Tag Archives: used pianos

2 Types of Encores – for My Parents – Scriabin: Etude in D# minor Op 8 Debussy: The Little Shepherd

Welcome to LivingPianos.com, I’m Robert Estrin. Today’s subject is about the two different kinds of encores. There are fundamentally two different types of moods you want to create in encores, and I’m going to get into that. But first I want to start with a personal reflection for you.

My father, Morton Estrin, had such a profound effect upon me.

I want to talk a little bit about my father’s experiences as a performer. As much as he performed, he got extremely nervous for performances. And when he would walk out on stage, it was a terrifying experience for him! He would get so nervous, his pedal foot would shake. I remember watching him perform and feeling so badly for him. There he was, trying to control things, and his foot was going up and down like crazy! It was once kind of funny, in retrospect. In one of his New York recitals, the reviewer commented on his beautiful performance and his “fluttering pedal technique.” Little did he know it was nothing intentional. It was something my father fought with his whole career. And the way he overcame it was very interesting. For him, the easiest thing to start a program with was something really heroic. He could go out there and play the most bombastic virtuosic music right from the get go. With that, he didn’t have any trouble. But to go out and start a program with a delicate piece, like something of Mozart, or a Schubert Impromptu, was extremely challenging for him. With that very delicate music, any little motion of any part of the body has such profound effects. He worked really hard to overcome this and was proud of himself that he could go out on stage and play something delicate as an opener for a program. Because programmatically, he wanted to be able to have architecture and not just start with the most heroic piece. Usually you want a big finish at the end of your program.

What was interesting about my father’s performances, we would always go backstage at intermission and hug him and tell him how beautiful it sounded. He couldn’t even believe it because he was so terrorized up there for the first half! But in the second half, he would relax. By the time he got to the end of the program, he was in his element. He would play encore after encore and the audience would cheer for more! He would play five, six encores, as many as the audience wanted. And at that point he could do anything. He had no nerves left whatsoever. It was a thrilling experience for everyone who heard him!

There are two different types of encores.

When a program ends and you come out for an encore, the audience has been through a whole program. You want to charge them up! So you play something like a Chopin etude, something virtuosic and energetic. But what if the program ended with something big and dynamic and it’s already a blockbuster at the end of the program? That’s when you want to flip it and come out with a poetic encore, maybe a Chopin Nocturne or Prelude. That could be just the mood you’re looking for.

My father recorded the Scriabin Etudes Opus 8.

It was the first modern recording of the complete Opus 8, and it won record of the year. You can find them on YouTube. His performances don’t sound like etudes. They are rich musical experiences. He didn’t play them as just technical exercises. He played them for the gorgeous music that this early Scriabin is. The Opus 8 was very different from later Scriabin where he explored very sophisticated harmonies that bordered on atonality. Early Scriabin is sometimes compared to Chopin. It really has a voice all its own, but it’s quite chromatic, beautiful romantic music that is extremely emotional. I got to hear my father play them in New York at Lincoln Center. It holds a very special meaning for me.

I’m going to play the D-sharp minor Etude from Opus 8 which is the last of the set. Then, just as if the program ended heroically, because that is an incredible blockbuster piece, I’m going to go right into a movement of Debussy from the Children’s Corner Suite, The Little Shepherd, which was my mother’s favorite piece. I would play it for her as an encore. So this is very special and a personal performance for you. You can listen to the accompanying video. I hope you enjoy it.

Those are two completely different types of encores. What is appropriate depends upon your programming. So remember, if you’ve already pulled out all the stops, and you’ve ended really big, then bring it down and show poetry and express intimate feelings. Show what you can do to the soul! On the other hand, if the program ends with something long and melodic like a Schubert Sonata with beautiful architecture, then you’ll want to charge people up with your encore so they leave the hall with energy. Judging your encores is very important. Sometimes you can even have two or three encores prepared. Or maybe you’re brave enough and you have an audience that’s enthusiastic enough so you can play a bunch of encores like my father used to do!

I hope you’ve enjoyed this. Thanks again for joining me! I’m Robert Estrin here at LivingPianos.com, Your Online Piano Resource.

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Getting into a State of Flow With Your Music

Welcome to LivingPianos.com, I’m Robert Estrin. Today’s subject is about getting into a state of flow with your music. You’ve probably heard this term before, and we’ve all experienced it. What does it mean to be in a state of flow? When you’re completely absorbed in something, whether it’s making pottery, a walk in the woods, practicing the piano – it can be almost anything. You stop thinking about what you’re doing, and you just are. It’s all one experience where you don’t have that sense of looking at yourself and telling yourself instructions with words. Instead it just flows naturally.

