14 May 2018 How Technology Is Improving The Piano

How Technology Is Improving The Piano

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When you look at an acoustic piano, very little has changed over the past century. Piano are still  a cherished, classical instruments, proudly displayed in homes all over the world. 

 When most parents decide to introduce music into their children’s lives, pianos are almost always one of the top choices. 

But like everything, pianos are changing. Technology is impacting the way we play and the instruments we play music with. 

How Technology Is Improving The PianoWireless technology adds the benefit to the smart pianos to connect other devices including computers and tablets. This means you can control what you play and how you play it no matter where you are in the world. 

It starts with teaching. There are a variety of products and apps that are  helpful and allow you to learn everything from hand placement to musicality. They help you be a better player, and can help you become the writer and conductor of your own music. 

With Internet connections, you no longer have to visit a teacher locally. Hop online, and you can connect with an instructor anywhere in the world. They can teach you via Facetime and help control lessons through a variety of resources. To help guide your playing progress, smart piano provide lights to assist your next move.

Of course, programs extend beyond helping you play. They make becoming a songwriter and sharing your music easier than ever before. Smart pianos make connectivity just a touch of a button away, and once your music is edited just the way you like it, it’s easy to share with the world. 

There are programs available for every age, every level, and every interest. In an age where people spend hours online with their favorite video games, why not make learning music just as easy. Piano playing is a skill that lasts a lifetime, stimulates creativity and boosts your brain power. 

Whether you’re young or old, there’s a creative way of using today’s technology in helping you become the best piano player possible. 

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11 March 2018 Does Your Child Need A Better Piano

Does Your Child Need A Better Piano

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Where did you get the piano currently sitting in your home? Is it in good working condition? Does it allow your child to practice in the best way possible?

Pianos are a complex instrument. And without regular maintenance, many things can go wrong. 

Take, for instance, a sticky key. Let’s say one of the most common keys on your piano sticks when you press it down. The only way to get it to return to its upright position is to gently tap under the key and push it back up. Does Your Child Need A Better PianoIt’s not difficult. It doesn’t take force. But it does need a tap to get it to rise back to its original position. That process can build in your child’s practice and performance. It can become ingrained in the way she plays. So much so that she’ll tap the key on every piano she plays. 

Of course, there are many other things that can impact your child’s performance. There are a wide range of things that if not repaired, can impact not only her ability to play, but her desire as well. 

When a child practices the piano, the goal is to establish good playing habits and to let them have a positive musical experience. The instrument they play every day should be able to respond to both. The piano should be in tune so that your child can develop an accurate sense of pitch. If the piano is out of tune, it won’t sound good at all. Which means the experience won’t be where it needs to be to keep her playing. 

Do you have an acoustic piano? 

Some older pianos are beyond repair. A qualified technician can give you an idea of how much it will cost to make the repairs. But if you’ve owned it for years without tuning it regularly, or have found it for free or low cost on a Craigslist ad, it might be in poor condition and not able to provide the proper piano playing experience. 

It’s okay to purchase electronic or digital piano as well. For some families, moving to the digital world just makes sense. 

If your older acoustic piano can’t be fixed, it’s time to consider a new piano. If you’re using a keyboard with less than the standard 88 keys, look to move into something full sized. The quality of your piano makes the experience that much more enjoyable for you and for her. And it gives her the chance to develop a lifelong skill she’ll enjoy. 

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17 February 2018 Finding The Ultimate Worship Piano  

Finding The Ultimate Worship Piano  

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Every industry, every field is seeing massive change thanks to technology. The piano industry is no different. 

Churches used to be able to purchase a simple acoustic piano and have it meet all their needs. If you’ve been in the market to upgrade your piano, you know a lot has changed. No longer is your choice limited to an upright or a grand. Instead, you can quickly become overwhelmed by technology, finding pianos that do just about everything you could dream. Finding The Ultimate Worship Piano  

Just as likely is to get overwhelmed and overdazzled with the bells and whistles. If would be nice to be able to add in different instruments, right? Or play different sounds – that would make it a better addition to your events, right?

Very quickly your piano and organ overlap. And you wind up with an instrument you don’t like and can’t use the way it was intended. 

The problems most encountered by well-meaning buyers are they become distracted by purchasing pianos that are:

Too complicated: The WOW buttons may seem like a good thing in the store, but often are things that will never be used. If you’re using your piano for real-time performances, do you really need screens and sampling and workstations that allow editing and mixing?

