Search found 4028 matches
- by Gill the Piano
- 01 Dec 2004, 20:08
- Forum: Piano Advice
- Topic: How long do Piano Strings Last?
- Replies: 10
- Views: 17899
- by Gill the Piano
- 01 Dec 2004, 05:50
- Forum: Piano Advice
- Topic: How long do Piano Strings Last?
- Replies: 10
- Views: 17899
They have funny little loops on some of the upright actions instead of bridle tapes, and these can break with age. They're a fiddle to do, but not impossible. If only one or two go then do them as and when they break, but if there's a few it might be worth having the lot done.That said, they can go ...
- by Gill the Piano
- 29 Nov 2004, 21:02
- Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
- Topic: 5 yr old wanting to learn
- Replies: 5
- Views: 10340
Usual advice; look on the teaching pages of this site, ask friends, look in the Yellow Pages/ local directory, ask at the local music shops. Recommendation is far better than sticking a pin in the Yellow Pages. A lot of teachers regard five as too young - seven appears to be a 'magic number' for som...
- by Gill the Piano
- 29 Nov 2004, 20:50
- Forum: Piano Advice
- Topic: How long do Piano Strings Last?
- Replies: 10
- Views: 17899
You could ask the tuner to tackle the pitch raise in two goes rather than one big one; sometimes the piano responds better this way. I raised the pitch on a Brinsmead of exactly the same type and age as the one you describe, but only broke one treble string. They're a lot tougher than most people th...
- by Gill the Piano
- 25 Nov 2004, 20:01
- Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
- Topic: missing teachers
- Replies: 4
- Views: 9081
Ask the ones with no vacancies for recommendations; they may know another teacher with spaces, or perhaps one of their grade VII or VIII pupils would start your kids off while you go on a waiting list for the original one? Most teachers round here have waiting lists. You could ask a church organist ...
- by Gill the Piano
- 21 Nov 2004, 16:49
- Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
- Topic: piano lessons wanted
- Replies: 1
- Views: 5765
Look on this website under 'piano teachers', ask around your friends who are learning/whose children are learning, or ask at your local music shop. Yellow Pages have listings, but recommendation is always best. Ask the teacher you choose if you can have a trial lesson to see if you and they will get...
- by Gill the Piano
- 18 Nov 2004, 22:53
- Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
- Topic: How to choose a Piano teacher?
- Replies: 5
- Views: 12718
Look on the list on the UK piano Page! You can also try Yellow Pages and www.musicteachers.com (I think - that's from memory!) and at your local music shop. However, the best way is always recommendation. Ask someone who's already having/had lessons, or whose children learn. If you contact a teacher...
- by Gill the Piano
- 07 Nov 2004, 16:05
- Forum: Piano Advice
- Topic: Pitching
- Replies: 3
- Views: 7890
The semitone multiplier is the number by which you multiply the original pitch to get the next note up; ie 440 x 1.0594632 (if I remember the dim and distant days of college!) gives you the pitch of A#. And if you divide it by 1.0594632 you get the pitch of G#. But I'd check the multiplier; don't ta...
- by Gill the Piano
- 04 Nov 2004, 18:57
- Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
- Topic: Piano Lessons Statistics needed
- Replies: 2
- Views: 8175
Have you approached the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, Trinity College of Music, the London College of Music and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama? They could give you an idea of entries to music exams. Perhaps Chappells music publishers might tell you how many piano lessons b...
- by Gill the Piano
- 01 Nov 2004, 10:08
- Forum: Piano Advice
- Topic: How many costs good piano?
- Replies: 1
- Views: 5336
- by Gill the Piano
- 30 Oct 2004, 15:14
- Forum: Piano Advice
- Topic: Looking to Downsize...advice please !
- Replies: 2
- Views: 5788
Also, many uprights will occupy the same footprint as the Niendorf unless it's unnaturally large! Do you mean that it's too big height-wise or widthways? With regard to depth the American 'spinet' type uprights protrude further from the wall than a normal upright, as does a pianola because of the ex...
- by Gill the Piano
- 26 Oct 2004, 17:26
- Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
- Topic: Willing to teach student who only has digital piano?
- Replies: 6
- Views: 14074
- by Gill the Piano
- 25 Oct 2004, 18:48
- Forum: Piano Advice
- Topic: Old Piano - G. Ajello and Sons, London.
- Replies: 15
- Views: 24140
- by Gill the Piano
- 25 Oct 2004, 18:47
- Forum: Piano Advice
- Topic: Old Piano - G. Ajello and Sons, London.
