18 October 2013 Staying Motivated While Learning to Play the Piano

Staying Motivated While Learning to Play the Piano

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Staying Motivated While Learning to Play the Piano

The piano is a timeless instrument that has been played by many throughout the past several centuries. It remains as one of the most difficult instruments to learn, but it appeals to the masses in a way no other instrument has done. Due to this, many people worldwide introduce their children to the piano at an early age to ensure that proper posture and technique is utilized.

Staying Motivated While Learning to Play the PianoTips for Keeping Your Piano Inspiration Going

Although a most desired instrument, piano enthusiasts begin to lose inspiration and motivation once they realize how difficult the instrument is to learn. However, here are several tips to take into advisement while learning the piano to keep the inspiration and motivation alive:

Tip 1 – Hire a piano teacher or expert to teach new techniques.

Nothing helps more than having someone harping over you several times a week to ensure you are practicing, no matter how much you do not want to do so. It will be vital for all learning pianists to hire a teacher at some point so they can get proper advisement and become the best pianist possible.

Tip 2 – Never set a deadline.

Practicing for a while each day is the best method since, as they say, “Practice makes perfect.” However, never practice to a set time. Instead, try establishing goals that are more meaningful – practice scales five times, and play through newest song three times. When you get the motivation to play each day, play for as long as you want. This ensures you never get exhausted of the piano and it will always be an enjoyable experience. The piano should be an outlet to relieve stress, not a cause of stress.

Tip 3 – Play songs that interest you.

Finding songs that you enjoy playing will make the experience more positive. Pianists never excel when they work on masterpieces that they do not pour their heart and soul into it. Beethoven and Mozart, two of the most popular pianists in history, only made masterpieces that they felt were adequate and enjoyable for them. Following in their footsteps implies playing music from the soul, not what you think will “impress” people.

Tip 4 – Never Worry About Making Mistakes

Piano is not an easy instrument to learn and mistakes are bound to happen. When you begin training, expect to make a fair number of mistakes. Practicing enhances your overall playing style and lessens the number of mistakes made. Live by the quote, “Practice makes perfect.” The longer you train and practice on the piano, the less mistakes you will eventually make.

Patience is Key

The more patience you instill within yourself while training on the piano, the more motivated you will be to play every day. Ensure to never play longer than you can manage and just keep in mind that you are human. You will lose interest for a few days, you will make mistakes and you will master the piano on your own terms.

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15 October 2013 How To Sit At The Piano

How To Sit At The Piano

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How To Sit At The PianoWhether you are just learning how to play the piano, or you have been playing for years, posture at the piano is essential to comfortable playing. If you are not sitting in the correct position at the piano, you may find yourself with a sore back or neck. You may also find yourself struggling to play the instrument. Here are some tips to keep in mind to ensure that you are always sitting in the right position at the piano.

  • Sit with only your knees under the piano keys. Do not sit all the way forward in the same manner that you sit at your desk. Your thighs should not be under the piano keys – only your knees. If you sit too far forward, your arms and hands will not be in a comfortable playing position.
  • Make sure your feet are flat on the floor. Your legs should be in a relaxed, comfortable position with your feet just on the floor. You should not have to stretch your feet to place them flat on the floor. You also should not have to over-bend your knees. Your feet should just reach the floor in the flat, relaxed position. If necessary, use a small step stool underneath your feet to make sure your legs are in the right position.
  • Do not sit on the entire width of the bench – only the front half. This will keep your upper body free for movement as you play the entire expanse of the keys.
  • Think parallel when sitting at the piano. Your forearms should be parallel to the floor when your hands are on the keys. Your thighs should also be parallel to the floor or nearly parallel to the floor. Keep your music in front of you at eye level. If you need a boost to make sure you are sitting at the right height and in the right position, use a small pillow or cushion.
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11 October 2013 When Its Time To Upgrade Your Piano

When Its Time To Upgrade Your Piano

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Lets say your child announces they want to play soccer. You sign them up for a soccer team and you head to your first meeting. There they supply you with the list. So you take it out and start buying everything on the list. Team uniform – shorts, shirts, socks. A practice ball in the appropriate size. And of source a great pair of soccer shoes that help you run and play better.

