28 December 2013 Does Wood Matter When Selecting A Piano?

Does Wood Matter When Selecting A Piano?

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Ready to buy a new piano? What should you look at when making your final selection?

Since the majority of any piano – 85 percent – is made up of wood, its one of the first and best places to begin. Tone is created by the construction of the piano. And since that comes down to the type of woods and how it was finished, looking to the wood first will give you a good feel of the overall quality of the instrument.

Does Wood Matter When Selecting A Piano?Maple is a very strong wood that can be moulded to form the intricate action parts within a piano. It has a tight, straight grain that gives a piano shape retention and durability. It also gives a vice-like grip on things like tuning pins and bridge pins.

Spruce is one of the most commonly applied woods in creating the piano sound board. Because of its design and structure, it is considered one of the top tonal woods, and is often used in both pianos and acoustical guitars. Spruce is also often used as the braces for a piano because of its longer fibers.

Beech wood is typically used to manufacture the pin block or wrest plank. Pin blocks have up to 240 holes, one needed for every string within the piano. Pin blocks need to have a tight fitting placement to allow the turning pins. This tight fitting is what produced sound quality. Beech wood is both ridged and responds well to drilling and retaining its shape throughout the process and stress.

Bass wood is lightweight and easy to work with. Because it can be easily cut and crafted, its often chosen to create the piano keyboard.

Miscellaneous woods are used for many of the other production processes. For example, walnut makes an excellent choice for the cabinetry of a piano, including the architectural work and the decorative panels. Spruce makes a good choice for soundboards, keybeds, and upright back posts because of its lightness in weight and strength across the grains of the wood.

Does wood matter? In many ways it does. Start your searching process by asking what the piano was made from, and how it will impact the final sound and performance. You may be surprised at the answer.

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24 December 2013 Why Do They Prop Open A Grand Piano?

Why Do They Prop Open A Grand Piano?

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When you think music, pianos are the most common instrument that comes to mind.

And with good reason.

Pianos are the most popular acoustic instrument. With a 300 year track record, they have an incomparable tone, and a sound producing mechanism that has been refined to match and produce just about any kind of music possible. Very few instruments are as versatile and show up in as many places – from jazz bands to orchestras to rock groups – you’ll always find a piano as the center point.

Why Do They Prop Open A Grand Piano?And when it comes to pianos, the top piano in everyone’s mind, the one piano that piano players desire to have more than any other, is a grand piano. Its their look, their style and their tone. Nothing says class quite like a baby grand showcased in your living quarters.

Grand pianos themselves are large and take up a lot of space in your home. Ranging anywhere from 5 to 7 feet and beyond, the aren’t something you buy without taking into consideration its final location. (You wouldn’t buy one for a 900 square foot apartment already stuffed with furniture.)

Add into it a grand piano goes beyond taking up horizontal space; it also takes up vertical space. The enormous lid is the one feature that gives a grand piano a further unique look and quality.

But have you ever asked yourself why? Is there a reason you prop open the lid to the piano?

Actually there is.

By propping open the lid, you can see the metal strings and other mechanical components. The look alone can be fascinating to those enjoying. But there’s more.

Because the sound of a piano starts inside the instrument with all of those strings and mechanical parts, you’ll get a louder, more resonant sound when you leave the lid open. It allows sound to project off the wooden soundboard. And in the grand piano, the strings are horizontal, which means they are parallel to the ground. Sound travels upward, meaning if the lid is left open, the sound moves from the ground up towards the ceiling, filling the room.

Whether you simply play by yourself, or love to entertain on a regular basis, a grand piano is truly an experience you’ll treasure for always.

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18 December 2013 A Basic Guide To Piano Music

A Basic Guide To Piano Music

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Go into any music store, and the one thing you’ll find in abundance is piano music. From contemporary, to pop, to classical and beyond, there are options for just about everyone wanting a chance to play their favorites on the piano. But where did it start from?

A Basic Guide To Piano MusicPiano music has been around in some form or another for quite a few centuries now.

Piano music publishing was well established in the United States by the early 19th century. Piano music was extremely popular since before the 1800s, but the industry was eventually replaced by the record industry. There were several difficulties in translating the new technology of printing to music.

14th and 15th centuries

Prior to the 15th century, western music was written by and preserved in the form of manuscripts. These were bound in large volumes. An example of these manuscripts is medieval manuscripts of monophonic chant.

