The Truth About the Yamaha GB1K Baby Grand Piano
If you’re looking to purchase a new baby grand piano, the choices out there are vast and varied. Some brands are familiar and some are pretty obscure – but they all claim to be the best in their relative price points. It’s impossible for me to make a blanket statement about which brand or model may be best for you because we’re dealing with two things – Facts and Emotion. Facts are universal (objective). They can be tested and proven. Emotions are just as real, but they aren’t universal (Emotions are subjective). So – since we can’t comment on an individual’s feelings – let’s take emotion out of the equation for a moment and focus on the facts surrounding Yamaha‘s most popular baby grand piano: the Yamaha GB1K.
Making Music with MIDI
Purchasing a hybrid piano, a player piano, or a digital piano opens up exciting options for both the hobbyist and professional piano player thanks to a technology called MIDI.
If you’re not familiar with MIDI, check out our article “What is MIDI and Why Should You Care?” It will get you up to speed.
Currently, all of our Roland digital pianos, Yamaha Clavinovas, PianoDisc player pianos as well as our Yamaha Disklavier and Yamaha Silent Pianos use MIDI. Some can even use MIDI wirelessly over a Bluetooth connection. That means that these pianos give you more options than a traditional acoustic piano and can help you get more out of your instrument. Here are just some of the things they can do:
Finding Funds for Your Piano Program
Without a doubt, one of the greatest challenges for music educators, administrators and college deans is finding funds for musical equipment. With dwindling budgets, failing gear and all those field trips, concert tours, performances, visiting artists, and so much more pulling more resources every year, it’s no wonder schools and universities are in a constant struggle to afford the things they need. This is especially true when planning for high quality instruments which are more expensive initially (though they last longer and produce better outcomes in the long term). How, then, can you hope to find the money you need for your program or musical project?
Refreshing Your Piano Recitals
On June 9, 1840, Franz Liszt hosted a concert in Mayfair, London’s Hanover Square Rooms. The performance was part of a two-concert series advertised as “Liszt’s PianoForte Recitals.” History records this as the first “piano recital.” …but you might be surprised to learn that – though Liszt coined the term itself – many don’t consider him to be the father of modern classical piano recitals. Why? Because they were too much fun! Seriously.
The Five Levels of Yamaha Grand Pianos
Yamaha has been a premier piano manufacturer for many years, providing grand pianos for major artists, concert halls, institutions, and homes. But, did you know that there are actually five levels of baby grand pianos and grand pianos they produce? It’s true!
FREE Online Piano Lessons from Roland!
Attention Roland owners! If you purchased one of the following Roland digital pianos from Riverton Piano Company, then you qualify for THREE MONTHS of FREE ONLINE PIANO LESSONS through a special partnership with Roland and Pianote – the popular interactive music lessons app that lets you interact with LIVE piano teachers:
F701, FP-10, FP-30x, FP-60x, FP-90x, GP-3, GP607, GP-6, GP609, GP-9, HP702, HP704, LX705, LX-5, LX706, LX-6, LX708, LX-9, RP500, RP107, RP701
You heard that right! NO ADDITIONAL PURCHASE REQUIRED! Roland has always worked closely with educators and learning programs such as Pianote and now Roland is bringing even MORE value to your Roland piano purchase! It doesn’t matter if you bought your piano a few years ago… if you have one of the models above, all you need to do is visit this website: https://www.roland.com/us/promos/pianote_piano_lessons/, register your piano, and sign up for your FREE three-months of piano lessons!
Quick note – do NOT go to Pianote’s website and sign up for this promotion. This $42 value bonus is ONLY available at the website linked above!
This promotion won’t last forever, so register your Roland piano today and Contact Us if you have any questions – OR if you want to purchase your Roland digital piano and get started with FREE online piano lessons today!
Riverton Piano Company is an award-winning Roland digital piano dealership in Phoenix, Arizona. For a complete demonstration on Roland digital pianos, explore our online store or visit our YouTube channel.
Schumann Pianos Now Available with Silent Practice System
Wouldn’t it be nice if you or your child could sit down enjoy your acoustic piano any time you wanted without disruption? Wouldn’t it be great if you could practice without anyone else being able to hear you? What a freeing experience it would be to know that nobody else could hear you repeat something dozens of times while you learn it! Well, those dreams are now a reality thanks to Schumann pianos and our new silent practice system!
Dealing with Donated Pianos
Have a Piano to Donate?
Donated pianos are a part of life in institutions around the world. Those of us who are lucky enough to own a piano know that pianos are often passed on from one generation to the next. They almost become a part of the family. There comes a time, however, when no one in the family plays or the family wants to downsize and you’re left with a decision to make regarding the piano. The two most common choices are:
Why We Made the Switch to PianoDisc
Inertia can be a funny thing. Simply because something is familiar, we cling to it for years before we even consider making a change… and that can be dangerous when technology is involved. Especially if we’re discussing player piano technology. In fact, the last 10 years have seen some incredibly important (and rapid) technological advancements in the music industry. Change is all around us. That’s where Riverton Piano Company‘s annual product review comes in. Each year, we take the time to evaluate the pianos, digital pianos, and player piano systems we carry and make sure that they represent what we feel are the absolute best value products available in each category. The process is simple. We compare their construction, reputation, innovation and customer service with other brands in their respective categories and rate them based on their performance in the previous year. Of course, with Brands like Yamaha, Bosendorfer, Baldwin, Roland and even Schumann, we rarely have any complaints. However, after careful review, we are excited to announce a change in our lineup. After careful evaluation of their equipment, music, reliability and customer service, we are excited to announce that we have replaced our old QRS player piano systems with the PianoDisc’s new Prodigy Player Piano System. Why did we decide to make this change after working with QRS for so many years? Put simply… because PianoDisc is a better, more value-rich product with a stronger service record and far better support. Let’s break it down.
Where Are Yamaha Pianos Made?
Whether you’ve considered buying a musical instrument, a motorcycle or high quality AV equipment, you’ve no doubt run into Yamaha. For over 135 years, Yamaha has built a global reputation for quality and reliability that few of its competitors have been able to match. In fact, Yamaha is so prevalent in today’s musical landscape that one out of every FOUR instruments is a Yamaha! That’s right. Drums, flutes, guitars, pianos – you name it, Yamaha makes it… and people around the world take pride in owning their Yamaha instruments.
Elton John is one of 3600 musicians who proudly call themselves “Yamaha Artists.”
In the piano world, Yamaha has built a sterling reputation as one of the three most prominent names on the world’s stage. …but how do Yamaha’s home pianos compare to those you hear Elton John (and countless others) play on stage today? More specifically, where are Yamaha pianos made and what does their factory location tell you about their quality and long-term value?
