You are an adult. You have always wanted to take piano lessons, but you have a busy career. You are married. You have children, and you feel the stressors of life each week. You think you will have to wait until you are 50 or 60 to find free time for piano, but since someone… Read more »
Posts Tagged: Piano
Wacky Pianos Around the World
When you think of a piano, you might think of a glossy black baby grand or a small upright piano. These pianos are beautiful and iconic in the world of music, but did you know that there are some…unconventional pianos out there, too? Let’s take a look at some of these wacky pianos. The Rocking… Read more »
Tuning the Piano
You are probably familiar with the sound of an out-of-tune piano unless you’ve only ever used or heard electric pianos. It might remind you of a scary movie, a haunted house, or even an old saloon. For some, it’s a nostalgic sound that reminds you of a piano that your grandparents owned but never used. … Read more »
The Science of Soundproofing: Simple Tips for the Musician’s Home
Whether you’re married to a musician, raising one or are a musical master yourself, the noise of even a well-played instrument can impact your roommates, neighbors, or family. Even playing all the way across the house may not be far enough to muffle the sound, and things could be a lot worse if you’re in… Read more »
Collaborative Piano: What is it?
When you think of a professional pianist, what do you think of? Do you picture a soloist in a concert hall, up on the stage alone with the piano? Do you think of an orchestra playing with a solo pianist? We often picture soloists when we think of professional pianists. It’s important to remember that… Read more »
Pianos in All Shapes and Sizes
When you think of a piano, the first picture that usually pops into mind is a grand piano. But did you know that there are other styles? Even within the “grand piano” category, there are many different types, differentiated by their size. Here they are from smallest to largest: small grand, baby grand, medium grand,… Read more »
The Piano: Percussion or Strings?
Today I’d like to tackle the age-old debate: is the piano a percussion instrument or strings instrument? According to the dictionary, a percussion instrument is a musical instrument (such as a drum, xylophone, or maraca) sounded by striking, shaking, or scraping. A strings instrument is a musical instrument (such as a guitar, cello, or violin)… Read more »
Extended Techniques: Prepared Piano
Sticking with the theme of extended techniques, this week I’d like to take a look at the piano. You’re probably wondering, “What kind of extended techniques can a pianist use?” Keep in mind that pianos are not just black and white keys. When you take a look inside a piano, there are also strings, hammers,… Read more »
Victor Borge: Pianist and Comedian
This week, I decided to take a look at the piano from a humorous perspective. Victor Borge was a classical piano player who captivated his audiences through humor. Hailing from Denmark, Borge grew up in a family of musicians, so he started studying piano at the Royal Danish Music Conservatory at age 10. In his first… Read more »
The Journey of a Composer
Have You Ever Wanted to Be a Composer? I started composing around the age of 9. Although my first pieces sounded a lot like the Czerny Etudes my piano teacher was having me practice at the time, that didn’t stop me from continuing to explore this talent I had. I continued to compose because I… Read more »