The first music that was machine-printed came out in the 1470s, and in 1501, Harmonice Musices Odhecaton A was published. It included 96 pieces of printed music.

The printing process for music was a long and tedious process that required two phases. Even after the advent of music printing, much music continued to exist solely in manuscripts well into the 18th century.

1800s

In the 1820s, there was a good amount of piano music published using the lithographic process. By the 19th century, the music industry became dominated by publishers of sheet music.

Parlor music became extremely popular in the 1860s. Music publishers soon realized the commercial value of printing ads on the blank pages of music. Companies even issued series of sheet music to help advertise their products, notably the Emerson Drug Company’s promotion of Bromo-Seltzer.

1900s and beyond

By the early 20th century, the phonograph along with recorded music began to gain popularity. Radio also became popular during the 1920s, and this eventually made piano music publishers less important.

Printed music had a huge effect on musicians, especially amateur ones. Composers could write more, and professional players now had a bigger selection of music for them to choose from and use.

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30 November 2013 What To Do When Your Child Doesn’t Want To Practice The Piano

What To Do When Your Child Doesn’t Want To Practice The Piano

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Some things sound like a great idea when you first start them. You son wants to play the piano. You support it because of all the good things you’ve read about piano playing. It improves math skills. It even improves SAT scores, which could be great for your son when its college time.

But that’s a long way out.

What To Do When Your Child Doesn’t Want To Practice The PianoAt first he loves it. However, once the new wears off, you may find yourself facing a child that does not want to practice anymore. He may have grown bored with the instrument, he may have hit a plateau in his studies, which is preventing him from reaching the next skill level, or he may simply not be in the mood to practice.

Here are some tips to help you when your child does not want to practice the piano.

  • The most important thing you can do to encourage a good practice session each and every time is to make it a part of your regular schedule. Make each practice session occur every week on the same days and at the same time. This will help your child get into the habit of practicing because he will know when practice is expected.
  • Children need routines and schedules, so make sure you stick to the schedule each week. Once you have a routine, do not change it. You may run into some stubborn refusal now and then, but you should be able to get through it without too much trouble because you can remind your child of the weekly schedule.
  • If your child fights you when it is time to practice and refuses to practice, it may be time to sit him down and see if there is a deeper reason for his refusal. Is he at a point where he’s not enjoying the music he’s playing? Maybe you can talk with the instructor and find more challenging or more relevant material. Does he want to quit? Maybe its because he’s being challenged and he is having trouble getting past it. Remind him that with every success comes challenge. Help him discover ways to reach beyond this bump in the road, and find a way to accomplish the task.
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The Piano – A Way To Inspire You

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The Internet is filled with YouTube videos that are circulated by the millions. Shared on Facebook, sent via email, and talked about with friends over lunch.

What makes something awe-inspiring is to see something that you never have experienced before.

We see cat videos, dump tactics by people that should know better, or occasionally, something that makes us stand up and truly say wow.

I’ve found a couple videos that do exactly that.

The first – a boring task becomes something exciting that people just can’t stay away from. Who can resist playing the piano simply by walking up and down the stairs?

Next, watch Tom Hanks 25 years after the infamous piano scene in his movie Big recreate it with Sandra Bullock.

And finally, one of the most inspirational videos – how a young autistic boy took piano playing to a whole different level than we could ever imagine. Music, piano playing, and the brain. Its amazing what they can all do together. Watch and be inspired. I was.

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19 November 2013 Tips for Adults to Master Playing the Piano

Tips for Adults to Master Playing the Piano

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There is a difference between playing a few quick pieces on the piano, and mastering it. Mastering the piano means understanding all the various aspects of taking up the instrument; tone, musicality, reading music, understanding rhythm, and much more.

Tips for Adults to Master Playing the PianoWhile a child is in the learning cue – they understand the process of learning new things as they do it every day – those same tasks can come much slower once we hit adulthood.

That doesn’t mean you can’t do it; it simply means you have to dedicate yourself to the art form of mastering the piano.

1. Study whichever genre you want.

As an adult, you have an idea of what you want to play and what type of music you enjoy. Therefore, you should ensure you learn whichever genre you want first. Some people believe they need to learn classical music before learning jazz and pop – which is incorrect. In fact, learning popular music is the ideal technique when being taught the art of mastering the piano. Many people do not need to even read sheet music when learning popular music since the chords are straightforward. Classical music is less straightforward and takes more time to learn. Advancing from popular music to classical music works best when studying music theory. Plus it gives you a reason to continue – you enjoy what you’re doing.

