Learning how to read music is like map reading. When you look at a map, the first thing you want to see is a sign saying “You Are Here.” This is the job of the clef in music.

The two most common clefs in music are the treble clef and the bass clef. The treble clef is used to notate high-pitched notes. Instruments with a high sound read from the treble clef e.g. the flute, clarinet, violin, the female voice and the right hand piano part.

When the treble clef is used, it gives an exact indication of the pitch (or height) of the notes that follow. It looks like an ornate letter G. In fact, another name for it is the G clef.

It is placed at the beginning of the staff (or stave) – a series of 5 parallel lines onto which musical notes are placed. The G clef is placed through the 2nd line of the staff. The name and pitch of the 2nd line is now fixed. This 2nd line is G.

Once you have an exact reference point, you can work out how all the other notes are named. The 1st line is E. The 1st space is F. The 2nd line (the fixed point) is G. The 2nd space is A and so on. As you rise up the notes on the staff, you rise up the alphabet, one letter at a time.

A quick way to remember the 4 space notes in the treble clef is: “The 4 spaces spell FACE.” On a piano, if you play the letters FACE, you start on F and play every other white key.

“Many grand old pianos still have a lot of life left in them, but only if a little love is lavished upon them. Piano restoration is the best example of that love, as even a hundred year old grand piano with loads of scratches and dead strings can be made to produce the awe-inspiring notes and tones that it once did when it was newly made.

But how exactly does this process of restoring the old beauty go about?

1. Breakdown
Like how a doctor diagnoses a patient before going ahead with treatment, so do specialists check the condition of a piano before focusing their efforts to specific parts that need the most attention?

The first step then of piano restoration involves taking the measurements of the piano, from string height to the original finish samples to serve as reference for the final process. These measurements will not only help in fixing up the problems of the piano, but will also serve to guide the restoration team in making the right decisions to restore the piano to its original grandeur.
2. The Belly
The belly of a piano is where the sound bounces around and reverberates to produce that special sound that only a good piano can make.

As such, piano restoration teams often refer to the belly as the ‘soul’ of the piano. Everything inside, from the strings to the iron frame to the piano soundboard and ribs, have a vital effect on the overall sound produced, and only trained professionals know the ins and outs of a belly’s structure.

3. The Keys
The piano keys are what link a pianist to the piano, thus allowing him or her to create the music in the first place.

The wood, metal and felt all need to be in top-notch condition for a piano’s keys to get the perfect ‘feel’ for a pianist’s sensitive fingers. Specialists then look for signs of corrosion or deterioration in the keys and deal with them appropriately to make the keys function good as new.

4. The Action
If the keys link the pianist to the piano and the belly refines the sound produced into musical notes, then the action is the component of a piano that creates the sound in the first place.

Hammers, hammer shanks and flanges make up the action, and are another essential part of a piano’s inner workings. Corrosion and deterioration are major problems that have to be dealt with, but so is the problem of adjustment. Both use and neglect can result in some loose pins here and there, and a specialist is trained to properly address these problems.

5. The Finish
Of course, a grand old piano can never be a true work of art without restoring its finish.

Piano restoration then not only addresses the functional problems of a piano, but also involves restoring the finish to bring back the life to a piano. From grain filling to lacquering to staining the wood to match a desired tone, this final step in the restoration process will not only bring life back to a piano, but will bring a sense of beaming pride to the piano owner.

Steinway Piano Deals: How Much is a Steinway Baby Grand Piano Really Worth?

When studying Steinway grand piano selling prices it’s crucial to remember that three or more elements especially condition, age category and model/design stands out as the vital elements involved with determining the actual amount of a piano. The particular condition often will be variable with a certain age depending on exactly where the piano was put into use. A conservatory or university piano will certainly age rapidly, in fact pianos less than a year old could possibly have 100s of playing hrs, minimizing their overall life-span considerably. Investing in a piano from the presently popular university or college piano sale regularly sponsored through Kawai along with Yamaha piano dealers may not be the very best decision if you think about this specific crucial fact.

