10 Questions and Answers About the Piano
The piano is big news these days. Between the 300th anniversary of its invention and the latest research indicating its positive effects on brain development, there's a lot of information for people to digest, especially for those who may be considering a piano purchase. Some of the most prevalent concerns are addressed in the Q&A below:
Q1. So the piano is 300 years old. How has the grande dame of the music world
maintained her standing for such a long time? A learned man once said, "The organ and the
piano are the father and mother of all music." From its invention in Italy circa 1700, the piano
has been the foundation of all music; for solo and ensemble performance, as the vehicle for
musical composition, in the church, and in the home as the center of family life. After 300 years,
the piano still has the power to spread happiness and joy, and to bring the family together.
Playing the piano is fun and something every child and adult should experience.
Q2. Is it true that playing the piano can make a child smarter? The phrase "Music Makes You Smarter" is a media quote and somewhat of a generalization. What the studies have shown is that music training is linked to the development of higher brain functions such as spatial-temporal
reasoning. A recent study at the University of California, Irvine, indicated that students taking
piano lessons exhibited significant improvement in the understanding and grasp of proportional
math and fractions. Coming in contact with music may not make you "smarter" in the broadest
sense, but studying piano can give your children a leg up in their schoolwork and in life. It is an
advantage that every parent should give his or her children.
Q3. Are there any specific cues that parents should watch for when deciding if a child is ready to begin piano lessons? Parents can look for a child that tends to sing a lot, or, if they have a piano, one who tries to play melodies by ear. Their child might also be someone who gravitates to people playing music, or focuses on music on the radio or TV. But in some cases, you can't really tell until you give them the opportunity to try it. Just remember, you are not trying to create a concert artist in a little tux or formal...just give them the opportunity to experience the joy and pleasure of music. After all, piano is fun, and it's something from which everyone can benefit and enjoy.
Q4. Is there a particular age that is appropriate to begin piano lessons or does it depend on a child's maturity and/or interest? When to start depends a lot on the child, including size, maturity, ability to focus, etc. In the first test market program to provide after-school group piano lessons to first and second grade students, most of the students did extremely well and truly enjoyed the experience. So first grade is not too early to start. One instructive story comes from a man who was handed a ball as a second grader and told to go out and play sports. He never looked back. Now as an adult, he has a bad knee and a ruptured Achilles tendon, and can no longer play ball. Now he wishes he had learned to play piano instead because that is something he could do and enjoy for the rest of his life.
Q5. How do you go about finding a competent piano teacher? The Music Teachers
National Association has a piano teacher search engine on its website where you enter your zip
teachers...and almost anything else you can think of.
Q6. Sports are always associated with building self-confidence in a child, but some kids just aren't athletic. Can playing the piano have the same benefits? The quarterback always seems to have a lot of self-confidence. But what about all those other kids sitting on the bench? The wonderful thing about piano is that everyone can be a winner. Piano playing is fun and every child can progress at his or her own pace. When you play for the beauty and enjoyment piano can bring, you can't help but succeed. And that personal success brings self-confidence. As Billy Joel said at the opening of the Smithsonian Piano 300 Exhibit in Washington, DC, he loved piano because it helped him meet lots of girls, make lots of money, and, most important, it brought joy, happiness and fulfillment to his life.
Q7. Is it true that a recent study showed senior citizens who participated in group keyboard
lessons had reduced stress, anxiety and loneliness scores as compared to those who did not play? Yes. That was the "Music Making and Wellness" project at the University of Miami. Those in the study who took keyboard lessons had decreased anxiety, were happier, suffered less
depression and indicated they were less lonely then the control group who did not take keyboard
lessons. This study is another wonderful example showing that music and piano participation can
improve your quality of life no matter what your age.
