Piano Lessons- Music Theory Lessons

Improvisation is something that seems almost impossible when it’s done effectively. If you’ve ever seen a comedy act in which they improvise using different objects or ideas it can be incredibly entertaining and it’s amazing to watch people come up with such great ideas out of thin air.

In a lot of ways it’s how we used to think as a children; coming up with elaborate stories and creative games is something that comes naturally. Over the course of our development in society we are taught to temper these creative aspects of our personality in order to conform to a more strict set of rules. However, inside all of us lies the ability to be creative and let ourselves go – it’s just really a matter of re-discovering those aspects of ourselves!

When it comes to music, there are many different types of improvisation. Many genres of music have structure in which improvisation is built on. For example, when it comes to great jazz artists (like Chick Corea or Miles Davis) they will perform improvisations on a song that is somewhat pre-determined. There is a melody and theme to the music that stands as a foundation and throughout the course of the song they improvise and embellish it by using improvisation to change the melody, harmony and the overall arrangement. One of Miles Davis’ albums, “Bitches Brew” had over 20 musicians – including multiple percussionists – in the same room playing at the same time. Without some sort of foundation to the music it would sound like chaos. While there might not have been a pre-determined course for the music, a consistent rhythm section is able to keep the piece intact while other instruments improvise different melodies and solos. However, this is by no means the only type of improvisation when it comes to music.

Keith Jarrett is an artist who would go out on stage and play an entire concert that is totally improvised and not based on any previous material. Sure, there might be some riffs and chord changes he’s played a number of times before but the actual structure of the music is purely improvised with new melodies and structure every time.

There are dozens of different types of improvisation when it comes to music. Indian Ragas are another example of improvisation where a number of musicians will get together and play a piece that could sometimes last 90 minutes and is improvised above a consistent drone.

When it comes down to it, there are really two main types of improvisation. One that is built upon a foundation and one that is purely made up. A lot of improvisation will blur the lines between the two and form their own unique styles. For example, I like to improvise classical pieces. I have grown up with music and have a strong understanding of this musical language so I find enjoyment in making up pieces or taking existing pieces and improvising with them.

There are countless different ways in which you can improvise with music and all of them can be both rewarding and beneficial to your musical development.

This is a very common and important question and I’m going to answer it as honestly as I can. Surprisingly, this doesn’t have to be as controversial a topic as it sounds. In some occasions there is a point at which some students can simply outgrow a teacher.

A common example of this is a student progressing past a teacher and needing someone with a larger range of experience and repertoire to continue to grow as a musician. This is something that teachers should be aware of and understand as a possibility. While it might be tough to see them go, letting a student progress to a higher level is something we should all strive for as teachers and sometimes it’s just best to let go. Keeping a student past the point of diminishing returns will only stunt their development and it could end up creating resentment. Many musicians will have a number of teachers over the course of their lives; it’s not something to be afraid of or avoid, it’s a part of musical development.

Another example is if a student wants to branch off into another genre of music that their teacher isn’t familiar or experienced with. Maybe you have a student trained in classical violin who decides they want to explore bluegrass and fiddling. Some teachers might turn up their noses at the idea of a different genre but it’s not something we can and should control. If a student wants to explore other genres of music with their instrument you should encourage them and help them however you can. If it’s beyond your abilities it might be best if you help them find another teacher that specializes in their desired genre possibly even an adjunct course at a local college in addition to lessons.

This can be a real touchy subject for many teachers and students but it’s not something that should get in the way of learning. If you are learning well and getting along with your teacher then you should continue to do so. If it’s time to move on, it’s time to move on. The best thing we can do as teachers is continue to help our students become the best musicians they can be. If they outgrow us it should only be taken as a compliment – after all, you laid the foundation for their progress and you’re part of the reason they have progressed so far!

Many people wonder if there is a difference between a piano tuner and a piano technician. There is certainly a difference between the two but there is a surprising amount of overlap of these terms as well.

Nearly all piano technicians are tuners, but not all piano tuners are technicians. There are certainly exceptions, but this is a pretty accurate statement when it comes to these two different job titles.

Piano Tuners specialize in tuning pianos. However, if there is a sticking key, a squeaky pedal or a broken string, they may not deal with these issues?

Piano Technicians should be able to deal with a wide range of issues with your piano. Registered Piano Technicians (RPT) – are members of the Piano Technicians’ Guild – and have to go through a course to earn the RPT designation. This ensures that they will be able to cover a wide range of issues out in the field and have the right to call themselves piano technicians. However, there are also many fine piano technicians who choose not to become members of the guild.

The complex nature of the piano assures that no one piano tuner/technician knows how to deal with all piano issues. Occasionally we have had piano problems that required us to consult a number of technicians to solve. With over 12,000 parts, finding a technician who has seen every conceivable problem on different pianos is impossible.

Finding a piano technician who is a fine tuner can be a real benefit to you and your piano. Being able to have someone come over and not only tune your piano but take care of small issues and keep the action working optimally can be invaluable in extending the life of your piano while enjoying a high level playing experience.

