about a digital piano is – where does it get its sound? When each piano manufacturer sets out to create a digital piano, it must record each individual sound of each individual key. This process is called modeling. They record it at different volumes and different ranges, so that when you press a key on the digital piano, it will create a rich sound that mimics playing an acoustic piano.

Modeling is what distinguishes a high end piano from a low end piano. Higher priced digital pianos will have more complexity in their tonal quality. Lower priced digital pianos can have very simple mechanisms, and in some cases be quite tinny in sound quality.

While sound quality is a major difference between high end and low end digital pianos, it isn’t the only difference. For some piano players, there is something equal in importance to sound … it’s the feel.

When an acoustic piano is played, the notes have a “feel” when they are touched and played. By putting different amounts of pressure on the keys, you can change the sound that is produced.

With lower end digital pianos, it’s a one touch one sound process. With higher end pianos, they incorporate that “feel” into the piano, giving digital piano players the same capabilities of creating sound by depressing keys at the desired level.

In addition to the importance of sound and feel, a digital piano can have many other characteristics that separate the two.

  • Speakers
  • Output quality
  • Recording device
  • Additional sounds and features
  • Casing and cabinet material

Many differences occur between the high end and low end offerings, and also between the different manufacturers. In some cases, there is very little pricing variance to move into more features and more practical comfort. It all depends on the desire of the musician, and the desire of the sound being produced.

If you’ve never seen a variety of digital pianos in action, stop by and let us show you the differences. The education you’ll receive just by looking can quickly show you where the differences really lie, and help you be more comfortable with your final selection.

Understanding The Three Piano Foot Pedals

Understanding The Three Piano Foot Pedals

When you look at a piano, you probably get caught up in the beauty of the instrument. The contrast between the black and white keys. The shine and splendor of the case. The richness of the sound.

Yet no matter where you put your focus on the instrument itself, beautiful, rich music would be nothing without the properties of the pedals. At first glance, they are simply levers located far enough away from all the other mechanisms, its easy to forget they are there. But using them effectively is an art form.Understanding The Three Piano Foot Pedals

A professional piano player uses the pedals instinctively; they know how to use them to create the perfect sound. But this “pedal instinct” is one that is learned over many years of practice. What are they and how do you use them?

There are two standard pedals – the una corda and the sustain. The middle pedal is only standard on the American grand piano and is very rarely used.

The una corda is the pedal on the left, and is played with the left foot. It is also known as the soft pedal. The una corda pedal is used to enhance the differences between softly played notes, and is used to exaggerate a low volume. It should be used when playing notes softly to begin with; it will not enhance notes played with a loud voice.

The una corda works by shifting the strings slightly so that the hammers strike them in a softer manner, on a lesser used portion of the string. It allows the hammers to strike the string without full force, which also reduces the overall sound volume.

The sustain pedal is on the right and is played with the right foot. It is also called the damper pedal, the forte pedal, or the loud pedal. The sustain pedal allows the notes to resonate after the keys have been played, and will continue for as long as the pedal is depressed. It allows all of the notes to echo and overlap as the dampers are lifted off the strings, allowing them to vibrate until the pedal is released.

The middle pedal – the sostenuto pedal – is played with the right foot, yet is rarely used. The sostenuto pedal is called the tone sustaining pedal, and allows certain notes to be sustained while other notes are unaffected. It is used by hitting the desired notes, then depressing the pedal. The notes will be affected until the pedal is released. Because it is rarely used, it is not considered a standard addition to a piano, and is often only found on American grand pianos.

As your piano playing becomes more sophisticated and your music becomes richer and more vibrant, you will begin to see marks in the music for including the pedals. Like making music with the piano, the pedals also take time to learn, and will become better with practice.

Have additional questions? Give us a call. With over 50 years in the music business, we can answer any question you may have.

Piano Lessons: Private Piano Teacher Versus Learning Online

Piano Lessons: Private Piano Teacher Versus Learning Online

Most people today buy their very first piano with one goal in mind: to learn to play the piano.