Q8. Are you ever too old to begin piano lessons? Our lifestyles are so hectic that playing a few bars of Mozart might be a good way for a parent to alleviate stress. You are never too old to learn piano. A few years ago NPF produced a series of three videos called "The Possible Dream I, II and III" about men and women who discovered or came back to piano as adults. For them, piano provided moments of relaxation and brought an element of peace and civility to their all too often hectic lives. There was an airline pilot who played piano after each flight to relax, a professional athlete who found piano calmed him before a big game, and the stockbroker who depended heavily on the piano to reduce stress. Playing piano is fun and relaxing. It's just what the doctor ordered. Too bad Medicare doesn't cover it.
Q9. There are so many different types of pianos available. What factors need to be
considered when purchasing a piano? It's important to buy the best piano you can afford, because it will be a center of family entertainment for many years. Choose a size, model and finish that fits your home. And choose the piano with the sound and touch you like the best. It needs to be an instrument you enjoy playing and listening to every time you or your children sit down at the
piano to play. In addition, it's preferable to get a new piano. Piano building techniques have improved dramatically in recent years, and families with a new piano will have an instrument -- and a gift--that will last them a lifetime.
Q10. I understand that the piano was celebrated in many different ways over the course of 2000. Can you tell us what's happening and the web site to key in to for the latest in the Piano 300 festivities? The Smithsonian's Piano 300 Exhibit was the centerpiece of a worldwide celebration of the 300th anniversary of the invention of the pianoforte in Italy around 1700. The Exhibit was on display at the Smithsonian in Washington, DC through June 2001. There was an excellent PBS television special called "Piano GRAND!" that is being shown on local PBS stations around the country as well as a documentary on the history of the piano. Additionally, there are hundreds of ongoing related concerts, publications, programs and other activities celebrating the piano's birthday both nationally and locally. You can find out a lot more about Piano 300 by linking to its Web site. [link to www.piano300.org] to top of page
Building a Piano
While it's true that all pianomakers have their own unique processes and designs, this brief tour features some of the critical steps in the construction of a modern vertical piano. Each year, approximately 100,000 new pianos are manufactured and shipped for consumption in the U.S. by individuals, institutions, professionals, performing arts organizations and commercial establishments. Compared to most products we buy today, pianos still require considerably more time and skill to complete. After the harvested logs leave the mill pond, they are classified and then processed at the lumber mill. The sawn lumber is then stacked and slowly dried and seasoned for maximum stability. Thus, considerable time, investment and resources are consumed before the piano even begins to take shape. As the lumber begins to pass through factory operations it will continue to be trimmed, planed, routed, sanded, seasoned and finished
as the piano passes through its various phases of construction. But first the lumber must be properly dried in heated, climate-controlled kilns. This ensures maximum stability which allows the piano to perform year after year with only routine maintenance. The manufacturer
determines and measures the correct moisture content of the various wood parts. It is here that imperfections and defects are most likely to become apparent, and avoided. This is one of the reasons a piano can truly be considered a "lifetime" investment. One of the most criticalcomponents of the piano is the soundboard, the tonal "heart" of the instrument. Here, the wood planks that will be edge-glued together are first carefully assembled as the soundboard outline begins to take shape. The planks which make up the soundboard are then glued together and left to dry and "season". Next, it is trimmed to a size which is close to its final dimensions, when it then becomes part of the piano. Before a soundboard can "speak" with rich tone and with volume, the wood fibers must be stretched. This is achieved by bending the soundboard or "crowning". A series of ribs are glued to the back side to support this curvature, or "crown". The soundboard is then mounted on a wood "backframe". Sound is transmitted to the soundboard by the vibrating strings through bridges, over which the strings are stretched. The bridges must first be notched, which allows the strings to be cleanly "seated" which eliminates buzzes and
