Mikes Music Room – Music Articles

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I love the whole line of Yamaha Clavinova digital pianos. Personally I’ve played the CVP-309GP. And let me tell you the grand piano stereo samples which use their AWM dynamic stereo sampling sound source…

Pianos are the musical instruments that produce rhythm when they are played according to their specified process. The first piano was made in London in year 1766 and it was made by Sebastien Erard. He dedicated his life in the making and improving the technicality of the piano. In the technical process the previous model were lacking in good features. The popularity was abreast with the innovations made in the device. It underwent a lot of modifications and then according to the change in technology the innovations led to a higher stage. Over the years the piano has gained become popular very much. At the beginning they used to come in a model that had only one pedal and five octaves. Then with the inventions of the modern pianos and digital pianos it gained popularity.

Innovations led to popularity

There are many types of pianos like square pianos, modern pianos, silence pianos and digital pianos. The first invention was by Bartolomeo Cristofori. Then a lot of modifications and improvement led its way to gain popularity. As the innovations were in progress many people those who were mainly the music lovers were attracted to such modifications and they learned and played with great interest. The interest gradually generated in a lot of people and people craved for listening to such music. When these tunes were transformed in soft copies they became popular and even they were sold in CDs known to be instrumentals. Adding to the technicality it can be said that the sound or the musical rhythm produced is by striking the end of the felt hammers and the strings and thus a vibration is produced by this interaction. The musical note that is produced constitutes a nice rhythm when they are concatenated. This function remains the same in the case of pianos only there is a change in the technical process.

The innovations that were made in the piano were the main reason behind the popularity of the pianos. Many types of the pianos came to be known with the modifications but the maximum popularity was with the making of the digital pianos. The features were also very easy to follow and they were inexpensive and over the years lot of electronic modifications made in the way which added to its popularity.

Piano Tuning

Piano is delicate instrument which contains some ten thousand unique parts, and as these pianos are quite delicate they need frequent maintenance and servicing. Tuning is the most basic kind of piano maintenance. And it means adjusting the tension of each of the piano strings, using a tuning hammer to turn the tuning pins. So that the pitch of each string sounds pleasingly in harmony with every other string according to certain rules and customs. The most important cause for pianos to be tuned is the change in humidity from season to season that occurs in most temperature climates. The climate affects all the pianos whether it is old or new, good or bad, played or unplayed. Some pianos have a weak structure that actually twists slightly from season to season. These pianos go out of tune chaotically in addition to showing large seasonal variations in pitch.

Piano tuning and servicing is a very complicated process that takes a lot of training and skill to do it right. Iron made tuning is much more stable but the case and soundboard have all the propensities of wood to change in response to changes in seasonal humidity

Many parents know that playing piano even a few minutes a day has many benefits for children. Today we want to consider the youngest of the children, the preschoolers.

Among the benefits of piano lessons are better math scores, better handwriting and better handling of tasks in general.

But what age to start this beneficial process?

Research indicates that the younger a child starts piano lessons, the more benefit they derive from it.

In general, most parents look to start between the ages of three and six.

But there are many factors to consider the younger you want to start.

First of all, the child must be old enough to understand symbols, both letters and numbers. Next, they must have at least enough dexterity to be able to move their fingers independently.

Most important is the emotional maturity of the child. Can they be around strangers, even kindly and warm, without needing the constant presence of a parent? Do they have the ability to carry out even a simple task without frustration?

Even if the child exhibits positively all the factors above, to some degree or other, there is one more important factor that will help all the others: the teacher.

A patient, talented and kind teacher who specializes in teaching preschool kids the piano can be the most important element of all.

A good preschool piano teacher will be so patient and fun that the child is allowed to develop all the above skills why they are learning.

Look for a piano teacher that understands that the first victory to be won is to interest the child in the instrument itself. Once you have that, you can proceed in almost any direction. This means playing the piano for the child, so they see what it can do, and all the fun sounds it can make.

Lastly, try to find a teacher that will teach the child as an individual, not in a group. While general play and learning can be carried out successfully in a group, piano lessons require intense one-on-one skills not possible in a group. Children also benefit from the one-on-one attention that piano lessons naturally provide.

Look for a piano teacher specializing in preschool, and who knows how to go slowly enough for your child that they are not frustrated in any way by their first piano lessons.

Look for a fun personality, not a stern task-master.

When you have a child and they are old enough to walk, then they are old enough to begin looking at playing instruments.Many of the greatest musicians in the history of music have started out incredibly early. Mozart himself was playing the piano at the age of three and composing operas before he was 10 years old.

Of course, your child is probably not going to end up to be Mozart, but that does not mean you can’t start them early on the path to musical kinship.

Being a musician means that when your child is having trouble dealing with life, or they are depressed for whatever reason in the future, they will have the outlet of music to express their desires, hopes, dreams and fears. They will be able to use music as a tool to help themselves, and countless musicians in history have done exactly the same.

Like a writer or an artist, musicians use music to help them come to terms with the world around them and help make it a better place for themselves. This is why it is so important that you help your child learn how to play an instrument at a young age.

It can be tough at first to get your child to commit to learning an instrument, but the important thing is that you do not push it on them. You need to allow them to take their own time to learn how to play the instrument, because if you force it on them, they will only resist it.