Getting into a state of flow during a musical performance can be a magnificent experience.

If you’re playing written music from the score, you have to keep a certain amount of your cognition so that you don’t take a wrong turn. You don’t want to get carried away! But you can get to a point with a score, if you are intimately familiar with it, where you are just absorbed in it completely. It comes out of you so naturally that it isn’t even work anymore and time seems to disappear. Have you ever had that experience? If you can get into that state in your practice, you’re really doing well.

Improvising is a fantastic opportunity to get into a state of flow.

With improvisation you don’t have to focus on a score. It’s much easier to get into a state of flow where you’re no longer thinking about what you should do next. It just comes out of you, and you can feel the trajectory. You can feel the flow of the music. You are just part of it. In music and in life, to be in the moment is the ultimate feeling! But it’s one of the most difficult things to do. People use meditation and other things to try to get into that state of flow. But music is a fantastic vehicle for that. So, let yourself go! Sometimes you just have to see where music takes you. You can do that in the privacy of your own home. Eventually, if you have the confidence and the security in your playing, you can do it in performance as well!

I hope this is enjoyable for you. Thanks again for joining me! I’m Robert Estrin here at LivingPianos.com, Your Online Piano Resource.

For premium videos and other content, you can join my Living Pianos Patreon channel! www.Patreon.com/RobertEstrin

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Dealing with a Bad Smelling Piano

This might sound like a silly topic – and it kind of is – but this is a surprisingly common problem a lot of people encounter. Maybe there is a smell that develops over time but in most cases this is a problem with used pianos bought from a private seller.

Many things can contribute to a bad smelling piano. The most common occurrence is with cigarette smoke but there are many different things that can cause a piano to carry an unwanted odor. Situations vary, but you should be aware that smells can be very tricky to get rid of.

There really is no easy answer when it comes to smelly pianos. In all cases you will want to have the piano thoroughly cleaned – and this means removing the action. You will absolutely want to have a professional do this; you should never attempt to pull the action or touch fragile parts of the piano without the help of a technician.

Any piano you buy that has sat around for years could probably use a thorough cleaning – there is an incredible amount of dust that can accumulate over the years as well as some other interesting items. The next time you have your piano tuned you should ask your tuner what the strangest thing they ever found in a piano; you will probably be surprised with the answer!

Sometimes you might be able to mask a smell more than you can eradicate it. For example, when it comes to cigarette smoke, there is almost no way to completely get rid of the smell – it’s next to impossible! After thorough cleaning, one thing you can do to alleviate the problem – and this comes recommend from technicians – is to mask the smell with a perfume or something similar (many times it will be able to cancel out any lingering smells).

Thanks again for joining me Robert@LivingPianos.com

Should You Buy an Old Piano?

Whether you are worried about buying an old piano or only want to buy a vintage piano, there is a lot of information floating out there online when it comes to older instruments and a lot of it can be hard to sort through. Today we are going to talk about the good and the bad when it comes to buying older pianos.

Unlike people, pianos don’t age unless acted upon by an outside force. In the case of pianos, it’s their environment or the amount they are played that will age them. Upkeep is the most important part of maintaining your piano and giving it a long lifespan. Occasionally, there are pianos 50-100 years old with almost no wear or tear because they were barely played, kept in a very stable environment and kept in tune. It’s like opening a time capsule – the pianos are almost like new off the showroom floor yet from a different era!

On the flipside, there are pianos that aren’t even ten years old that are in need of major repairs because of the way they were cared for. Pianos which have been subjected to constant use in schools and hotels, pianos that are never tuned, and instruments subjected to desert or ocean environments are some examples. Sometimes pianos have hot air ducts below or behind them destroying soundboards. Even having direct sunlight stream on the piano all day can do substantial damage in a short amount of time.

The age of a piano has little to do with the condition of the instrument.

It’s all about the environment and how it has been cared for.

Knowing that, you will need to do a little detective work when it comes to the used piano market. Why would you want to go that route?

The biggest reason most people look to used pianos is to get higher line instruments for far less money. You can get much more value for your dollar when buying used pianos versus new ones – especially when it comes to higher line pianos such as Steinway and European instruments. You may be able to afford a top-tier used piano in good condition for the same price as a new Chinese piano!