unwanted harmonics. The front of the finished soundboard shows the "pinblock" which holds the tuning pins in place (mounted at the top), as well as the notched treble and bass bridges. The back of the piano clearly shows the backframe with soundboard and ribs which support thesoundboard crown. The strings, usually numbering about 220, will exert an enormous amount of tension when tuned to pitch. To resist this, a rigid cast iron "plate" is mounted to the soundboard/backframe assembly. A hole for each "tuning pin" is precast in the iron plate along with "pressure bars" and "hitchpins" to guide and anchor the strings. After the plate is mounted, holes for the tuning pins are carefully drilled into the pinblock, guided by the holes in the plate. Thus, accurate placement of the plate is critical. Next, each pin is gently driven in to an exact height through its hole in the plate and into the pinblock. Each steel tuning pin is slightly tapered and has fine cut threads to help the pin grip tightly. Once the pin is "seated", it will be very tight. This holds each string in tune between tunings, done by a qualified piano technician. The backframe assembly, with the soundboard, plate and pinblock with pins installed now moves on to the stringing department A skilled "stringer" chooses the correct string gauge (thickness) for each pin. Every string end is wound around the top of the tuning pin exactly two and one-half turns. The first few initial tunings are done with the strung back lying horizontally. These are not very precise tunings but are intended to gradually bring the piano up to pitch. These are called "chip" tunings. Later, the piano will be fine tuned. The completed strung backframe will now be allowed to sit idle for a while to stabilize before another series of tunings. Each manufacturer designs its plate and string layout differently for each model. This is called the scale design. Pianos are, of course, also admired for their beauty. As the musical portions of the instrument are being constructed, another part of the factory is producing the furniture in which the instrument will be housed. Scores of sizes, shapes, styles, colors and finishes are produced in today's modern piano factories around the world. After the component parts are cut, trimmed, milled and sanded they are ready for finishing. There are many steps in the wood finishing process. Case parts for an individual piano travel together in the finishing process so that they will be well matched, and also to ensure that all components are present for final assembly. The final steps in the finishing process bring out the rich natural beauty of the wood. The strung back, which has been stabilizing and receiving chip tunings is now ready to be fitted with the finished case parts. In still another place, the piano action, keys and hammers are being produced. With over 10,000 individual parts, the action is without doubt the most complex part of the piano. A block or bat of highly compressed felt is trimmed to the desired hammer shape before it is sliced into individual hammerfelts. The finished hammers are then wrapped and glued to a wooden hammer core. The hammer and core are then mounted on a small wood dowel called a "shank". The entire assembly is the mounted on each of the 88 action sections, one for each key. The piano keys are likewise sawn into 88 sections from one continuous wooden slab. The white and black keytops are carefully glued and trimmed to the proper dimensions before installation into the piano. Keys may be inserted with lead weights as needed to balance the keys for responsive touch and uniformity. The piano action receives many adjustments before the
hammers and the keys are installed. Height, spacing and alignment are all checked and rechecked to make sure that the musical portion of the instrument performs properly. The keys and hammers are then installed in the piano. This begins another series of many fine adjustments which is called "action regulation". Regulation takes a skilled, qualified technician and should be checked occasionally throughout the life of the piano. The finished piano action is truly a marvel of precision and innovation which was accumulated over a period of three centuries. Remember, there are 88 sections just like this one in a finished console piano! The piano is now almost ready
for shipment. First, it will receive one more fine tuning before final inspection and crating.