Buy used instruments and allow them to choose which one they like. They may hate the guitar but love the bagpipes, they may hate the piano but love the accordion. As a result, you need to be able to find the instrument that is right for them to keep them happy.

It can seem daunting to go through this process of trying to find something your child will enjoy playing, but if you commit yourself to only buying used instruments, you will save oodles of cash and your child will not have to suffer through being unable to let their musical gifts wander. Buy used instruments and help them reach their full potential and do not be afraid to start them early on the path to musical greatness.

Music is a wonderful thing and it has the power to turn children into inspired little beings that love to play a note on the piano or dance around with a guitar. Plus, you never know when you buy an instrument, if it is going to be something your child will take off with. You could be helping the next John Lennon or Bruce Springsteen in their future legendary career. It may amount to nothing, it may amount to fame and fortune, what is important however, is that you allow your child to reach their full potential with the instrument they choose to play. Musical is a wonderful gift that you can give to your child.

Victor Epand is an expert consultant for used CDs, autographed CDs, and used musical instruments. You can find the best marketplace for used CDs, autographed CDs, and used musical instruments at these sites for used children CDs, children autographed CDs, and used children”s musical instruments.

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The Steinway is the only grand piano that will sell for more than you paid for it, regardless of how long you own it.

Can you name any other brand name that can make that claim, for any type of product?

And why? I’d ask a pianist to really find out.

I’ve owned several and played many magnificent Steinway grand pianos, so I’d be glad to give you an idea.

First, we have to presuppose several things:

1. We are referring to new, almost new or perfectly rebuilt instruments only.

2. We are referring to grand pianos of the New York Steinway type, not the Hamburg models.

3. We are referring only to grand piano models L (5’11″) and above.

4. If it is a rebuilt piano, it must have been rebuilt by Steinway, directly by the company, not someone who claims to be “certified” by Steinway.

So why are Steinway pianos the best? One reason: sound. There is simply nothing like it.

It’s not like the difference between a Chevette and a Rolls. It’s the difference between a Rolls and a jet plane.

The Steinway sound comes of course from the construction, and that is the prime reason that a Steinway has that amazing, powerful sound. Much has been written about the Steinway construction, a lot of it very technical.

But how did the Steinway Company achieve this sound in the past, and are they able to maintain the phenomenal record of excellence into the present?

I knew a technician, the legendary Heinz Zimmerman, who worked in the Steinway factory in Hamburg and then New York. He was in 1970 about 70, so he had weathered World War II and had a thick, lovely German accent.

He was an absolute, continental gentleman and craftsman, and quite a character for an 18 year-old pianist like me to run across. Heinz required a demitasse of coffee, “mit schlag,” (with whipped cream) beside my Steinway model A, 6’2″ of wonderful sound.

Heinz had actually helped me pick out the piano. It had sat in a patrician lady’s living room for forty years, slowly crinkling the perfect ebony finish in the California sun into something resembling crocodile skin. But the inner workings were perfect. In fact, I noticed that the hammers weren’t even creased, meaning that it had been played very little if at all. Heinz looked at the piano, and breathlessly reported that it was a Model A of 1926 vintage, the best, prewar type of piano. And here it was, untouched, forty years later.

Heinz knew the piano! He had helped build it (he made one of the many bridge parts, but more of that later.) and insisted that either I buy it, or he would buy it himself.

Zimmerman became my entr

Frederic Chopin was alone among the great composers in that he made his living almost entirely from teaching piano.

During the period around the 1840′s he was the most famous piano teacher in Paris, largely because he was also one of the most famous and beloved composers in the world.

His roster of students contained many great and good pianists, among them Mikuli, who became the editor of Chopin’s printed piano music.

Chopin taught at home in a lavish, well appointed studio. It contained two pianos: one beautiful Erard grand, on which the student played, and a small cottage upright, at which the master sat and demonstrated.

The master instructed his students to seek out and play only the finest pianos, as he thought playing on inferior instruments ruined a good finger technique. His emphasis at first was on relieving the tension found in many students’ hands.

He began at eight in the morning and taught all day. This was because, as he said, “All those white gloves cost money.” He was a dandy and fastidious dresser, and traveled only in the highest echelons of Paris high society, where he was in constant demand both as pianist and personality.

To the talented student, he was both inspiring and confusing. Giving great advice was his stock in trade, but one student pointed out that, “The master is so confusing. He demonstrates how I should play, but every time he plays a piece, it is completely different!”

To the untalented, he could be cruel. Many of his students were titled young ladies of very high social standing but little talent who took lessons from Chopin because they could afford to and because it conferred social status to study with such a great master.

But his assistant, Mikuli, noted many times when these rich young ladies would be reduced to tears and run away in horror because the master had criticized their playing most harshly.

Rich or poor, at the end of the lesson the student put their payment in gold on the mantelpiece, while the master discreetly turned his back.

Great masters do not tarnish their hands with money.

By John Aschenbrenner Copyright 2000 Walden Pond Press. Visit http://www.pianoiseasy.com to see the fun PIANO BY NUMBER method for kids.

John Aschenbrenner is a leading children’s music educator and book publisher, and the author of numerous piano method books in the series PIANO BY NUMBER.

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