22 November 2017 How Playing A Concert Piano Changes Sound Quality

How Playing A Concert Piano Changes Sound Quality

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What’s your dream as a piano player? Do you desire to play in some of the best concert halls in the world? 

As a musician, you develop a special appreciation for your instrument. Violinists, trumpet players, flutists – they all search out the perfect instrument that will allow them to create beautiful music. 

But piano players are different. In most cases, a piano player walks into a concert hall and performs on the instrument already on stage. 

That first touch establishes connection. You play something. A chord. A bar from your favorite song. And you begin to feel with the piano. How Playing A Concert Piano Changes Sound Quality

Most piano players will tell you they’ve played on good pianos – and not so good. They’ve plucked out tunes on all sizes and shapes, all manufacturers, all price points. And they will tell you that most of it doesn’t matter. Smaller can be better. There are hundreds of variables that go into the final decision. And even then, it’s often at the discretion of the piano player. 

From the first notes, a player will understand the capabilities of the piano in front of them. The more they play, the more they will adjust their playing ability. But nothing will change a bad piano and make it better. It doesn’t have tonal quality. It doesn’t have a rich sound that can be pulled from a good one. 

A piano that feels like it’s a continuation of their hands, from their thoughts to their hands to their fingers to the keys, that will help create beautiful music. 

When playing a piano in a concert hall, a pianist will sit and warm up. They will play to build that connection with the instrument. They will request the help of a good, trained technician to adjust the tonal character here and there. Working with a skilled technician can take hours, even days to build the perfection between musician and piano. 

For a pianist, the piano should sing, have a rich and varied tone, every note rounded out in perfect tune. What they don’t like, what sounds flat or unvaried, that’s why they request changed. That’s where the work is done. 

But even after all that practice and work and fixing, something changes once again when the concert hall fills up, and the pianist sits down to play with the orchestra or band. It changes once again. 

The hall’s acoustics change with the change in attendees. Suddenly it’s no longer empty seats, but living, breathing warm bodies that change the acoustics once again. Silence may still be silent, but it is interlaced with breathing, coughing, humming. The music fills the spaces in a unique way. You can feel it. You can hear it. 

And when the concert ends, you stand up and walk away. Another concert, another town. And it begins again. 

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7 November 2017 The Most Famous Pianos In The World

The Most Famous Pianos In The World

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Have you fallen in love with the piano? When only the best will do, you can put one of the best on displays in your home. 

But not all pianos are for sale. You can’t play them. You can’t touch them. But you can see them. 

Mozart Museum

Head to Salzburg, and you’ll find many of the instruments Mozart used throughout his life on display. You’ll find the fortepiano that he used as a concert instrument and the clavichord he used to practice on. Mozart was a stickler for sound and preferred to bring his piano with him to concerts rather than using one provided by the hall. The Most Famous Pianos In The World

Beethoven Museum

One of the most legendary pianists was Ludwig van Beethoven. His compositions are still some of the most beloved of all times. You can step into his world if you visit Bonn, Germany and see not only where he lived but what he played. Like the piano given to him a year before his death, a piano built for extra volume by being quadruple-strung. 

Chopin Museum

Take a step back in time and visit the Chopin museum in Warsaw. Polish composer Frederic Chopin’s life is commemorated through personal items on display, such as the final piano he used to compose and write some of his most memorable pieces. 

Lennon’s Last Piano

The greatest pianos in the world don’t have to be centuries old. John Lennon’s last piano is on display at the Beatles Story. This was the piano named the John Lennon Piano due to his insistence on moving it everywhere he worked. This is the piano he played just hours before his death. 

Elvis’ Original Graceland Piano

You can’t think of music without adding Elvis Presley to the list. And if you head to Graceland, you’ll find one of the most memorable pianos Elvis owned. This white baby grand piano with gold accents was custom made and restored to how it was when Elvis used it to practice. 

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3 November 2017 Silent Piano Concerts: The Newest Rage

Silent Piano Concerts: The Newest Rage

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Looking for something to do on Saturday night? Want to experience something new?

You might try attending a silent piano concert. 

What’s that you say? A concert that’s silent? How can that be?

Silent piano concerts are a new invention that are sweeping the world. They are one of the most unusual events you’ll attend. Silent Piano Concerts: The Newest Rage

The idea is intriguing. Instead of sitting in a concert hall letting the sounds revolve around you, you stroll through the performance area instead. There you’ll find a series of piano, piano players in position pounding out their tunes. 

If you choose to listen, you pause, grab a pair of headphones and transport yourself away to listen in to what the artist is creating. 

