Does ‘Where a Piano is Made’ Make a Difference?
A modern grand piano is made up of over 12,000 parts and each manufacturer has its own “recipe.” Piano makers build their reputations based on the designs, materials and workmanship that go into their instruments. …but would a Steinway piano be just as good if it were built in England instead of the US or Germany? Would a Yamaha be a Yamaha if it didn’t come from Japan? Are pianos built in China of lower quality? Does ‘where a piano is made’ matter?
How the Yamaha Disklavier is Transforming Today’s Music Schools
When most people think of the Yamaha Disklavier, they think of a player piano or home entertainment instrument. What most folks don’t know is that the world’s premier player piano was designed to be (first and foremost) an educational tool. Introduced in 1982 as the world’s first fully-functional reproducing piano (able to play and record piano music), the Yamaha Disklavier enjoyed near instant success. The ability to record one’s performance and play it back instantly was a great help to piano students, so piano teachers and music schools all over the world began to use these new technologies in their day-to-day lessons. Yamaha, however, was already working towards a far more ambitious goal.
In 1997, Yamaha pioneered an experimental technology that was designed to transmit song data from one piano to another in near real-time all around the world. It took Yamaha engineers nearly 10 years to perfect this industry-changing technology, but finally – in January of 2007 – Yamaha announced the all new “Remote Lesson.”
For the first time, gifted students all over the world could attend remote master classes or enjoy one-on-one instruction with world-class professors no matter where they lived! Opera students could practice with rich, expressive (and pre-recorded) accompaniments at all hours of the night and day! Music Conservatories could audition students from all over the world via remote – without having to make expensive travel arrangements. …and, perhaps more importantly, more students were able to participate in high quality music learning experiences than ever before.
Now – more than 20 years since Yamaha introduced Remote Lesson technology – the Yamaha Disklavier (and it’s high resolution “Remote Live” technology) is a staple in world-class music schools and teaching studios all over the globe and, perhaps, the best way to continue high quality piano study during – and after – this global pandemic.
Here are just a few examples of how “Remote Live” is solving problems for piano teachers, professors and music students in the era of COVID-19 and beyond:
How to Find the Perfect Church Piano
As a worship leader with nearly 15 years of experience and a trained piano consultant for more than 18 years, I find that I have a unique perspective on finding the right piano for your church. I’ve worked with churches all over the United States and even some in Mexico to find the perfect piano for their sanctuaries. Hopefully, my experiences will help you and your piano selection team cut through the fallacies and sales hype to find the your perfect church piano.
As always, please feel free to comment below if you have any thoughts or questions. I take the time to respond to everyone. God bless!
Finding the Ultimate Worship Piano in 2020 and Beyond
Maybe your worship setting isn’t best served by a digital piano. Whether you follow a strict liturgy or you prefer hymnsongs on a Sunday morning, the right acoustic piano can greatly enhance your worship experience. “What is an acoustic piano,” you ask? Quite simply, it’s a piano you don’t plug in. …and like its digital counterparts, there are some things that don’t thrill me about many of the options available on the market today. Again. Everyone has their favorite brands and you can find “informed” opinions growing on every tree, but here are five basic things I think most worship leaders would agree are NOT desirable for their primary worship instrument:
Why Adults All Over the World are Taking Piano Lessons
Proving that piano lessons are not for children only, countless adults are discovering that it’s never too late to learn how to play the piano.
For older adults, research shows that piano lessons enhance the working memory. This is especially true after as little as six months of learning. In 1993, the Educational Psychology Journal linked playing the piano with improved reading comprehension. If you want to remember what you read (including this article!), then playing the piano is for you.
Learn Online for FREE with Flowkey and Yamaha!
If you’ve been dreaming of playing your favorite songs quickly and easily, then your dreams are about to come true! Now – thanks to a special partnership with Yamaha – you can get THREE MONTHS FREE ACCESS to flowkey – the online piano learning tool everyone is talking about! …but hurry! This partnership won’t last forever!
All you have to do is purchase a new Yamaha Clavinova digital piano, register your new Clavinova with Yamaha and redeem your FREE flowkey voucher code at Yamaha’s flowkey website and you’re all set.
Playing the Piano Can Help You “Get Away”
If you’re like me, you’ve probably been feeling a little overwhelmed lately. Especially considering all the uncertainty and disruption around us,it’s no surprise that so many of us are looking for something – anything – that can make us feel normal again. Luckily, the most powerful tool we have is always with us: music. It’s true! Just sitting back and relaxing while listening to our favorite music can take us away from whatever stressful places we find ourselves in, and bring us a measure of peace.
