11 April 2018 A Jar Of Water And Other Piano Myths

A Jar Of Water And Other Piano Myths

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As a piano technician, you see it all. People do all kinds of things to their pianos in hopes that they will sound better, play better, and last longer. 

One piano myth continues to come to light in homes that have had a piano stored in a room or a garage for years, and bring it out to give to a friend or sell for a little extra money. They bring it out, dust it off, maybe even have a piano technician do a few simple repairs. When they open it up and take a look inside, they will find a long-forgotten dusty jar of water at the bottom of the piano. 

A Jar Of Water And Other Piano Myths

If you ask you grandmother about it, she’ll tell you that jar is there for a reason. She knew that low humidity is bad for a piano. A piano needs a certain level of humidity in order to keep parts in good working condition and to continue playing at its best throughout the years. 

Once upon a time, houses weren’t conditioned in the manner we are accustomed to today. Homes weren’t properly insulated. Drafts and weather could easily get inside the home and impact the condition of the piano. 

But a lot has changed over the years. It’s the overall environment that matters most. And a jar of water placed inside isn’t going to impact the condition of your piano. A jar of water puts your piano at risk of mildew by spending their life in too damp of an environment. 

The best way to control the ambient conditions is through efficient control over your heating and cooling system. And by keeping the piano in a place where it isn’t at risk of facing certain environmental elements, such as breezes from an open window, vents where air conditioning can have a direct impact, or direct sunlight. 

If a very old piano has been kept in hot, dry environments, it’s quite possible the piano is beyond repair in the first place. 

This is why you should take special care when accepting a “good deal” online when searching for a piano. Or trying to rescue a piano from “a friend” who has stored it for years in a basement or in storage. 

If you don’t know the conditions behind how it was stored, it’s probably not the best piano to have in your home to learn to play. 

A jar of water to help your piano stay in top shape? We think not. There are better ways to ensure the piano you are playing creates quality sound now and well into the future. 

 

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7 April 2018 Buying A Piano For The First Time

Buying A Piano For The First Time

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Learning a new instrument is difficult for everyone. Piano is no different. 

To excel, it’s important to keep an open mind. Not only about the processes you’ll be learning, but also about the struggles you’ll have to overcome. When you feel like giving up, that’s when it’s important to persevere. 

That’s natural with all learning. The first part may seem easy enough. But eventually you hit a wall, and you feel like the piano might not be for you. Take heart. Piano is a lifelong skill you’ll love. 

But one of the things that can hold you back (that few people consider) is the quality of your instrument. If it doesn’t sound right, you’ll never be able to create beautiful sound. And that can hold you back Buying A Piano For The First Timeindefinitely.

If you’re buying a piano for the first time, where do you start?

For a beginner, buying your first piano is a tough process. Pianos aren’t disposable. And if you make a mistake, it might be one you have to live with for a long time. 

That’s why you should consider your piano purchase a lifelong investment from the start. Don’t grab one just because it looks like a “good deal.” If it doesn’t sound right, you won’t play it. 

What is your vision of your pianist skills? Do you want to play for relaxation? Or do you see yourself playing in front of an audience someday? Are you planning on teaching piano? Or is it more of a hobby you’ll do on the side? 

Different pianos accommodate different needs. 

An acoustic piano is typically the best for sound and performance. It’s the kind you’ll see and hear whenever the great pianists of the world are involved. 

There are two types: upright and grand. The difference lies in its frame and strings. Grands have horizontal strings extended to the keyboard. Uprights use a vertical frame that makes it more compact and less expensive. There’s a reason you see grand pianos used in performances. The sound is parallel to none. 

Thanks to technology, you can also invest in a digital piano. Digital pianos are the most versatile pianos around. But don’t buy an inexpensive one from the local big box store. It’s important to purchase a high-quality digital piano that fully mimics the functionality of an acoustic. Otherwise, the skills will be non-transferable and you won’t be able to play as well as you’ve hoped. 