Picking out a great piano manufacturer is crucial to remember for the reason that the purchase of a piano is really a lifetime choice. Pianos built in the late 19th century as well as earlier twentieth century before World War Ii will certainly command some of the greatest long-term market prices, even over brand new pianos of the same brand and comparable to other recently released brand names. Prime valuation comes from pianos that have been recently reconditioned which are in like new condition. A piano will likely be worth considerably less if not fully refurbished as well as refinished. Shopping for good quality piano refurbishment work is on many occasions the best investment over purchasing a new piano.

The model and type is additionally an important aspect with regards to the actual worth of older U . s . pianos, Steinway pianos are still being designed utilizing the exact same model numbers and overall comparable plate and case design. A great many other American branded pianos are produced entirely these days utilizing totally different Asian factory designs. Many of the most common brand names presently manufacture their pianos in Asia utilizing old American brand names such as Remington, Hazelton, George Steck, H.M. Cable and D.H. Baldwin.

If you contemplate getting your antique Steinway and other top quality American piano renewed regardless of manufacturer, the most important starting place is obtaining a certified piano restorer. While there are several corporations providing this particular service, finding the right company that does good quality work at cheap pricing is the vital thing. Even though restoring your piano requires patience and also homework on the owner’s part, the completed item is really a priceless showpiece, a finely manufactured piano reconditioned to its past beauty.

Many people have the opinion that digital pianos do not sound like original pianos, while some people say about the upright piano that they take too much space in a room. You will find this kind of conflict about electric pianos and upright pianos very off and on. This conflict is a never-ending one and will also never be solved.

People have their personal preferences. Some like the older style and old quality of the music in pianos while some love the new technologies used in the modern day digital piano. The electric piano is not a very old innovation. It has been around for about 20 years now. But they are the most widely used musical instruments today.

When the digital piano was first introduced, it was like a blunder. The keys used on the keyboard were extremely light and spongy and the quality of the piano as well as the music was nowhere near the real piano. The sound of these early pianos was too bright and the sampling was quite awful. All these points were working against this new revolution.

These early pianos did not feel right at all. The sweetness as well as the sharpness of the original piano was missing out somewhere. The manufacturers of the digital piano had to work really hard to bring it to a stage when it could be something like an original piano.
The look of these pianos was also not a good one. It had quite an ugly look. The cases looked liked cheap plastic and it was very difficult to match it with any other furniture in the home. But today digital pianos have become a sensation. Today new models of electric pianos are coming out every two to three years. Today there are many advantages of a digital piano over an upright piano. They have a lot more features and they are portable so they can be easily moved and of course, they sound fantastic.

Your time spent practicing piano should be nothing less than a positive experience aimed at fun, productivity, and self-discovery. If you are at the point where your piano practice is something you despise, then it’s time to reevaluate your situation. There is still hope.

If you are currently studying with a private instructor, I strongly suggest that you communicate with this p erson, letting him/her know exactly how you feel about practicing – really invite a serious discussion about the matter.

Although I would not interfere with the communication going on between a student and teacher, but I can say a few words here:

First of all, I would recommend being honest with yourself and ask yourself what exactly it is about practicing that you are not comfortable with. Is it the material, the fact that a certain amount of time is expected of you, etc.? Once you can acknowledge this, then you can more clearly come up with a solution – again, if you’re studying with someone, by all means this gives you something to go on.