Really, it’s not that difficult to understand how silent piano concerts evolved. As digital pianos became more prominent, one of the biggest factors of investing in one was the ability to play anywhere. In the middle of a crowded room. In an apartment complex filled with people. Pianists learned they could plug headphones into their piano and practice all hours of the day without interrupting the world rushing by. 

Imagine a pianist as they develop their rhythm, write their compositions, and play to the best of their ability. They don’t judge the sound based on the surrounding area. They judge it based on what occurs between the headphones, what they hear as the music envelopes them. 

Why shouldn’t you hear it that way too?

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15 October 2017 Practicing The Piano: Sometimes It’s About Reflection

Practicing The Piano: Sometimes It’s About Reflection

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As a parent, sometimes it’s difficult helping our children practice the piano. We want them to get better. To learn to love creating music and do it well. So we push. 

When they sit down, we listen for the details. We expect to hear warm ups – scales are usually in the mix. Then we expect to hear music. Possibly running through a song or two, or practicing a certain part. Over and over again. Practicing The Piano: Sometimes It’s About Reflection

We listen for it. We time it. We probe when we don’t hear what we anticipate. 

But sometimes there’s more to practicing the piano than hitting the keys and hammering out a tune. Sometimes it’s the introspect that makes a difference too. 

Imagine for a moment you’re making a fancy dinner for a special night. You’ve planned for this for days. You’ve shopped for the best ingredients. You’ve laid out the silver and china. You expect perfection. 

You add a little of this. Stir. Add a little bit more. It simmers. It blends. 

You take a spoonful and taste. You reflect. You determine it needs a little more of this. Or a little more of that. 

Reflection is a natural part of a cook’s repertoire. It’s something she does to ensure her meal turns out just the way she planned.  

The same can be said for a piano player. 

Music is something you create, you feel, and you hear. And each of those skills must be refined over and over again. 

Sure, you can practice several hours a day, beating out a tune over and over again. But what did you truly learn?

Instead, sitting down and feeling the music means the notes become an extension of who you are. That means understanding the music. That means feeling the notes. And reflecting on how you can put you into every step of the process. 

If you really want your child to love playing the piano and improve his or her skills, don’t just listen for the music. Ask about reflection. What does a song do for her? How does she feel it before she plays it? 

A little reflection can go a long way. It can help turn her into a lifelong lover of music. 

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4 October 2017 How To Use A Metronome In Piano Practice

How To Use A Metronome In Piano Practice

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Learning the piano isn’t just about plunking out a tune on the keys. Learning how to keep time and pace on the piano is one of the most important skills you’ll develop over time.

It’s also one of the most difficult skills to master.

That’s where a simple tool called a metronome can help.

A piano metronome is a small device that is designed to keep a beat at a certain timing. It’s used to help musicians play songs with proper time signature and at the right pace.

You’ll find today’s metronomes come in analog, electronic, or digital, each with their own individual characteristics.How To Use A Metronome In Piano Practice

The very basic analog metronomes are made of wood and use a small pendulum to keep time. They are sometimes best for a beginner because you can see and hear the tempo.

Electronic metronomes look like tiny radios. They sometimes can double as a tuning instrument too.

Digital metronomes are probably the easiest to find thanks to today’s technology. Look no further than your smartphone – there’s an app for that.

A metronome improves your musical abilities by helping you focus on your rhythm. While it’s important to know the notes of a song, it’s equally as important to know when and how fast or slow to play them. A metronome forces you to pay attention to time.

Metronomes force you to become a better learner. With a complicated piece of music, it can slow down the beat to help familiarize yourself with the music before speeding it up to its anticipated speed.

Metronomes are also great to help practice tempos outside of your comfort zone. A lot of today’s music is played in the standard 4/4 signature. But if you freestyle or play pieces using less common signatures, you can use the metronome to improve your technique and skills. Helping you become a better piano player overall.

Looking for a free metronome app? Here’s JoyTunes, a free app that is packed with a lot of different features. Even better, it coordinates with your Apple watch, making it always available to use.

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22 September 2017 Why Piano Apps Can Help Motivate A Piano Player

Why Piano Apps Can Help Motivate A Piano Player

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Have a child you’re trying to motivate to stick with playing the piano? There’s an app for that. 

For as long as the piano has been around, parents have worked hard to keep their kids motivated for practice. Today the problem is only amplified with our technological advances. Smartphones, tablets, computer games and even television are far more exciting than the average practice book. It can be tedious at best, especially when so many other things are vying for attention. 