Are you ready to buy a piano for the first time? Stop by today. We can help you make the right selection for your needs. 

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4 April 2018 What Piano Should I Buy?

What Piano Should I Buy?

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If you’ve never been around pianos before, it may be difficult to know where to start when you decide it’s time to buy one for your home. Do a little research and you’ll discover there are many options to consider.

Should I buy new or used?

What’s the difference between digital and acoustic?

Upright and grand?

Do brands matter?

What about the piano I saw on Craigslist? What Piano Should I Buy?

Can I buy a good piano from an individual?

We’ve answered each of these in depths here on our blog over the years. But if you’re at the point where you need to make a decision and you simply aren’t sure what to do, read on. We’ll tackle each of these questions in a short, concise manner and point you to where you can learn more if you desire. 

New or Used

There isn’t a right or wrong choice here. Instead of focusing on new or used, focus on quality. It’s important that you select a piano that meets your needs and provides you with the requirements you need to bring the piano into your home and use it on a regular basis. 

Why You Should Buy A Used Piano From A Music Store

Digital or Acoustic

Acoustic pianos are traditional instruments. Thanks to technology, digital is also an option. With digital pianos, they record sound from an acoustic piano and use that to build sound as you touch the keys. With digital, quality matters. Without the right sound, the piano may sound more like a toy than an instrument. 

10 Tips For Buying An Acoustic Piano

Upright or Grand

Upright pianos take up less space than their grand counterparts. You can slide an upright against a wall, or fit it into a corner make full use of your room. Grand pianos command attention and are often placed as the focal point of a room. Which is best? Only you can decide. 

Should You Buy A Digital Grand Piano?

Does Brand Matter?

Baldwin or Bosendorfer? Schimmel or Steinway? Do a quick search and you’ll find a long list of potential piano companies to do business with. As a beginner, the important part is to find a high quality instrument that feels good to the touch and sounds good to the ear. 

What Makes Piano Brands Different?

Buying On Craigslist

When you purchase a piano from an individual, you have one shot to get it right. What looks good in person may not sound right once you get it home. Was the instrument well cared for? Has it had regular maintenance throughout its life? The details matter. 

Common Mistakes About Buying A Piano On Craigslist

Are you ready to buy a piano for your home? Stop by today and let us help you learn the differences that exist in today’s piano supply. You’ll walk away with an education … and possibly a piano that perfectly meets your needs. 

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31 March 2018 Tips For Making A Wise Piano Purchase

Tips For Making A Wise Piano Purchase

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Thinking of buying a piano for your home? Want your kids to start taking piano lessons? Or maybe you’re ready to pick up a hobby you’ve left behind long ago. 

Playing the piano can create a lifetime of enjoyment and intellectual stimulation. But if you don’t purchase the right piano from the start, you can have more frustration than playing. 

When purchasing a new or used piano from a retailer, you’ll find:

  • New pianos come with a host of features. You’ll receive a manufacturers warranty, have complimentary moving to get it into your home, and be able to select from a wide array of cabinetry and finish choices.Tips For Making A Wise Piano Purchase
  • Used pianos are reconditioned and come with a dealer warranty.
  • How about a trade up policy? This gives you the opportunity to easily trade up to better equipment when the time is right.
  • Knowledge and quality are standard. You won’t have to second guess about the quality of the piano because it stands behind the name and reputation of the dealer.

When purchasing from a private party, you’ll find:

  • They are generally less than retail.
  • You’ll have to go to several homes for comparison, and you may or may not be able to see the quality just by sight.
  • There is no warranty.
  • You’ll have to move the piano on your own.
  • You’ll have to take what you see and deal with the consequences.
  • Extra service is often required to restore the piano’s touch and tone.

What’s the best choice for you?

It depends on your circumstances. 

But if you are ready for a piano that will play at its best and be a part of your home for years to come, investing in a high quality piano from a reputable dealer is the way to go. 

What questions can we answer for you about your piano purchase?