But once that piano is sitting in your home, ready to play, where do you turn to in order to learn your very first song?Piano Lessons: Private Piano Teacher Versus Learning Online

The Internet has changed the way we do just about everything in our lives, and learning to play the piano is no exception. Search the app store and you’ll find a variety of apps with the promise of helping you learn notes and scales. You can invest in quality games that combine hitting the right notes in order to gain points and ultimately win the game. You can watch thousands of videos on YouTube alone. And of course if you do a quick Google search, you’ll find even more sites promising you quick action and new ways of learning the task of playing the piano.

Is it true? Can you learn to play the piano like a professional simply by playing a game or following the advice of a few free videos?

There are, of course, pros and cons to both methods of learning. And when it comes to learning, people learn in many different way. There is never a “one size fits all” formula to deciphering the best learning style.

Private Piano Teacher

Probably the biggest advantage to hiring a private piano teacher is the ability to have one on one contact with a professional. Because they’ve had professional training, and have played the piano for years, they understand the nuances of perfecting your ability. They can hold you accountable for practicing each lesson, and help you discover where problem lie and how to overcome them. There’s something that helps you stick with it when you know you have a lesson coming up in the next few days.

However, when you hire a private piano teacher, you are agreeing to learn in the style they prefer to teach. If they prefer classical music, you will learn classical music. If you have ideas, they may not be willing to listen because it might not fit in with their method of training. You’ll also have to pay for the ability to have one on one contact; something you’ll continue to pay for for as long as you choose to take lessons.

Online Learning

One of the greatest advantages of online learning is access to unlimited possibilities. You can find hundreds of learning styles and thousands of applications to help you decipher the notes, scales, and theory. Yet this can also lead to its biggest drawback; if you aren’t motivated to keep regular practice intervals going, or if you can quickly become overwhelmed with the amount of possibilities, using online resources can push you to give up your dreams of learning to play once and for all.

While each style is unique, and only an individual can decide which is the best opportunity for learning, the Internet has opened the door to possibilities. In some cases using the two together can increase your knowledge, and help you pursue your music in your own unique way.

Choosing Color For Your Piano

Choosing Color For Your Piano

“I’m buying a grand piano soon, and the only thing that’s holding me back is color. I’ve done a lot of research, and have seen various discussions on color choices. I’ve seen many people say that the only color you should consider is black. But frankly, black just isn’t my style; I prefer either a walnut look, or I’m really leaning towards white, which I consider to be light and airy and will match my décor perfectly. Is resale value really that bad for white pianos? Should I forget my preferences and go with the trends – which seems to be black?”

When it comes to buying a piano, you should consider three things:

  1. Tone
  2. TouchChoosing Color For Your Piano
  3. Appearance

If you will be playing your piano on a regular basis, the only thing that truly matters is how well the piano sounds. Pianos should be rich in sound. If a piano is in tune, and is properly voiced to provide a tone that is as great to listen to as it is to play, you’ll be happy with your purchase for many years.

Instead of looking at a piano for its looks, sit down and see how it feels. If your piano is going to get a lot of use, its important that you are comfortable with the way the keys feel against your fingers, and the way you sit in front of the keyboard. Comfort factor should always rank high in your final decision.

Only after the first two needs are met should you put any weight towards appearance. Appearance is a personal choice. Some like black, some like white.

If you look through a variety of piano shops, do a few searches online, or even watch musical shows on television, you’ll notice that the majority of pianos are black, or fall into wood colors like mahogany, walnut or cherry. Yet white and ivory are an option, and lets face it, the world would be a boring place if we all liked the same things.

While its true, white pianos may not sell as easily as the more traditional color line, who is this piano ultimately for?

If your décor tastes prefer lighter furniture, if white complements your décor more so than darker colors, white may be the perfect choice for you. If you are purchasing a piano to be a part of your home for years to come, white may be the right choice to make.

Don’t let popular opinion sway your decision. Buy the piano that will give you the most enjoyment overall, and you’ll be satisfied with your purchase for years.