- Replies: 15
- Views: 24140
- by Gill the Piano
- 23 Oct 2004, 18:13
- Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
- Topic: Willing to teach student who only has digital piano?
- Replies: 6
- Views: 14074
A good teacher, whilst preferring to teach someone who has a proper piano, should be glad that someone is keen to play despite adverse conditions! And if you're in London I believe there are some places who rent out pianos in studio rooms for practising...I'm not sure how you'd find them, but perhap...
- by Gill the Piano
- 23 Oct 2004, 18:04
- Forum: Piano Advice
- Topic: Old Piano - G. Ajello and Sons, London.
- Replies: 15
- Views: 24140
You could also approach a local piano teacher - many kids are trying to learn the piano on nasty little plastic things and consequently ruining their touch before they've had a chance to learn it. Their parents often argue that they can't afford a piano, so a freebie would be excellent for the pupil...
- by Gill the Piano
- 17 Oct 2004, 19:01
- Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
- Topic: learning the piano
- Replies: 2
- Views: 6694
Why the aversion to lessons? We've come a long way from knuckle-rapping old bats, you know! (Apart from myself, obviously... :twisted: ) You could have a lesson a month; most teachers have spaces during the day, as their rush-hour starts about 3:30. And there are teachers who visit if transport's a ...
- by Gill the Piano
- 17 Oct 2004, 11:20
- Forum: Piano Advice
- Topic: Restore Ronisch or buy 30yr old U1
- Replies: 7
- Views: 12896
Your Ronisch was made in the Golden Age of piano production when pianomakers didn't have one eye on the clock and the other on the cash register, and top quality materials were used. The Conservatoire piano, whilst much younger, has probably had a far harder life with professional-level musicians th...
- by Gill the Piano
- 08 Oct 2004, 19:08
- Forum: Piano History
- Topic: B. Squire & Son piano
- Replies: 8
- Views: 17380
Lift off the top door (which will be fastened at both ends), then the fall (lid over the keyboard) and you should be able to get at the keys which simply lift out. If there's a rail across the back of the keys, this either lifts off or is secured with a screw at each end. Easy! If you get this far i...
- by Gill the Piano
- 03 Oct 2004, 14:08
- Forum: Piano History
- Topic: B. Squire & Son piano
- Replies: 8
- Views: 17380
If you find the serial number (usually in top left or right hand corner amongst the tuning pins) then Bill can tell you more about the age of the piano. Mr Leslie was one of the men who worked on the piano; names are stamped here and there throughout, usually, so if there was a problem with a certai...
- by Gill the Piano
- 27 Sep 2004, 21:49
- Forum: Piano Advice
- Topic: Overdamping - can it be made more effective
- Replies: 3
- Views: 8433
Barrie's right; a decent technician will be able to improve things. Sometimes the action can be slightly out of place, which will make everything ring on a bit - make sure it is securely fastened in against the strings, and that it is seated in place on the keybed. And it only takes one note not dam...
- by Gill the Piano
- 19 Sep 2004, 21:07
- Forum: Piano Advice
- Topic: Please help boyfriends birthday
- Replies: 3
- Views: 7007
- by Gill the Piano
- 12 Sep 2004, 17:37
- Forum: Piano Advice
- Topic: Would like to find name of song...
- Replies: 6
- Views: 11405
I agree, it's great fun, especially when you get all the frilly bits going! I'm not so keen on playing it with five year olds who insist on going back each time they make a mistake...can take weeks! I've always known it as Heart and Soul, but it's amazing how many people refer to it as Chopsticks. P...
- by Gill the Piano
- 11 Sep 2004, 22:10
- Forum: Piano Advice
- Topic: le onde!
- Replies: 2
- Views: 5723
I know the full score for the whole album is available because I have to shift it off every piano in every home where teenagers live when I call to tune the pianos! Maybe Amazon can get it for you or the sheet music site recommended by Geminoz on this page under (I think) teaching. Or this (general)...
- by Gill the Piano
- 11 Sep 2004, 22:05
- Forum: Piano Advice
- Topic: Would like to find name of song...
- Replies: 6
- Views: 11405
...or you can come into any British school at any break time where there is an unsupervised piano and hear it AD INFINITUM as even kids who can't play the piano play that one! :roll: They often refer to it as Chopsticks, although as Geminoz says, it's 'Heart and Soull (I Fell In Love With You)'. Are...
- by Gill the Piano
- 08 Sep 2004, 19:34
- Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
- Topic: Mariage d'amour - Richard Clayderman!!!