Benefits of Playing the Piano
Where do we start? Perhaps the greatest benefit of having a piano in your life is also the one we've known about the longest--the uplifting effect it has on your spirit. When you sit on that bench and open the keyboard cover, you tap into a powerful way to communicate emotion, enliven a gathering or just relax. Just beneath the surface, however, the piano is much more than that. For example, a recent study at McGill University in Montreal, Canada, demonstrated that grade-school children who took piano lessons for three years scored higher than their peers on tests of general and spatial cognitive development--the very faculties needed for performance in math, engineering and other pursuits. Other scientists are coming up with similar results. A University of California at Irvine study showed that kids who took piano lessons along with computer puzzle-solving did better in math. Among older Americans, according to a Michigan State University research effort, keyboard lessons significantly reduced anxiety, depression and loneliness. In fact, researchers probing the inner workings of the brain have found neural firing patterns that bear a remarkable resemblance to music--suggesting that music may hold the key to higher brain function. Playing the piano is also an excellent way to strengthen eye-hand coordination and fine motor skills, and kids who take piano lessons learn a lot about discipline, dedication and the rewards of hard work. For so many people, having music in their lives means having a piano in their homes. And while the piano is beefing up your brain, it's adding beauty to your home, joy to your entertaining and a lasting investment to your life. But when you sit down to play, it's okay if none of these other benefits crosses your mind. For three hundred years, the simple joy of making music has been all the reward a piano player ever needed. For most of us, it's still enough. to top of page
Care and Feeding of Your Piano
Your piano is an object of beauty, a source of enjoyment, and a significant investment. For all those reasons, it's important to take proper care of it. However, caring for your piano is more a matter of conscientious attention than hard work. You can make an enormous difference in the life of your piano on the day it arrives at your home--by deciding where to put it. Severe changes in humidity can cause dimensional changes in the wooden parts of your piano, and can affect not only the instrument's day-to-day performance but also its longevity. Choose a location that will not subject the instrument to extreme temperature or humidity changes. That means keeping your piano away from windows, outside doors, fireplaces and heating or cooling vents. Using a room humidifier in the dry winter months and a room dehumidifier in the moister summer months can add protection against humidity-related effects. Though a piano can be a showcase for the best of the cabinetmaker's art, don't confuse it with a regular piece of furniture. Don't place or store objects on your piano, especially not food, drinks or plants (which contain moisture). Do, however, dust it regularly with a soft cloth or lambs wool duster. Avoid using sprays or polishes; some of them will make future repairs difficult if they are absorbed into the wood, and all of them can produce mists that will damage the working parts inside your piano. If the inside appears to need cleaning, or if a small object has fallen inside, call a technician for help. You can clean (but never wash) the keys using a small amount of mild detergent and water. To get the best performance out of your piano, make sure to have it serviced regularly by a qualified technician. In the first year after purchase, have the piano tuned at least three times, to account for its acclimation to your home's environment. After that, have it tuned at least once a year. A piano should be tuned to A-440 cps, or standard pitch, but pitch is only one variable that your technician can adjust. Tone, or voicing, can be improved through adjustments to the strings and hammers. Touch, or the way the keys feel when played, can be improved if necessary through adjustments to the 9,000 moving parts in the piano's action. If you need to move your piano, lift it while moving it to avoid putting undue stress on the legs. If you have to move it across a finished wooden floor, over a threshold, or up or down more than one or two steps--or, of course, to a different building--call a professional piano mover. Finally, play! With use, all pianos become more brilliant and acquire a distinctive voice. So when you sit down for a session at the keys, you're actually improving the beauty of your most beautiful investment. 
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Getting the Most Out of Piano Lessons
It's an image engraved on our cultural memory, right next to skate keys and doses of castor oil: the child before the piano, forced to practice scales while friends play ball outside. Today, with the advent of new approaches, new teaching methods and new attitudes, that's all changed. According to the National Piano Foundation, a few simple guidelines will heighten the fun of piano instruction and help you make sure your child gets the most out of it. In fact, learning to play the piano is one of the most rewarding things a child can accomplish. A child can have as much fun during the learning process as an accomplished pianist has in performance. Parents should begin by deciding when to start a child's piano instruction. Seven or eight is an average age, but kids can start earlier or later--and, as millions of adult piano students can attest, it's never too late to begin. Pay attention to your child's interest in music, attention span and eagerness to learn for indications of when the time is right. Choosing a teacher is an