When Its Time To Upgrade Your PianoYou would never think of having your daughter show up in a pair of her Mary Jane shoes. She’d fall down and hurt herself. So sticking with the appropriate equipment is mandatory – you understand it and you comply.

The same thing applies in the music world.

When your child announces that she wants to start playing the piano, you do your due diligence and find out what its all about. You find a local piano teacher that is willing to start piano lessons every week. You’ll also need to invest in a piano and the music required by the teacher.

Next comes shopping. And sticker shock. Pianos are how much?

For many people, the sticker shock wins out and they look for ways around investing in a piano. “Who knows if she’ll even like it,” they think. “Won’t one of those digital keyboards work at first until we make sure she likes it?”

It makes no sense to spend hundreds of dollars on soccer uniforms, lessons and games, equipment and practice gear, only to refuse to buy the proper shoes for your daughter to play in. Its setting her up for failure from the start.

Likewise, not buying the proper instrument for her to practice and train on is setting her up for failure right from the start.

There is more to learning how to play the piano then learning which finger goes on which key. Piano is all about sound and acoustics. Its making the connection to what you’re reading on the music, to how your fingers connect with the keys, to the sounds you are producing. If she isn’t producing a quality sound, frustration sets in. And the desire leaves.

If you’ve invested in a digital piano just to see if your child “will stick with it”, you may be setting them up for failure right from the beginning.

Don’t face sticker shock alone from looking at a few price tags online. Instead, come into the store and partner with us. There are many options for you to get a quality piano at a price you can afford. There are new and used options. There are ways to start out with a lower investment, knowing you can trade in and move up if your child continues in the future. You can learn the difference between different types of piano.

And more importantly, you can learn and hear the difference.

With just a few tips, you’ll be giving your child all she needs to move forward in a rewarding way, making music with one of the most popular instruments in the world today.

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2 October 2013 Piano Tuning Myths and Facts

Piano Tuning Myths and Facts

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Does a piano really only stay in top shape if its tuned and serviced several times per year?

What happens if you haven’t tuned your piano in a few years?

Piano Tuning Myths and Facts When it comes to pianos, they are more than a typical instrument you can put away in a case and hide from sight. Instead, a piano becomes a part of the décor in your home; an item that will provide years of entertainment and beauty for years to come if you service it on a regular basis. But what does that mean? Here are a few myths and facts to keep in mind for the piano in your home.

Myth #1: Time played determines how much tuning it requires.

Fact: Its easy to assume the more you play a piano, the more maintenance it will need. Conversely, if you rarely play it, it can survive long periods of time without tuning. However, no matter how often a piano is used and played, it still wears in a similar manner. Therefore all pianos – no matter how much use they receive – should be serviced and tuned on a regular basis.

The purpose of tuning is not to make your piano sound better. Instead, with regular maintenance, a technician can watch for preventative maintenance and determine the viability and integrity of the instrument. If a piano sounds good and works well, the user will enjoy making music more. And if you do decide to sell it in the future, you will have all the records you will need to prove the condition of your investment.

A new piano should be tuned two to four times per year. All pianos should be tuned at least once per year.

Myth #2: Only someone with a good musical ear can tune a piano

Fact: Makes sense, right? Tuning a piano means bringing it back into pitch and giving it good sound quality. But in reality, there is much more to tuning a piano than “listening” to the sound it makes.

A qualified piano tuner has special training to be able to tune temperament, hear beats and to learn effective hammer technique. It involves just as much maintenance to the pieces of the piano itself as it does listening to the music it makes.

Myth #3: Placement of a piano makes little impact on performance and tuning schedule

Fact: Humidity and dryness affect everything differently, and pianos are no exception. If your piano resides in a high humidity area, keeping windows closed around your piano and keeping the temperature at a fairly constant rate will improve the conditions of the piano. Also, if your piano is placed on an outside wall where it is exposed to humidity moving through the walls, or even cold spells in the winter, all will impact the overall sound quality of your piano.

Pianos have a lot of moving parts that are affected by all kinds of things. Weather, climate, even moving a piano can impact the sound quality and the performance of the internal pieces.

