15 November 2015 The Different Types Of Vertical Pianos

The Different Types Of Vertical Pianos

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What do you think of when someone mentions the word piano? For many of us, we see a grand piano in the middle of a concert hall taking center stage. And grand pianos are beautiful in both looks and in the sound that they make.

In a grand piano, the frame and the strings are both laid out in horizontal format, which is what gives it its large body and full sound.The Different Types Of Vertical Pianos

But if you’re like a lot of people, as much as you would love to bring a grand piano into your home, there simply isn’t enough space.

Which is why vertical pianos are one of the most popular pianos sold. In a vertical piano, the frame and the strings are vertical, giving the piano it’s vertical position.

There are four separate types of vertical pianos, each with its own characteristics and sound. What you choose to bring into your home should depend as much upon space as it does the type of sound you wish to create.

Spinet Piano

At the bottom end of the vertical piano list is a spinet piano. Spinets are typically less than 40 inches tall measured from the floor to the top of the lid. The top of the piano is only a few inches above the keys, with the action located below and operated by vertical wires attached to the keys.

While spinets are a great option for those with limited space, the sound quality and playability is considered to be inferior to other models because of its size and configuration.

Console Piano

A console piano ranges in size between 40 and 44 inches tall. With a console, the action sits directly on top of the keys, with hammers and strings stretching downward.

Console pianos are the best entry points into selecting a piano for your home. They have a satisfactory sound and an ease of play that make them perfect for budding musicians and hobby piano players.

Studio Piano

A studio piano ranges in size between 44 and 47 inches tall. It has similar functionality and feel to that of a console piano. A studio piano features a full size action that sits directly on the keys of the piano.

Because of its rich sound and quality action, it makes a wonderful addition to a home, and will provide rich sounds that can easily compare to some of the grand pianos on the market today.

Upright Piano

While many confuse the term “upright” with “vertical”, an upright is at the upper end of the vertical piano list. This is the piano most people associate with a traditional piano. An upright is the tallest of the vertical pianos, and produces one of the richest sounds. It will provide you with playability for years.

What type of vertical piano is right for you? Consider your space. Consider your talent. Consider your personal style. Each piano is unique in what it has to offer, and there is a model that would bring joy into your home today. Let’s find the right model for you.

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11 November 2015 Ready To Buy Your First Piano?

Ready To Buy Your First Piano?

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When did you know you wanted to bring your first piano into your home?

For some people, it starts as a small child. The thought of being able to sit down and plunk out a tune is exciting.

Or maybe you’ve been contemplating what to do in the next phase of your life, now that your kids are grown and you are possibly retiring.Ready To Buy Your First Piano?

No matter what your reason behind it, buying your first piano is a challenging experience. Pianos aren’t something you replace every day. And if you purchase the right piano in the beginning, you may never have to replace it at all. A great piano can be transferred down through generations, so getting a good one can be a top concern.

This is what we tell all of our own customers when they first enter contemplating the purchase of their first piano.

Buy the best

Every budget is different. And everyone has different goals and needs. Yet no matter what your budget is, you should consider buying the best piano you can for your money. The price often indicates the quality, and if you choose an inferior piano, it will impact your playability. Consider a used piano to gain a higher quality if that is an option.

New or used Pianos

Many people get caught up in buying a used piano from a friend of a friend, or through the classifieds online. If you look at one piano, what you see is what you get. And if this your first piano, you have nothing to compare it to. Every piano is manufactured as a unique instrument. No two pianos will ever feel the same. When you sit down to play, you can feel the difference as you move from model to model, make to make. That’s what makes its playability unique to you.

Grand, Vertical or Digital Pianos

When buying your first piano, you’ll find many choices available to you. And depending on your needs, you can tuck it away in the closet when you’re out of space, or put it on display in the center of your room. At the top of the spectrum is the grand piano, commanding attention from the moment you bring it into your home. If technology is a big part of your life, investing in a digital piano may give you the flexibility to create music in a fashion that matches your personality.

Are you ready to buy your first piano? If so, start by stopping by our showroom today and looking at the many options available to you. With a little education, you could soon be on your way to making beautiful music every day.