Everyone practices a great deal to avoid mistakes but we are all human and sometimes mistakes just happen. I don’t care who you are or how accomplished a musician you are, there are a myriad of reasons that could create a mistake. There could be a problem with the instrument, there could be a distraction in the audience, a finger could slip, your memory could fail for a moment; the list goes on and on of potential problems that could lead to a mistake.

The best thing you can do as a musician is to play with continuity. Let’s just say there is a really big train with a lot of cars. If the train derails, there would be utter chaos – the cars would go everywhere and you would have a huge mess. But if instead of the train derailing, it simply slipped back onto the track and kept its course, while the event might be scary, it would not lead to disaster; instead the train would simply chug along almost as if nothing ever happened. This is how you need to think about a musical performance. It must keep moving along!

The worst thing you can do as a performer is to stop and dwell on a mistake. It’s absolutely crucial that in the event of a mistake you continue to maintain the proper time of the piece and make sure that you don’t stop playing. If you make a mistake that is jarring for the audience, everyone will notice no matter what level of musical sophistication they have. Just like if you are watching a movie and the frame skips even a few seconds forward or back, it is much more jarring than if there is a moment of blurriness or garbled audio.

The most important thing is to keep the music moving. This is essential when you are playing with other musicians because you will not be playing together if you lose or gain time! Even if you miss a note or crack a note you must keep moving; don’t let a mistake slow you down or stop you mentally. If you pull this off correctly nobody in the audience will be offended by the mistake. You just have to keep the flow and the time of the music intact and everyone will enjoy the performance even if it’s not perfect.

Grand pianos are generally better than upright pianos. However, there are 2 reasons to consider an upright piano:

– Limited space

– Limited budget

Although an upright piano may be considered because of space restrictions, because of its design, a baby grand may be easier to place. The back of an upright piano is ugly. This is why it is almost always placed on a wall. So you need about 5-feet of wall space to accommodate an upright piano (even a short one).

However, a baby grand piano looks good however you place it. The flexibility allows for placement in a corner or even the middle of a room. So in some instances where space is at a premium, a baby grand may be easier to place than an upright piano.

It is true that you will have to invest more money to get a baby grand piano compared to an upright. However, there are several distinct advantages in regards to sound and touch:

– The sound of an upright comes out the back. As a result, the sound goes into the wall. A baby grand or grand piano opens up into the room projecting the sound where you want it.

– The keys of an upright are shorter than a baby grand (and much shorter than a grand piano). Not the part you see, but behind the fallboard. As a result, it is harder to press black keys and between black keys on an upright than on a baby grand. Just like being near the center of a see-saw, it is difficult to get leverage on an upright piano because the shorter keys don’t allow for the leverage you get on a grand piano.

– The hammers travel sideways on an upright action instead of up and down as in a grand action. So even the best uprights have sluggish actions because they don’t have the benefit of gravity helping the repetition of the hammers.

– Last, the pedals on an upright don’t do what they are supposed to do (except the sustain pedal on the right). The soft pedal (une corde) on a grand piano shifts the action so that the hammers hit only 2 strings instead of 3. This gives a change of tonal color which is one of the most magnificent expressive devices of a piano. In an upright, the soft pedal changes the touch by making the hammers closer to the strings which makes it harder to play loud but doesn’t change the tone at all. Also, the middle pedal (sustento) rarely provides the proper function on an upright.

So if you can afford it, get a grand piano or a baby grand. You will appreciate the difference.

This is a question I get all the time; almost every day! There are really two factors involved in this question: The condition of the piano and the ability of the player. I’m going to cover both of these topics for you.

If you have a piano that you think might be experiencing some problems, you have to assess the situation carefully and make sure you’re not throwing good money after bad. Problems that arise in pianos differ immensely based on the type of piano you own.

If you have an older (10 or more years) cheaper Asian production piano that is experiencing issues, it might be time to consider buying a new piano. Otherwise, you might end up costing yourself a lot of money in ongoing repairs. These pianos are built with a limited lifespan; they won’t last forever and eventually you will need to upgrade if you are a serious player.

If you have a higher quality piano, many times you can get repairs or work done that will prolong its life for generations. In some cases – specifically when it comes to soundboard issues – you might be stuck having to pay thousands of dollars for a rebuild. If you keep your piano in a nice climate, you close the lid at night (particularly if windows are open) and you generally maintain it well, you probably won’t run into major problems for quite a while depending upon how much you play. If you have an older piano that has been handed down through your family, it will probably require some work at some point.

Small repairs with the action or strings require some expense but they are nothing compared to the cost of rebuilding a piano. If you are looking at a bill in the tens of thousands of dollars – or even a few thousand dollars – it might be time to consider buying yourself another piano depending upon the level of the instrument. Many dealers will even let you trade in an existing piano toward the cost of a new one. It’s a great idea to consult a piano technician you trust and ask them honestly if it’s worth putting money into your piano or just buying a new one. For example, in a vertical piano the hammers travel sideways, so they don’t have the benefit of gravity for repetition like grands do. So eventually you will progress to the point where you can play faster than the piano will respond. When you advance even further as a player you will want something larger than a baby grand because the tone develops differently and the keys are longer (behind the fall board) giving a more uniform feel when playing black keys and between black keys close to the fall board.