Search found 254 matches

by Jonathan the 2nd
26 Jan 2012, 01:56
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Large jumps .To look or not to look ? That is the question.
Replies: 2
Views: 5702

Large jumps .To look or not to look ? That is the question.

Learning the spacing of piano keys is making me ask how much should you try not to look at the keys when reaching out for a distant note. Reading the music as I play seems more natural even playing a classical guitar. With a violin I never look at my fingers. I have started practising spaced out not...
by Jonathan the 2nd
24 Jan 2012, 14:50
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: The Cowling Institute
Replies: 14
Views: 25693

Re: The Cowling Institute

I used to use their original cards which worked very well years ago .I never got the complete set then , so I sent off for the modern book form. I wanted to encourage them for a worthwhile idea. Mainly you achieve independant control of fingers more quickly. It won`t turn you into a genius but neith...
by Jonathan the 2nd
23 Jan 2012, 14:27
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Why learn more than one key?
Replies: 35
Views: 37993

Re: Why learn more than one key?

The long key colour list does not mention Ebminor which I am interested in. ( Ouch for grammar the fiends ) .Can that be included as D#minor for this purpose? I was attracted by Rosalyn Tureck`s playing of Prelude No 8 in book one of Well Tempered Clavier. I never expected such lovely , slow playing...
by Jonathan the 2nd
23 Jan 2012, 13:49
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Fingers and thumbs.
Replies: 14
Views: 17957

Re: Fingers and thumbs.

It seems , at first ,like a very basic subject then suddenly swerves into incredibly technical. Definitely one for the thoroughbreds racing around the keys.
by Jonathan the 2nd
23 Jan 2012, 13:43
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Should I ask for an unequal temperament?
Replies: 56
Views: 45505

Re: Should I ask for an unequal temperament?

Now that my piano has had the overall frequency raised by a semitone and a Kirnberger temperament how should I monitor the piano?. It is not too unlikely that it might react against such changes happening all at once. Is there a tuning service that does minor alterations if they are needed. I`m thin...
by Jonathan the 2nd
21 Jan 2012, 20:16
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Fingers and thumbs.
Replies: 14
Views: 17957

Re: Fingers and thumbs.

The 4,3,2, 3,2,1 for right hand looks incredibly awkward. We haven`t evolved ( physically , I mean ) much since harpsichords were the main instrument. If you defined a stepover in Football , would that be Football Pedagogy?
by Jonathan the 2nd
21 Jan 2012, 20:00
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Should I ask for an unequal temperament?
Replies: 56
Views: 45505

Re: Should I ask for an unequal temperament?

Maybe a bit advanced for me. But they have a felt and leather clinic . They think of everything.
by Jonathan the 2nd
20 Jan 2012, 18:05
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Beginner's help needed
Replies: 11
Views: 14802

Re: Beginner's help needed

If you are teaching yourself it keeps the interest better if you learn the key , or scale , just before trying a tune rather than swallowing too much theory all in one gulp. I am trying a piece in 6 flats and all I need to remember is B and F are the only white notes. Then double flats are a good ga...
by Jonathan the 2nd
20 Jan 2012, 18:01
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Should I ask for an unequal temperament?
Replies: 56
Views: 45505

Re: Should I ask for an unequal temperament?

So the original question was just right.I had an uneasy feeling it would trip off fire alarms. Not quite that bad. Not rebellion or resistance but a reluctance to go in that direction. That`s the 3 Rs covered.
by Jonathan the 2nd
17 Jan 2012, 16:22
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Should I ask for an unequal temperament?
Replies: 56
Views: 45505

Re: Should I ask for an unequal temperament?

I used to think setting tappets the on my car was clever. I mean --four cylinders. That was tricky stuff for me.
by Jonathan the 2nd
15 Jan 2012, 17:17
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Should I ask for an unequal temperament?
Replies: 56
Views: 45505

Re: Should I ask for an unequal temperament?

The overall conclusion from what Barrie says and also what I have read so far is very strange. The essays and books about Temperaments all say that Equal Tuning is harder to achieve because only octaves "line up" naturally with our hearing. It would be interesting to find out how many keys...
by Jonathan the 2nd
13 Jan 2012, 00:41
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Should I ask for an unequal temperament?
Replies: 56
Views: 45505

Re: Should I ask for an unequal temperament?

