26 December 2015 What Makes The Piano Different?

What Makes The Piano Different?

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In the world of musical instruments, there are four main groups: woodwinds, brass, strings and percussion.What Makes The Piano Different?

Woodwinds – woodwind instruments produce a sound by blowing into a mouthpiece, some with a reed attached to make sound. Think recorder, flute, clarinet, saxophone, and bassoon.

Brass – brass instruments are played by buzzing the lips into the mouthpiece. Think trumpet, trombone, tuba and baritone.

String – string instruments are played by using a blow or by plucking the strings with your fingers. Think violin, cello, bass, guitar and harp.

Percussion – percussion instruments are struck with sticks or mallets. In some cases they can also be pitched and play different notes or sounds. Think drums, cymbals, chimes, xylophone, and piano.

To produce music, melody, harmony and rhythm must come together in sound and style.

Melody results from playing notes in different pitches, often with a distinguishable and sing-a-long tune.

Harmony comes from the relationship between different notes played at the same time as the harmony. It compliments the tune.

Rhythm is the beat or the pulse of the music.

What makes the piano different is it has the capability of producing all three. It is the only instrument to use both hands to produce music. While other instruments may be held by both hands, using fingers on both hands to connect and produce one note, a piano can produce notes with either hand.

Ask a musician and most will agree that while piano may be one of the easiest instruments to begin to play, it’s one of the most difficult to master over a lifetime. There is always a new challenge, something else to learn, something else to master.

No matter what level of musician you are, the piano offers something for everyone.

Filed Under: Buying a Piano, Owning a Piano, Piano Playing
19 December 2015 Age Specific Benefits Of Playing The Piano

Age Specific Benefits Of Playing The Piano

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Who do parents incorporate music training into their child’s life at an early age? If you’ve done any amount of research, you know that music brings a wide variety of benefits at every age. Playing the piano can do everything from helping you in school, to taking stress away as you age. It’s the perfect gift to give everyone no matter what your age.Age Specific Benefits Of Playing The Piano

But what are the specific benefits of playing the piano?

Newborns to 5 years old
While a child at this young age cannot pick up the nuances of piano playing, they can be introduced to music participation. The earlier they engage in active musical participation, the more benefits they have in enriching the brain’s development. Kids with a love of music transition into the academic world at a younger age, show more advanced language development, and also show increased opportunities in math and science skills. They develop ear training skills, with enables them to have a lifelong ability to match pitch.

5 to 8 year olds
This is the perfect age to introduce piano playing skills into their lives. By engaging in regular piano playing practice, all regions of their brains and engaged. This is the formative years, which allows enhanced academic performance and heightened hand-eye coordination to develop. This will continue to help in a variety of ways as a child ages, including better skills in sports, computers, chess, even engineering skills.

8 years to adult
By playing the piano consistently as they age, a child will learn to create orderly storage and retrieval methods of information. This helps them develop stronger functions in intellectual development, both socially and academically.

Adults and Seniors
By continuing to play the piano throughout your life, studies have found increased human growth hormones staying within the body, which can help delay the aging process. The presence of HGH can decelerate Alzheimer’s symptoms, slow down memory loss, even reduce the development of wrinkles over time.

Special Needs
At every age, piano playing can bring a variety of things to life. Piano lessons can unlock verbal communication in previously non-verbal children. It can improve the quality of life in seniors facing dementia.

Ready to make piano playing a part of your life?

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16 December 2015 Understanding Keyboard Terminology

Understanding Keyboard Terminology

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New to the world of electronic keyboards? Manuals and guides use all sorts of abbreviations and terms you might not be familiar with. Here are some of the more common abbreviations and terms you may encounter.Understanding Keyboard Terminology

Action – the mechanical design of the keys. This is used when describing the touch or feel of the keyboard.

Aftertouch – the ability to control the volume or other effect on the keyboard by applying pressure to the keys once they are played.

Amplifiers – the power available to the speakers, which will determine the overall volume of sound.

Arpeggiator – a function that generates repeated note patterns from a held note or chord.

Assignable controller – a wheel, knob or slider that allows you to specify the parameter it controls.

Cutoff – the frequency point at which a synthesizer’s filter begins to pass or block an audio signal.

Damper pedal – a pedal that, when pressed, keeps a note sustaining until it is released.

Drawbar – a slider that controls the level of specific overtones within the sound being produced.

Effects – the enhancement of a sound, such as reverb, chorus, delay, and so on.

Filter – a function that alters the tone or timbre of a sound by removing or emphasizing specific frequencies.

Fine tuning – the ability to change the pitch of a sound by small amounts. Used when a sound is only slightly out of tune.