Can A Child Be Too Young For Piano Lessons

Can A Child Be Too Young For Piano Lessons

As your child starts to grow, its easy to become overwhelmed at the possibilities that lie in front of you. You want them to have the best opportunities, be exposed to all the right things. So naturally you start signing them up for classes in order to expose them to the right things at the right time.

Parents know this. But so do businesses.Can A Child Be Too Young For Piano Lessons

Which is why you’ll find all kinds of activities being offered and promoted to parents, trying to capture attention at early ages and in more unique ways.

If a child can barely stand, you would never put them in a a soccer class. You would look for activities that help them be more coordinated and better balanced first.

But what about music? We’ve all seen the child prodigies that are playing Bach and Beethoven by the age of three. Can music be introduced at an early age and have it stick with a child?

While there are the prodigies in the world, and every child has his or her own unique talents, the answer is no. Some kids can take up piano lessons at the age of three and move forward in a big way. Others don’t take it seriously until they are much older, sometimes in their teens. And while there is no “perfect age” for starting to play the piano, there are some general guidelines you can follow.

There are two ways of learning piano: by ear and by reading music.

When a child plays by ear, they mimic a sound they are being exposed to. They can follow rhythm and even create specific tunes simply by hearing things and trying their best to recreate the sound. They love experimenting, and love to do so in an environment where others are playing too.

Children at this level can learn at any age. But being forced into one on one lessons probably won’t help them grow. Instead, they want to “play”. The more fun you make it, the more they will love the concept of making music.

At some point, a child begins to understand there can be structure to making music. They develop the ability to read, to understand letters and numbers, and understand the concept that letters make words that fill them with information. They have the ability to sit still for a story, and their focus can stay with a task for a few moments of time.

This can be as early as three for some kids, but for the majority it will occur around five or six. This is when reading music can become a part of their lives and have more meaning.

A child needs to understand the concept of “C”, then transfer that concept to a staff of music, realizing that the “C” also becomes a note that can be played on a keyboard. And not just middle C, but also the different octaves that create music.

A difficult concept to grasp. And if you try and force it too young, your child will become frustrated and possibly turn away from music forever.

Above all, remember music should be fun, not a chore. The more fun you make it, the more the love of the piano will grow. And that is where the true benefits lie.

Practice Makes Perfect … Or Does It?

Practice Makes Perfect … Or Does It?

As a child, if you ever played an instrument or took up a new sport, you probably heard the old saying “practice makes perfect” more than a time or two. It’s a familiar phrase everyone seems to use to try and get the routine of practicing to stick and become a part of our lives.

But is it true? Does practice make perfect? Increasingly the evidence is pointingPractice Makes Perfect … Or Does It? towards the answer “no”.

Practice makes perfect. Lets imagine for a moment that your goal is to have your child play the piano. You want them to enjoy music and be able to carry that love throughout their lives. And of course it doesn’t hurt that you’ve heard it will make them a better student as well.

So you sign them up for piano lessons. But like most kids, they have other thoughts in their minds, and don’t love the concept as much as you do. They decide they “hate” going to lessons, and “hate” the chore of 30 minutes a day practice sessions that are forced upon them throughout the week.

In a case like this, no matter how much they practice, they will never perfect their skills. They may play a song better as time goes by, but it will probably sound mechanical, without the love and passion that makes a song have a strong voice.

The difference is in the approach.

Evidence now shows that practice doesn’t make perfect; deliberate practice makes perfect.

You can practice a scale over and over again, making it sound better over time.

You can play a song again and again, getting the notes perfect the more you play.

But the song, the melody, the voice of the music comes from feeling what you play. If you love playing the piano, if you deliberately practice what you play, it will stand out in the end.

If playing the piano has become a chore, its time to take on a new approach. Its time to find the love of playing, not just for the end results of being able to play a particular song.

If you love the outcome, the concept will be stronger from day one. And help you incorporate it into your life from this moment on.

Just remember, practice doesn’t make perfect, deliberate practice does.