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7 November 2015 Why You Should Buy A Used Piano From A Music Store

Why You Should Buy A Used Piano From A Music Store

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Buying a used piano isn’t difficult to do. A search online will yield you unlimited results on pianos available. But there are reasons that buying from a reputable music store might be your best bet.

Better condition
A reputable piano dealer will learn all it can about the piano it sells to you. Unless it is being sold “as is”, you’ll know any defects it may have. That means when you take the piano home, you will be assured it is structurally and mechanically sound. This helps you avoid immediate costs for cleaning, repairing squeaks, tuning, and repairing loose legs or moving parts. Used pianos from a music store usually come with a verifiable history attached.

A better experience
Buying online requires you to have top skills in negotiating, investigating and moving. When you visit a music store, their goal is to ensure you leave with the best experience. They will answer every question you have about a piano in a clear way. They will ensure you understand the care a piano needs. They will help you move it safely from the store to your home. You will leave with a better understanding of how the piano will enhance your daily life.

Develop a resource
Depending on the piano dealer you select, you will have a resource for years of enjoyment. They will help you find and select music to play. They can make recommendations for lessons and teachers. They can provide help to select accessories such as piano benches and lights. They also often have trade up policies which allows you to increase the level of piano you own as you increase your knowledge of playing.

Save money
When you take home a used piano from a reputable piano dealer, you will know your piano will be in perfect working condition and provide instant enjoyment from the moment it enters your house. You won’t have tuning, repairing or refurbishing costs immediately tacked on. In some cases, you may have warranties in place that cover you from future repairs. You’ll also know that the money you invested in your piano is money well spent; you received the best piano for your money.

What are your experiences from buying a used piano?

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22 October 2015 What Is A Gray Market Piano?

What Is A Gray Market Piano?

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Many industries have a gray market for selling and purchasing their products, and the piano industry is no different. If you’re looking for a quality piano and have a specific brand in mind, chances are you’ve come across the the concept of a gray market piano. But what exactly is a gray market piano? And should you consider one?

The gray market is not clear cut, and doesn’t have a distinct definition to what piano meets gray market qualifications. You may see other names applied – bootleg or transshipped ore often used as well.What Is A Gray Market Piano?

When you purchase a new piano, you will purchase it from an authorized dealer: they have been authorized by the dealer to sell the piano with warranty and factory support.

A gray market piano can be new, almost new, or used. It is name brand equipment sold through a dealer that is not authorized to make the sale within that area. It may be a piano that was not originally intended to be sold in that area, in that marketplace, or possibly even in your country.

For example, Yamaha makes different models of pianos for different markets around the world. Many of the models were sold in Japan that were never sold in the US. As such, the US does not have part information and cannot order parts for these pianos. Japan is a much more humid environment than the US. As a result, a piano that was transported from Japan to the US may develop serious problems with items like cracked soundboards, loose tuning pins, warping, misalignment of parts, or sticking keys.

Thanks to a global marketplace, a highly mobile society, and the Internet, the ability to find, purchase and sell in a variety of ways is now common place. Meaning it’s easy to find “good deals” with simple searches.

If you purchase a piano that is not found in your region, you may get a “good deal” on the piano, but you may have to go through more hoops to find a dealer willing to provide warranty service or factory assistance with problems or replacement parts. If the piano is not carried in the US, those problems could be severe enough to warrant the piano not fixable, and in many cases no longer playable. Which means the only way to restore it is to travel out of the country to obtain the necessary parts and/or service.

While a “hot” piano is one that has been stolen and then sold, and a “black market” piano is one that is illegally brought in and sold against government regulation, a “gray market” piano is simply in violation of manufacturers marketing and distributing strategy. Grey market pianos exist, and you may run across them in your bid to purchase a new piano. If you have any questions about the gray market, we would be happy to talk with you about it.

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14 October 2015 Understanding A Piano’s Touchweight

Understanding A Piano’s Touchweight

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The concept of touchweight is very simple: it’s the amount of pressure required to make a piano key go down. To determine the measurement, gram weights are placed on the end of a key until the key goes down.

Understanding A Piano’s TouchweightWhen building a piano in today’s marketplace, the touchweight is a fairly standard measurement. It’s measured in grams with majority of piano manufacturers aiming for a touchweight of around 50 grams. If you go back in time to the early 1900s, you will find many pianos measured touchweight in ounces, which is a much less sophisticated form of measurement. There are approximately 28 grams per ounce. So even if touchweight was pushed to two ounces, the touchweight was a fairly heavy touch.

