Tag Archives: pianos

Should You Buy a Piano from a Brand You’ve Never Heard of?

Buying a piano can be a difficult decision. Budget, size, preference, there are dozens of factors that will influence your decision and the brand of the piano is undoubtedly going to be an important factor for many people. So, let’s say you found a piano you really love but you’ve never heard of the brand before. Is this a bad thing?

Everyone has probably heard of the names Yamaha and Steinway and they probably know a brand of a piano they grew up with. But most other brands might be a mystery to them. Maybe you’ve heard of Kawai, Baldwin or Mason & Hamlin. But there are literally hundreds of brands that have existed over the years and sometimes it’s not so easy to get information about them. It’s OK to be confused about this. We still get pianos in the store with brands I’ve never heard of or seen in person before; you’re not alone!

If you’re looking at new pianos you will probably see a lot of different names and some of them are probably ones you haven’t heard of before. Many of these are fictitious names or names of piano manufacturers that have gone out of business years ago and the rights to the names have been sold. These pianos are referred to as Stencil Pianos.

There are hundreds of companies manufacturing pianos in China and many exporters put different names on the pianos to expand their marketing. As a result you are going to have lots of names nobody has ever heard of. Does this mean these are bad pianos? Not necessarily; but they probably aren’t going to be high level instruments on the level of handmade pianos.

To make things even more complex there a number of boutique European piano brands that manufacture only a few dozen pianos a year. Yet many are of very high quality. The fact that you haven’t heard of these doesn’t make them bad instruments.

The great news is that today we can simply pull out our smart phones and look up any piano brand within seconds. If you are looking at a piano and you want to know a little bit about the history of the company don’t be afraid to do some research.

Another thing to keep in mind is that pianos were in their heyday about a hundred years ago in the this country. At one time there were over 1,800 piano manufacturers in the US (compared to only 3 today) and it’s impossible to know all of them. Many of these are great pianos and there are some hidden gems out there. So, just because you haven’t heard of a brand doesn’t make it a good or bad piano. Try to research as much as you can about the specific instrument you are looking at. Ultimately condition is of paramount importance.

There might be a time though where your research will be very limited. If you’ve fallen in love with an old piano from a manufacturer you’ve never heard of and you can only find a limited amount of information about it, you should not be afraid to purchase it if it’s something you are really drawn to. Finding replacement parts is not as hard as you might think as most pianos use uniform parts and any skilled technician should be able to repair or replace them for you unless the piano is extremely old.

If you find something out there you haven’t heard of and are still worried about the purchase, you are welcome to contact us directly and we will be more than happy to research it for you and give you information. info@LivingPianos.com (949) 244-3729

What is Prepared Piano?

Today’s question is something you might or might not have heard of. You’ve undoubtedly heard a prepared piano on film scores but you might not even realize what you were hearing. Today we’re going to discuss what it is as well as how you can experiment with these sounds yourself.

The piano has been around and advancements have been made over hundreds of years. Despite where the instruments are today, some composers still want to get even more out of the instrument. Composers like John Cage and others have experimented with altering the piano by adding different tools and other objects to the inside of the piano.

The video included with this article gives you an example of how a prepared piano can look and sound, although there are endless possibilities. We used just a few household objects placed on top of and between the strings. You are certainly not limited to just these types of enhancements; sometimes players will pluck strings or make changes to the keys as well – the only limit is your imagination and the capabilities of your piano.

If you feel brave enough to try and prepare your piano and experiment with different sounds, go for it!

This is a musical instrument after all and anything you want to do to illicit new sounds is fair game – there are no strict rules for what you can and can’t do. Just be careful not to harm the piano and certainly be wary of doing anything that involves pulling the action of the piano – this is something only a technician should be doing for you.

Thanks again for joining me Robert Estrin Robert@LivingPianos.com (949) 244-3729

What is Duplex Scaling? Piano Questions

Maybe you’ve heard this term before; maybe you haven’t; maybe a salesperson once told you, “You definitely need duplex scaling”. whatever your familiarity with duplex scaling, you will learn something about this technology today.

So what is duplex scaling? Simply put, it’s a tone enhancement system that is used in some pianos to increase tone life. That sounds great, but how does it work?