For many of us, this is no surprise. We couldn’t imagine watching a movie without the background music or driving any length of time without our “playlist!” …but, did you know that there is one thing even MORE transformative – even more powerful than listening to our favorite music?
Having Fun at Home with Your Digital Piano
One of the truly exciting parts of my job is showing people how much fun they can have with a digital piano. Not only do most digital pianos have many different sounds and rhythms – as well as a built-in recorder – but some models can also make use of third-party apps that can make learning so much easier and more enjoyable. Some help you play your favorite songs even if you can’t read music! So – if you’re looking for something fun and relaxing to do at home – here are some things you and your family can enjoy on your home digital piano:
Piano Essentials FAQ: What You Need for Lessons
Q. Can I start lessons on a keyboard?
- The answer to this question depends on how you define the word “keyboard.” If you are considering a $100-$500 portable keyboard, you’re setting yourself up for failure. Toy keyboards – like what you find at electronics store or “Big Box” retailers are inadequate learning tools. They don’t have any similarity to the sound and touch of an actual piano and a vast majority of the students who begin lessons on instruments like this quit in the first year. If, however, you define “keyboard” as “any piano-style keyboard instrument that plugs in,” you’re in luck. There is a subset of keyboards called “digital pianos” that are specifically designed to emulate the sound and touch of a “wood and strings” piano. Digital pianos make excellent lessons instruments. You can even use mobile music apps and computer software to learn music symbols, musical organization, and timing on digital pianos.
Q. What kind of keyboard is best?
- As I mentioned before, I don’t recommend anything in the $100-$500 range. Rather than wasting money on a toy, I recommend renting a proper digital piano (We have rental options that start at $30/mo). The two most respected digital piano brands are Yamaha and Roland. We often call them the “Coke” and “Pepsi” of digital pianos.
Q. What should my keyboard have on it?
- Portable keyboards come in three basic sizes: 61 Note, 76 Note, and 88 Note. For piano lessons you should use an 88-Note digital piano (pianos have 88 keys) with full-sized piano keys, a “gravity hammer” key action, a proper bench, and a sustain pedal.
Q. How can I tell if my instrument has “full-sized” keys?
- The quickest way to tell if your keyboard, piano, or digital piano has “full-sized” keys is to do the “Dollar Bill Test.” Simply remove a dollar bill from your wallet and lay it down on one of the white keys (lengthwise – parallel to the key). The key should run from one end of the dollar bill (the end pressed against the felt at the hilt of the key) to the end of the ink on the other end of the dollar bill.
Q. What does “gravity hammer key action” mean?
- A gravity hammer key action is designed to closely emulate the feel and response of a grand piano. As you press the key down, you lift a counterweight at the opposite end. Then – when you let go of the key – the counterweight falls and pushes the key back up. There are no springs or mechanisms to wear out or get “sloppy” over time. This type of action – if properly weighted – will provide the ideal resistance for players of all skill levels. This is especially important for beginners – who are just beginning to build the musculature and coordination they need to play well.
Q. What is a sustain pedal?
- Sometimes called the “damper pedal,” the sustain pedal is the first pedal on the right of a piano or digital piano (and, sometimes, the only pedal on a keyboard). When depressed, it lifts the dampers off the strings so they continue to ring (this is simulated to provide the same effect in electronic instruments). Typically, students begin using this pedal in lessons within the first year of study.
Q. What about a Clavinova?
- Simply put, a Clavinova is a digital piano. More specifically, it is Yamaha’s most piano-focused digital piano line (far superior in tone or touch to Yamaha’s Arius “YDP” Series or the entry-level “P” Series. Clavinova competes directly with premium digital piano brands like Roland.
Q. How much do digital pianos cost?
- Digital pianos range in price from about $600 to $30,000. Most first-time buyers will select a digital piano in the $1300 – $3500 range. Then, as the player becomes more involved with the digital features, many will take advantage of Riverton Piano Company’s 3-year FULL TRADE option on digital pianos and upgrade to an instrument with even more learning and play along features.
Q. Which is better, a digital piano or a used piano?
- This question comes up a lot and it’s a difficult one to answer. Despite what their owners might tell you, most used pianos – especially those found in people’s homes – are in poor shape. Most piano owners just don’t understand how to properly care for their “wood and strings” pianos – nor do they want to spend the necessary money to do so. In cases like this, digital pianos are almost always a better choice since they are always in tune and their action is properly regulated.