When you push down on a piano key, the key is connected to the hammer. This process lifts the hammer and strikes the strings to make a sound. While the key itself may move a mere 3/8” to complete its process, the hammer travels a much greater distance, as much as 5 to 7 times greater than the distance used to push down on the key.

Touchweight only gauges the minimal amount of pressure needed for the key to go down. This is known as static touchweight. Dynamic touchweight defines the actual pressure required under a variety of playing conditions. And by its very nature is harder to define. Pianos can be played loudly or softly. Notes can be played in rapid succession or slow and easy. Pedals can be used to sustain different movements. All of which will effect the touchweight for a key.

In addition, every piano is created in a different way, with different parts and with different functionality. As humans, we can perceive this differently. Which is why a piano player can move from one piano to the next, and make automatic assumptions as to the playability of a piano.

If a piano provides less volume, it may be perceived as harder to play. If they have to give more or themselves in order to create the sound they are looking for, they may deem a piano requires more effort.

Just like any form of creative movement, a piano is as unique as the player themselves. In order to find the right piano that meets your qualifications for you to play, you have to test its playability before you bring it into your home to play indefinitely. Testing is critical to purchasing the right piano for you.

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10 October 2015 How To Shop For A Pre-Owned Piano

How To Shop For A Pre-Owned Piano

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Thinking of buying a pre-owned piano?

Keep in mind that all pre-owned pianos are not the same. While they may look good on the outside, it’s the playability that matters most. Which is why its important to know how to find the best pre-owned piano to suit your needs.How To Shop For A Pre-Owned Piano

Finding the right piano ensures you will have years of musical enjoyment and entertainment, as well as make a sound financial investment.

Know Your Piano

You can find a pre-owned piano just about anywhere. Craigslist, Ebay, even your local garage sale can dig up unbelievable “deals”. But are they really deals? Do you know where the piano has been? Do you know if it has sustained damage over the years? Do you know the last time the piano was tuned? Sitting in an unheated garage for twenty years accumulating dust and debris will not be a good choice no matter how much of a beginner you are. Reputable piano dealers are the only way you will have a guarantee as to how well your piano will play.

Warranties

What kind of a guarantee do you have to ensure the quality of the piano? Reputable dealers offer warranties and guarantees to make sure not only that the piano is a top quality instrument, but also to ensure that you are happy with your purchase.

Do Your Research

Do you know the difference between an upright and a grand? Do you know the difference between a repaired and a restored? A piano is not a piano. There are many different brands, many different nuances that make each piano unique. The more you consider your needs, the more detailed you can be when you shop, and truly get the right piano for you.

Examine The Piano

Never buy a pre-owned piano without the chance to fully examine it first. It also will benefit you to to bring in a certified technician to examine it as well. As a general rule, make sure the piano is fully functional, fully playable, and sounds great to your ear. Never purchase a piano with the promise of a repair or a rebuild, as they mean different things to different people.

Know The Rebuild

Pianos can last a family for generations if maintained properly. In some cases that may mean regular tuning. And in some cases a complete rebuild may be in order. Restoration is popular in the piano world, especially with high end pianos. Yet do you really want to invest in a Steinway that is made up of lesser quality parts? What a reputable dealer will tell you is not usually something you’ll hear from an individual seller on Craigslist. The more you know the condition of the pre-owned piano you are considering, the happier you’ll be with your purchase for the long term.

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3 October 2015 Should You Invest In A Concert Piano

Should You Invest In A Concert Piano

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What measures well over 7 feet long, weighs in at more than 1,100 pounds, and can take center stage in any room in your home?

Yes, a concert piano is not something you can easily ignore. But then again, why would you want to?Should You Invest In A Concert Piano

For some, they fall instantly in love when they sit down at a keyboard and begin to play. Music becomes their love. Piano becomes their passion. And playing becomes something that consumes who they are.

Yet for every person that falls in love with playing piano, few have the opportunity to turn it into a profession. A mere few hundred can list their profession as a concert pianist, making their money from playing the piano in a classical sense.

But that doesn’t have to stop you. There are many ways to bring piano into your life full time.