The piano was tuned today. My guess was right. It had been ,overall , about a semitone flat. Now tuned to the Kirnberger temperament it sounds stunning to my ears. I have never known it this good . Even single notes have a richness and glow to them.It needed the extra work to raise the level first s...
by Jonathan the 2nd
12 Jan 2012, 14:49
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Beginner's help needed
Replies: 11
Views: 14802

Re: Beginner's help needed

I am taking some short cuts to finding the notes in different keys. I memorise the black notes pattern used in each unfamiliar key and whether they represent sharps or flats.That makes an important difference.( Up or down , it`s a very basic formula ).Then ,sooner than I expected , I am keeping my e...
by Jonathan the 2nd
11 Jan 2012, 15:39
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Beginner's help needed
Replies: 11
Views: 14802

Re: Beginner's help needed

Yes I was in Mold one day .It`s a small Welsh market town. Just near the centre is a sign over the doorway."Welsh Dyslexic Society".That always amused me. If you ever go to Barmouth on the seafront there is a place to give dogs a drink of water. There is the tap on the wall . Above it is a...
by Jonathan the 2nd
11 Jan 2012, 15:31
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Should I ask for an unequal temperament?
Replies: 56
Views: 45505

Re: Should I ask for an unequal temperament?

I wonder if most teachers agree with that. You can`t tell what they are thinking.
by Jonathan the 2nd
09 Jan 2012, 10:41
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Beginner's help needed
Replies: 11
Views: 14802

Re: Beginner's help needed

I think they should change the spelling to Menomics. Just the way Nuclear became Nucular.
by Jonathan the 2nd
08 Jan 2012, 21:39
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Should I ask for an unequal temperament?
Replies: 56
Views: 45505

Re: Should I ask for an unequal temperament?

Gill . That`s one of the articles I was reading. Mostly the old program on Radio 3 woke me up to the situation. The contrasts between ET and older tunings was very easy to appreciate just on one hearing. Today ( 08/01/2012 ) on Radio 3 there was a performance of a Handel piano solo with variations ....
by Jonathan the 2nd
07 Jan 2012, 00:52
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Should I ask for an unequal temperament?
Replies: 56
Views: 45505

Re: Should I ask for an unequal temperament?

Thanks Barrie . It`s always seemed a big built in contradiction in a musical sense. It`s a good forum to ask all the questions about it.
by Jonathan the 2nd
06 Jan 2012, 13:42
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Beginner's help needed
Replies: 11
Views: 14802

Re: Beginner's help needed

Yesterday was the second day with both hands playing D major. Day one seemed easy. Day two was much harder. Can`t understand why. For dazza to help with the music side I realised one silly , but useful , piece of symmetry . I have never used the bass stave before so connecting to the treble is impor...
by Jonathan the 2nd
06 Jan 2012, 13:27
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Should I ask for an unequal temperament?
Replies: 56
Views: 45505

Re: Should I ask for an unequal temperament?

Hello Barrie . I`m getting worried about this big bill I`m going to pay. No not treally. I want to see what it feels like to hear a real live temperament. I can see why tuners like to stay with a familiar tuning. What surprises me is how all the Teachers have allowed such a situation to arise.Do you...
by Jonathan the 2nd
05 Jan 2012, 10:22
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Should I ask for an unequal temperament?
Replies: 56
Views: 45505

Re: Should I ask for an unequal temperament?

What would be a problem with a different tuning ? They say a note out of tune in a well temperament would be noticed more. That would mean more callouts for tuners. I can feel a clash of priorities between tuners and players. One phrase --"Equal temperament is more convenient" made me ask ...
by Jonathan the 2nd
04 Jan 2012, 13:32
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Beginner's help needed
Replies: 11
Views: 14802

Re: Beginner's help needed

I started making out some little worksheets for myself yesterday. The idea is to draw out the black note pattern first. The black notes in the key I`m learning get a red mark. Then the note in the scale is written on the "pattern" in red . Beneath that in black pen is the finger sequence f...
by Jonathan the 2nd
03 Jan 2012, 15:46
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Beginner's help needed
Replies: 11
Views: 14802

Re: Beginner's help needed

dazza well done with the scales work. That shows remarkable persistence. I would never have so much patience with scales. They are necessary , don`t get me wrong , but I came to the point of learning the piano via many years violin playing and recent years teaching myself classical guitar. (Playing ...
by Jonathan the 2nd
29 Dec 2011, 17:06
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Should I ask for an unequal temperament?
Replies: 56
Views: 45505

Re: Should I ask for an unequal temperament?

Thankyou Barrie . I have organised a gentleman for January. Kirnberger is on the menu .
by Jonathan the 2nd
28 Dec 2011, 12:49
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Should I ask for an unequal temperament?
Replies: 56
Views: 45505

Re: Should I ask for an unequal temperament?