If you want to keep your investment in top shape, and keep your piano in top musical condition, set up a maintenance schedule with your local piano tuner on a regular basis.

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11 September 2013 Planning On Med School? Play The Piano

Planning On Med School? Play The Piano

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When you have a baby, you start the planning process almost from birth. Did they roll over in a timely manner? Are the talking at an age appropriate level? Are their motor skills developing according to age?

Planning On Med School? Play The PianoWhile its easy to focus in on the little details, behind the scenes you are probably focusing on the big picture as well. What preschool will give him the biggest benefits? What high school will help him get into the best college?

Today’s world focuses in on academics – make sure they get plenty of math and science. Yet there is one underlying “secret” that people have known about for centuries and that still to this day gets very little attention in the school systems. That is:

A musically inclined child will do better in all aspects of education.

When middle school and high school students participated in musical activities, they scored significantly higher than their non-musical friends on the standardized tests.

Starting piano lessons at an early age can help understand difficult concepts in math. Remember fractions? Some children naturally understand them better than others, and its no secret why. When a small child sits through piano lessons, they are exposed to the relationships between eighth, quarter, half and whole notes. And when they see the same concepts in math class in the second or third grade, they will naturally understand them than their non-musical friends.

Repeated surveys have been done on college majors and their likelihood on getting into medical school. Studies show that as many as 66 percent of the music majors who applied to medical school were admitted … the highest of any group that applied.

Want to help your child with retention? Give them piano lessons. Piano lessons take focus, repetition, and determination. When kids sit through piano lessons week after week, month after month dedicating time to learning a new song, they increase the part of the brain used for pattern recognition and also improves self esteem along the way.

Have you ever learned something through patterns and repetition? You would do better with piano lessons in your background. Piano lessons develop rhythm skills, which equate to a wide variety of learning patterns throughout a child’s school career.

Want to improve your child’s SAT scores? Keep the music flowing through high school. Surveys show that musically inclined teenagers will score as much as 57 points higher on the verbal portion of the test and as much as 40 points higher on the math portion, according to The College Board.

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6 September 2013 Celebrating National Piano Month

Celebrating National Piano Month

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September is here and with it comes a celebration of pianos! That’s right – Celebrating National Piano MonthSeptember is National Piano month. It is a time to reflect upon all things that are good about pianos and what their beautiful music has brought to our lives. Here are some interesting facts about music to help you celebrate National Piano month.

  • Music has been proven to help students that struggle in academics. Studies have shown that children exposed to musical programs demonstrated improved test scores after only a few months of regular exposure.
  • Studies have also shown that children involved in instrumental music programs consistently scored higher on standardized tests than their non-musical classmates.
  • Students that create their own music also score higher on standardized testing than non-musical peers.
  • College graduates with a major in music are more likely to be accepted into medical school.
  • Music programs, especially instrumental programs, can help a child score well in math. Learning to read music and play an instrument requires the use of various forms of complex skills, such as ratios and fractions – all learned skills that can be applied in math classes.
  • Helping a young child to learn about rhythm can help her be more successful in learning other skills during early childhood education.
  • The SAT scores of students taking musical courses are, on average, higher in the areas of math and verbal skills.
  • Musical students, especially college students, are healthier on an emotional level than non-musical students. They experience less anxiety and stress and have more confidence in themselves in test-taking scenarios.
  • The value of music throughout education is demonstrated around the world. The most academic countries – Japan, the Netherlands, and Hungary – all consider musical education to be imperative to a child’s overall education.

It is clear that music is an important part of any child’s life, whether in elementary school or college. Music broadens the mind and the horizons, giving children the solid footing they need to reach higher than ever!

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3 September 2013 How Long Will A Piano Last?

How Long Will A Piano Last?

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When you think about a piano, you probably think about longevity. People pass down pianos from generation to generation, right? They are more than a simple instrument – they are actually an item of décor that you build your room around.

How Long Will A Piano Last?Whether you have a piano that’s been in your family for a long time, or you’re thinking about buying either a new or used one to bring into your home, how long will a piano last?

Yes, pianos are among the most durable of personal possessions. They have beautiful cabinetry and elegant design. They produce beautiful sound. And you may even have a room in your home especially designed to showcase its quality and abilities.