Glide – the smooth sliding of pitch between notes.

Half pedal – the ability to press a damper pedal with graduated or varying depth and response.

Layer – the ability to play different sounds at the same time from the same keys.

MIDI – Musical Instrument Digital Interface. This is the protocol that allows musical instruments, computer software, and other digital devices to communicate.

Modulation – the ability to modify a parameter via a control source.

Multitimbral – an instrument that can play multiple sounds at the same time.

Oscillator – a synthesizer’s sound source.

Pan – a sound’s position from left or right in the stereo field.

Polyphony – the maximum number of voices that can be sounded simultaneously.

Recording channels – the number of tracks that can be recorded.

Rhythms – drumbeats and grooves that are built into the keyboard.

Sampling – the ability for the keyboard to capture any sound recorded via an internal or external microphone or file loaded through a USB port. The sound then becomes playable on the keyboard.

Sequencer – hardware or software used to record, edit and play back MIDI performance data.

Split – a function that allows you to divide the keyboard range into different sections and assign a different sound to each one.

Sustain – the level at which the note remains until you let go of the key.

Timbre – a sound’s tonal quality that differentiates it from those with similar pitch and volume.

Transpose – the ability for the keyboard to be transposed into any other key.

Tuning – the function that changes the pitch of the keyboard.

Velocity – the force with which you play the notes on the keyboard.

Vibrato – the wavering up and down in pitch.

Weighted action – the key mechanism designed with mass or heavy resistance to mimic the touch of an acoustic piano.

Filed Under: Buying a Piano, Owning a Piano Tagged With: ,
25 November 2015 Tips For Buying A Child’s First Piano

Tips For Buying A Child’s First Piano

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One of the most daunting tasks to help your child appreciate music is to buy your child her first piano. If you are not a pianist or musician yourself, where do you start? What should you buy?

There are many choices available in the marketplace today, with an equal number of sources to purchase from. Where do you start? Who do you trust?Tips For Buying A Child’s First Piano

After several decades in the business, I have helped many families face this task. And with my experience, I know there are a few things that will make the process even easier. Most people start the process with three questions in mind.

1. My child’s piano teacher recommended getting a piano with full size weighted keys. How do I know if the piano I’m selecting has this in place?

2. Should I buy an acoustic or a digital piano? Is there a difference? How will it impact playability?

3. I’m not sure if my child will continue playing the piano. This may be a six month process like many other things we’ve tried. Should I start with a small keyboard and upgrade when my child shows interest?

Here’s how I answer all three.

1. What is full size weighted keys?
A full size piano has a full set of keys in place. Smaller keyboards come with a more compact size, offering 61 or 72 note keyboards. Beginners start off playing simpler music, and therefore don’t have a full range of playability, so in many cases people settle for smaller keyboards. Yet nothing can be more frustrating than reaching your limit quickly, and not being able to find the proper notes because they simply aren’t there.

If you’ve ever touched the notes on a well built piano, you’ve probably noticed that the keys have a certain touch and feel to them. The keys on a traditional acoustic piano have a weighted action because of the playing process. When a key is pressed, it triggers the hammer into action to hit the string and create sound. Some digital pianos have weighted keys to simulate this hammer action. This is required to help a child build strength in their fingers, and understand how to make music from heavier keys. If they learn on a non-weighted piano, they may have trouble transferring this skill to other pianos, and reduce their chances of playing for the long term.

2. Is there a difference between acoustic and digital?
Some teachers are adamant that their students learn on acoustic. Other teachers concern themselves with how a child once to play. Because digital technology can emulate acoustic piano playing effectively, it’s more important that you choose a quality piano that helps keep the desire high for what your child has in mind. If they want portability and want to play in a band, you may be better investing in a high quality digital piano that allows flexibility.

3. Should I stay with an inexpensive piano until my child has a proven track record and I know she’ll continue playing?
We hear this concern a lot. A piano can be a large expense, depending on the piano you select. And if your child moves on to another interest after only a few months of playing, it can leave you frustrated. Which is why many turn to finding inexpensive models through family, friends, or an Internet search.

There is a difference between pianos. A digital piano without weighted keys has a different feel and sound than a higher end digital piano. An acoustic piano that has sat in a garage for years without tuning and without proper maintenance will never be able to produce the same sound as one well cared for.

The quality of a piano has every impact on a child’s enthusiasm to play. You can’t expect a child to love soccer if they play with a flat ball. You can’t expect a child to love music if you give them an inferior instrument to make music with. The only way to build proper skills and a love for playing is to do so with a quality piano.

If you have any further questions, please stop by our retail location any time.