I tried e mailing separate tuners but they only did ET so I had more success by contacting the -Find a Tuner (Tuner`s Association ).They will be able to find a tuner to do the job. He said "dozens". I like that. First I had to work out what tuning I wanted as there are a great many to choo...
by Jonathan the 2nd
19 Dec 2011, 21:43
Forum: Piano Showcase
Topic: I would like to play "Not Fur Elise"
Replies: 2
Views: 5375

Re: I would like to play "Not Fur Elise"

I love that version. It`s strangely sinister.
by Jonathan the 2nd
19 Dec 2011, 20:47
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: choosing a medium grand
Replies: 20
Views: 21169

Re: choosing a medium grand

Look for the label on the side."One careful lady owner ".Bargain.
by Jonathan the 2nd
19 Dec 2011, 20:39
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Why learn more than one key?
Replies: 35
Views: 37993

Re: Why learn more than one key?

An article by James A Campbell in 1997 about Precision Strobe Tuners , mentions - "The" equal tempered scale -at the end of one paragraph , and in the next paragraph uses the phrase "An" equal tuning tempered scale . Just to see if there was some extra meaning in this difference ...
by Jonathan the 2nd
19 Dec 2011, 02:18
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Why learn more than one key?
Replies: 35
Views: 37993

Re: Why learn more than one key?

dancarney can hear differences but is he sure that the temperament is exactly E T . Do tuners fill in log books when they are leaving a tune up? (Exact details ). I believe each tuner has his own style. Then again , higher pitched note relationships may have detectable subtle differences. The impres...
by Jonathan the 2nd
18 Dec 2011, 12:46
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Why learn more than one key?
Replies: 35
Views: 37993

Re: Why learn more than one key?

My last post fell into a black hole. I was comparing the temperaments on the Bach -Lehman video where he plays the Bach C major Prelude (just Lehman versus Equal for now ).The important top notes in each repeated section are spot on with the Lehman , but the Equal sounds decidedly out of tune in at ...
by Jonathan the 2nd
16 Dec 2011, 20:00
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Fingers and thumbs.
Replies: 14
Views: 17957

Re: Fingers and thumbs.

I tried to work out the best sequence for left hand for each scale. The pattern I was aiming at , after a few attempts , would have logically started and ended one octave on the same finger that I started on. But looking at the right hand patterns shown on the net there are nine that start on one fi...
by Jonathan the 2nd
16 Dec 2011, 11:27
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: choosing a medium grand
Replies: 20
Views: 21169

Re: choosing a medium grand

One good point about Grand pianos versus Uprights is they are much more social instruments. You are looking into the room and not facing the wall. Also they are lower and don`t block the view. In terms of furniture they always win. Surprisingly the smaller Grands have less tone than some uprights as...
by Jonathan the 2nd
16 Dec 2011, 11:13
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Fingers and thumbs.
Replies: 14
Views: 17957

Re: Fingers and thumbs.

I found also a thing called the Chopin position which is what he taught his pupils. He used the thumb and small finger for white keys and 2,3 and 4 for blacks. I was surprised to see so many scales that don`t use the small finger at all. I wonder why the charts are only showing the right hand pictur...
by Jonathan the 2nd
16 Dec 2011, 11:00
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Should I ask for an unequal temperament?
Replies: 56
Views: 45505

Re: Should I ask for an unequal temperament?

Thankyou RXD . Very helpful background information . I sent an e mail enquiry to a local tuner but he only quoted prices and did not answer the crucial bit about about the temperament. I`m "near Chester" , as they say . I shall see how he feels about the missing answer first.
by Jonathan the 2nd
16 Dec 2011, 00:17
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Why learn more than one key?
Replies: 35
Views: 37993

Re: Why learn more than one key?

Yes you`ve convinced me . The change of key would load all sorts of messy sharps and flats into the bar and become a minefield. I was sorting out in my mind the contradiction of all the work of practising the different scales and then having Equal temperament tuning. It`s like being short changed af...
by Jonathan the 2nd
15 Dec 2011, 20:41
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Fingers and thumbs.
Replies: 14
Views: 17957

Re: Fingers and thumbs.

Thankyou Gill. I shall look for that. I found a very useful chart with the fingering for all the different scales . Sure enough the thumbs stay on the white notes. It`s a good start for me. I needed a mental picture for each key.
by Jonathan the 2nd
15 Dec 2011, 11:37
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Fingers and thumbs.
Replies: 14
Views: 17957

Re: Fingers and thumbs.

