Tips For Buying the Right Piano

If you want to add an instrument to your home for you or your kids to learn, a piano can be a great addition. So, how do you choose the right piano? Here are some tips you need when you buy one.

Sound

If you or your children are learning how to play, you want to find a piano that always sounds in tune. Of course, there are ways to tune a piano. If it is out of tune when you buy it, you can ask one of your local piano stores to do piano tuning for you. Other than the tuning, different pianos have different tones. Be happy with the tone before purchasing a piano. Make sure the piano keys have a consistent tone and volume. You don’t want to waste money on a piano you won’t play.

Size

You must be set on the location you want to put the piano in your home. This is essential because you don’t want to buy a piano and then have it not fit. Get the exact dimensions of the space for your piano before heading to your local piano shop.

A good thing to keep in mind is that bigger pianos do produce a higher quality sound. This may persuade you to find a larger area in your home for a grand piano. Piano stores can always give you recommendations based on your space, as well.

Appearance

According to nytimes.com, Yamaha sold 60% more digital pianos in April 2020 than in the same month the previous year. Digital pianos are becoming more popular because they are more versatile for homes and schools. If you are more traditional, the appearance may make you stray away. You can buy a piano that is black or mahogany, or one that looks very rustic. Whatever aesthetic you are trying to meet, there is a piano for you. A piano in your home is always an eye-catching piece, so picking the right one is essential. There is a wide range of pianos at piano stores, so look at all of your options to find the one that fits your home.

Pricing

Piano companies sell pianos at many different prices. When you walk into a piano shop in Los Angeles CA, you can have an employee show you the many pianos within your price range. Of course, there are going to be pianos that are higher in price that have way better quality. Depending on how flexible your budget is, you may want to choose a piano that has a better quality for a higher price.

Use all these tips when you shop for your piano. You should be happy with your decision before you start learning how to play.

Top Mistakes to Avoid When Buying a Piano

Pianos are one of the most popular musical instruments on the market. According to The New York Times, the sales of digital pianos increased by 30% across America this April and May, with the trend continuing to continue into June. This was said during an interview and illustrated the popularity of pianos.

If you are looking to buy the perfect piano, you may be too focused on what you want. For the best results, here are some common mistakes to avoid during this process.

Overspending or Underspending

It’s normal to want to save money by buying the cheapest piano you can find. But keep in mind that this means you will be signing up for poor quality and sound. If you’re serious about playing this instrument, you’ll need a piano that offers the best sound quality. On the other hand, this doesn’t mean spending all your savings on the most expensive piano that you can find. This is another common mistake that people make when buying a piano.

The right piano for you with the right price depends on whether you’re a beginner or an experienced player. Generally, you don’t need a fancy piano with all the bells and whistles if you’re just getting started on your musical journey. Instead, you need something a little more basic that doesn’t have too many trimmings to distract you. Knowing the right price range can save you a lot of time and money.

Buying a Faulty, Used Piano

There’s nothing wrong with buying a used piano. Used pianos are typically more affordable, and you can still get a high-quality piano that’s in good shape if you’re diligent with your search. However, the most common mistake that comes with buying a used piano is choosing one that’s already faulty. If you’re not sure what to watch out for, you may end up with a bad deal disguised as a good deal. There are many issues that can be hidden, such as lack of tuning stability or broken strings.

Buying a piano with an unfixable problem is one of the worst things you can do. Even if you use the piano, you won’t be able to get the most out of it. Sometimes, the piano can have such a major fault that you either have to throw it away or use it as an ornament for your living room. If you want to avoid all this hassle, you can always buy straight from the piano store.

Buying Without Proper Research

Knowing that you’re about to own a piano can be very exciting. You may even be tempted to rush the process so that you can get to the fun part. However, you should avoid rushing to the piano store and buying too quickly. If you know the pain of regretting an expensive purchase, then it’s easy to understand why you should take your time when shopping for a piano. For starters, you should consider all the options available to you.

These usually include traditional acoustic pianos and modern digital pianos. Before you make the purchase, you should weigh the pros and cons of each option. For instance, if you’re a beginner looking for a fun learning experience, getting a digital piano offers more versatility. You can choose from different instrument sounds and take advantage of additional tools that accelerate the learning process.

Not Factoring In All the Costs Involved

When you’re buying a piano, it’s essential to understand that there are additional costs involved beyond the initial purchase price. This needs to be factored in from the start so that you don’t end up settling for a piano that’s too far above your budget. Once you pay the piano store, you also have to think about moving and maintenance costs. If you’re renting, you’ll need to budget for moving costs every time you relocate. Similarly, your piano will need professional tuning regularly, depending on how much you use it. So, don’t overlook these costs when you budget for your new piano.

Knowing what to avoid is just as important as knowing what to do. Now that you have this list in hand, you’re now ready to head over to the piano store and start looking for the best option for you. The great news is that piano store salesmen can provide you with helpful advice and guidance. They will provide you with the right recommendations, depending on your preferences and other factors.

Interested in checking out a reputable piano store with some of the best pianos in the market? Get in touch with Keyboard Concepts, and we will point you in the right direction of the piano made just for you!

