14 July 2016 Fun Facts About The Piano You Probably Never Knew

Fun Facts About The Piano You Probably Never Knew

posted by

One of the biggest reasons the piano is one of the most popular instruments is because of its approachability. No matter where it sits in a room, it calls out to be played. People from 2 to 102 feel comfortable reaching out and hitting a key or two to create music.Fun Facts About The Piano You Probably Never Knew

It’s an instrument that plays both melody and accompaniment. It’s built into the structure of almost every song, every genre, every style. If you like classical, jazz, pop or rock and roll, you’ll be able to quickly transform it underneath your fingers, creating a song that’s recognizable and fun to play.

No wonder people love the piano as much as they do.

Whether you’ve just started playing the piano, or have played it for years, there are a few things about it you may not know.

While a piano may seem like a simple, straightforward instrument that’s easy to operate and easy to maintain, in reality, it’s a complex instrument with over 12,000 parts. Each part works in conjunction with others, coming together to create the beautiful sounds you hear each time you play. The only way to keep all 12,000 parts working in unison is with regular maintenance, tuning, and repair.

By comparison to many other instruments, the piano is actually one of the newest in the music industry. The piano was introduced in Italy by Bartolomeo Cristofori in 1698. Compare that to drums that are as old as mankind, or flutes made out of bone that date back to prehistoric times.

The piano is the most versatile instrument on the market, often referred to as the King of Instruments. This is because it has the widest tonal range of any other instrument. The piano can reach the lowest note of the contrabassoon and the highest note of the piccolo.

Currently, there is estimated to be about 10 million pianos scattered across the U.S. in homes, businesses, and other institutions. While new piano sales ranged around 500,000 units at the beginning of the 1900s, that figure has dropped considerably to today’s figure of around 65,000 new units.

For the standard piano sitting in most homes, it has about 230 strings each with about 165 pounds of tension. The combined tension of the strings is more than 18 tons of pressure. For a concert grand piano, that pressure level will increase to more than 30 tons.

The phrase “tickle the ivories” came from the fact that piano keys were made of ivory up until the 1950s. Manufacturers changed from using ivory to plastic when costs began to escalate, and the questionable practice of obtaining ivory came to light.

A new piano needs to be tuned at least four times its first year. As it is adjusting to changes in temperature, humidity, and environment, it will cause the piano to go out of tune. After it settles in your home, tuning requirements usually fall to twice per year.

It’s never too late to learn how to play the piano. Whether you wish to bring music into your child’s life, or you wish to fulfill a lifelong dream of playing, the best way to get started is to find the perfect piano for your home.

Filed Under: Buying a Piano, Owning a Piano Tagged With:
1 June 2016 Does A Cracked Soundboard Ruin A Piano?

Does A Cracked Soundboard Ruin A Piano?

posted by

One of the main pieces of a piano is the soundboard. The soundboard’s function is to take and repeat the vibrational movements of the strings, creating air sound waves that are vastly greater than could be produced by strings alone.Does A Cracked Soundboard Ruin A Piano?

The better the soundboard performs this function, the better the soundboard is. And the better the sound becomes.

More than two hundred strings are stretched at high tensions over wooden supports that are rigidly fastened to the surface of the soundboard. Every time a key is pressed, it sets in motion the strings, transmitting through the bridge to the soundboard, and reproduces the sound again and again across the surface. These tiny movements vibrate front to back. They are powerful waves which immediately register to anyone that is near.

This process continues again and again, faithfully, no matter how many strings are played at one time.

The strings create the sound; the soundboard amplifies it.

For this reason, a crack in the soundboard reduces the soundboard’s ability to amplify the vibrations of the strings only in relation to how much of the surface area the crack reduces the vibrating area of the board.

Soundboards vary in size depending on how large the piano is. They are contained in tight spaces, controlled by the many parts that make up the piano. Because the very nature of wood is to expand and contract as the environment changes, the wood changes all the time.

As long as the structure of the soundboard remains solid, with ribs and bridges adhering correctly to the surface of the soundboard, and all strings and other fasteners attached rigidly to the frame of the piano, cracks will have very little impact on the overall sound.

With proper maintenance and tuning, even a soundboard with cracks can be maintained for years.

Have additional questions? Just ask.

Filed Under: Owning a Piano, Piano Renovation Tagged With:
24 May 2016 What To Look For In A Piano Stand

What To Look For In A Piano Stand

posted by

Most keyboards do not come supplied with a stand. However, purchasing a piano stand is essential for comfortable playing.

