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Piano Lessons
Learn to play the piano. Piano tutors throughout the UK; more welcome.
The piano (originally known as the pianoforte from the Italian 'piano' and 'forte' which mean 'soft' and 'loud') come in two distinct and very different forms - the Upright and the Grand Piano.
The principal difference between the two in terms of construction is that the wires which produce the sound through their vibration are mounted vertically in an Upright Piano and horizontally in a Grand Piano. Generally speaking the longer the instrument, the better the sound so the Grand is the more common choice of the serious musician however most homes cannot accommodate the sheer bulk of a 3 metre long Concert Grand Piano even if the high cost of such an instrument can be afforded. As a result the Upright Piano remains a popular instrument for personal use.
There are three sub-types of Grand Piano - the Baby Grand, Boudoir Grand and the Concert Grand (in increasing order of size with the Baby the smallest as its name would suggest).
There is one other difference between the two types - the Grand has a repetition lever which allows notes to be played over and over again. Apart from giving the pianist more options, it also means that a performer can play trills at up to twice the speed that would be possible on an Upright.
Most modern pianos have 88 keys although some older ones may have only 85. Sometimes the keyboard is 'reversed out' so that the minor ones are white and the major ones are black. Each key represents an individual note and that is, in turn, produced, by the hammer hitting three wires.
Nearly all pianos have three pedals. The main one is the damper which is the rightmost of the three. When it is depressed, all the dampers are lifted off of all of the piano's strings. The effect is an increase in smoothness as well as an expansion of the depth of sound. The middle pedal is called 'the sustain' as its function is to prolong the note played. Finally, the lefthand one is known as the 'soft' pedal as it reduces the force of the note by shifting the hammer slightly so that only two of the three wires are struck when the note is played.
If you are a complete beginner, live in a flat or need to play at unsocial times, look for a modern upright where the sustain pedal has been replaced with a 'practice' one. This locks in place and dampens every key so that the volume produced is very much muted.
Care of your piano
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Unless you are literally just moving the instrument across a room or similar distance, always get an insured piano-moving company in to help.
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Get a professional tuner in every few months - even if you don't play very often.
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Keep all liquids away from the insides.
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Put the piano's lid down when not in use although if this is likely to be for a prolonged period then open it from time to time to let the insides air. This will reduce the probability of it getting mould.
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Clean using a feather duster rather than a cloth which may abrade the surface or finish of the piano.
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Do not locate your piano in a position where it is likely to experience large changes of temperature or humidity. Avoid siting it near - heaters, windows, direct sunlight, fireplaces, kitchens, doors etc.
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In the event that a liquid does spill over the keys, remove them immediately and thoroughly clean each one before replacing.
Now, why not book some lessons to help you learn to play your piano?
Other Instruments
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Piano Lessons
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