- Replies: 19
- Views: 57961
- by Gill the Piano
- 08 Sep 2004, 19:24
- Forum: Piano Advice
- Topic: Which Piano should I keep?
- Replies: 4
- Views: 9399
The more irreverent tuners amongst the fraternity have been known to call baby grands 'ashtrays' (not me, of course :shock: ...). If you're going to have a piano have the largest one you can accommodate! Length of string = quality of tone. Which is why we're all coming down on the side of the pianol...
- by Gill the Piano
- 05 Sep 2004, 14:46
- Forum: Piano Advice
- Topic: Piano Tuning and maintenance - Yorkshire
- Replies: 5
- Views: 10721
If tuning's cheaper than you thought, use the change to get the tuner to do all the donkey work! He/she will know which way up the dampers go (dirty side up...) and will either have some damper bodies knocking around or will have a mate who does. Take the easy way out, save your energy for your pian...
- by Gill the Piano
- 04 Sep 2004, 18:25
- Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
- Topic: Mariage d'amour - Richard Clayderman!!!
- Replies: 19
- Views: 57961
- by Gill the Piano
- 04 Sep 2004, 18:22
- Forum: Piano Advice
- Topic: Grand Piano or Upright Piano Plans
- Replies: 2
- Views: 6397
- by Gill the Piano
- 04 Sep 2004, 18:11
- Forum: Piano Advice
- Topic: Piano Tuning and maintenance - Yorkshire
- Replies: 5
- Views: 10721
I'd ask the tuner to do the dampers - it can be a tricky job if you've not done it before and you may need extras like new springs which would necessitate buying a whole packet of them. As to cost, generally speaking the further from London you are the cheaper it is. Tuners who are independent will ...
- by Gill the Piano
- 24 Aug 2004, 19:51
- Forum: Piano Advice
- Topic: E Squire Piano
- Replies: 2
- Views: 5908
If it's Squires of Ealing, then many of the ones I've tuned from the 1930's - 40's are made by Kemble. It depends upon whether the serial number (top left/right hand corner of frame inside) has a 'K' prefix. If so, it's almost certainly a Kemble who made good reliable instruments. Your best bet is t...
- by Gill the Piano
- 22 Aug 2004, 21:23
- Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
- Topic: teaching young children in a group
- Replies: 4
- Views: 9280
I agree with GS; the idea of teaching six five year olds gives me nightmares! In my experience the average five year old has the attention span of a gnat and times that by six...AAAARGH! I speak as someone who spent ages telling a five year old the difference between a tone and a semitone and asked ...
- by Gill the Piano
- 22 Aug 2004, 21:11
- Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
- Topic: teaching young children in a group
- Replies: 4
- Views: 9280
The idea of teaching six five year olds at a time gives me nightmares; I agree with GS, one at a time is far more productive. In my experience the average five year old has the attention span of a gnat and a group of them will distract eachother. I speak as someone who spent ages explaining the diff...
- by Gill the Piano
- 22 Aug 2004, 21:04
- Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
- Topic: standard of music colleges
- Replies: 1
- Views: 4341
If you mean the London College of Music, then it has a very respectable pedigree and has, I believe, turned out many reputable music teachers and professional musicians. The National College is not one with which I'm familiar, but I'm not really up to speed on the very latest developments in the mus...
- by Gill the Piano
- 22 Aug 2004, 20:54
- Forum: Piano Advice
- Topic: KIRKMAN VERTICAL IRON PIANO
- Replies: 1
- Views: 4257
You'd need to know the serial number - usually on the top left or right hand corner of the frame inside - to ascertain the exact age of the piano. It's unlikely that the piano is of any significant value, but it depends what you have the piano for. If you have it to play and it's a beginner's piano,...
- by Gill the Piano
- 26 Jul 2004, 17:26
- Forum: Piano Advice
- Topic: August Forster
- Replies: 7
- Views: 15937
I've tuned two August Forster grands which both came from a shop called Sheargolds, in Maidenhead, Berkshire. They both seemed nice enough, though one had been ruined by over-toning and sounded soggy to me - the customer insisted on the toning, apparently. What it was like before it was stabbed to d...
- by Gill the Piano
- 12 Jul 2004, 18:34
- Forum: Piano Advice
- Topic: PIANO RATINGS
- Replies: 2
- Views: 14421
I've seen a site called something like 'The Virtual Piano Shop' which had a sort of rating system but it was one person's opinion based on (in some cases) only one or two encounters with a piano make. This seemed a little bit open to sweeping generalisations - in 20 years of tuning I have at least l...