Pianos all have distinct personalities and even new pianos can differ greatly from one-another. Buying an older instrument that has been restored – assuming the work has been done by expert technicians and rebuilders – doesn’t necessarily propose different risks from buying a new piano. In fact, new pianos often carry larger risks than time-tested instruments because if there is going to be a major problem with manufacturing or materials you’ll usually discover this within the first year or two of owning a piano. Is this a big risk? No, but it’s something to be aware of.

Another significant reason people look to used pianos instead of new instruments is because there is a scarcity of American and European pianos being built today. Consider 100 years ago there were over 1,800 companies making pianos in the United States. Last year there were only 1,400 pianos built in North America! While Asian production pianos have proliferated the market at a fraction of the cost of the hand-made pianos, they don’t provide the same level of performance or longevity of the top-tier instrument from years past.

The history of an older piano is the most important tool you have in determining if it’s worth your time. You don’t need a rich and detailed report on every aspect of the instrument, but doing a little detective work can tell you a lot about the history of a piano with simple observation if you know what to look for. If you are unsure about the piano, you could have a piano technician or piano expert take a look at it for you. A little information and a concerning eye could save you thousands of dollars in potential repairs.

So while you shouldn’t be afraid of older pianos, you should be aware of the inherent risks involved with buying any piano. It’s important that you understand what you are getting and know the history of the piano you’re interested in. If you’re not experienced in what to look for when determining the value or condition of a piano than it might be a good idea to bring a technician along with you or buy from a reputable dealer instead of taking a risk with a piano from a private party.

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

How Much Does a Piano Cost?

If you’re familiar with pianos, you probably know they can be very expensive musical instruments. Many potential buyers might experience some sticker shock upon their first trip to a piano store. Grand pianos can range anywhere from a few thousand dollars to hundreds of thousands of dollars! With so much range in price, how do you find the piano that is right for you and your family?

Digital Pianos

The most inexpensive option are digital pianos. A digital piano is not the same thing as a keyboard but they can look very similar. You can find a functional keyboard for as low as a hundred dollars at some stores, but if you want an actual digital piano you will have to invest more.

What makes a digital piano? Here is a quick rundown of what to look for.

88 Keys. A standard piano keyboard has 88 keys and you shouldn’t compromise on that when it comes to buying a digital instrument.

Weighted keys: Select keyboards can have the same weight as found on grand pianos. Have you ever played a keyboard with almost no resistance to the keys? It doesn’t feel like playing a piano does it? Weighted keys simulate the press of real piano keys, and may be the next best thing to having a real piano to practice on. More importantly, it will help you develop strength to play any piano.

Stand and Speakers are pretty standard on digital pianos (as opposed to keyboards). A lot of digital pianos are built to look like upright pianos and have integrated stands.

Having 3 Pedals isn’t essential, but certainly offer a nice addition to simulating the experience of playing an acoustic piano.

So how much does a decent digital piano cost? Plan on spending a minimum of between $500-$1,000 for a decent instrument and more for a digital piano with many features or attractive furniture.

Upright Pianos

As we have discussed in a previous video (Upright Pianos Vs. Grand Pianos), upright pianos have a few limitations when compared to grand pianos, but for many people they are a great option.

Here are 2 good reasons to consider getting an upright piano:

– Space
– Budget

If you can’t fit a grand piano in your home, then having an upright piano may be the next best option. If you don’t have the budget for a grand piano, you may be able to find an upright piano in your price range.

This is not to say that upright pianos are inexpensive. A top-of-the-line upright piano can cost tens of thousands of dollars!

As far as entry-level instruments go, brand new uprights piano can be found for as little as $3,500-$5,000 and should provide a decent level for beginning students.

Grand Pianos

Grand pianos cover the largest section of pianos available in that they can come in sizes ranging from baby grand pianos under 5 feet, all the way up to concert grand pianos that can be 9 feet or even longer!

Depending on your budget and space, the bigger the piano, the more rewarding the tone. However, with size comes increases in cost and as we’ve discussed in a previous video the best size grand piano for you is dependant on a number of conditions.

When it comes to new entry-level baby grand pianos, you need to spend at least $5,000-$10,000 to get any kind of instrument and potentially a lot more. The prices go up depending on the size of the piano you’re looking for. But that is a good baseline price you can expect to pay for a new, entry level baby grand piano (or even smaller petite baby grand) that will be suitable as a musical instrument (not just a furniture piece).