A very important thing is to acknowledge one basic fact: we resist what we don’t like – now, taking this into consideration, look at this for a moment or two: you “hate practicing” and you’re involved with practicing an art form that one must love in order to perform to his or her potential. It’s important to get yourself in touch with methods/strategies that will bring out the inner passion you have for music. It’s true that being stuck in a rut with practicing routines can certainly get in the way of this. That is why it is important to come up with alternate strategies.
If, for example, you dread the thought of practicing even before you get started, it is likely that you have trained yourself to dislike your time practicing from the very first minute of your practice session. If this is the case, I would strongly advise that you change how you actually start your practice session. Instead of adopting the mind set of dreading the half hour, hour, or more that you have ahead of you, concentrate on loving the very first minute or two, and don’t look ahead. Try this. Surely, there are things you very much love to play – start with something like this – get into it!! Practice with passion, as I so strongly promote in my 88 Keys to Learning program, for the next week (and longer, of course), really concentrate at making those first couple of minutes at the piano something you look forward to. You can ease into the more “serious” side of practicing, of course… but again, for now, I really thing it’s so very important for you to start

refreshing your relationship with the piano.

I’ll say that again… START REFRESHING YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PIANO!

Do whatever it takes to love playing! And, you know what works? Instead of just setting aside one super long session, try giving yourself a few two-minute sessions per day, just going to the piano, playing something you love, and then leaving it for a while. Do this again and again, constantly developing a healthier relationship with the instrument…smile, have fun, play something you enjoy, relax, take a break… at some point during the day, ease into a longer session, adding a few minutes here and there. So, perhaps you will eventually have three or four “two minute thrilling sessions” at the piano and one longer more “serious” (methodical might be a better word) approach (which should still ultimately be thrilling!) where you start off with just fun material and ease into material you want to improve.

Make every minute count! Make every minute fun! Not because you have to, but because you want to!

PRACTICE WITH PASSION!

Music Minus One brings full orchestral accompaniment recordings with printed sheet music to the world’s musicians and singers. Music Minus One is the internet’s top destination for musicians. We carry a full line of sheet music with accompaniment CDs that work to make your time spent practicing more enjoyable and more successful in the comfort of your own home. Let us help you turn practice into a joy rather than a chore by giving you access to on-demand accompaniment from world-renowned orchestras, jazz ensembles and noted virtuosos.

At Music Minus One, we believe that practicing an instrument can be made fun and more fruitful by offering the thrill of a full orchestra in your own home. Since 1950, Music Minus One has given musicians a great way to play their instrument, whether practicing or performing, with the motivation of an ensemble surrounding them as they play. Great masters of music, including musicians from the great orchestras of the world, have contributed master-class experiences to the MMO library, experiences that cannot be duplicated anywhere else. We sell accompaniment CDs for any type of musician, covering classical, pop and jazz styles in nearly every genre and skill level. Whether you are looking for Beethoven, Mozart, Bach, Brahms, Gershwin, Bacharach or Strauss, Music Minus One’s mission is to go beyond standard sheet music by make playing and practicing music as enjoyable as possible, allowing musicians to perform all types of music as the composer intended, with the original instrumentation and full accompaniment. For sixty years we’ve worked hard to offer you a comprehensive array of choices that provide accompaniment for all types of musicians in any setting, without the cost of hiring an accompanist or ensemble, which in many cases would be out of reach for virtually all musicians.
We stock a wide array of sheet music for all instruments, including piano, guitar, violin, as well as any vocal range. Music Minus One is dedicated to giving every type of musician the sheet music they need to get the most out of their instrument. Our store carries CD and sheet music for piano, electric bass, harmonica, clarinet, flute, trumpet, oboe, harp, mandolin and many more. Our vocal albums with both piano and full orchestral accompaniments range from opera to popular, for all ranges. Opera composers such as Puccini, Verdi, Rossini, Strauss and operas such as La Boheme, I Pagliacci, Rigoletto, The Merry Widow, and many, many more. Practice and perform alongside world-class accompaniment in a variety of styles and skill levels. Whether you’re interested in bluegrass or baroque, film scores or folk, opera or pop, Music Minus One has the accompaniment editions, complete with CD and printed sheet music, that you desire.