5 Surprising Benefits of Playing the Piano

piano

It’s always a great achievement when one learns to play the piano. Learning to play the piano is fun, and it allows you to get in touch with your musical side. It also comes with some surprising benefits. Here are the top five outstanding benefits of playing the piano that can apply to adults and children.

Relieves Stress

Playing the piano is one of the most recommended things to do after a long, stressful day. That’s because when you’re playing the piano, you have to live fully in the moment. You have to really concentrate to play through a piece and engage different parts of your brain. Therefore, sitting down to play the piano is an instant way to forget any troublesome and stressful thoughts.

On top of that, playing the piano has a soothing and calming effect. Playing the piano causes vibrations that help you to physically relax. Being stressed can make you feel tense without you even realizing it. But when you play the piano, the feelings of pleasure that you derive from the activity will help counteract that.

Improves Concentration

Learning to play the piano requires plenty of practice. By way of example, students that sign up for piano lessons have to invest hundreds of hours into practice before they become decent players. Over time, this teaches them the ability to concentrate on a particular task for a specific period of time. This is an important skill to learn because there will always be many distractions in the environment.

But piano music is so interesting that it’s easy to concentrate even if you are concentrating on a tricky piece. The other thing is when you’re playing the piano. You’re focused on improving your skill, which keeps you motivated and encourages a commitment that’s beneficial when applied to other areas of life.

Boosts Brain Function

Children can also benefit from playing the piano. For instance, according to Steinway, children with a few years of experience playing the piano can recall up to 20% more vocabulary words than their peers. But the truth is, music engages nearly every part of the brain. It’s necessary for different parts to work together to combine the various musical elements when you’re playing the piano at a fast pace.

For instance, playing the piano engages the visual, auditory, and motor functions of your brain. You have probably heard that the brain is like a muscle. When playing the piano, you’re essentially giving your brain a good workout and boosting your brain function. You’ll be surprised at how flexible your brain is when it comes to creating entirely new neural circuits as you learn to play the piano.

Builds Tolerance to Constructive Criticism

We all love to hear words of praise but learning to appreciate constructive criticism takes some getting used to. The good news is that piano teachers can help their students build a tolerance for constructive criticism. Most piano teachers are trained to give constructive feedback instead of negative feedback. Constructive criticism is designed to help you make direct improvements.

While receiving constructive criticism is not as enjoyable as getting positive feedback, it helps one to receive feedback in a positive manner. Tolerance to constrictive criticism and learning to respond positively is crucial not only when playing the piano but also in other areas of life. It motivates one to become better and improve without feeling discouraged.

Develops Aural Awareness

Some people shy away from learning the piano because they are tone-deaf. The beauty of learning to play the piano is that it can improve your aural awareness, which is always something you can benefit from if you have a naturally musical ear. If you don’t have a naturally musical ear, it may all seem confusing at first, but if you keep at it, you’ll be surprised at how well your aural awareness develops. For instance, you learn to spot tones and cords, and your sense of pitch becomes better. This is one of those benefits of playing the piano that can benefit both adults and children.

These are some of the top benefits of playing the piano that most people can benefit from. Playing the piano has so many benefits. We can discuss them all day. The most wonderful thing about playing the piano is that it increases social participation and brings music lovers together. Since almost everyone loves music, piano music can be shared with family, friends, and the musical community. Overall, piano music makes life more interesting and meaningful.

How Often Should Your Piano Be Tuned?

With more than 20,000 pianos sold in the United States last year, according to Statista.com, it’s clear that lots of people like having a piano at home. It also means there’s a lot of folks out there that will need piano tunings in the future. To keep your piano operating at peak ability, here’s what you need to know:

Maintenance

Many experts say you should have a piano tuned at least two times a year. If you’ve recently bought a piano, it might need more piano tuning to sound the way it should. This is also true if your piano goes through heavy use. Tuning keeps the mechanisms and strings working properly, which is important because the inner workings of a piano are very delicate.

Pay Attention to Climate

One overlooked aspect of piano tuning is the weather. Fluctuations in hot and cold weather can damage your piano. If you live in an area with high humidity, you’re likely going to need an extra piano tuning or two during the year. This is because the humidity causes strings to rust and keys and other parts to stick.

After Moving

You’ll also likely need a piano tuning after you move. Temperatures changes can play a part in piano differences, but even with gentle care, the inner works of your piano may need to be realigned after being jostled during a move.

It Doesn’t Sound Right

Even if you haven’t moved and the weather doesn’t change, there are times when your piano may not sound the way it should. If you think something sounds off, make an appointment for a piano tuning right away. Waiting until it’s too late can cause irreversible damage to your piano and may end up costing you a lot of money.

For many people, there’s nothing like having a piano at home. It adds a certain something to a home and is perfect for a musical family. With proper care, a piano can last years. So whether you’ve just recently purchased a piano, recently moved, or you live in an area with different weather patterns during the year, don’t sleep on getting your piano tuned when you need to. With proper tuning, you’ll be able to enjoy your piano for a long time.