Equal temperament is a system of musical tuning in which the frequency interval of adjacent note pairs has the equal ratios and distance between notes. This interval is usually determined by the octave, or another large interval, into smaller, yet equal, ratios. Traditionally, classical music has used the twelve-tone equal temperament system, which is often [...]
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart composed the legendary “Jeunehomme” in January 1777. Officially known as Piano Concerto No. 9 in E-flat major, K.271, it is believed the composition was written for pianist Victoire Jenamy in Salzburg, Austria. Only 21 years old at the time, Jeunehomme is one of Mozart’s very first mature compositions. The composition includes three [...]
History of Kawai Piano The second largest piano maker in the world, Kawai Musical Instrument Research Laboratory was founded by Kiochi Kawai in 1927. Kiochi Kawai, began his career as an engineer and designer of Yamaha pianos. When Yamaha went public Kawai left Yamaha to start his own company. For more than 80 years, Kawai [...]
Johann Sebastian Bach published The Goldberg Variations, BWV 988, in 1741. Although it was the first and only of Bach’s works of this kind, it is considered today to be one of the best examples of variation in existence. Specifically written for the harpsichord, The Goldberg Variations consist of 30 variations and an aria. The composition was named [...]
The tuning fork is an instrument that was created to tune musical instruments. Its invention is credited to John Shore, a British musician, Sergeant Trumpeter, and Lutenist, in the year 1711. The tuning fork looks similar to a fork, with two prongs that extend from a U-shaped steel bar. When stricken, its vibrations emit a [...]
Photograph of Frédéric ChopinPhoto credit: commons.wikimedia.org Born March 1, 1810, Frédéric Chopin was a child prodigy who began playing the piano without instruction at the age of five. His first professional performance was at the age of eight. Polish born, the composer and pianist was heavily influenced by the uprising in Warsaw and [...]
Torakusu YamahaImage credit: Yamaha.com Torakusu Yamaha founded the Yamaha Corporation, which is renowned for designing and building a vast line of quality pianos, as well as other instruments. At a young age, Torakusu was fascinated with science and technology. Early in his career, he began making watches. Years later, he used his technical [...]
Renowned pianist and composer Ludwig van Beethoven published Pathetique Sonata, alternatively referred to as Piano Sonata No. 8 in C Minor, Op, in 1799. The French meaning of “pathetique” is emotional or passionate, and it is said Beethoven personally chose to title the composition such because of the sonata’s tendency to represent both romance and [...]
An Italian harpsichord marker, Bartolomeo di Francesco Cristofori was born on May 4, 1665, in the Republic of Venice. Cristofori earned fame, but not fortune, as the inventor of the piano, which was originally referred to as “ravicembalo col piano e forte,” which means a harpsichord that plays soft and loud. It was the inability [...]
History of Steinway and Sons and the Steinway Piano For piano lovers, Steinway is a household word and the hallmark of pianos across the world. We can credit Heinrich Engelhard Steinweg and his family for bringing it to homes and concert halls across America. Since 1825, Heinrich and his family lived in Seesen, Germany, where [...]
Weighing the pros and cons is helpful when choosing a musical instrument. There are many factors to take into consideration, such as cost, maintenance, size, and life span. When deciding whether to purchase an acoustic piano or an electronic (digital) piano, there are also other significant factors that should not be overlooked. While an electronic [...]
Most people see a piano as one instrument, but it is one that has many components, such as the keys, pedals, and strings. With each component comes many small parts. The average piano has approximately 9,000 parts, each which must function properly for it to play well and sound great. Just as your piano must [...]
Whether it sits in a concert hall where Bach and Beethoven’s masterpieces are skillfully mastered or a living room where beginners learn to play their first song, the piano we enjoy today would not be possible without the harpsichord. It was 1709 when Italian harpsichord maker Bartolomeo di Francesco Cristofori began the process of inventing [...]
As an investment, pianos are built to last—sometimes for generations. Like any other piece of fine furniture, a piano will age over time. It can suffer damage from moving, spills, neglect, accidents, and normal wear and tear. Aging and other elements can affect the beauty, sound, and quality of your instrument’s exterior, as well as [...]
The sound created by the piano would not be possible without the hammers. Piano hammers are engineered to meet stringent requirements, and their density, weight, shape, and texture are vital to producing a good tone. Over time, though, these hammers lose the shape that is critical to good tone. When that happens, the hammer must [...]
Humidity can wreak havoc in our homes and in the air we breathe. When it comes to humidity, consider your piano to be a living instrument. Its wood and many parts also breathe in moisture, and high levels of humidity can affect your piano’s wood and many other components, as well as its tone, pitch, [...]
Learn Good Habits for Cleaning Your Piano, and Keep It Looking Its Best Cleaning and proper maintenance of your piano will preserve its performance and beauty and prevent costly repairs or the need for rebuilding or restoration in the future. Your piano is not only a complex musical instrument, but it is also a focal [...]
A piano is an investment. To maintain its value and receive consistent use, it needs routine maintenance and care. Regular tunings are required to maintain a proper pitch that ensures your piano is enjoyed year round. Regular piano tuning is an important part of your instrument’s care. Manufacturers recommend that pianos should be tuned every [...]
Finding the right piano teacher is crucial for the continued encouragement and discipline of the student and ensuring their technical and expressive development. The right teacher will inspire you to learn and practice while helping your love for the piano flourish and grow. When searching for a piano teacher, there are several things you should [...]
Many people buy a piano according to the player’s abilities. However, they should be placing their focus on the piano’s abilities. More important than a player’s abilities is whether the piano will enable a student to develop a good technique and inspire him to play better and more often. A piano should always be considered [...]