important step, so don't let cost and convenience be the sole factors. Interview candidates. Are they Nationally Certified? Will there be any special programs/theory classes and special events or simply lessons.? Some kids may prefer individual instruction, while others may get more out of group lessons, so investigate both options. Find out what professional organizations the teacher is affiliated with. Finally, evaluate the teacher's personality, and how well you think he or she will get along with your child. When it's lesson time, the rapport between student and teacher can make the time fly--or crawl. Whether or not you play the piano, there's a lot you can contribute to your child's enjoyment and success. Show enthusiasm for the process, and sit in on a lesson if the teacher feels it's appropriate. Be available, whether it's for giving pointers, listening appreciatively to what your child has learned, or even just for driving to lessons. Finally, be the grown-up and provide structure. Young children shouldn't decide whether or when to practice the piano, any more than they should decide their own bedtimes. And never let children practice when they're tired; doing it well requires the ability to concentrate. If you make it clear what you expect from your child, then contribute your own cheerful, patient involvement, the results will amaze you. Provide a good environment for your child's lessons. Make sure not only to have a well-tuned piano with a properly sized bench, but also a quiet room, good lighting, and freedom from distractions such as television, radio and other people's activities. Make sure other members of the family know and respect how important your child's piano time is. If there's enough time, you should also try to schedule lessons and practice sessions so that your child doesn't miss out on other activities they enjoy. Kids need to play ball, too, and they'll have more fun at the piano if they get to do both. Every child is an individual, so create expectations that conform to your child's abilities and interests. See to it that he or she has a chance to play fun music, pieces that
hold interest, in addition to the more difficult assignments that are necessary for progress. Children should be encouraged to make music their own: they shouldn't feel as if they have to play as well as their favorite stars on the radio. By playing at their own pace, going slowly at first over difficult parts to build up muscle memory, they'll be on the road to true mastery. Finally, don't impose unrealistic long-term goals. Not every kid in the schoolyard is going to be a professional athlete, and not every kid taking piano lessons is going to play Carnegie Hall. Some kids will indeed become virtuosos, but playing for fun comes first. It's okay for the pure enjoyment of the piano to be your only reason for learning. And remember, music lasts a lifetime. For more tips, visit our page Practice Tips or Preparing for Competitions!!
How to Buy a Piano
When properly cared for, a piano will last a lifetime. If you buy one that suits your needs and pleases your ear, you're in for a long, rewarding relationship. But the piano's longevity, and its cost, also mean it's an investment you should make with great care. Many people will buy only one piano in their lifetime. Here are some pointers on finding the one for you. Before venturing into showrooms, set some parameters. Know your budget, and know the dimensions of the space in your home the piano will occupy. Are you looking for an upright, a baby grand or a concert grand? What style and color cabinet will go with your existing decor? Once you know what you're shopping for, buying a piano should be a hands-on experience. Every piano is an individual, and that goes for two pianos that have the same manufacturer and model number. Some people find it helpful to play the same brief passage on each piano they examine, or to ask the dealer to play it while they listen. Choose a test piece that makes use of the instrument's full tonal range, and note the different way each piano responds. Because of the individuality of each instrument, you may even wish to buy the floor model if it is especially pleasing to you. Above all, make your search into a hands-on experience. Don't be bashful about touching, playing and examining the pianos you consider. From the feel of the action to the gleam of the cabinet finish, tactile feedback is going to be part of your ownership experience, so it should be part of your shopping experience, too. Even if you are set on a particular make or model, be sure to visit different dealers. You may be surprised at the variety of deals and terms available; in this respect, buying a piano is not unlike buying a car. It's okay to let dealers know that you are shopping in more than one place, so they'll "bid" for your business. Don't forget to check the details: does the price include a bench? As a separate item, one can cost several hundred dollars. If one is included, is it one you'll be comfortable using? Does the price include delivery? What about finish tuning, to bring the piano into tune after it's delivered, or prepaid maintenance and tuning down the road? It's important to be clear on the contents of your warranty, which usually comes from the manufacturer, not the dealer. Does it cover the cabinetry, the finish, or the action? How long will the warranty remain in effect? As with any other significant investment, the purchase of a piano involves a considerable amount of research, legwork and decision-making. There are few investments that will prove as rewarding, however. If you keep these tips in mind, the day your piano arrives in your home and every day afterward will be rich, carefree --- and full of music. If you live in Alabama or Mississippi, contact us for a list of reputable dealers recommended by MPI.