While pianos will last a long time and be a part of your family for a long time to come, remember, they are just large machines made of wood, felt and metal. Any change can impact the quality of the piano. How often the piano is moved. The conditions of the environment in which the piano exists in. Daily use and abuse. All of this and more will impact the quality of your piano.

While all of this has an impact, overall you can look at a piano by the year to determine how long your piano will last.

First Year

The first year is where most changes can occur. Pitch will change and drop as the new strings stretch and settle in. Make sure you stick with the manufacturers recommended three to four turnings during this first year to keep things in equilibrium. Without these first important tunings, a piano will be more unstable in the future.

Two to Ten Years

During the next few years, pitch stabilizes, assuming regular tunings and few moves and changes in environment. Your piano will continue to settle at a much slower rate than during the first year. Periodic tuning and maintenance will make sure the piano’s responsiveness and tone continues to stay in top working order.

Ten to Thirty Years

The action parts of a piano continue to wear, depending on the extent of use and abuse. If the piano suffers wide temperature and humidity swings, deterioration will occur quicker. While tuning is important, its also important to focus in on correcting loose pins, replacing rusty strings, fixing soundboard cracks, and working on improving finishes.

Thirty to Fifty Years

After years of playing, hammers and action parts become worn. Strings may provide dull sounds, and tones may lose their clarity. Eventually adjustment loses its potential. Instead, parts may need replacing to keep tone quality in how the overall piano works.

Fifty Years and More

From this point forward, full maintenance can mean different things. Should the piano be replaced? Should it be reconditioned or rebuilt?

Sound quality is what is impacted most. Its hard to enjoy playing when tone quality is compromised. Good performance requires a piano to be in good condition. If your piano means a lot to you, staying in touch with a quality piano maintenance contractor will be your best course of action.

Eventually, it becomes less practical to continue maintaining a very old piano, unless it reaches rare or antique quality. However, that’s a long way off, right?

No matter what piano is currently in your home – or which piano you are considering to purchase – a piano will enrich your life for a long time to come.

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27 August 2013 A Basic Guide To Tuning A Piano

A Basic Guide To Tuning A Piano

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What does tuning a piano mean?

Have you ever watched a guitar player tune his guitar before he plays? He adjusts the strings to make sure they are perfectly in balance and create harmony while playing. That’s the same concept with tuning a piano. Tuning consists of adjusting the tension at which the internal strings are stretched using a tuning hammer. They are tuned to vibrate at a pleasing harmony to match in accordance with other instruments and to give it aesthetically pleasing sounds when played.

How often should my piano be tuned?

Tuning a piano is really determined by a variety of things. First, how sensitive to the sound are you? Some musicians are automatically attuned to notes and can instantly tell when a piano is out of tune. Depending on your environment, a piano is sensitive to climate and the humidity and may need adjusting in highs and lows. How much do you play? For most people, one to three times per year is adequate. For a professional musician or an instructor, more frequent tuning is necessary. Concert pianos are generally tuned before every performance.A Basic Guide To Tuning A Piano

Why does a piano need to be tuned after being moved?

When you move, a lot of changes and stress occur during the process. Your piano may experience bumps, thumps and impacts as it makes its way from your old location, into the truck, and into your new location. There may also be a change in climate and humidity. Vertical pianos may be affected by unevenness in the level of the floor, or differences in the level between old and new locations.

Should a piano be tuned immediately its in its new location?

There is an art to moving a piano and tuning a piano – they usually aren’t performed by the same person. And in most cases a piano adjusts over time to its move and its new location. A piano may sound fine when its placed in its new home, yet a week later sound out of tune. Its best to move a piano and let it settle in. Then a week or two later hire a piano tuner to bring your instrument up to its full potential.

Is there a “best” location for my piano in my home?

The best location for your piano is in an area where temperature and humidity will remain as constant as possible. Try to keep your piano away from big drafts, open windows and direct sunlight. You should also place your piano away from heating registers, radiators, windows or doors that will open and close on a consistent basis.

Can I play a piano that is out of tune?