Move beyond concert piano, and you’ll find countless opportunities in the music world. Many of today’s most loved artists developed their love of music by playing the piano. You don’t have to be a superstar to play; many local bands start up and play regularly to keep local communities entertained.

Educational opportunities are also available. While piano is often taught in a one on one setting within a private home, as a child ages they can often bring in their love of music into a band or orchestra at school. And as they move from high school into college, they can take their love of music further and choose a career in music education. It’s a career choice that can have them working at all grade levels, including university, and can inspire them to work inside the home or through an educational institution.

Even entering the marketing world brings opportunity. Every jingle you hear in a commercial, every song you hear in the background of a movie or television show comes from somewhere. Music is what helps us create stories, and with technology advancing as rapidly as it is, the ability to use music in many different ways is growing right along side it.

Playing doesn’t have to be just for a career; coming home and playing a piano to relax can help relieve stress. Playing the piano is something you can do at 5 and at 105.

And as a person’s love for music to continue to grows, the concert piano becomes an even more valuable personal asset. When you walk into a room with a concert piano center stage, it commands attention. People take notice, whether they can play or not.

Would a concert piano be the perfect addition for your home?

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26 September 2015 A Piano Teacher’s Guide To Buying And Owning A Piano

A Piano Teacher’s Guide To Buying And Owning A Piano

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Thinking of starting up a piano teaching business? As a teacher, the piano you choose will need more care than one that sits in your home and is played as you find the time. Not only are you teaching another how to play the notes and hear the music, you’re also teaching them how to love and care for music for the rest of their lives. If you don’t have a great instrument for them to learn and grow with, they may never have a true desire to continue on.A Piano Teacher’s Guide To Buying And Owning A Piano

The first step is selecting the best piano possible.

Whether new or used, the piano you teach with should be at its optimal level all the time. Quality is key for each of your clients to touch, see, feel and hear the music being produced, and be able to pick up the nuances as you guide and coach them.

Depending on the playing ability of each student, you should also be willing to add in different opportunities for playing. Can your students play on both vertical and grand pianos? Do you have a digital piano available? Can they hear pianos played in different acoustics? Students will come in with different desires, different dreams. What are you willing to teach?

Once you have your pianos in place, it’s equally important to keep them in top condition. Because of the amount of time your piano will be in use, and because ear training is an important part of any musical education, your piano may require more regular tunings than other pianos. Instead of scheduling tunings on a yearly basis, or simply when you have time, it may benefit you to work with a regular tuner who comes to know and understand your piano. He will better understand the working environment and be able to make suggestions along the way.

While regular tuning is important, you may periodically have to adjust the mechanical parts to compensate for the effects of wear. Regulation involves three systems – the action, trapwork and damper.

The action takes the power of the fingers on the keys and transfers it to the hammers that strike the strings. This action requires adjustment to properly respond to a pianists performance. Because the action goes out of adjustment slowly over time, you may not notice it in the beginning. But it will impact performance. A smooth action provides the opportunity for a better playing musician.

The trapwork includes the levers, dowels and springs that connect pedals to the action. The damper is the mechanical part of the piano that stops the motion of the strings and controls the keys and pedal system. If either is sluggish or isn’t keeping up with demand, it can impact a performance over time.

Along with regular tuning, regular maintenance and inspection should be included to guarantee your piano is in top shape, no matter if your students are practicing, or getting ready for a performance, or for the audition that may change their lives. To work with a regular technician allows them to get comfortable with your piano, make suggestions and recommendations along the way, and help you keep your piano in top working condition all year through.

How can we help your piano teaching business?

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31 August 2015 Buying A Used Steinway Piano

Buying A Used Steinway Piano

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For many musicians, they don’t own a piano until they own a Steinway & Sons piano. Steinway’s are arguably the most coveted pianos in the world. Owning a Steinway represents commitment to excellence, and offers musical enjoyment for many years to come.Buying A Used Steinway Piano

Because Steinway pianos can be some of the most expensive pianos on the market, many turn to buying a used Steinway piano when purchasing a piano for their home. But what should you look for?