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18 November 2015 Effective Piano Maintenance

Effective Piano Maintenance

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Whether you are brand new to playing the piano, or have been playing for years, there is an advantage to understand the fundamentals of how your piano was constructed and the best way to maintain it for optimal results. The more you know, the more you will understand what is truly possible for the way your piano is constructed. It will help you understand when a problem occurs. And it will also help you make wise decisions about tunings, maintenance, repair and restoration.Effective Piano Maintenance

To start, it’s important to speak the same language as any technician who may have access to your piano down the road. For example, piano technicians use a simple numbering system when referring to the keys. The lowest key on a piano is the A in the bass. This key is labeled number 1. From there, each key is numbered in succession until you reach the highest key in the treble, number 88. These keys not only identify the keys themselves, but also the action and parts used to create sound. If you have a problem with a range, you can easily identify it by number when talking with a technician, and he will immediately understand.

Piano Tuning

Tuning is the very basic of maintenance required to keep a piano fully functioning. Regular tuning not only keeps a piano up to pitch, but also prevents damage to the instrument. All pianos today are designed to be tuned at A-440. This means the A just above the middle C (number 49) should vibrate at 440 cycles per second. Each of the other keys will then fall into order. Piano strings are under heavy tension, at about 160 pounds per string. If the piano is left untuned, the pitch will gradually drop as the strings loosen. As this happens, key number 49 will no longer play at 440, but will drop rapidly from there. Tuning will prevent this drop from occurring. It will bring not only key 49 back to proper cycle, but the rest of the keys as well.

Piano Cleaning

Just like every piece of furniture in your home, in order to stay in good condition, a piano should be cleaned on a regular basis. While there are some things you can do – keep dust from accumulating on the keyboard and the cabinet – there are other things a technician will do. When your piano is in tune, he will clean the soundboard with a soft cloth. The strings and tuning pins collect dust over time, and it’s important to remove this on a periodic basis. The felt under the keys should also be cleaned periodically. The keys on an upright can be removed without disturbing the action. On a grand, it is necessary to remove the entire playing mechanism for cleaning. This can help keep the keys perform more evenly, and can help with regulation.

Piano Regulation

The proper regulation of the piano action is essential to controlling the keys. It affects both the keyboard and the speed with which a note can be repeated. When the keys are regulated, they should be perfectly even. This is most easily seen with the white keys, where all are perfectly aligned. A well regulated keyboard is slanted slightly away from the performer when the keys are at rest. When they are depressed, the should slant slightly towards the performer. This action should occur with every movement made, while at no time allowing a pianists fingers to touch the white keys when the black keys are depressed.

Piano Voicing

For a piano to have good tone, it must have a well regulated action, perfect tuning, and hammers that are properly shaped and voiced. The hammers become grooved with use. As the groves deepen and continue to form, the tone of the piano is impacted. Hammers are voiced by softening or hardening the felt in order to bring back a particular tonal quality. Voicing should leave the felt of all hammers with a certain level of consistency. Tuning and voicing often go hand in hand in making a piano sound its best. The two processes are interdependent. Voicing cannot be done successfully unless the piano is in tune, but even a perfectly tuned piano won’t sound its best if it is not properly voiced. The key to great piano service is to have a technician well versed in both.

Have any additional questions about piano maintenance? Give us a call today.

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31 October 2015 How To Remove Cup and Water Rings From Your Piano

How To Remove Cup and Water Rings From Your Piano

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Pianos and water don’t mix. We know that. And yet invariably somewhere along the way, a water glass or a cup will be placed somewhere on the piano and a water ring will occur.

Frustrating, yes. But in some cases it’s not an impossibility to remove them.How To Remove Cup and Water Rings From Your Piano

To begin, analyze the extent of the water damage. The color of the stain will tell you how much water damage has occurred. It will also depend on things like the type of liquid that caused the stain, how much time it sat on the surface before it was removed, and the quality and age of the piano.

  • A white water ring is usually fairly easy to remove and can be removed without refinishing work.
  • A yellow ring forms after prolonged water contact and indicates more serious damage.
  • A gray or black ring means the liquid has reached the wood itself and the only way to remove the ring is by refinishing.

If the water ring is recent, it may dry up and go away. Blot away any excess moisture and allow to dry. You can use a hair dryer to dry the stain, moving it back and forth quickly over the spot until dry. Be careful not to get the finish too hot or you could damage the wood from heat.

If the above does not work, use a soft cotton cloth moistened with mineral spirits to lightly wipe the area. Allow to thoroughly dry. If this has no affect, try denatured alcohol. Be sure to test each of these in an inconspicuous place first as alcohol can remove shellac.