Why Music Should Be Brought Back Into The Schools

Why Music Should Be Brought Back Into The Schools

Every year, school systems face the challenge of educating students to be world class leaders, while at the same time living under the budget constraints imposed on them by law. The demands of what knowledge we need to instill in them increases, while the funding to make things happen slowly dwindles away.Why Music Should Be Brought Back Into The Schools

Which means as a parent, we need to pick up the slack and offer our kids the things no longer offered in the school systems. (At least until we figure out a way to get the essential programs back in.)

While there may be a wide variety of programs that could be argued for returning to the classroom, one of the biggest that belongs at the top of the list is a great music education.

One of my favorite quotes is:

“Music is the electrical soil in which the spirit lives, thinks and invents.” ~Ludwig van Beethoven

Music is truly the soil that gives us our power to do what we do. Think about it for a minute. What would your life be like if you didn’t have music?

  • Your morning alarm may be set to a tune
  • Your ringtone is a familiar song
  • You hum as you take a shower and prepare for the day
  • Commercials are all designed to have a catchy jingle
  • We listen to our favorite melodies on our smart devices and on the radio
  • They play familiar tunes before sporting events, before our favorite television shows, and even before the daily news
  • Would the Superbowl be the Superbowl without the infamous halftime show?

Yes, the world would not be what we know it to be today without music in our lives. Music is an important part of our lives. And yet the concept of teaching music and the appreciation for all it stands for is going away.

Music helps us learn and gives us:

  • A sense of appreciation
  • Focus and concentration
  • Increased attention span
  • Improved memory
  • Multisensory learning experience
  • Reduced stress levels and tension
  • Increased imagination
  • Inspiration and motivation

And that’s just the beginning. Piano playing has been shown to increase your child’s intelligence, help them do better on the tests they take, and give them a better foundation to be better learners throughout their lives. What could be better than that?

As music continues to slip away from our education system, we as parents need to pick up where the schools are leaving off, and provide these extra skills to our kids from an early age.

Is music a part of your home? We can help you make it so.

Why Does A Piano’s Pitch Change?

Why Does A Piano’s Pitch Change?

Imagine you’re at a concert, enjoying the music. The violins, the cellos, the flutes and the clarinets are all carrying the tune. The piano fills in the melody. And then it happens. One loud note comes out of nowhere, and its completely out of tune. Ouch.

Its like fingernails on a chalkboard. You just cringe a little, hoping it will go away.Why Does A Piano’s Pitch Change?

Standard pitch is a universal frequency or note that all instruments are set to that allows musicians to play their instruments together in harmony. This standard pitch has been around ever since two individuals decided to play instruments or sing together. Without it, the results would be anything but pleasing.

Your piano is designed to play at a standard pitch of A-440, which means the A above the middle C vibrates at 440 cycles per second. At this pitch, the power and the tonal range are optimum, and your piano will blend nicely with the pitch of any instrument it chooses to play with.

When your piano varies from A-440, pitch adjustments are required to bring it back to the standard. By helping your piano maintain its standard pitch, you are ensuring that it maintains its tonal quality for the long term. The strings and structure maintain its equilibrium. And as a student of music, you will ensure your voice maintains the proper key to learn from and to grow from as you continue to play.

A piano’s pitch changes in two ways.

When your piano is new, the initial stretching and setting of the strings to the soundboard settle over time. The conditions change from the manufacturer to your home, and the pitch can quickly drop from these changes. It is very important to maintain pitch during this process, so the string tension and the piano structure can settle and reach a stable equilibrium. Most manufacturers recommend three or four tunings in the first year, and at least two per year after that.

As your piano ages and begins to settle, pitch changes due to climate variations. Your piano sits in a room that may have dry heat from blowing heat in the winter, humid conditions on and off all year through, and cool airflow in the summer. All of these temperature and climate changes can have a heavy impact on the voice of your piano. As humidity goes up, the soundboard swells, increasing its rounded shape, and stretching the strings to a higher pitch. When the conditions dry out, the soundboard flattens, lowering the tension on the strings, causing the pitch to drop. If you tune your piano after these changes, your piano will continue to hold its pitch. If you don’t, it will continue to drop in pitch for each year the piano is left unserviced.

How long has it been since your piano has been tuned? If you have any questions about the piano tuning process, give us a call. With decades of experience in the piano industry, we can provide you with the experience and the know-how to help you with all of your piano needs.