Instead of fighting it, why not give into it instead? New digital tools can liven up your child’s practice routines in new and exciting ways. After all, smartphones have made almost everything in our lives better, why not practicing the piano? Why Piano Apps Can Help Motivate A Piano Player

It only takes a few clicks to open up a world of opportunity. Piano apps can help motivate a child through games or let them become the next maestro by conducting an orchestra. They can help a child write their own music or combine different sounds and record their own songs. We’ve even given you a few of our own favorites right here – and here – on our blog. 

There’s something fascinating about using a smartphone or tablet. You’ll see it in the faces of even the smallest child. Being able to slide, tap, and click away to play in a magical world is exciting. With the inclusion of a tablet into your weekly practice routine, it can add to the “coolness factor” that makes learning the piano even more thrilling. Before a child even knows it, they’ve improved their skills. And they can easily convert their knowledge from something they learned in a game to real world practicality. 

As a parent, it can be difficult to know the difference between playing and practicing. Your child’s piano teacher is a great resource for finding high quality apps that can help in the process. You can also learn more on your own by doing a few simple searches online. Innovative tools are being added all the time and are often just what a child needs to turn even the most frustrating practice sessions into fun again. 

Want to learn piano yourself as an adult? Not a problem. We typically have two things in common. We want to learn fast, and we don’t have a lot of spare time. That’s where an app can help. Apps can provide an interactive learning environment that engages you and provides feedback on your process. It can allow you to understand the nuances of your practicing in far more efficient ways. 

Want to learn the piano? There’s an app for that. And we’re sure you’ll be amazed at how beneficial they can become. 

What are your favorite piano apps?

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19 September 2017 Why Do Pianos Have 88 Keys?

Why Do Pianos Have 88 Keys?

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Sit down at a piano and strike every key. Each makes a different sound. When played together, they create a beautiful sound. 

Pianos have 88 keys on a standard piano. They have more combinations than any other instrument played today. Each key represents a different note, giving the piano a wide array of playability. 

Why Do Pianos Have 88 Keys?But why 88 keys? Why not 50? Or 200? The answer is both historical and practical. 

The piano was originally developed based on the modification of the harpsichord, which has 60 keys. If you travel back in time, you’ll find that era had pianos with 60 keys. 60 keys represented 5 octaves, with 12 notes in an octave. 

As pianos grew in popularity, composers began writing more music specifically for the piano. It wasn’t long before they attempted to create more difficult pieces requiring higher pitches than were possible with the originals. So they began working with piano makers to create pianos with more keys. 

Over the history of the piano, you’ll find many different versions of pianos with different numbers of keys. By the mid 1800s, pianos had reached their modern day 7 octave range, with Steinway creating one of the first 88 key pianos. Other piano manufacturers quickly followed suit.

Today’s modern pianos have 52 white keys and 36 black keys. The white keys represent the musical tones A, B, C, D, E, F, and G. The black keys represent the half-step intervals, known as sharps and flats. The grouping of seven white keys and five black keys together make up the 12 notes of the octave. 

Could pianos be made with more than 88 keys? Yes. But the added notes would make the piano bigger and heavier. And more expensive. In truth, notes beyond the standard 88 keys get into octaves that are more difficult for the human ear to distinguish. While it is possible, many consider it impractical. Which is how 88 became the standard.

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12 September 2017 Finding The Time and Place For Perfect Piano Practice

Finding The Time and Place For Perfect Piano Practice

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Time. It’s something we all seem to never have enough of.

So we do what rises to the top and commands our attention. Until we collapse at the end of the day.

Whether you’re new to playing the piano or have played for years, finding the time to play can often be difficult at best. Did you know it might not be time that’s holding you back, but the quality and condition of your practice space instead?

If the piano is in the cold, dark basement, no wonder it feels like drudgery to make the time to practice.

Finding The Time and Place For Perfect Piano PracticeFind A Quiet Space
Distractions are a piano player’s worst enemy. If a child can see other family members doing other things, it can be a distraction. If an adult has access to hear a timer going off in the kitchen, or a mobile device dinging in the background, it can stop practice in its tracks.

Seclusion Isn’t Necessary
While quiet is necessary to keep your attention focused, it shouldn’t be so isolated that you feel concealed and forgotten. Instead of keeping the piano in the family room, maybe it’s better suited for the living room. Instead of the basement, why not try making a music room upstairs?

Keep It Private
Practice can be difficult, messy at best. It can be downright embarrassing as you stumble over the notes. If people are around and you don’t want them to hear your mistakes, you’re less likely to play. If you simply can’t get away, it may be time to invest in a digital piano with headphones.