Spend a few minutes searching for piano stands and you’ll find a wide range to choose from. But which one is best for you? What are the differences? Is one better than the other?What To Look For In A Piano Stand

X Style Stand
An X Style stand is probably the most popular choice for keyboards, identified by its X appearance when open. One of the most important features of this stand is it is fully adjustable, so you avoid discomfort when playing in different positions. You can easily move it up and down, depending on the height of your stool or chair. You’ll find X Style stands in single and double braced, choose based on how heavy your keyboard is and how much wear and tear you expect.

Mixer Style Stand
Mixer Style piano stands are heavier and bulkier, perfect for bigger, heavier keyboards. They provide more support at the base, where connected to the piano. And the legs offer more space underneath. They provide more legroom, which is great if you spend most of your time sitting down while playing.

Custom Made Stands
Depending on what digital piano you purchase, some manufacturers create custom made stands for different styles of pianos. Because they are custom made, they will usually be more expensive. Yet they will also fit your piano perfectly, with little room for movement or slippage. This can be a preferred option if you are looking for a high quality stand that is unique to your instrument, and you’re ready to permanently fix your digital piano to.

Have questions? We can help you find the perfect piano stand for your keyboard. Just ask.

Filed Under: Buying a Piano, Owning a Piano Tagged With:
18 May 2016 Piano Key Leveling

Piano Key Leveling

posted by

Have you ever started to play your piano, only to discover the keys feel a little off? As your fingers move from key to key, something appears to be not quite right.

What you may be feeling is a leveling issue.Piano Key Leveling

A properly regulated piano is one that has the keys perfectly level from one side of the keyboard to the other. When keys are correctly leveled, the pianist should find no noticeable difference in height as his or her fingers glide across the keytops. Also, no keys should stand out as being visibly higher or lower than the one next to it.

If the keys on your piano are not level, they need to be adjusted.

Keytops are leveled by the insertion of paper punchings of exact size between the wooden balance rail the keys rock on while being played, the felt balance rail punchings that cushion the keys.

Depending on the type of piano and the technician making the adjustments, one of several tools will be used to bring the keys up to level. Each note will be checked to determine how high or low it is compared to the desired height. Then punchings will be added or subtracted to bring it to a proper level.

After each addition, key height will be checked to determine if it’s at its proper height.

Sharp keys are leveled as well in a similar manner. Sharp keys, in general, are ½ inch higher than naturals. Fine paper punchings are used to ensure they are level from one end to another.

Think your keys may need leveling? Give us a call today.

Filed Under: Owning a Piano, Piano Renovation Tagged With:
15 May 2016 Buying A Piano With A Reconditioned Piano Action

Buying A Piano With A Reconditioned Piano Action

posted by

Considering a used piano? Depending on its age, there’s a good chance the piano will have a reconditioned piano action.

For some people, that might send up a few red flags. What is an action? Will a reconditioned action stand the test of time?Buying A Piano With A Reconditioned Piano Action

When you purchase a piano, it’s often with the thought that it will be in your home for generations. After all, pianos are known to be one of the most classic pieces of furniture we bring into our homes. But what many don’t know is that it takes more than regular tune-ups to keep a piano in good working condition.

Pianos are made from materials that wear down over time. They need repair, replacing, adjusting, cleaning and maintenance on a regular basis to keep them in optimal playing condition.

There are two kinds of piano actions: upright actions and grand actions.

Upright actions contain the hammers, the whippen assemblies, and the dampers. Each is mounted to a series of rails that holds them in proper alignment to the strings and the keys so that when a note is played, the energy is properly distributed throughout the mechanism and sound is produced. In general, upright actions are fairly easy to remove for repairs, the exception being with spinets or player pianos.

Upright actions are simpler than their grand action counterparts.

With grand piano actions, they also have action parts mounted to a series of rails that can be removed for service and reconditioning. The noticeable difference is that the hammers are oriented differently in the case. The grand action’s whippen assemble has a repetition lever which allows a note to fully reset before the key has risen back to its resting position. This allows for better repetition of the note than on an upright.

With years of playing and settling, these parts wear out. Leather and felt pieces lose their effectiveness, and allow alignment and adjustment to fall out of place. When the felt hammers strike the strings and aren’t in proper working condition, damage begins to occur. And as one part wears and falls apart, it impacts all around it.

Reconditioning the action simply brings it back into working order with the proper materials to match the piano’s needs. New leather, felt, wire and even wood is introduced to match what’s already there.

If a piano action has been reconditioned, the difference will be in having a clean, well-functioning action that will make your playing enjoyable for many years to come.

Filed Under: Buying a Piano, Owning a Piano Tagged With: ,
8 May 2016 The Future Of Piano

The Future Of Piano

posted by

Every industry changes. As we invent new, old things disappear. As technological advances are made, out of date technology goes away.

To expect anything different isn’t realistic.The Future Of Piano

What is the present and future of the piano as an instrument?