Of course any piano can be played. Depending on your ear, you may not like the music that comes from the instrument. All pianos go out of tune continuously. If your child is trying to learn on a piano that is out of tune, she may not practice at the same level as if it were in tune. When she “hears” the way its supposed to sound at the instructors location, and has trouble making the same sounds in her home, frustration can soon set in. Quality does matter when trying to master individual pieces of music.

Is there anything I should do before a piano tuner comes to my home?

In order to tune your piano, the technician will probably need access to the entire piano. Remove sheet music, knickknacks, plants, decorations – anything sitting on any piece of the piano so access is quick. You may even vacuum underneath a grand piano, as the technician may have to lie under it to make an adjustment. Make a list of anything you’ve noticed. And make sure the surrounding area is quiet and well lit to allow the technician the easiest time possible to complete his work.

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20 August 2013 What Is A Used Piano Worth?

What Is A Used Piano Worth?

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If you are in the market for a piano, but cannot afford new, or you simply are not sure if you are ready for that type of investment, the used piano market is the place to start shopping.

What Is A Used Piano Worth?However, all used pianos are not equal.

Just as when you shop for a used car, you have to use your good judgment and do your research before buying a used piano. Knowing what a used piano is worth before you start negotiating with a seller may be the advantage you need to get a fair price.

The first thing you must remember about a piano’s worth is that the name really does say it all. When shopping for a used piano, steer clear of unknown brands. Stick with the trusted brands, such as Yamaha, Baldwin, and Boston.

Next, do your research ahead of time. When you find a piano you want to look at, spend some time on the internet researching that particular piano. Just because a seller wants a certain price does not mean the piano is worth that price. Research the market value to give yourself a starting point for negotiations.

When it is time for you to take a look at the piano, pay attention to its appearance and sound quality. Make sure each key on the keyboard works. If the piano is extremely out of tune, it may be an indication of poor maintenance. Pianos require tuning and other forms of maintenance to ensure their longevity. Make sure you have the piano examined by a professional before taking the final plunge and making the purchase.

Finally, remember that you have other options besides private sellers. A visit to a used piano retailer may garner you the ideal piano at a price you can afford. Best of all, you will already have the peace of mind of knowing that piano has been certified for resale.

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16 August 2013 How To Buy Sheet Music

How To Buy Sheet Music

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There are two ways to play the piano.

The first is to play by ear. By listening to a song or a selection of music, a person “hears” the notes and can sit down at the piano and pick out the notes. The song comes together simply by playing around with the notes until you get it right.

How To Buy Sheet MusicThe second was is to use a tool – sheet music – to determine what notes should be played in what order. By incorporating the knowledge of written notes and converting them to notes on the keyboard, you can quickly interpret any music out of the piano.

While most of us will never be geniuses when it comes to playing by ear, most of us can learn to play the piano by learning how to read sheet music and turning that into a melody on the piano.

Sheet music has been used my composers for well over a thousands years. To ensure songs and music compositions were passed down through the generations, people developed musical notes and notation in written format. Each piece of music was transcribed by hand until around the 1400s when the printing press was invented and put into use throughout the world. From the 1500s forward, sheet music has been circulated and now allows people to share their musical compositions with anyone so musically inclined.

Sheet music as a whole comes in a variety of different formats. You can find individual songs printed in specific instrumental renditions. Or you can find sheet music in books based on instrument and theme. Its common to find music in a variety of genres, from classical to orchestral, from modern to musical or film soundtracks.

Piano music is different than other instrumental music in that piano sheet music will have two staves connected by a space. The music to be played by the right hand is on the top staff, called the treble. The music to be played by the left hand is on the bottom, or bass staff.

Sheet music can be purchased in a variety of ways. Come in and select your favorite sheet music – we have a variety of options available.

Do you have regular piano lessons? Different piano instructors prefer working with different types of music. They can easily provide you with sheet music both for practice and for entertainment, to keep you playing long after your lessons are through.

And if you enjoy collecting, sheet music can be quite a valuable collection. Autographed books of sheet music are common among collectors. Autographed sheet music that comes from films or theater productions are often signed by the composer and performers, making them valuable in a variety of ways.

Have a specific need? Let us know and we can work to get you the music you are looking for. Another great option is to search on Google the precise music you are looking for, especially if it is older, out of date and print, or even falls into the collectible line.

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