I read that there are very few books about placing the fingers on a piano . That`s the area I was thinking of. Maybe it`s all down to improvising. But I always thought teachers would be watching for that. I thought that was why they taught scales. As a beginner these questions may seem too vague for...
by Jonathan the 2nd
15 Dec 2011, 11:31
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Comparing Trills on Grands and Uprights.
Replies: 27
Views: 36965

Re: Comparing Trills on Grands and Uprights.

My difficulty with the playing trills boiled down to the stickiness caused by tight ( too high ) capstan screws. Once they were eased down the whole feel of the piano changed. It was left standing for some time. Just in a cool dining room and not damp.I wondered how my kids could have played on it l...
by Jonathan the 2nd
15 Dec 2011, 11:23
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Why learn more than one key?
Replies: 35
Views: 37993

Re: Why learn more than one key?

I don`t know about it never working. Assuming the piano has Equal Temperament it will play with transposing instruments as it stands. The question is about players who can understand the C major scale but have not progressed further than that. And probably will not progress further. Given that all t...
by Jonathan the 2nd
15 Dec 2011, 11:14
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Should I ask for an unequal temperament?
Replies: 56
Views: 45505

Re: Should I ask for an unequal temperament?

My piano was used by my daughter for years but there has been a long gap without use. It has dropped in pitch but not much compared with my "A "on a one note electronic metronome. It can be eased into the new tuning I think. It`s an upright Hohner from Finland with action made in Hamamatsu...
by Jonathan the 2nd
12 Dec 2011, 16:09
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Upright action cycles
Replies: 21
Views: 20943

Re: Upright action cycles

Thankyou Johnkie. I wish I knew that when my children were learning. I could have made their lives much easier. I suppose one difficulty is that some pianos are designed a little differently .Some better than others too.
by Jonathan the 2nd
12 Dec 2011, 10:36
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Upright action cycles
Replies: 21
Views: 20943

Re: Upright action cycles

Does an improvement in that part of the piano relate to the advice I read for players that when playing a trill the fingers only need to release the key half way and then play the note again? That would give young players a chance .
by Jonathan the 2nd
11 Dec 2011, 19:39
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Upright action cycles
Replies: 21
Views: 20943

Re: Upright action cycles

Sorry Withindale . It came out worse than I meant. But is this the wrong forum for me as a beginning player and no knowledge of tuning at all? I feel as if I`m in the wrong place .
by Jonathan the 2nd
11 Dec 2011, 19:34
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Should I ask for an unequal temperament?
Replies: 56
Views: 45505

Re: Should I ask for an unequal temperament?

Thanks for the clarification.
by Jonathan the 2nd
11 Dec 2011, 19:16
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Comparing Trills on Grands and Uprights.
Replies: 27
Views: 36965

Re: Comparing Trills on Grands and Uprights.

At present I`m an absolute beginner and my daughter played mostly. My basic attempts at trills seemed very awkward ,like galloping through treacle,and it may be down to some friction or stickiness in the mechanism. Already I have learned a little from your answer though. It`s such an early stage I d...
by Jonathan the 2nd
11 Dec 2011, 19:07
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Fingers and thumbs.
Replies: 14
Views: 17957

Re: Fingers and thumbs.

I`ve got a funny feeling I am on the wrong site here. I feel as if this is for technicians and teachers , but not absolute beginners. I`ll get me coat.
by Jonathan the 2nd
11 Dec 2011, 14:52
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Upright action cycles
Replies: 21
Views: 20943

Re: Upright action cycles

As a newcomer I have edited my previous daft comment . I was having exactly the problems with repeating on an upright that were mentioned here. I think my problem is solved now.
by Jonathan the 2nd
11 Dec 2011, 14:40
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Comparing Trills on Grands and Uprights.
Replies: 27
Views: 36965

Re: Comparing Trills on Grands and Uprights.

Please explain "nonsense". Let me alter the question. Is there any difference between them?
by Jonathan the 2nd
10 Dec 2011, 22:44
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Comparing Trills on Grands and Uprights.
Replies: 27
Views: 36965

Comparing Trills on Grands and Uprights.

Is there a large difference between the "trill action in my hand "needed when playing an Upright as against a Grand . How does the technique differ? I read that a Grand requires more movement but I find that hard to believe. What difference of movement in centimetres would I notice in fing...
by Jonathan the 2nd
10 Dec 2011, 22:15
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Why learn more than one key?
Replies: 35
Views: 37993

Re: Why learn more than one key?

So if you play with a fixed key instrument , with an equal tuned piano , will it sound better than with an unequal tuning? Some unequal tunings are said to match a violin very well. Or is that just for the more friendly keys ? This question is connected with my preference for Unequally tuned pianos ...