- Digital pianos are also a better choice when compared to upright pianos because they have grand piano style key actions. Upright pianos play about 40% slower than grand pianos because their action is operated with spring-loaded mechanisms instead of simple gravity. Good digital pianos are modeled after grand pianos – so they can play faster and with more musicality than can their upright cousins. If you are looking for a vertical instrument, you’ll probably prefer a digital piano.
- Grand pianos are far more subjective, however. Some manufacturers make a truly stunning digital grand piano (like the Roland GP-609). Some folks, however, prefer the furniture look (especially in wood finishes) and the sound aesthetic that only a “wood and strings” grand piano can provide. If you have room for a grand piano and you want to commit to a slightly higher budget for your piano, you might consider either a digital or a “wood and strings” grand. You’ll know immediately which one you prefer. As with any instrument, the most important thing here is to find the right tool to keep the player interested. The choice is often highly individual.
Q. How much do new pianos cost?
- Pianos range in price as vastly as do cars or kitchen appliances. There are a number of poor quality new pianos today that are very inexpensive. However, on average, a good quality “starter piano” should cost around $3000. Then, based on size, color, sound, and style preferences, your new piano could range between $3000 and $300,000. (A huge majority of first-time buyers select an upright piano between the $2000 and $5000 range. Most first-time grand piano buyers select an instrument in the $10,000 – $20,000 range.) No matter what you decide to purchase, it is important to work closely with a professional piano consultant. They can help you find the instrument that will keep you interested and fulfilled for years to come.
Q. Do you rent pianos?
- Riverton Piano Company offers the Phoenix area’s most comprehensive rental program – from a basic piano at $30/mo to a premium baby grand piano, we invite you to Rent to Learn today!
Q. How can I learn more about pianos?
If you would like more information on how to select the perfect instrument for you or your family, church, or school, you might want to check out these important resources:
- “Digital Piano Basics – What to Know Before you Buy”: This short – yet powerful – article will give you all the tools you need to begin piano shopping. Learn the basics, see diagrams and illustrations and get the facts before you start to shop!
- “Piano Basics – What to Know Before You Buy a Piano”: If you’ve decided to purchase a traditional “wood and strings” piano, this article is a MUST for you. Find out why some pianos are $2000, and some are $20,000. Learn what to look for and where to go for help!
- “Finding the Perfect Piano” – This 10-page PDF buyer’s guide is a FREE tool to help you navigate the choppy waters of piano retail. Learn how to shop for pianos on the internet, Craigslist, and in stores. Learn what to avoid and how to know if a deal truly is “too good to be true.” Discover the most important things you should want from your piano before you start shopping!
I hope this basic tutorial has been helpful to you. If you’re in the area, please stop by one of our Phoenix piano stores for a personal tour and enjoy our warm, comfortable atmosphere. We pride ourselves in making your piano shopping experience as easy and entertaining as possible. See you soon!
How to Select a Piano Dealer
People often compare the piano retail business to used car sales and, frankly, I can understand why. Over the years, far too many piano dealers have participated in misleading advertising schemes, unethical pricing practices, “bait and switch” tactics, misrepresentation and outright dishonesty. It’s gotten bad enough that those of us who truly care about our clients have to work ten times harder to earn their trust. Some of the piano shoppers we see come in with a real fear that someone will try to swindle them out of their hard-earned money. It’s sad, but it’s completely understandable.
The Internet has helped in some ways. It’s given consumers a whole new voice. Piano shoppers can review their dealers, leave feedback and even warn others when they feel they were mistreated. The downside to The Internet is its sheer volume of information. Everybody with an opinion and a smart phone can create a blog or write a review. …and while it’s great to see what people are saying, it’s hard to know whose judgments are based on accurate information and whose are based on opinions, outdated facts or third-party propaganda.
How, then, can you tell which piano dealers are trustworthy and which ones are just “out to make a buck”?
Teaching Special Needs Students on Roland Digital Pianos
As a music industry professional, clinician, and national trades columnist, one of my great passions is sharing new techniques and teaching tools with progressive educators all over the world. Since we all share the same goal (making more music makers), we are all heavily invested in inspiring new generations to play. More importantly, we all strive to keep our knowledge of teaching methods and music technology current – so we can solve the pedagogical problems that come our way.
Even though we are dealing with an instrument that is over 300 years old and has changed relatively little, the best music educators know not to rely on outdated traditions or inertia when making decisions about their teaching methodology. Despite “the old saying,” there IS something new under the sun – and anyone who wishes to remain relevant with modern students needs to learn their language: the language of technology.