Used Pianos

You might have noticed that we neglected to mention used pianos up until this point. That’s because the price of used pianos is widely different than that of new instruments. In fact, the starting price for used pianos is $0!

Yes, believe it or not, you can find pianos online or in your local area for free! However, this might sound good in theory, but the reality is much more complex.

Would you buy a used car without getting the opinion of a mechanic or at least having a cursory knowledge of cars yourself? Probably not. The same principle applies to pianos. Unless you are knowledgeable about what to look for, a free piano could end up costing you much more than even a new instrument.

To provide an example, let’s say you find a used upright piano on Craigslist and someone is giving it away for free. You call them up and they say that as long as you can move the piano out of their home, you can have it. Unless you’re extremely adventurous, you’re going to want to call a professional piano mover to move the piano for you. Let’s assume that this costs a minimum of $200. Unless the previous owner took great care of the piano (which is rarely the case if they are giving it away for free!), you are going to, at the very least, get the piano tuned by a piano technician. For the sake of discussion, let’s say they can get the work done for another $200. So at a bare minimum, that free piano will actually cost $400 – which is almost the price of a brand new digital piano.

We get hundreds of pianos offered to our store every year and only a few are worth restoring. The pianos we take in are almost never in a condition to sell and they typically require thousands of dollars worth of work to put them into fine playing and cosmetic condition. Here are just a few things we evaluate with every single piano we are offered:

The finish of the case
Condition of the soundboard
The condition of the action parts on the piano
The tone of the instrument, does it need tuning, regulation, or voicing?

There are dozens more options that go into evaluating a piano, but these are just a few of the important aspects we evaluate on every single instrument. Each of these areas could cost thousands of dollars in repairs or replacement parts (as well as labor) and you must work with seasoned professionals.

Needless to say, you don’t want to move a piano into your home only to find out it’s simply beyond repair or going to cost you tens of thousands of dollars to get into playing condition. You’ll soon find out why that person was so desperate to get rid of their piano!

Buying a piano is a real challenge and whether you are looking for a new or used instrument it is extremely important to research your purchase and speak with someone you trust and is knowledgeable about what you’re looking for.

If you have any questions about this topic or any others, please contact us at: Info@LivingPianos.com (949) 244-3729

Should You Avoid Buying an Upright Piano?

This might seem like a crazy question to ask. Upright pianos are extremely common and popular and for many people with limited space are the only option they might have for a piano. In fact, in many parts of the world such as Europe and Asia, upright pianos are the standard type of piano because of smaller homes and limited space. Today we are going to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of buying an upright piano and you can decide if it’s a good fit for you.

Upright pianos do have natural limitations that simply cannot be rectified. The actions are designed vertically and as a result you are more limited with the speed at which notes repeat. The pedals on upright pianos also don’t function as they do on grand pianos (except for the sustain pedal on the right). For more information on this subject please watch our previous video: Upright Pianos Vs. Grand Pianos.

So why doesn’t everyone just buy grand pianos?

There are two reasons most people buy upright pianos: space and budget. Upright pianos are both smaller and cheaper (in general) than grand pianos. So, many people compromise and purchase uprights with the goal of getting a grand piano eventually.

Is this a bad decision? Absolutely not. I encourage students to buy the best piano they can and if that’s an upright piano it is a great choice. Students can progress from beginning lessons all the way to a slightly advanced level utilizing an upright piano and have no problems at all. It’s only when students progress to a level where they will need the abilities of a grand piano (pedals and repetition) that they will be limited by an upright piano.

Another thing to keep in mind is that students (even at a beginning level) will progress faster on a grand piano. This is simply due to the fact that it’s easier to transition from a larger instrument to a smaller one. It’s a lot easier to go from playing a concert grand piano all the time to performing on an upright piano. The reverse is true as well: playing on an upright piano at home will make it more difficult to transition to playing on a grand piano at lessons or in performance.

Ideally everyone would start learning on a grand or baby grand piano. However, you can get a very satisfying sound from an upright piano and it should never be a deterrent from learning or playing the piano. Simply get the best piano you can at the moment and begin from there. Don’t worry about getting something bigger if you can’t afford it or fit it in your home. Eventually you will be able to upgrade your piano but it should not deter you from enjoying it now.

Thanks again for joining me and if you have any questions please feel free to contact us directly: info@livingpianos.com (949) 244-3729