Every piano has something referred to as the “speaking length” of the string. This is the part of the string that is free to vibrate. In the image below the speaking length is highlighted in yellow:

Typically the area above and below the speaking length of the string is muted out with felt. You can see this area highlighted in yellow in the image below:

Why would this area be muted out with felt? Typically this area of the strings is not capable of adding pleasing harmonics to the sound. Duplex scaling utilizes a technology that tunes the non-speaking length of the strings to enable them to vibrate at musically pleasing frequencies.

Aliquots are used in duplex scaling to precisely terminate the strings at lengths that produce pitches that are complementary to the pitch that is being played. So instead of felt that is used to terminate the string, you have something that looks like this:

On a piano with Duplex scaling you will get the same pitch as all three strings, typically an octave or an octave and a fifth above the notes – which are overtones already contained within the fundamental pitch. The purpose of this system is to enhance the tone by creating more sound from each note.

Most pianos that contain duplex scaling typically feature it on the rear portion of the string. Certain pianos (like the one we are demonstrating in this article) has two sets of duplex scaling in both the rear and the front portion of the strings.

Most pianos use part of the plate above the treble section of the piano (capo d’astro bar) to terminate the strings. On this particular piano, there is a front set of aliquots which allows for the front section of strings to add useful harmonics due to sympathetic vibration, just as depressing the damper pedal adds richness to the tone.

So you’re probably wondering whether or not duplex scaling is something you must have on your piano. While duplex scaling is a useful technology that can enhance the tone of the piano, there are myriad scale design technologies that allow for different tonal results that can be equal in beauty of tone. Duplex scaling is just one way to enhance piano tone.

Thanks again for joining us here at Living Pianos. If you have any questions or comments about this topic or any topic at all please contact us directly Info@LivingPianos.com or (949) 244-3729.

How to Prepare for a Piano Exam

This has been a common question for me; many students have asked me what I would recommend helping them prepare for upcoming piano exams. I remember my days in music conservatory preparing for piano exams in preparation for recitals. In case you aren’t familiar, piano exams consist of sitting in front of a jury who generally spot check the music. This can be a daunting process!

The tests consist mostly of being asked to play certain selections from your current recital program. You may be stopped abruptly in the middle of your playing. This can happen throughout the exam and become very disconcerting if you don’t know what to expect. You might feel that they think you are playing badly but this is just part of the procedure and there is nothing to worry about.

But how do you prepare for this? The best thing to do is to practice like you would for a recital. While you might only be playing certain selections from your music, you should be prepared to play the entire program since it’s impossible to predict what they will ask for, just like any audition.

An essential practice technique is practicing without the pedal – this can be incredibly beneficial because you will hear more detail so your hands and fingers zero in on corrections quickly. You should also practice with the metronome and also combine these two techniques. These are essential piano practice techniques that will solidify your playing.

More than any physical technique, you will want to live with the music inside you. Play the music mentally away from the piano. Making yourself play the music away from the piano will better prepare you when you actually play on the piano. In order to play the piece in your head without even moving your fingers or looking at the keyboard, you have to be incredibly familiar with the score. It can be very reassuring to get the music mastered on this level. No matter who you are or how well you are prepared, mishaps can happen to the best concert pianists. In the event of a mistake, you must recover quickly and keep the music flowing. Knowing your scores enables you to keep the flow of the music going no matter what happens.

You may learn your scores so well that you literally play them in your sleep! When you sit at the piano you will want the music to come out of you with minimal effort. However, you will not want to play your music on autopilot. You should constantly stay focused on what you are doing and where you are in the piece instead of relying on tactile memory.

When preparing for an exam or a recital, performing a practice run through in front of family or friends is absolutely essential. If the first time you perform your music it is in a high-pressure situation, you will be at a distinct disadvantage. Try working with your colleagues testing each other through mock piano juries! Have them stop and start you abruptly – have them even critique you in a stone-faced manner. These techniques will benefit you when the time comes for your actual exam.

Remember that auditions are not necessarily satisfying musical experiences. The judges may have listened to dozens of students before you even show up. They may be tired and hungry. They are simply getting a job done. Their demeanor doesn’t necessarily reflect upon you. Remember that they are not there for the same reasons you are – they are simply there to test.