2. Children have less mental distractions – not more receptive abilities.

In many cases it is easier for children to learn material, but this does not mean they learn any quicker. Children have less mental-clutter, which makes studying easier for them – making the ability to learn material quicker than adults can learn. However, adults are often more in the mindset to take on a new project. They are after all the ones who are pursuing the piano, unlike a child that may have been signed up by a parent because it’s good for him. Do not think that as an adult, you learn much slower – you just have more things on your plate, which interferes with overall learning capabilities. Make piano a priority, and you’ll learn as quickly as others.

3. Play for as long as you want when practicing.

With anything in life, you cannot force yourself to practice for something you have no ambition to learn. If you do a 10-minute session at the piano and get fatigued or bored, get up and do something else. Micro-sessions of 10 minute plays several times out of the day are better than sitting down for long periods of time in which you are bored and distracted. You should play as long as you feel content to play. Do not force yourself to play for long sessions unless motivated because it can hinder your overall practice sessions.

4. Look at your hands as you play.

When learning the piano, it is okay to look at your hands. Teachers scold their students for looking at their hands and force them to look at the sheet music. This is not helpful at all unless you have excelled with sight-reading, which is looking at the sheet music to see what is coming ahead. However, it is natural to look at your hands when playing, so do not feel like you should not look at your hands. Play the piano however you feel most comfortable.

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15 November 2013 What’s The Difference Between A Keyboard and a Regular Piano?

What’s The Difference Between A Keyboard and a Regular Piano?

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You’re ready to fulfill a lifelong dream of playing the piano. But as you look around, you discover there are many options available to you today. Should you purchase a small keyboard to get started? Or should you invest in the piano you’ve always wanted?

What’s The Difference Between A Keyboard and a Regular Piano?If you are considering learning how to play a keyboard or piano, you’ll want to know what the differences are between the two. There are some clear differences between keyboards and regular pianos that can make it easier for you to decide which would be easier to learn, or which instrument to own.

One of the most obvious differences is the fact that most keyboards are electronic and therefore need some sort of power such as batteries or power cord, while pianos do not need power to function.

Keyboards obviously do not take up a lot of space. In fact, many can fit on your lap or a small table. They are portable, and you can take them virtually anywhere for easy transport. However, pianos take a large amount of space, and you can’t take a piano with you in your car.

Keyboards offer the chance for privacy and less noise for your neighbors because they have a headphone jack. They never need to be tuned, and they promote creative experimentation. But most keyboards will not have the same touch as a piano, despite the fact that may come with keys that are weighted.

Pianos offer deep, complex sounds that you can’t get from a keyboard. The sound is raw with a variety of textures, whereas a keyboard offers effects and patches for experimentation. Pianos can usually not be muted, and they need to be tuned regularly. Pianos offer better, more complex sound quality, while keyboards offer you the ability to compose music you can bring in and control in a computerized fashion.

Keyboards cost considerably less than pianos, but they cannot compete with the depth of classical sound that a piano can provide. Though pianos are hard to transport due to their size and they are quite expensive, they cannot compete with the sound variation that a keyboard provides.

Which is the right choice for you?

Either way, come in an visit us and we’ll let you experiment with both to find the instrument perfect for you.

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12 November 2013 Dealing With Stage Fright Before A Piano Recital

Dealing With Stage Fright Before A Piano Recital

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We’ve all been there: the jitters, the butterflies, the nausea, the shakiness…all tell tale signs of stage fright.  While a minor case of nerves Dealing With Stage Fright Before A Piano Recitalcan enhance a performance, full blown stage fright can completely derail a recital.  So, how can you get control of the nerves before they get control of you?

Breathe – While this may seem simplistic and obvious, when we get nervous we often forget to breathe.  Slow, deep breaths can begin the process of steadying the nerves and clearing your mind.

Think Positive – If you spend the moments before your recital undermining yourself and your abilities, you will suffer for it.  Instead, remind yourself that you can do this.  You have done the prep work, you are ready.  Your fingers know what to do all you have to do is trust them.

Visualize – Imagine yourself playing, and playing well.  Picture a great performance.  If you imagine yourself failing, you probably will fail.  If you imagine yourself succeeding, you are much more likely to actually succeed.

Eat – While a heavy meal before a performance can make you sluggish (and potentially sick), light foods before a performance will give you the energy necessary to play with energy and enthusiasm.