- by Gill the Piano
- 10 Jul 2004, 13:12
- Forum: Piano Advice
- Topic: Kemble Oxford
- Replies: 1
- Views: 4292
The Yamaha U1 is generally thought to be one of the best upright pianos around, and an awful lot of professional musos like them, as do many tuners; I was talking about this only the other day with an ex Steinway tuner and he said he thought they were excellent. He was sober at the time, too...serio...
- by Gill the Piano
- 10 Jul 2004, 13:00
- Forum: Piano Advice
- Topic: Bentley Upright - Now what do I do?
- Replies: 2
- Views: 5392
Please please please save yourself time and money and get it done professionally; we have to spend HOURS longer on pianos where people have 'done it themselves', and Barrie's right in saying it's very likely that you will break strings. If you break a bass string they have to be custom made for not ...
- by Gill the Piano
- 10 Jul 2004, 12:50
- Forum: Piano History
- Topic: Broadwood Baby Grand
- Replies: 3
- Views: 7961
Make sure it is thirty to forty years old, not just that it has been owned by those people for that length of time. Broadwoods are one of the oldest piano firms around and there are an awful lot of very old Broadwoods about. Because they used top quality veneers the pianos age very gracefully and of...
- by Gill the Piano
- 09 Jul 2004, 17:49
- Forum: Piano Advice
- Topic: Digital or Acoustic Piano
- Replies: 14
- Views: 22914
If you put a piano upstairs it will be fine as long as it's on an outside wall where the joists run at rightangles to the wall. My piano was in my bedroom at home for many years and forty years later my parents still live in a house which didn't suddenly become a bungalow...mind you, I became a pian...
- by Gill the Piano
- 09 Jul 2004, 17:44
- Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
- Topic: help needed with fingering
- Replies: 5
- Views: 11375
- by Gill the Piano
- 09 Jul 2004, 17:41
- Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
- Topic: Pedals?????
- Replies: 5
- Views: 12793
There is no hard and fast rule for using the pedal; you need to know and understand the music you're playing, and that information cannot be gleaned from a midi file. You have to have proper lessons on a proper piano, as most pedalling is an instinctive thing needing sensitive guidance from a good t...
- by Gill the Piano
- 22 Jun 2004, 22:38
- Forum: Piano Advice
- Topic: I have bought a house and been left a piano - please help
- Replies: 1
- Views: 4268
According to Pierce's Piano Atlas (shut up, Bill, it's the only one I have) that makes it pre 1885, so pretty elderly. However, Bluthner is a good make and some people will pay for the name alone. It very much depends upon the condition of the instrument; being as old as it is, you might be better a...
- by Gill the Piano
- 21 Jun 2004, 23:02
- Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
- Topic: good school around europe?
- Replies: 1
- Views: 4659
Don't know about Europe, but in Britain the best are reckoned to be the Royal Academy of Music, the Royal College of Music, Trinity College of Music and Guildhall College (I think) of Music, all in London. There's the Royal Northern College of Music, I think, but I'm not sure where that is - I have ...
- by Gill the Piano
- 21 Jun 2004, 22:50
- Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
- Topic: help needed with fingering
- Replies: 5
- Views: 11375
I think you just have to trust the teacher; he/she will be aware of any problems associated with the size of Emily's hands, and you can always ask that they find exercises that are manageable for her. The last thing the teacher wants is for her to become discouraged and there are so many books aimed...
- by Gill the Piano
- 21 Jun 2004, 22:34
- Forum: Piano Advice
- Topic: Buying a disclavier??
- Replies: 2
- Views: 6790
I've tuned quite a few of these, and think they'd be excellent for a learner. You can record say, the left hand part of a piece and then learn the other hand but have the benefit of hearing it in a two-hand context without a complete mental breakdown. And from your wife and baby's point of view the ...
- by Gill the Piano
- 11 Jun 2004, 14:58
- Forum: Piano History
- Topic: Piano tuners - a history.
- Replies: 6
- Views: 10182
- by Gill the Piano
- 10 Jun 2004, 20:40
- Forum: Piano History
- Topic: Piano tuners - a history.
- Replies: 6
- Views: 10182
Tried the PTG, with no response, but haven't heard of the MPTA, so I'll try them. Morley's were informative on the telephone but didn't seem to think my looking at the records would be helpful - but that was 2 years ago for my MA dissertation, so I could always ask again. All this info is brilliant,...
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