Piano Guidance
Piano Guidance
Photo: Greta Hoffman
Upright pianos usually have the brand name and serial number located inside the piano, on the back near the top of the strings.
The flute is a medium difficulty instrument to learn. The flute fingerings and care of the instrument are easy to handle. Producing sound and...
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The reason for this is because the keycaps are flat on this type of keyboard. They may either be relatively flat, or completely flat, depending on...
Read More »Like a new car, a new piano will lose value over time. The antique value of an heirloom instrument tends to increase over time, making restoration and preservation a wise investment. Over the past two decades, we have seen the value of heirloom instruments nearly double, a trend that will likely continue long term! How many home renovation or “house-flipping” shows have you seen on TV lately? People everywhere are renovating old homes and buildings so that they can be sold for profit in the end. Much like the real estate industry, restoring a vintage instrument adds real value to the piece, ultimately making the instrument worth more than the cost of restoration in most cases. Sure, there are lots of cheap new pianos available everywhere you look, but you need to consider the fact that they are generally poor quality “throw away” pianos that won’t be here long term. Unfortunately, one has to spend a small fortune to get a quality new piano. Restoration of an heirloom instrument will yield much better value for your investment. “It seems as if there are two basic mindsets in the piano industry: Those who value their heirloom pianos, and those who think they are junk. It is rare that we encounter those who take much middle-ground on the subject. I have clients approach me asking, “Is my antique piano worth restoration?” My answer is almost always YES because of what I have seen in the real market over the past several years. Unfortunately, there are a lot of piano tuners and technicians out there who do not believe that heirloom instruments deserve restoration and preservation. Much of this prejudice comes from the fact that many in the piano industry have little (if any) experience with antique instruments and they are afraid of what they do not understand. However, there are also those who love and cherish these heirloom instruments and those who are passionate about restoring and preserving them for future generations. Being a professional pianist is what got me so involved with piano restoration and preservation. I approach these vintage instruments from a pianist’s point of view first, and from a technical point of view second. I have personally sat down and played Beethoven piano sonatas on a restored pre-Civil War square grand piano. I got chills down my back because of the experience, knowing I was hearing the music the way Beethoven’s audience heard it firsthand. I have played Chopin and Schumann on restored 19th Century upright and grand pianos, the same instruments these masters would have played, and the power and warmth was incredibly moving. I suspect that many new piano dealers have not had the privilege of that experience, hence their prejudice against restoration and preservation. To me, many newer instruments don’t have the “soul” of these heirloom instruments, and they seem almost lifeless and sterile by comparison. The real market has historically supported antique piano restoration and preservation, and it seems to be a growing trend. As restoration costs steadily increase, values of these antique instruments are steadily increasing as well. How can be that an instrument that cost hundreds of dollars a century ago (the cost of a small house) be worthless today? How can the old-growth wood from America’s virgin forests and the endangered ivory be disposable and tossed aside? One of the costliest single investments of a lifetime, our ancestors would have gone to great sacrifice to own a piano or organ, expecting the instrument to be passed down through generations.
Types. Most of the traps used for mammals can be divided into six types: foothold traps, body gripping traps, snares, deadfalls, cages, and glue...
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In popular music genres such as country, blues, jazz or rock music, a lick is "a stock pattern or phrase" consisting of a short series of notes...
Read More »While respecting differing opinions, those who prefer new pianos over restoration are simply not our customers, just as those who are passionate about having an antique instrument restored are not likely to go out and buy a new piano. People who love and appreciate their heirloom instruments are the people who create the very real market for these instruments. People who do not share this love and appreciation will tell you the market doesn’t exist, but our extensive clientele proves otherwise.”
Generally speaking, major chords and major keys produce a light, happy sound and minor chords and minor keys produce a dark, sad sound.
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For a beginner, 66 keys are sufficient for learning to play, and you can play most music on a 72-key instrument. For anyone interested in playing...
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BLEACH For electronic parts, remove the yellowed plastic. Fill a sink with an 8:1 water to bleach mix. Put on your PPE or gloves. Submerge the...
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“First and foremost, avoid fanny packs like the plague! Another tip is to not wear sports jerseys or baseball caps from a home sports team. If...
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