Musicians from across the world can enjoy great piano accompaniment editions and more, complete with printed sheet music in every package, when they shop at the online Music Minus One store or stop by one of our many international retailers. The products we sell are well regarded as the premiere choice for sheet music and CDs and are carried by music stores throughout North America and beyond. If you’re unable to find what you’re looking for at a music dealer, simply stop by our official website and browse our entire catalog online. We offer frequent free shipping deals and a fully secure online ordering system to make purchasing sheet music for piano and more at the Music Minus One internet store a breeze.

Give the gift of music by purchasing a Music Minus One gift certificate for an upcoming special event in one of your loved one’s lives. We make it easy for you to shop for any musician’s taste by letting you give gift cards in various amounts. Recipients can redeem gift cards at our online store to purchase exactly what they want from our catalog.

Discover the joy of playing and practicing your instrument again by shopping for great CDs and sheet music for piano and other instruments. Music Minus One is fully stocked with the choices you want through a single, convenient resource.

For more information on Music Minus One and our complete array of piano sheet music and more, visit MusicMinusOne.

Classical Piano Songs

Classical piano songs are available in plenty. They can range from invigorating types to the very relaxing types. There are classical piano songs for all moods and all kinds of people. Some of the styles in which classical piano songs are played are known as classical piano music styles. They include piano concerto, piano sonata, piano trio, piano quintet and solo piano. Solo piano alone includes various piano styles like polonaise, mazurka, ballade, nocturne, waltz, etude and scherzo.

If we address the issue of beginners or novice students then, what would be the best route to take should one be interested in taking lessons? I’m also assuming for simplicity’s sake that the lessons are not necessarily private lessons, but let’s open it up to all venues such as internet piano lessons whether online or by purchasing at-home courses and also we can include perhaps self-taught students in the traditional sense who buy theory books and store-bought instructional aids. The point I’m trying to get to though is this- The most well rounded and most thoroughly trained pianists are not only able to read music in a classical sense, but can execute that music in a skillful and musical way. Plus, these pianists have the ability, whether through training or natural talent, to learn songs by ear.

For anyone studying popular classical music, it can be a daunting task to know where to begin. There are so many great pieces that a beginner can get overwhelmed. Here are 10 of the most popular classical pieces with a brief background of each. There are many others, of course, but these 10 are certainly among the most popular classical pieces of all time.

Clair de Lune is a piece by Claude Debussy, a French composer. It is the third and most popular movement of the larger Suite berg masque. It is played pianissimo and is largely in D-flat major, with a shift to E major toward the end. Clair de Lune has been taught to students of popular classical piano for years and is prominently featured in movies and television shows.

The Hallelujah Chorus is part of George Frederic Handel’s Messiah. The text is from a libretto by Charles Jennens, who adapted parts of the Old and New Testaments for his composition. The Hallelujah Chorus is taken from the book of Revelation, and it is customary for audiences to stand during this movement of the Messiah.

Various composers have contributed to the composition of classical piano songs. Learners can sometime get confused from which classical composer or classical piano songs they should continue. As a matter of fact the selection of classical piano songs depends on individual tastes, preferences and skills. There are various classical piano tutorials now available online to make the learning process easy and simple. They teach the memorizing technique of the underlying chords in the songs.

Piano Tutorial Online:

Now, you can learn the secrets of piano mastery so that you could impress your friends and family members and play the instrument like a professional. But, without the right tools and guidance, it might take several years and cost a small fortune to unlock the secrets of successful piano playing skills. But, thanks to the vast online resources available these days, you can learn to play the piano at ease and quickly. You can visit the online tutorial on piano where several experts extend tips and offer lessons for various levels with video instructions for you to become an expert in piano playing in a short time. You can check it out in the best and free online piano tutorial – http://pianotutorial.net

If you’re like most people who take piano lessons, you do! ?Whether you’re young or old or somewhere in between, you aspire to make beautiful music and… right away!