Practice Performing – Before the big day, set up mock performances so you can practice handling your nerves.  Collect a few friends that don’t normally hear you practice and play through your recital.  If you can set up this mock performance in the venue of the real recital, that would be even better.

Remember you are among friends – The people gathered to hear you play are not waiting for you to mess up.  They are there to cheer you on and witness your success.  You are among friends.  Success will be met with joy; any glitches will be met with support and love.  Remind yourself that you don’t need to fear criticism because the people there are there for you.

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9 November 2013 Playing The Piano For Body, Mind and Soul

Playing The Piano For Body, Mind and Soul

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Music. Since the beginning of time, music has been an important part of being human. We tell stories through music. We share ideas. We celebrate. We relax. Without music in our lives, life simply wouldn’t be as we know it today.

Playing The Piano For Body, Mind and SoulAnd while everyone seems to be enjoying their own style of music 24/7 as they walk around with earbuds in, there is something to be said about pulling the earbuds out and making music on your own. Nothing is more satisfying or more therapeutic than creating music all around you. And nothing makes it more possible than playing the piano.

Continuous studies show that playing the piano offers a wealth of benefits: from physical and intellectual, to social and emotional. It doesn’t matter if you are 5 or 95, anyone can sit down, put their hands on the keyboard, and instantly feel music as they play.

If you want to start your young child on the road to successful school years, before they hit the books, have them “hit” the piano instead. Piano lessons and piano practice helps develop our bodies and improves fine motor skills. It increases our creativity and can provide ways to stay calm and focused no matter what challenges lie before us. And it has also been shown that playing the piano regularly through childhood has been linked to better math scores and increased averages on tests like the SAT.

There is also increased evidence that psychological benefits continue no matter what age you play. A recent study has shown that piano practicing activates the cerebellum, and therefore can provide benefits to stroke victims as they are regaining language and fine motor skills. And studies on the elderly learning how to play for the first time show increases in levels of the human growth hormone, which causes slowing in aging characteristics such as osteoporosis, energy levels, wrinkling, muscle mass, and aches and pains.

And because piano playing has an almost meditative quality to it, piano practicing can also benefit in physical effects such as reducing anxiety, heart and respiratory rates, reducing cardiac complications, lowering blood pressure, and increased immune responses. When people play the piano on a regular basis, they experience less stress, loneliness and depression.

All great reasons to make playing the piano a part of your regular routine.

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30 October 2013 The Basic Rules for Caring For Your Piano

The Basic Rules for Caring For Your Piano

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A piano is a major investment, and it needs some tender loving care from time to time.

Without the proper maintenance and care, your piano will decrease in value. If you keep all of the parts working well and the piano itself maintained, you can enjoy your piano for many, many years, and perhaps pass it down as a family heirloom. However, this is only possible if you take care of your piano.

The Basic Rules for Caring For Your PianoHere are some basic rules for caring for your piano so that it will last will years:

Get your piano tuned. It is a worthwhile investment to keep your piano in tune. Tuning is not synonymous with use. Many people think the more it is used, the more tuning it will need. A piano is tuned to maintain its quality, whether its used every day or only once a year. Check with your dealer, but as a general guideline it is recommended that a piano technician tune the piano twice a year, three or four times a year if it is brand new. It will sound its absolute best when it is properly tuned.

The best times to have your piano tuned is in the fall and in the summer, when transitions are occurring in the weather and the environment.

Be mindful of where you put your piano. Generally, you don’t want to keep your piano in a place where the humidity and temperature constantly fluctuates. Outside walls, near large windows or sliding doors, or in drafty areas can compromise the quality of your piano. Also avoid sitting next to a heating/cooling duct, or in an area where it will get daily doses of sunlight.

Keep your piano clean. It’s a good idea to keep your piano covered when not in use to help keep it clean and free from dust accumulation. You can periodically clean the piano keys yourself by wiping them with a damp cloth and again with a dry cloth. You should never use chemicals of any kind on your piano keys.

Maintain the piano’s finish. You can maintain the finish of your piano by wiping it with a damp cotton cloth. You can also remove fingerprints with a reliable emulsion-type, water-based solution. You should avoid spray polishes that contain silicone.

Play your piano regularly. Idle pianos not only fail to get the proper maintenance they require, but they require tuning and much more after sitting with no activity. Plus, if you play regularly, you’ll get more practice!

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