A piano can be broken down into three distinct areas:

  • The body of the piano contains the soundboard, the bridges, the pinblock, the ribs and the strings
  • The action of the piano contains the hammers, the hammer shanks and flanges, the dampers, the repetition levers, the keys, the key tops and the key frame.
  • The casing of the piano contains the lid, the frame, the music rack, the key cover, the pedals and the hinges

Over the years, repairs might be made to bring each piece back into working condition. If a complete rebuild occurs, it would require all of the above to be replaced. While some rebuilders demand on using only Steinway parts when making repairs, other rebuilders aren’t as arduous as others and will use parts easiest to find. While playability is important, it also brings into question “is a Steinway really a Steinway if it doesn’t have Steinway parts”. It’s important to consider and to talk with the person you are purchasing the piano from to understand the originality of the piano you are considering.

Inevitably the search for used pianos turns to the Internet. And in many cases you’ll find a wealth of information on the piano forums. Keep in mind that these forums are filled with a mixture of people with interest in piano. You’ll find the homeowner who picked up a piano for free and considers any music to be an acceptable form of entertainment. You’ll find technicians and wanna-be refurbisher who make a little extra money on the side tinkering around with something they enjoy. And occasionally you’ll find a reputable piano expert that’s been in the business for decades – however these are few and far between.

The Internet doesn’t take into account the musicality of a piano. A photo can never fully tell the real story of the piano. Without interaction between you and the piano, you have no idea the true condition a piano is really in. Even something in “good condition” is subjective depending on the person making the claim.

The only way to purchase a quality Steinway & Sons piano is to visit your local piano dealer where you can physically hear and play a variety of pianos, and have a face to face conversation with an expert that values their reputation in the community, and will offer you the best advice about selecting the right piano for you.

Give us a call today to find the perfect Steinway piano for you.

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29 August 2015 Common Mistakes About Buying A Piano On Craigslist

Common Mistakes About Buying A Piano On Craigslist

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I was perusing a few websites the other day, and came across a forum filled with people talking about their experiences with buying a piano on Craigslist. It had a variety of questions, and an equal amount of comments.

If you’re in the market for a used piano, I’m sure you’ve come across these sites too as you do your research about the piano industry. And they give you hope about finding a “great deal” with a little bit of searching. You’ll be able to provide your family with great entertainment and make an investment in your child’s music education for very little money. What could be better than that?Common Mistakes About Buying A Piano On Craigslist

So is Craigslist a great place to find a piano?

There may be a “gem” waiting for you to find it, but more than likely, the answer is no. And the reasons are often written by the ones giving the advice.

“We bought a piano off of Craigslist last year. It’s not in great shape, as the owner had painted it. We haven’t gotten it tuned – just can’t afford it right now. Our girls are playing it on their own and I’m happy to have the music in our home. But we’ve paid to had it moved twice – the moving fees have definitely cost us more than the piano is worth.”

Reading between the lines, the piano is nothing more than a big toy. The piano is very low quality, probably doesn’t carry a tune if you attempt to play a song.

“I got an upright, I think it’s from the 1930s. We picked it up ourselves (me and a friend) by renting a trailer from U-haul. It wasn’t hard to move, and we had it across town and up in my apartment in no time. I brought a friend in to tune it and she said it was in perfect tune – it hadn’t been tuned in 20 years. It does need to have a couple of keys glued back into place, and she suggested adding new wool under the keys, which I plan on doing myself very soon.”

Sounds like the perfect deal, right? Yet there is a lot left unsaid in this comment.

If a piano has been neglected enough to have missing and damaged keys, chances are the internal workings of the piano are in even worse shape. A piano is a finely tuned instrument. Strings must be in proper working order in order to create a proper sound. And repairing a piano isn’t as simple as gluing the keys back into place. If you’re using a piano for decoration, glue away. But if you want it available to create beautiful music, there is an art to restoring a piano to it’s proper working condition.

“We got our piano on Craigslist for my daughter to learn. I want to make sure she likes it before we invest in something more. We paid a couple hundred and moved it ourselves. It’s not perfect but it works for us now.”

I like to compare this by giving an example about a child learning soccer. Would you buy a flat ball and expect your child to practice to see if she likes it before investing in a better ball? Would you send her out in flip flops before you invest in great shoes? Of course not. Yet that’s what parents do when they expect their child to learn on a piano that is not up to par. If you can’t produce a sound that is pleasing to the ear, you have very little stamina to want to continue making music. And once the desire is gone, there is little you can do to make them keep practicing.

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