Since no major changes have been made to the overall construction of the piano in decades, it’s safe to say that the structure of the piano has stopped evolving.

But what hasn’t stopped is technology. That’s where the most growth and the most opportunity lie. It’s where electronic keyboards are pushing forward, offering more opportunity to an ever-changing field.

Does this mean digital will eventually replace acoustic pianos? Not at all. The television didn’t replace radio when it swept in; instead, it simply changed our perception of what is possible.

When it comes to training, a keyboard is a keyboard. You’ll learn in a similar manner on both an electronic piano as well as an acoustic. Up to a point. Electronic keyboards serve composers, pop musicians, and other artists in musical fields. Classical pianists will never reach their true potential without having access to the best acoustical pianos in the industry. The touch is different. The sound is different. And nothing will ever be able to connect the two in any way.

But clearly there is change in playing the piano, in the music industry as a whole. It stems from the way our current school system is structured.

When schools morphed and changed, cut arts programs due to budget cuts and beliefs that STEM subjects were more beneficial to our population than the arts, music programs began to disappear. And if children weren’t encouraged to choose a musical instrument in school and find joy in anything but what can be found on the radio or their iPod, the interest wanes.

But again, our society is in a constant ebb and flow. Already a movement is beginning to change the future course of education, realizing potential problems that are just beginning to appear. The concept of STEM schools – science, technology, engineering, and mathematics – is being changed to STEAM. Which of course adds back in the arts.

Adding back in liberal arts, which includes language arts, physical arts, fine arts, and music, sets the framework for teaching that is based on natural ways of learning. It creates interest and FUN for all.

How will piano morph and change in our future? Only time will tell. But it’s a safe bet that music was and will continue to be an important part of our lives. The only question is how involved you and your family choose to be.

Filed Under: Buying a Piano, Owning a Piano Tagged With:
5 May 2016 Regulating An Upright Piano

Regulating An Upright Piano

posted by

A piano’s touch is equally important as its tone.

Touch refers to the responsiveness of the mechanical action of the piano. It’s what is responsible for giving a piano a full range of power.

Regulating An Upright PianoWhen an upright piano begins losing its mechanical efficiency, it is known within the industry as having gone out of regulation. Putting it back in regulation requires exacting measurements and corresponding adjustments.

What causes a piano to go out of regulation? 

Pianos are regulated in the factory where they are built. But even a piano of the finest quality can go out of regulation over time. The action of a piano is a very complex mechanical process. When a note is played, the energy from your finger puts a balanced system of levers and springs into motion. Various pivot points are maneuvered, felt cushions are utilized to produce the appropriate sounds. Over time, these felt pieces compress, adjust, and wear out. As this happens, gradual loss of performance occurs. Although this process is gradual, there becomes a point in time where you can no longer ignore the obvious problems that are occurring.

What is the process for regulating a piano?

It begins with leveling natural keys. One of several measurement tools is used to determine the exact height of each key. They are adjusted with fine paper punches to gradually bring a key back into alignment with the other keytops. After all, keys have been leveled, the leveling papers and the balance rail felts will be flipped so that the felts are on top.

In addition to leveling, regulation also includes setting the hammer blow, taking up the lost motion, adjusting the hammer letoff, setting the key dip and checking the amount of aftertouch.

How extensive is the process?

In most cases, piano regulation is a job that can be done onsite. In some cases, the action may need to be taken in for related repair work, but the actual job of regulation is done at the piano. Extensive work is completed, as adjustments are made to every note on the piano. The longer it has been since the piano was previously regulated, the more time it will take to bring it back into adjustment.

How often should a piano be regulated?

For most pianos, regulation every 5 to 10 years should be sufficient. Since a piano goes out of regulation as a result of the amount of play, a piano may need more or less regulation depending on how often it is played.

Filed Under: Owning a Piano, Piano Playing Tagged With:
29 April 2016 5 Things To Ask Before Buying A Previously Owned Piano

5 Things To Ask Before Buying A Previously Owned Piano

posted by

Buying a piano is a major decision. And one of the first factors you’ll have to consider is whether to buy new or used.

A previously owned piano can be a good investment… if you know what questions to ask before writing out the check.5 Things To Ask Before Buying A Previously Owned Piano

Why are you selling the piano?
Have you ever noticed people will give you all kinds of information if you ask? If you’re approaching a third part or private seller, take the time to ask why they’ve decided to sell. Inspecting it can often lead you to make a false assumption that a piano is in good shape. But when you ask, private parties will often provide lots of stories about a piano’s past. Some might sell because they need the money. Some might sell because no one in the home can play, it was simply an antique passed down. In both cases, their response may clue you in that they don’t know how to take care of a piano either. Pianos need regular maintenance, and if it’s been sitting there for years, it may require a lot of tuning and restoration to make it playable.