Or Keep It On Display
Sometimes it’s nice to have an audience. That’s why many piano players invest in more than one. Nothing is more fun than having an attentive, encouraging audience nearby to keep them on track with practice and assignments.

Acoustics
Have you ever listened to music in dead space? How about high ceilings and an echoey room where the sound bounces around? Not a lot of inspiration as the music dies. If you don’t have the perfect space, you can create it with various soundproofing measure.

Create Inspiration
Piano playing lights up the senses. Make sure the surrounding area adds to the experience. A dingy room depresses, not inspires. Instead, add life to the room with color, artwork, plants, or flowers. Make it a room that welcomes you every day.

What do you love about the place you practice your piano?

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15 August 2017 Diagnosing and Fixing Sticky Piano Keys

Diagnosing and Fixing Sticky Piano Keys

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If you’ve played piano long enough, it’s probably happened to you.

You run your fingers over the keys. Your fingers press the keys up and down. But one of them won’t pop back into position. You press down, and it doesn’t make a sound.

So you stop and focus in on that note. You press the key. You press it again. It sticks. And no matter how you press it, it won’t produce the sound you’re looking for.

You might have a sticky piano key.

Several things can impact your piano keys and make them stick.

There may be something between the keys. It could be as small as a particle of dust, or larger, such as a crumb of food. Vinegar and water solutions can be used to quickly clean between the keys and loosen the sticky piano key.  Do not get the keys damp. Instead, rub with a dampened cloth and gently rub the impacted keys. In the future, be sure to have clean hands every time you sit down to play the piano, and never eat over the piano.

Diagnosing and Fixing Sticky Piano Keys

There could also be changes in humidity. Changes in moisture content  be trapped and build up between the keys, which can also lead to creating cracks and warping issues. Investing in  a humidifier is a good start, air conditioning systems, and digital hygrometers can be used to keep humidity at acceptable levels. It’s important that your piano is always located in a climate controlled environment, and is never stored in excessive heat, cold, or humid conditions. 

There may also be excessive moisture between the keys. If keys are warped and no longer fit side by side, it may be time for repair or restoration services. It’s more difficult to fix than simple cleaning between the keys. A professional piano technician can clean the keys and tune up the piano and provide new life to a wonderful instrument.

Some things can be do-it-yourself projects. Proper cleaning and maintaining is something you should work at on a consistent basis. But when the job stretches beyond simple maintenance, choose a professional that will give your piano a proper check up and ensure it is in proper playing condition.

If you have any questions about sticky piano keys or any other problems, we’re here to help.

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10 August 2017 Piano or Sports, Which Is Better For Your Kids?

Piano or Sports, Which Is Better For Your Kids?

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For a few years in a child’s life, parents run through the activity list as if it were a marathon. A busy child is a safe and happy child. They can’t get into as much trouble if they are active. And if they’re with friends, they’ll enjoy the activities they are in. 

So as a parent, we try a little bit of everything. T-ball. Gymnastics. Swimming. Soccer. 

What about piano? Piano or Sports, Which Is Better For Your Kids?

The piano is the ultimate instrument in terms of skill and demand. It requires two hands playing together simultaneously while navigating 88 keys. At any given time, two hands can play up to 10 notes at a time. All of those options require the brain to think in a unique way. 

Pianists have to overcome something innate in all of us: the ability to use both left and right hands equally. In most people, we have a dominant hand that we favor throughout the day. Pianists have a demonstrably more symmetrical brain than others when put to the test, possibly because they continually build their brain muscles by putting the two together on a frequent basis. 

Studies show that the more experience a piano player gains, the more efficient their brain becomes. That means a person who plays regularly can be more effective as improvisation skills needed to navigate the day, including problem solving, language, spontaneity, and decision making tactics. Pianists tend to integrate all of the brain’s intake and make more efficient decisions in the process. 

It doesn’t stop there. 

Trained pianists work every day with a complex instrument that taxes the whole brain. Scans show that the longer they play, the more efficient the blood flow becomes as it moves into the brain. Less blood flow means less energy is needed to accomplish the same tasks – to concentrate, to perform certain tasks. When less blood flow is needed in one area, it increases the ability to send blood to other areas. It allows other areas to remain active and engaged at the same time. It can completely change communication skills because it allows the brain to respond in different ways. 

That gives the brain more energy to multi-task and to jump into different situations with less doubt and hesitation. 

While there is a need to keep kids bodies healthy and active through exercise, the same can be said for keeping their brains healthy by giving it an activity that can help them develop and become smarter over time. 

Maybe it’s time to encourage them to play the piano. 

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