Prepare the best you can and test yourself with informal performances and mock auditions and you should do just fine on your piano exam. Thanks for joining me, Robert Estrin – Robert@LivingPianos.com (949) 244-3729

What is a Tension Resonator System? Mason & Hamlin Pianos

If you are familiar with one of the great American piano companies Mason & Hamlin you have may have heard about the Tension Resonator System, sometimes referred to as “The Spider” or “Crown Retention System”. This technology is unique to Mason & Hamlin pianos. What is this all about?

We have covered unique piano technologies in the past such as Baldwin Accu-Just Hitch Pins, Steinway Pianos and Teflon Parts and what makes Chickering Pianos Unique, but today we are going to discuss a technology we haven’t covered previously.

Some people refer to Mason & Hamlin pianos as being “overbuilt”. Mason & Hamlin prides themselves on building their pianos to last for generations and one of the ways they have done this is by incorporating the Tension Resonator System.

A thin membrane of wood called the soundboard is what produces most of the sound on a piano. Without a soundboard even the largest piano would barely be audible from across a large room. How could a simple piece of wood produce so much sound? There is a tremendous amount of tension that creates potential energy. The soundboard is built into the rim of a piano under tension which causes a slight upward arch referred to as “crown”. The soundboard is arguably the most important part of a piano and it’s something that varies from piano to piano – even on new pianos. Without crown, a soundboard produces a dead, lifeless sound.

There is a big challenge keeping the soundboard crown intact. After all,the soundboard is made of wood which is an organic substance that contracts and expands with changes in the temperature and humidity. Over time, the rim of a piano can expand and contract and cause the soundboard on a piano to lose its tension and therefore lose its crown. This is where the tension resonator technology comes into play.

If you look underneath a Mason & Hamlin piano you will notice the Tension Resonator System that sits below the soundboard and expands out to the rim of the piano. This technology allows the pianos to maintain their crown better because the metal device supports the rim of the piano and keeps it from expanding and contracting in different weather conditions; creating much more stability for the piano. Furthermore, Mason & Hamlin pianos have massively built inner and outer rims that further enhance the longevity of soundboard crown. This is why many older Mason & Hamlin pianos still produce vibrant sound when other pianos lose their energy of tone.

Thanks again for joining us here at Living Pianos. If you have any questions or comments about this topic or any topic at all please contact us directly: Info@LivingPianos.com (949) 244-3729

Is There a Piano in The White House? Pianos and US Presidents

With President’s Day around the corner, I thought I would share with you the rich history of pianos in the White House!

From the very beginning there were pianos in the White House starting with George Washington. Early presidents had fortepianos like Mozart played and harpsichords in the White House.

Square Grand Pianos were popular with 6 presidents! These monstrously large pianos have been relegated to the footnotes of piano history.

Upright pianos have also been popular with 6 presidents owning uprights.

4 piano companies stand out for being very popular in the White House:

– Steinway: including one given to the White House by Steinway in 1938
– Baldwin
– Chickering
– Knabe

Below is an outline of what pianos were owned by presidents.

HARPSICHORDS:

– George Washington
– Rutherford Hayes (& upright)
– Grover Cleveland (& piano)

FORTEPIANOS:

– George Washington
– Thomas Jefferson

SQUARE GRANDS: 6 presidents

UPRIGHT PIANOS: 6 presidents

CHICKERING PIANOS:

– Franklin Pierce
– James Buchanan
– Abraham Lincoln (square & upright)
– Theodore Roosevelt (& Steinway)

STEINWAY:

Steinway grand piano with gilt American eagle supports. It was designed by Eric Gugler with gilt stenciling by Dunbar Beck (with help from Franklin Roosevelt) and was given to the White House in 1938 by the manufacturer.

Theodore Roosevelt (& Chickering)

Lyndon B. Johnson (& Knabe)

Ronald Reagan

KNABE:

– Woodrow Wilson
– Herbert Hoover
– Lyndon B. Johnson (& Steinway)

BALDWIN:

– William Taft
– Harry Truman
– Richard Nixon – accompanied singer Pearl Bailey in a performance in the East Room

Thanks again for joining us. If you have any questions about this topic or any topic at all please contact us directly: info@livingpianos.com (949) 244-3729