Was a maintenance schedule followed?
Every piano, no matter if it’s played on a regular basis or not, needs regular tuning. Skipping tuning will affect the sound quality, so it’s crucial to check if a tuning schedule was followed. If tuning has been completed, you can also inquire who performed the tuning. DIY methods rarely work, as tuning is a difficult process that is learned over time. Experienced professionals are always best.

Who plays the piano?
Did the owner purchase the piano from a friend to provide piano lessons to a small child? Or did a professional musician play it on a regular basis? The more advanced the player, the better guarantee you’ll have that the piano is quality and was well taken care of.

How often has the piano been moved?
If the piano has been moved on a frequent basis, it could be a sign that it has received potential damage during a move. If a piano has moved several times, check to see if any restoration work has been completed.

What is the asking price?
While many people will lead and create their ads with the price they desire, asking again can reveal how serious they are. Never purchase on the spot. Instead, make sure you do your own research. If you find equal comparisons are much higher, it could be a sign the owner is hiding something. If they are willing to negotiate for a quick sale, there more than likely is something wrong.

Pianos are a major investment. Selecting a high quality piano can give you years of enjoyment, provide you with a musical instrument you’ll be proud to play. Do your homework and make sure you have the right piano for your home. And if we can help, just ask.

Filed Under: Owning a Piano Tagged With: ,
27 April 2016 Why Digital Piano Is Perfect For Music Therapy

Why Digital Piano Is Perfect For Music Therapy

posted by

Imagine sitting in a world where nothing is familiar. You don’t know the people around you, are unfamiliar with your surroundings. You’re nervous, not sure where you are or what to do.

Then you hear a familiar tune. One you hummed and sang once upon a time. It calms you down. Makes you smile. Helps you feel more comfortable with your surroundings.Why Digital Piano Is Perfect For Music Therapy

That’s reality for many people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, dementia, and other cognitive disorders. Therapy can take place in many ways, from singing and dancing, to listening from an iPod, to playing an instrument.

While any kind of music can be helpful to the cause, studies show that participating makes more of a difference. Even patients with degenerative diseases and have reduced motor skills who are unable to do much else can participate when they have a digital piano in their presence.

They can respond when a simple tap produces a note. And with little effort, can tap out enough notes to create music, even a song. And if they are able, they can continue the process and learn piano to continue to make music every day.

Music therapy:

Improves memory – practicing piano requires repetition. It challenges a person to learn a little bit more each time they sit down to play.

Improves hand-eye coordination – these fine motor skills are often the first to go. Because a person easily connects that a note makes a sound, they quickly pick up the desire to progress and do more.

Relieves anxiety and stress – listening to music helps you relax. When you are part of the production, it can reduce stress, relieve signs of anxiety and depression.

Increase interaction – while Alzheimer’s patients often withdraw, patients who use music therapy often begin interacting with others, including family members, caregivers, and others in their lives.

Starting up a music therapy business? The perfect addition is a digital piano, one that will allow you to travel to your patients and incorporate all kinds of playing skills into their lives. We can help you select the right digital piano for your needs. Stop by today.

Filed Under: Owning a Piano, Piano Playing Tagged With: ,
10 April 2016 Why Can’t My Piano Be Tuned?

Why Can’t My Piano Be Tuned?

posted by

“I have an older upright piano. The owners we bought it from had it stored in their basement and said it hadn’t been tuned in a while. We’ve tuned it several times, but it always seems to go flat quickly. Can this piano be tuned? Is this something we’ll have to live with?”Why Can’t My Piano Be Tuned?

When a piano won’t stay tuned, it can be caused by a couple of things.

First, it could be the frequency of your most recent tuning sessions. If a piano hasn’t been tuned in a while, it needs time to adjust. Sometimes it is better to let the instrument “settle” for a couple of weeks in between tunings to adjust. When a piano is tuned, its pitch is raised and then fine tuned. It will wander off somewhat, depending on how far up the pitch was raised. If it needs to be adjusted by a wide margin, it will take several passes to bring it back up to level.

Second, it could also be an internal, mechanical problem. Tuning pins may be loosening. Strings may be expanding. Actions may require repair.

Over time, a variety of things can happen to a piano. Whether its played regularly or not, the elements and surrounding environment begin to wear on the individual pieces. Felt can deteriorate. Wood can expand or warp.

If you’ve had a tuner come in to tune your piano, is he looking at all of the working parts of the piano? Is he ensuring everything is in good working condition?

In some cases it takes more than a tuning to bring a piano back into good working condition. It takes repairing and replacing other parts as well.

If you haven’t had a qualifies professional tuner adjust your piano in a while, maybe now is the time.

Filed Under: Owning a Piano Tagged With:
« Previous Page
Next Page »