Piano Guidance
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What causes a piano to not hold a tune?

Humidity and wear are the two main causes, but sometimes little critters are the culprits. Soundboard cracks and rib separations can sometimes be ignored, but when many different things are wrong with the piano, then it is time to stop ignoring this issue.

modernpianoboston.com - My Piano Is Untunable
What is it called when someone can play music by ear?
What is it called when someone can play music by ear?

Audiation is a vital skill for playing music by ear. Edwin Gordon, originator of the term, describes audiation as: "the foundation of musicianship.

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How do I know if I am singing in key?
How do I know if I am singing in key?

How to tell if you're singing in tune: using free websites + apps to improve your pitch accuracy Use a virtual keyboard and chromatic tuner to...

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Join almost HALF A MILLION Happy Students Worldwide
Join almost HALF A MILLION Happy Students Worldwide

Pianoforall is one of the most popular online piano courses online and has helped over 450,000 students around the world achieve their dream of playing beautiful piano for over a decade.

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Have you been told that your piano is untunable by your tuner or technician? This is fairly common in older pianos, generally made before WW2, and usually means that the piano is dead. There is no easy way to tell someone this, so we usually say it's untunable. So what does this actually mean?

The first reason to condemn a piano is that the tuning pins no longer hold the tension of the strings. The tuner brings the string up to pitch, but when he or she lets go of the tuning wrench, the string goes flat again. This is because there is not enough friction in the pinblock to hold the strings tight. If only one note is like this, it may be repaired, but usually many notes are like this, and it's not worth repairing the whole section or even the whole piano. Sometimes I will be called to service a piano and it may have loose tuning pins, but it doesn't always stop me from trying to tune it. Before I try, I'll give the piano a thorough exam, and the following are other reasons we find to put pianos to pasture. Cracked bridges, or bridge caps that have come loose mean that the quality of the sound will be very poor, and if the bridge cap is unglued, there is no point in tuning the piano. The bottom board is no longer screwed to the piano. The bottom board is the part that the pedals are attached to, and when you try and use the sustain pedal, nothing works! I have seen pianos where the pedals only stop when they reach the floor, and the whole bottom of the piano is being pushed down. The action is beyond repair. There are felt pieces and wooden pieces and screws and very small pins and all of these have specific tolorences and amounts of resistance measured in grams, and many factors interfere with these things. Humidity and wear are the two main causes, but sometimes little critters are the culprits. Soundboard cracks and rib separations can sometimes be ignored, but when many different things are wrong with the piano, then it is time to stop ignoring this issue. A crack large enough to slip a quarter into sideways is too large, and usually the ribs have become unglued as well. If all of these things are wrong, and they usually are all evident at the same time, then it's time to get rid of the instrument. So what can you do? First, consider if you can spend the $25K starting price to rebuild the piano. If it has a lot of sentimental value, and you can afford it, than you may have the work done. If it's Steinway & Sons grand piano, it's probably worth rebuilding and passing down to your family. If you don't have either of these options, it's time to move on. Your technician may try to stop the bleeding, but in the long run you're throwing your money away, so save it for a new one!

Did Beethoven have perfect pitch?
Did Beethoven have perfect pitch?

Which musicians and singers have perfect pitch? Some of the greatest classical composers, including Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin and Handel all had...

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Does piano change your brain?
Does piano change your brain?

Benefits of Playing the Piano: Neuroplasticity Playing the piano changes the brain in a positive way! Studies show that music stimulates the brain...

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Join almost HALF A MILLION Happy Students Worldwide
Join almost HALF A MILLION Happy Students Worldwide

Pianoforall is one of the most popular online piano courses online and has helped over 450,000 students around the world achieve their dream of playing beautiful piano for over a decade.

Learn More »

How can a 13 year old become a singer?

How to Become a Child Singer Convincing Your Parents. Training and Getting Experience. Making Yourself Visible to the Music Industry. Signing with a Record Label.

This article was co-authored by Tanisha Hall . Tanisha Hall is a Vocal Coach and the Founder and Executive Director of White Hall Arts Academy, Inc. an organization based in Los Angeles, California that offers a multi-level curriculum focused on fundamental skills, technique, composition, theory, artistry, and performance at a conservatory level. Ms. Hall's current and previous students include Galimatias, Sanai Victoria, Ant Clemons, and Paloma Ford. She earned a BA in Music from the Berklee College of Music in 1998 and was a recipient of the Music Business Management Achievement Award. This article has been viewed 124,447 times.

Article Summary

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If you want to become a child singer, start by asking your parents to help you find a voice coach that will help you practice. While you are working on your voice, try to find places where you can show it off, like talent shows or a church choir. Don’t forget to record every performance and ask your friends and family to share them on social media so that as many people as possible can watch you perform! Then, when you feel ready, ask your parents to help you find a talent scout online. Scouts can help you find auditions and get you in touch with record labels. For more tips, like how to make a demo, read on!

Do I really need a mechanical keyboard?
Do I really need a mechanical keyboard?

The fact is, you don't need a mechanical gaming keyboard to play, and play well. If you're looking for a budget model to see you through casual...

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How do I turn off Apple CarPlay screenshot?
How do I turn off Apple CarPlay screenshot?

If you want to reduce the number of unwanted screenshots on CarPlay, you can enable Driving Focus mode on CarPlay. The only way to prevent CarPlay...

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Which piano is good for beginners kids?
Which piano is good for beginners kids?

5 great beginner pianos for kids The Melissa and Doug Grand Piano mini grand piano has 30 colour-coded keys. Designed for 4-6-year-olds, this piano...

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Join almost HALF A MILLION Happy Students Worldwide
Join almost HALF A MILLION Happy Students Worldwide

Pianoforall is one of the most popular online piano courses online and has helped over 450,000 students around the world achieve their dream of playing beautiful piano for over a decade.

Learn More »
What is the saddest piece of music ever written?
What is the saddest piece of music ever written?

Here are some of the most beautiful and heart-breaking pieces ever written. Puccini: 'Sono andati? ... Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: 'Requiem' ......

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