If none of these work, your piano will likely need refinishing work to remove the stain and bring it back to its original finish.

If you were able to successfully remove the water ring, in many cases the affected area will be slightly dull. If this is the case, a piano finish cleaner and conditioner and help enhance the sheen. Never use a traditional furniture polish as they can dry the wood. But a finish cleaner designed for pianos can keep piano wood from drying and cracking and enhance a beautiful luster finish in the process. Contact us and we’ll help you select the right finishing product for you.

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28 October 2015 How Humidity Affects Your Piano

How Humidity Affects Your Piano

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No matter what brand of piano you own, the majority of the parts within your piano are made from wood. In order to function and produce sound, the wooden parts are put to use.

Wet, humid conditions allow wooden parts to swell. Dry, parched conditions allow wooden parts to shrink and crack. And here in Memphis both types of weather conditions exist as we move from summer to winter and back again.How Humidity Affects Your Piano

While either condition can be damaging, it’s the swaying back and forth that causes damage to escalate at a quicker pace. Dry conditions can cause wood to crack, followed by moisture penetrating the wood and allowing it to swell into more damage. This back and forth movement can quickly spiral into serious damage.

And that damage impacts the parts of your piano in different ways.

The soundboard, for example, already has am enormous amount of pressure on it. If humid conditions cause it to swell, the soundboard develops what is called a pressure ridge. At this point, a pressure ridge is not considered a crack, yet this is the most common area where a crack can develop. If conditions change and the environment drys, a crack can occur. Soundboard cracks will not cause much of a problem to overall tone until the soundboard ribs loosen and begin to rattle.

More serious damage can occur with the piano pinblock. The pinblock holds the tuning pins. The quality and the condition of the pinblock determines the tightness of the tuning pins. It is the most significant factor for maintaining tuning stability. When humidity swings occur, it can cause the pinblock to shift and crack, which will reduce the amount of pressure over time. Most new pianos leave the factory with a measure of 75 to 85 inch pounds, with a minimum acceptable level of 50 inch pounds. If it dips below these levels, the tone will begin to deteriorate.

If the tightness drops to 30 inch pounds or below, the piano is no longer considered tunable.

To avoid purchasing a piano that has serious humidity damage, it’s important to find a reputable dealer that ensures every piano sold is in top quality condition. If you have any questions about how humidity impacts your piano, and how you can keep your piano out of harms way, just ask.

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24 October 2015 Piano Key Repair and Restoration

Piano Key Repair and Restoration

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What’s one of the first parts of a piano that show their wear and tell you it’s time for a little R&R (repair and restoration)?

Your piano keys.

Maybe they are missing, broken, chipped or damaged. Maybe they are unlevel and hard to play. Maybe they wiggle from side to side. Or maybe some go down and some don’t as your fingers attempt to carry out a tune.Piano Key Repair and Restoration

When it’s time to repair or restore your piano keys, one or more things may be in order.

Key top replacement – In some cases by simply replacing the veneer on the keys will bring new life to your piano. Keep in mind that there are special considerations for vintage pianos that still maintain ivory keys.

 

  • Key bed – In some cases, piano key restoration must include the entire piano key structure down to the key bed. It will include repairing and replacing many of the parts, including key bushings and balance pins.
  • Balance rail pins – The balance rail pins are what each key lever balances on when the key is pressed to activate the hammer. These rail pins can rust and corrode over time.
  • Front rail pins – The front rail pins are located at the front of the key bed and hold the key in position at the front. These rail pins can also rust and corrode over time.
  • Key bushings – Each of the key levers has a hole that fits over the balance and front rail pins. Around these holes is a piano felt which can compress and wear down over time.
  • Capstans – The capstan is the cap that is screwed into the key lever in the back to connect the lever with the action. It can oxidize over time and cause friction between the lever and the action.
  • Key buttons – Each of the key levers has a small button glued into place that help balance the rail pin. These can easily become damaged over time.

If your piano isn’t playing the way it used to and you know your keys are at least part of the problem, the best place to start is by talking with a quality piano restoration company. In many cases we see people attempting to fix problems with piano keys themselves, or trusting the work to someone that is anything but professional, and it shows in the finished results.

Your piano keys bring life to your music. Without properly functioning keys, your music will never be up to par. If you have questions about your piano keys, give us a call today.

Filed Under: Owning a Piano, Piano Renovation, Piano Restoration Tagged With: ,
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.

Filed Under: Buying a Piano, Owning a Piano Tagged With:
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.

Filed Under: Buying a Piano, Owning a Piano Tagged With: ,
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