The Piano Heals the Spirit and Soothes the Soul
For the past few years, pianos have had a presence at the yearly American Psychiatric Conference. Does Yanni entertain during intermission? Not exactly. The pianos are for the therapists themselves, explains Al Bumanis, communications director for the American Music Therapy Association. "A number of booths at the conference are equipped with pianos so therapists can take a break and relax by playing the piano or listening to piano music," he says. "The idea," says Bumanis, "is that the psychiatrist can come by the booth to de-stress." Psychiatrists using the piano to de-stress? Not a bad endorsement for the instrument's effectiveness at soothing the troubled spirit. "Playing the piano has always added joy to people's lives, but we're just beginning to understand the full range of its benefits," says Brenda Dillon of the National Piano Foundation. "When I play the piano, I am able to get away from the daily challenges. It's like taking a mini vacation. By the time I walk away from the piano, I am truly relaxed." That's no accident, says Alicia Ann Clair, Ph.D., music therapist, board-certified professor and director of music therapy at the University of Kansas, Lawrence. "When it comes to making music, the piano demands an attention and focus that does not allow interfering thoughts that might be distracting or distressful, and in that way relieves the pressures and the stresses of the day," she says. "At the same time that we can use it as a way to provide relief, we have added bonuses. When you play and it's successful, it's extremely exciting and fulfilling. Relief, joy or fulfillment--all of those things add to well-being, which contributes to life quality which contributes to good health." Just ask veterinarian Bill Porter. "When I was a kid, I played percussion. Then I dropped all that, and became a doctor. But when I was 44, I started taking piano lessons. I just love playing piano. It is a de-stressor for me in a big way, and for me, it fulfilled a creative side that I can't express at work." In fact, the piano is being used across the world as an effective therapeutic tool. At New York's Nordoff-Robbins Center for Music Therapy, the piano is instrumental in helping children and adults overcome their emotional and physical problems. The clinic boasts centers in England, the U.S., Australia, Japan, Scotland and South Africa. "In this approach, the therapist is usually at the piano," explains music therapist and New York clinic co-director Alan Turry. "The therapist and patient actually create music in a mutual fashion." Therapists in the program, all of whom are trained extensively on the piano, work with autistic children, hospital patients, the developmentally disabled or emotionally disturbed, "as well as self-referred adults who want an alternative to verbal therapy," says Turry. In fact, he says, these adults make up about 10 percent of the clinic's client roster. "What happens often with self-referred adults is that they are aware of issues they're working on, but they're looking for a new way to grow, exchange, explore themselves," he explains. The idea is "setting up a situation that's not about skills, but expression--allowing someone to freely express themselves through music." The clinic offers patients a chance to use a number of instruments, including voice, though "about 40 to 50 percent" of them use the piano, says Turry. Some adult patients have gone on to study the piano after their therapy. "I've had several clients that got very interested in music after being at the clinic," Turry notes. "Some bought pianos, some took lessons. Often, a byproduct of music therapy can be someone becoming more interested and involved in music." With the piano celebrating its 300th birthday this year and the 10th annual National Piano Month marked this past September, the instrument is getting more attention than usual. The second look is well deserved. Besides its incredible beauty and sound, the piano offers many gifts to the human spirit, through enhancing creativity, healing or relaxation.
Who Plays Pianos?
All kinds of people! Of course professional pianists first come to mind, or children taking lessons. The proven benefits of playing the piano are widely recognized by a large portion of the population, especially when it comes to children. More pianos are still purchased each year by parents whose children are taking lessons than for any other reason. But the fastest growing group of aspiring pianists in the U.S. today is not children, but adults aged 25-55 years. Many adults have taken piano lessons in their childhood years. Some felt that they were pushed to hard, or had too many other interests and discontinued their lessons. Piano methods were often uninteresting and teachers too strict for many children decades ago. Nonetheless, one of the most common phrases heard by piano retailers across the country is, I wish I had continued my piano lessons. But large numbers of adults have realized that it's not too late, and piano instruction has concentrated on adult learning far more than ever before during the past ten years. Piano instructional techniques and method books have taken a giant leap for both children and adults. Long tedious exercises have given way to music that beginners and play and enjoy almost from the start! Beginning adults need not play children's music any longer to get started. Also, there has been a trend toward group instruction for beginning students of all ages. A group environment creates a positive and motivating social atmosphere. Students share the joys and frustrations of learning with people who are at the same level as themselves.