Don’t sound right: Money doesn’t always equate to a better sound. But if you’re purchasing a piano for a very low price, suffice to say it won’t have a warm sound. And that will echo throughout every performance you have. 

Cheaply made: Worship pianos are usually transferred from room to room, from group to group. They should be rugged to handle a variety of uses. 

Have too many potential distractions: During services, pianists are watching a variety of things to keep everything on track. What if they hit a wrong button and a rhythm sounds across the hall and they can’t turn it off? 

While this is by now means a full list of distractions, your end goal is to find a perfect piano for your needs. And that can be difficult, especially when you have dozens of other things on your mind. 

That’s where we can help. We can help ask the right questions to find out what your needs and goals are, and help you make the right selection for your church. 

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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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11 January 2018 7 Resolutions You Should Keep As A Piano Player This Year

7 Resolutions You Should Keep As A Piano Player This Year

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Is one of your goals for the New Year to be an even better piano player? Do you hope to make music an increasingly important part of your life? Then here are a few steps you should take as we move into the next few months. 

1. Hire a professional to tune your piano

Pianos need regular tuning, whether you use them every day or not. On average, pianos should be tuned twice per year. If it’s been awhile, schedule your tuning today. 

2. Practice a new song

Repetition gets old. Instead of starting the new year out with the same old music, invest in something new, something motivating. Great songs from today’s greatest singers can get your fingers snapping again and give you just enough motivation to want to play even more. 7 Resolutions You Should Keep As A Piano Player This Year

3. Practice speed

Some of the most successful piano players achieve greatness because of their ability to speed things up. Those fast-paced tunes capture attention. Pick one up and see what you can do. Even if you have no desire to play professionally, there’s still something satisfying about playing a song at a quick pace. 

4. Listen to the professionals

When was the last time you were inspired by professionals? Take a trip to your local symphony and listen to the best. Better yet, make it a habit to seek out the best players in the world. How about a trip to New York to see the New York Philharmonic play? Or expand your horizons even further with a trip to Austria and see the homes of Mozart or Strauss. 

5. Learn more about famous composers

Piano playing is more than tapping out a few tunes. Discover the history of the art of piano playing, and it’ll inspire you even more. It may give you new inspiration as you discover what the likes of Bach, Beethoven, or Mahler created. 

6. Play a duet

Instead of playing by yourself, incorporate your music into someone else’s life too. If you work with a teacher, ask to be a part of a group performance. Play with another piano player, or incorporate another instrument into your tunes. It will help you listen differently and play in new ways. 

7. Teach someone to play

Share your knowledge with someone else. You don’t have to become a piano teacher to influence someone else to make music. Even a child with several years of playing can gain excitement about the art of piano by helping someone else realize their dreams in the process. 

Do you have any piano goals for the coming year?

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7 January 2018 Prepping Your Piano For The New Year

Prepping Your Piano For The New Year

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With the new year comes new goals and resolutions. Has playing the piano made it to your list this year? If so, there are a few things you can do to help keep you playing all year through. 

Create A Piano Friendly Environment

Take a look around the space where your piano sits. Is it conducive for piano playing? While you don’t have to invest in a perfectly acoustically space, you should make it user-friendly for desiring to play. Who wants to head down into a dark basement to practice every day? Place your piano in a light and airy part of your home. Give it center stage. Add lights to make it easier to see the music. Put it on display and watch how much more activity it receives. Prepping Your Piano For The New Year

Change Out Your Music

Are you still playing the same old music every year? It’s time to put your old music to rest. Head to your favorite piano store or do a little research online. You can invest in all kinds of sheet music, from the classics to updated pop. 

Change Your Seating

Is your piano bench still working for you? This is especially true if you originally purchased your piano for a child. Not all piano benches are created equally. And if your hands aren’t placed properly on the keys, you could be feeling stress in your arms. Get comfortable. Change up the way you sit. 

Give Your Piano A Little TLC

When was the last time gave your piano a little love? Maybe it’s time to call in a piano technician. Pianos need regular tuning to sound their best. And depending on their age, they may need a little more than that. Find a technician you know and trust and they can help keep your piano in excellent condition. 

Is playing the piano a part of your New Year’s resolutions? Whether your current piano needs a little extra care, or if you’re in the market for an upgrade, we can help. We look forward to helping you with all of your piano needs. 