Why Are Grand Pianos Better Than Uprights?

Why Are Grand Pianos Better Than Uprights?

If you’re new to the music world, and have just started looking at pianos, you’ve probably made an automatic assumption that grand pianos are better than uprights. And with good reason.

If you’ve ever attended the symphony, or watched one of the latest reality shows where music is involved, chances are the person creating the music is playing a grand piano, not an upright.

But why? What makes a grand piano “better”?Why Are Grand Pianos Better Than Uprights?

The biggest reason is the sound. A grand piano can produce a fuller, richer sound because it has the soundboard to do so. Grand pianos can range anywhere from 4 to 10 feet in length, versus an upright piano that ranges from 3 to 5 feet in height. Because of this, the strings connected to the soundboard in a grand piano can be longer in length, and reach both the lower and higher frequencies with far more capability.

The grand piano is shaped the way it is to provide optimum acoustic properties for the full range of notes. It also allows the lid to be lifted to deflect the sound into the audience, which of course is impossible with an upright.

The grand piano also has a major advantage with the orientation of the action – the mechanism that converts a player’s actions of striking a key, to the hammers inside the piano actually hitting the strings. In a grand piano, the hammers hit straight up against the strings, and gravity allows the hammer to fall back into its home position. In an upright, a mechanism is in place that pulls back the hammer, keeping them from damping against the strings and creating a more diluted sound. Thus the action of the grand is much more sensitive than that of an upright, providing a clearer, crisper approach to music.

Does that make a grand piano “better” than an upright? It truly is in the eye of the beholder. A high quality upright can produce a fuller, richer sound than some bottom end grand pianos. And depending on the type of music you are trying to create, an upright may produce a better sound than a grand (most honky tonk bands use an upright, not a grand).

If you are choosing a piano for your home, it also comes down to price and size. Does your home truly have the space for a grand piano? If not, an upright may be the perfect choice for your needs. As long as you focus on quality of sound, and purchase the best quality for your budget, you’ll receive the perfect piano for your needs.

What’s Better, Tuning Your Piano By Ear or With A Machine?

What’s Better, Tuning Your Piano By Ear or With A Machine?

When you hear a song played by one of the top pianists in the world, what makes it special?

Obviously the first half of the answer is the talent of the musician. When a pianist can command the notes, sounds and depth of the instrument to produce the exact music he wants to share, the results can be breathtaking.What’s Better, Tuning Your Piano By Ear or With A Machine?

The second half of the answer lies in the instrument itself. No matter how well a pianist plays the piano, if the instrument is out of tune and has anything but perfect pitch, it will show in the quality of the sound produced.

Because a piano is a moving, always changing instrument, it can not play at optimum performance year after year without proper care and maintenance. That’s where tuning comes into play. Every piano needs proper tuning, how often depends upon the interment itself. A new instrument may require several tunings a year as it adjusts from production; a piano recently moved may require more frequent tunings as it adjusts to its new surroundings; a piano in a home for years may require one or two adjustments per year simply to maintain sound quality.

When its time for hiring a tuner, which type of tuner is best: by ear or with a machine?

There are two different thoughts on this subject; one may never agree with the other on true capabilities.

If a tuner has been taught the trade aurally, the tuner picks up the nuances of what makes a sound “perfect”. When a sound is off, he not only knows how to adjust the strings, he can also determine if there are further problems with the mechanical parts of the piano. It comes with the trade and with “knowing” when something is off.

When a tuner uses the mechanical way of tuning, he uses a special software program that can “listen” to the harmonics of the piano, and calculate how the piano should be tuned based on what it hears. When a piano is flat or sharp, the software compensates for the difference and allows the piano to be adjusted to bring it back in tune. It can also be helpful when there is background noise that may deter a tuner from tuning properly.

In many cases, a professional tuner will use the software program as an aid. The program can help adjust the piano and provide a stable tuning, but if the tuner isn’t proficient in “hearing” the piano, he may miss some of the distinctions that will keep a piano in tune for extended periods of time.