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30 January 2018 6 Benefits Of Learning The Piano On A Digital Piano

6 Benefits Of Learning The Piano On A Digital Piano

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Trying to decide what the best piano is for you? Which gives you more opportunity to learn?

First and foremost, a digital piano is designed to simulate an acoustic piano accurately. If you have the right digital piano, in effect you are learning on both and can easily transfer your skills. 

Beyond that, digital pianos provide many unique benefits that simply don’t exist with their acoustic counterparts. 6 Benefits Of Learning The Piano On A Digital Piano

1. They allow you to practice quietly

Digital pianos have the capability of plugging in headphones and turning your practice sessions into something only you can hear. Headphones can also give more power to your practice sessions because they block out noise and other distractions, leaving you free to concentrate on private practice without bothering others. 

2. They allow you to record and listen to your performance. 

Recording your performance can help you hear exactly what you’re doing and recognize your strengths and weaknesses. They offer built-in features that allow you to record and playback music on the spot. Listening to your performance can help you resolve many issues, including timing, memory, even practicing by ear. 

3. They allow you to improve your rhythm

Timing is essential to playing the piano well. For beginners, it’s often the most difficult thing to achieve. People often tend to speed up or slow down specific parts of a song, depending on their capabilities. A digital piano can help you pay more attention to that with a built in metronome, able to help you control the tempo and beat. 

4. They can create more sound

With a touch of a button, a digital piano can create many different types of sounds. This can help you get into the true flavor of how the song was written. Try practicing music that was originally written for a harpsichord by changing it to inspire you and help capture the passion of how it was written. Experimenting with sound can also help you become a better musician. 

5. They have unlimited potential with programs and apps

Just like every other interest or desire, piano playing can be improved with an app. Do a little research and you’ll find apps help you with everything from learning to recording. They improve your understanding of music theory, or make piano playing even more fun by adding in games. 

6. They make practice more efficient

Are you struggling with motivation? Digital pianos can help track your practice and make you a better more dedicated player. They have features to maximize your playing efforts and help push you to improve in the areas that matter most to you. 

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15 January 2018 10 Reasons To Choose A Digital Piano

10 Reasons To Choose A Digital Piano

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Trying to decide what type of piano to buy? Wondering if you’re better with an acoustic piano or a digital piano? Here are the advantages of selecting the digital piano. 

1. Digital pianos are more affordable

If you’ve started looking at different pianos, the first thing you’ll notice is cost. Since the sound on a digital piano is produced by sampling an acoustic piano, the price is dependent on quality of the samples used. While you can purchase digital pianos at all price levels, be sure to do your homework and select a high quality digital piano that produces great sound. 10 Reasons To Choose A Digital Piano

2. No tuning required

Acoustic pianos require tuning to stay in top playing condition. Because digital pianos don’t control sound with internal hammers and strings, they don’t require the same maintenance to keep them in tune. Your digital piano will continue to play indefinitely. 

3. You’ll have lots of variety and choices

Prefer an upright or the look of a grand? Or maybe a portable stage variety is more your plan. Because digital pianos come in all sizes and shapes, there are a variety of options available to you. 

4. Need less space

Digital pianos offer you the option of leaving your piano on display in a room or tucking it away to save on space. 

5. Today’s pianos mimic acoustic piano action

One of the complaints with early digital technology is that digital pianos didn’t feel like acoustic. No more. Today’s technology gives digital pianos the look and feel of their acoustic counterparts. It’s often difficult to feel the difference. 

6. They produce a high quality sound

The more expensive a digital piano, the better are the sound samples, the high quality sound of the sound produced. Top of the line digital pianos use extremely high quality samples, making the results excellent. 

7. MIDI is useful

When most musicians transfer to digital pianos, it’s because of what digital allows them to do. With MIDI, you can connect your digital piano to a computer and turn your computer into a recording studio. 

8. Digital technology

It’s hard to do anything in today’s world without connecting to technology. Pianos too. Digital makes a piano have rhythms, different instrument voices, digital effects, and more. 