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3 January 2018 Upgrading Your Piano Progress for 2018

Upgrading Your Piano Progress for 2018

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The new year is filled with goals and resolutions to make this the best year yet. For many, their goals include becoming a better piano player. No matter if you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, the key to better playing is to improve the way you play. It’s not all about getting into more difficult music patterns. Sometimes your approach needs a little tweaking. 

Start with new music

This is one of the easiest places to start. Are you stuck in a rut? Do you tend to go with the same composers or genres over and over again? Break out of your patterns and explore new music. Pick up classical. How about pop? Every artist or genre offers you something new to build into the way you play. If you’ve worked with an instructor for a while, ask for different challenges to improve your skills. Maybe now is the time to move to group lessons or pick up a partner for a duet? Upgrading Your Piano Progress for 2018

Set new goals

While many players simply start the year by saying they want to play better, what does that mean to you? If you pursue a tangible objective, it’s easier to tally your work along the way. Select challenging pieces of music you’ll aspire to play. Or maybe you’ve desired to begin to play in public; a music festival or concert can be a great motivator. Rapid improvement always follows a decisive change in your approach. 

Add a warm up routine

Many piano players sit down and begin to work on their latest piece of music. Like athletics, it’s important to warm up before every session you bring on. Warm ups take a few minutes but can make a world of difference in your focus, your concentration, and your finger power. Scales are always a good place to start. Watch your movements and focus on how finger joint performs as you increase your speed and velocity. What works for you? What can you change?

Play from memory

If you’ve never memorized a piece before, now may be the time. Playing from memory isn’t required for simple pleasure playing, but the more active you become in the industry, the more it is required. Give yourself a challenge. Start small. Take a short piece and work on memorizing each hand. Learning memorization skills will help direct your attention to the music and the sound you are producing. It sharpens your listening skills along the way. 

Practice pedaling

It might also be time to incorporate pedaling into your piano practice. The use of the sustaining pedal (right) and una corda pedal (left) are commonplace for pianists from the beginning to advanced levels. But how about the sostenuto pedal (middle)? It can be fun to incorporate new sounds and actions into your daily routine. Ask your teacher for ways to use this as you improve your playability. 

With some thought, you can make this year full of changes and advancement that will keep you excited about all the opportunities piano playing brings into your life. 

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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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14 December 2017 How To Clean Piano Keys and Keyboards The Right Way

How To Clean Piano Keys and Keyboards The Right Way

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Have you ever sat down to play a piano where the piano keys didn’t feel right? Maybe the color had changed, the keys felt rough or sticky. They felt gritty to the touch. 

The piano keys are the most usable part of the piano. Which makes them the most susceptible part of the piano for becoming dirty. 

There are certain things you can do to ward off potential problems. 

  • Dust the keyboard regularly
  • Wash your hands before you play
  • Keep the keyboard covered when kids or pets are around

How To Clean Piano Keys and Keyboards The Right WayIn time, dust, dirt, debris, and oil from your fingertips settle on top of the keys. It comes with age, from simply being in your home and available to play at any time. 

But the piano keys aren’t something you can clean as if it were an average piece of furniture. Do it the wrong way and your keys may stop working. The wrong way could leave you with a piano that doesn’t work. 

Start with a soft cloth – microfiber works well. If you don’t have a microfiber cloth, an old cotton t-shirt works well; cut away any seams or embellishments to ensure you don’t hurt the keys. 

Use an empty spray bottle – you can re-use one from something else. Just ensure there weren’t harmful chemicals in it before you use it. You can pick one up from your favorite big box store for low cost. 

Use a mixture of water and gentle liquid soap – make sure there aren’t any harsh solvents or chemicals in the soap. Castille soap works well.

Use one to two tablespoons of liquid soap per bottle depending on the size. Give a quick shake and you’re ready to clean. 

Never spray the water directly onto the keys. Instead, spray the soft cloth until slightly damp. Then starting at one end of the keyboard, gently slide the cloth from the back of the keytops to the front with gentle pressure. You may have to repeat this several times to remove all of the grime. 

Avoid wiping across the keyboard as that can shove small particles of dust and debris between the keys, which will result in “sticky” keys, those stubborn keys that don’t go up and down when you press them. 

You can clean both the black and white keys in this manner. There is no special treatment for either key. 

Once you clean the tops, you can move to the piano key fronts and clean in the same manner. Slide the cloth from the bottom of the key up to the top, trying to take dust with you as you remove the cloth from the key. 

There is no difference between an acoustic and a digital keyboard. They should be cleaned in similar fashion. 

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