The Piano Guide Review

Looking for a New Piano and Older Beginners by Georgia Zoe Schohl

Q. I am looking for a new piano for both my husband and myself. We have just retired and both love to play the piano because we have time on our hands. Right now we have a very old Everett piano which has been in our rec room for years. I would love to find out how old it is because I’d love to trade it in.
I would like to buy a new upright piano that will also look good and have a bright and rich sound. How do I start? Sales people get me nervous because I can’t stand the high pressure tactics. I’d like to get something good for the money.

Maryanne, email

A. Right now you will be able to see a lot of piano sales and price reductions ads in your local newspapers. Keep looking in the Sunday edition of your favorite newspaper. Don’t overlook used as well as new pianos. There are many good piano manufacturers.   Some favorites of mine that students like are: Kawaii, which has a great sound. Don’t overlook Yamaha, which is one of my favorites. It is Japanese-made, as Kawaii is. It has a vivid and dazzling sound, and a you can’t go wrong with a Yamaha Baby Grand. I know you are looking for an upright piano and Yamaha fills that requirement nicely.   For something that is gaining popularity is the Czech piano, Petrof.   Finally, check out www.pianoatlas.com , where you can find out the age of your old piano and learn more about the manufacturers of various pianos, by purchasing the piano atlas---but it is not necessary. Just know what you want when you purchase a piano and make sure that both you and your husband try the pianos. Make sure that you both agree on the make and piano model.

Q. I’m one of those people who has played piano by ear since I was a teenager. Right now I am 57 and guess what? I want to learn how to read music. It’s probably not really necessary at this point in time, but I still want to do it. I’d like to read some Mozart and Beethoven Sonatas, know how to do it well. Is it too hard for me to learn now at this stage in my life?

William J., London, Ontario

A.   Absolutely not! As I have said before, it's never too old to learn anything. Don’t be so judgmental about yourself. Be positive and set small goals to get your main goals done.I learned how to use a computer back in 2000 and it was on my own---I was very inspired to learn how to learn all I could about my computer and build websites in the process. So, it helps if you are interested and motivated in applying yourself in learning how to read those classical pieces. Your next step is to find a receptive piano teacher that specializes in working with adults of all ages. This teacher may deal with beginning adults or adult students who are trying to go back where they left off for childhood lessons. Ask the teacher if they have experience with adult students and if they are patient. Don’t be afraid to tell the teacher what your goals are---many teachers are impressed that you really want to do what it takes to reach your goals. They should be able to help you reach your goal of reading Mozart and Beethoven sonatas. Last of all, ask the teacher about the lesson policy and tuition fee. They are used to answering those questions.

Q. How often should I get my piano tuned? I can't really tell if my piano is out of tune, but I have been told
by my teacher I should get it tuned twice a year. My piano is about four years old, by the way.

J. L. email

A. Your piano teacher is right. You should get your piano tuned at least twice a year---every six months is good. If your wondering about the cost of the tuning, that may vary according to where you live. Most tuners have different rates and some of them are more highly trained as they may also be piano technicians. Why should people get their pianos tuned? Because over the year, the room where your piano is located can go through many extreme temperature changes, including different levels of humidity. With much use, the strings can also stretch and the tuning pins may slip in time. If you give your piano daily use as a serious student, you may want to tune it up to four times a year. Ask your tuner or technician what is best for your piano.   Lastly, you can find a good piano tuner or technician from your local piano store as a referral or you can look up the professional piano tuner/technician organizations or associations on the Internet. Don't be afraid to ask them what there rates are, as the rates vary in different regions.