9. Plug in headphones

Digital pianos are perfect in tight spaces. By plugging in headphones, your digital piano becomes silent to the outside world. It’s perfect if you have more than one child working on homework, or in a dorm or apartment setting where other people are in close quarters. 

10. Internet and expansion

By using the Internet, you can connect your digital piano to a whole different world. Use apps and programs to do everything from learning to play to recording and producing your songs. Many also have expansion slots built in to allow your piano to grow as you do. 

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21 December 2017 What You Need To Know To Get Started With Digital Pianos

What You Need To Know To Get Started With Digital Pianos

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For many parents, they press their young children into music because of the positives music brings to our lives. For a small child, playing the piano has many benefits. In fact, we’ve written quite a lot about it:

Should Kids Do Sports or Music … Or Both?

7 Reasons Music Is Good For Our Brains

The Life Lessons You’ll Learn From Piano Lessons

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

How Piano Lessons Help Your Memory

What You Need To Know To Get Started With Digital PianosBut sometimes your older children have a strong desire to move into music. Sometimes your tween or teenager will want to play the piano and have specific desires in mind. 

Not only do they want to play the piano, but they also want to create music. They have a strong desire to be as creative as possible, sharing their songs and ideas online. And thanks to digital technology, it’s easy to do. 

The starting point is a digital piano. Not just any digital piano you’ll find in a big box store, but a high quality digital piano that is made for creating music. 

Digital pianos are not the same as keyboards. 

Digital pianos are designed to mimic a real piano. They’ll have 88 keys and depending on the quality, will mimic an acoustic piano as closely as possible. 

Keyboards do not imitate this fundamental characteristic. Instead, keyboards often have 76 or even 61 keys, providing you with less opportunity to create. 

Digital pianos are also designed with weighted keys to provide the same feel as an acoustic piano. 

Keyboards are light in comparison, and are often nothing more than toys. 

What makes a digital piano so powerful is being able to connect it up to your computer and transferring the sounds to further create. Be sure your digital piano is up to date on the latest technology and has the ability to work with software and hardware you already have in place. 

Should You Buy A Digital Grand Piano?

Digital or Acoustic, What’s The Best Piano For Your Child To Learn On?

Digital Piano: Is There A Difference Between Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced Playing Needs?

Like an acoustic piano, the best way to find the perfect digital piano is to come in and try. The more you see, the more questions you ask, the more you’ll learn. 

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7 December 2017 Gifts For The Piano Enthusiast In Your Life

Gifts For The Piano Enthusiast In Your Life

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Looking for the perfect gift this holiday season? If you have a piano enthusiast in your life, there are a number of things they may enjoy. 

Metronome – These useful tools come in analog, electronic, or digital, each with a selection of characteristics. All can help your budding piano player play just a little more dramatically. 

Piano Apps – Why not combine their love of technology with their love of the piano? There are many piano apps you can gift your budding music star and have them continue to learn about something they love. 

Upgrading Technology – Do you have a community computer in your home? Maybe it’s time to upgrade and give your budding musician an upgrade in technology. Even today’s iPads or tablets offer a world of opportunity to a piano player. Pick the best technology for you. Gifts For The Piano Enthusiast In Your Life

Keyboard – Maybe it’s time to add another way to make music into your home. Sure, they’ll still love to sit down at your traditional acoustic piano for lessons. But a new high-quality keyboard can bring variety into their lives. 

Digital Pianos – Love the look and feel of a grand piano? How about going digital? With today’s options, you can have any combination you choose. 

Piano Bench – Not all benches are created equal. Is your piano bench the right height for your child? A growing child has changing needs and now might be the perfect time to invest in something that will make playing even easier. 

Upgrade Their Sheet Music – Playing the same old thing can become boring at best. What’s their favorite band or genre of music? Surprise them with new sheet music to challenge them in new ways. 