?You’ve probably heard the old joke: ? “How do you get to Carnegie Hall?” asks the inquisitive tourist. ?”Practice, practice, practice!” replies the wise old responder.? ?But wouldn’t you much prefer to learn the secret to sounding good just for your own satisfaction and enjoyment? ??That’s probably why you take piano lessons… However, most piano students forget to pay attention to the very areas that would enable them to sound great!

?Do you do one or more of the following?

1. Ignore the timing by not counting or tapping your foot.

2. Play everything at the same volume.

3. Disregard the key signature and just start playing the piece.

4. Use too much pedal.

5. “Type” or bang the keys and disconnect one note from another.

6. Allow the accompaniment (usually the left hand part) to overpower or drown out the melody.

7. Listen to talk radio instead of spending some of your time listening to music.

If you recognized any of the above habits as things you do, congratulations! ?Now you know why you aren’t sounding like a pro yet.

(Parents: Have you noticed these traits in your children who take lessons?)

Obviously, you want to sound good! (And you parents want your kids to sound good, don’t you?) ??So instead of treating piano practice like a chore, here are seven ways to start you on the way to Carnegie Hall:

1. Pay attention to the timing: count or tap your foot.

2. Notice the dynamics (indications for differences in volume) and follow them.

3. Look at the key signature before you start to play and mark all of the sharps or flats if you need to.

4. Use the pedal with care. (Pedal changes are often marked in classical pieces, and should be made in songs with each chord change.)

5. Employ correct fingering as you work towards playing smoothly and connected (unless the music asks for staccato: detached playing).

6. Listen for the melody. Can you always hear it while you are playing?

7. Focus on spending some time listening to music every week. (With wonderful tools like iPods, MP3 players and the internet, it’s easy to find recorded versions of the pieces that you play as well as music that motivates and inspires you.) Give these suggestions a try. ?Start today. ?You’ll be surprised at how much better you sound!

Copyright © 2007 by Ed Mascari

http://www.edmascaripianostudio.com

If we talk about the basic definition of piano chords, it states that it is a group of three or more notes and the combination of which sets the mood as happy, sad, powerful, soulful, etc. After gaining enough knowledge about the keys of the piano the next step is to get ready to learn the chords. If you analyze all the piano chords then you will get to know that while major chords evoke a positive emotion, the minor chords on the other hand evoke the opposite. It is always good for you to know about different piano chords before you start learning a piano.

The Piano Chords are difficult to play by the students as now they need to press multiple keys at the same time and move them over with the change in the tunes. While they are learning about the single key play or leads as it is popularly known, it was not as difficult. The play of fingers and the flexibility needed is higher while playing the piano chords. The dexterity desired is high and hence the result is as nice. The accompaniment sound played by online piano chords whether major or minor is awesome and the sweet melody it generates is loved by all.

The triad is considered to be the simplest of all piano chords. It consists of the three keys of the piano which are played together to generate a melodious sound. The triad or the piano chords are known by the first key of the chord.

aScale Degreea is a term which is used to designate the piano chords like the tonic and dominant chords. A tonic chord has a tonic note and is the first note of the scale. The dominant chord is in the key of scales fifth note.

Now you have learnt enough of theory, now it is the time to implement it practically. Once you learn the piano chords, you will then realize how simple they are to learn. As you would realize, the key to becoming expert in piano chords is the practice, practice and practice. The reading of theory is not of much help.

The piano chords can be learnt by visiting a full time live tutor or otherwise there are options available nowadays where the students can learn the online piano chords through the worldwide web sites. Once a student is comfortable in playing the keys of piano and knows how to move the fingers across the piano then it is far easier to gain the incremental knowledge from the online piano chord sites. The online piano chords teaching websites are easy to use and very much intuitive. The students need not have PC programming knowledge or any kind of Geeks know-how is required to learn the piano chords from the online tutorials.

Start with your practice with the piano right away to make the whole world realize your hidden talent and the expertise at playing the sweet songs on piano and flaunt the treasure of knowledge you have come to possess of piano chords through online piano chords lessons and incessant practice.

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