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15 November 2017 3 Reasons To Buy A Piano For Christmas

3 Reasons To Buy A Piano For Christmas

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What is your child asking for as a gift for Christmas? Would they enjoy a piano?

Kids have a lot of different activities vying for their interest. And when you’re strolling through the aisles of your favorite store looking for the perfect gift, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. 

Even the keyboard you see on an endstand can lead to more confusion. If you want to give your child the gift of music, is a low priced keyboard the way to go? 

Reason #1: The Gift Of Music3 Reasons To Buy A Piano For Christmas

Pick out your child’s favorite musicians; who are they and what instruments do they play? Your child may have even pretended to be one of them, playing their air guitars or keyboards. The truth is that while sports ability can fade rapidly as we age, the gift of music never dies. If you learn to play the piano as a child, you can continue to play into your 80s, 90s, and beyond. It truly is the gift that keeps on giving. 

Reason #2: Confidence

After weeks of practice and taking lessons, a child begins to see how their hard work comes to fruition. They can play a tune in front of an audience, even if that is only his or her parents. Continue playing, and a child can move to performing at recitals, where they continue to gain confidence in their abilities, and in standing up in front of a crowd. Your child’s confidence will improve with each performance, and continue to see improvement with every new thing they learn. 

Reason #3: Creativity

Kids have creativity. Give them simple items – a stick – and they can play for hours. But we lose that as we age. Creativity comes from being able to express yourself in different ways. And through the piano, kids can take that experience in any direction they choose. They can expand to include more instruments. They can combine their keyboards with software and become composers. Which can all help them become more creative in all approaches to life. 

Whether you desire an acoustic piano to display in your family room, or a digital piano that you can tuck away when not in use, the most important part of the selection is ensuring you’re getting the highest quality available. We can help. 

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11 November 2017 Thinking Of Buying A Keyboard This Holiday Season?

Thinking Of Buying A Keyboard This Holiday Season?

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It’s the holiday season – a time when keyboards are purchased heavily as gifts. 

For many, the thought of investing in a high quality acoustic piano is a bit overwhelming. The size, the cost, it’s all too much for something you’re not sure your child will love. 

They’ve been asking for one, but will it wind up in the spare closet like so many other purchases you’ve made? 

So you look at the ads and find one on sale at your local big box store. That should work … right?

That depends. Does your child really want to create music? Or is it more of a toy?Thinking Of Buying A Keyboard This Holiday Season?

If your goal is to give your child the gift of music, it requires a little more thought process on your behalf. There is a difference in the keyboards on the marketplace today. And if you select the wrong one, your child won’t enjoy the music it creates. Here’s what to look for. 

Make sure the keyboard is full size

An acoustic piano has 88 keys with 7 full octaves. You’ll find keyboards in many different sizes. When you invest in a keyboard will all 7 octaves, you’ll provide an instrument that teaches correct finger spacing and scale to the instrument, as well as have the ability to play whatever songs they desire. 

Make sure your keyboard has an adjustable stand

Not all keyboards come with a stand – you might have to invest in one separately. If they are adjustable, your child can adjust it depending on where they sit. It will also be fully adjustable as they grow. 

Make sure the keyboard has weighted keys

This means when you press down the keys, they spring back like a real piano. Cheaper keyboards won’t have this feature. Learning to play with weighted keys ensures your child can cross over to an acoustic piano when they are ready. 

Make sure keys are touch sensitive

A piano player knows a light touch will produce a light sound, and a stronger touch will respond with more volume. Again, the more accurate the keyboard, the easier it is to transition to an acoustic piano when the time is right. 

Keep it simple for beginners

Depending on the keyboard, you can find one with many extra features and special effects. But to a beginner, it can all be a little overwhelming. As a toy, it can be fun to press buttons and make different sounds. But if you want to give your child the gift of music, staying simple will provide them with the desire to learn how to play. Incorporating 88 keys into songs is already a challenge. 

Want to find the best keyboard for your child this holiday season? We can help.

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