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August 31 2019

Boganyi – The Futuristic Piano Devoted To Performance Values

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When you find a piano that looks as amazing as a Boganyi Grand, you can’t help wondering about its origins, its creator and its significance in the piano world. To take in the swooping curves and sleek cantilevered body and pedestal is to recognize a new level of design in an instrument that has had very little design changes since the days of the harpsichord.

Boganyi – The Futuristic Piano Devoted To Performance Values

Its creator is Gergely Bogányi, a world renowned Hungarian pianist who was one of the youngest competitors to have won the Kossuth Prize in 2004, the most prestigious cultural award in Hungary. Born into a musical family in 1974, Gergely Boganyi was raised to be a concert pianist, and began amassing awards at an early age. At 19, he won Chopin and Mozart competitions in Budapest; at 20, the piano competition at Indiana University-Bloomington; at 22, he won the International Franz Liszt competition in Budapest, and was titled a “Citizen of Honor” in his hometown of Vac, Hungary. Bogányi performed concerts with the London Philharmonic Orchestra in 2004. In November 2010, he performed for two consecutive nights the entire piano production of Frédéric Chopin in Budapest.

Besides his virtuoso performances, Bogányi quickly became known for his revolutionary piano designs. He not only wanted to change the look of the instrument, but in the tradition of an architectural maxim by Louis Sullivan, that “form follows function,” Boganyi also desired to enhance the performance sound quality of a grand piano and using a bold design to enhance it. He had a sound in his head that existing pianos couldn’t produce, so in the search for better sound, he had to rethink the shape, the spatial aspects and aesthetics which resulted in a simultaneous visual piece of art.

In order to accomplish this, he collaborated with many technicians over decades and assembled a masterful team. Eventually he found success with a Hungarian industrial designer, Peter Uyeges, who had experience with stringed instruments, designing unique electric guitars, and Uyeges employed the same work ethic and concepts Boganyi embraced. Uyeges’s designs brought years of research and work to life with the astounding shape and sound concepts of the Boganyi piano.

In order to support the enhanced sound in stability and design, a new cast-iron frame unique to its kind, had to be developed. The crimson red of the cast-iron plate is now their trademark, a tribute to brave and innovative solutions. The plate not only easily holds the 21 tons of string tension, but realizes their philosophy of functionality and power being in harmony with design.

Believing that the soundboard is the soul of a grand piano, they further enlarged the Boganyi soundboard and proportioned it for more power and roundness in the desired tone.

“We experimented through some 8,000 engineering hours with modern materials, particularly with the soundboard, searching for new technical solutions, constantly analyzing the derived new specter of sound,” said Bogányi. The soundboard was designed to be more resistant to environmental conditions such as humidity or dryness, so the instrument will hold its tuning longer.

The soundboard is only one of the many crucial design changes on the Bogányi piano. The agraffes – the links between the keys and the soundboard – were redesigned to create almost zero friction; the frame above the soundboard was reshaped in special cast iron; and the traditional three legs were ditched in favor of two curved legs that project sound towards the audience. The construction technology for the rest of the composite elements had to be modified to fit the demands of the enlarged body, using modern materials with a carbon fibre action custom designed by Wessell, Nickel & Gross, innovators in moving from wood to composite materials in their manufacture of piano parts. Boganyi’s piano keys were made from original materials.

In 2015 the revolutionary new Boyanyi piano, the Prestige model B-262 was introduced to tentative reviews. Would this spectacular instrument be a flash in the pan anomaly or be a true contender among the Fazioli and Steinway lovers?

In honor of Finland’s 100^thyear of independence, the country of Hungary presented a gift of the sleek, futuristic Boganyi piano to the country of Finland – where Gergely Boganyi had spent part of his youth, and studied music at the Sibelius Academy. The new instrument is housed at the academy in Helsinki.

It didn’t take long for the breathtaking, floating design with the crystal clear and longer lasting sound to gain a great international reputation and be added to the traditional grand piano heritage.

Tamás Horváth, a sound engineer at Bartók Rádió, said of the instrument: “I can certainly say it has a unique tone, this is characteristic of all great pianos, such as Steinway, or Bösendorfer – they all have a specific sound.” Horváth added that the Bogányi had “a great sound for jazz pieces”.

Gerald Clayton, a four-time Grammy award-winning UK pianist who performed at the piano’s debut concert, has had more playing time on the Bogányi than most remarked.

“It feels like you are in a spaceship, like you are hovering above gravity,” he said. “When you play a lot of notes, or you play a chord, the sensation is different. It’s super-clear.”

With a sales price of over 300,000 Euros, sales were not brisk however.

Nevertheless, research and development continued for another ten years. Building on the B-262 model, the next edition is a full concert grand with a whopping 9’7” length and 6’2” width, the Grand Prestige B-292, their flagship model with an entirely new dimension of sound improvements and design elements.

Euro Pianos Naples is proud to offer our customers access to these amazing instruments. We see the future in Boganyi’s visions.

About Euro Pianos Naples

Euro Pianos Naples is a respected distributor of European luxury musical instruments. The company’s origin dates back to 1965. Euro Pianos represents world renowned brands such as Sauter, and it has recently become a manufacturer of its own acrylic instrument – The Aire. Apart from being a successful retailer, consultant, and entrepreneur organization, Euro Pianos is actively engaged in the artistic and community life of Naples, Florida as an organizer and supporter of musical events throughout the years.

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August 29 2019

Redefining the Shape of the World’s Favorite Instrument

Sunny R Under The Lid Piano Blog pianos and interior design

Man has always made music and over centuries, the stringed instrument of choice that evolved was the piano.

Using the primitive instruments from the beginning of time as their springboard, musicians in different parts of the world, starting in the 14^thcentury, created the clavichord, harpsichord, and spinet (virginal) and provided the blueprints predating Christifiori’s 1700’s gravicembalo col piano e forte, (the harpsichord that plays soft and loud). Piano e forte later was shortened to piano, and “Piano” as we know it was pretty much set in stone as far as the inner mechanics of piano design went.

Of course, there were some innovative additions, extra keys, extra pedals, different and better materials substituted over the decades that followed, and the piano cases went from Renaissance lavish to Industrial spartan as modern society made its advances. Player systems and electronic digitals later added more modernity. And a cycle of nostalgia returned some high end piano makers to resurrect lavish “art cases” made of precious materials and gemstones, rare woods with handmade customizations. But for all intents and purposes the shape and mechanics of the basic piano hasn’t changed much since the 14^thCentury, in the grand scheme of things.

Decorators and Interior Designers Make Themselves Heard

That is, not until the 20^thand 21^stCentury. Then something magical happened. The cliché family piano–the old Steinway grand or Yamaha upright in the corner – had become an out of fashion eyesore in the rooms of sleek homes and buildings of the modern world. Designers and interior decorators began seeking decorative and minimalist “furniture” and “art” for their clients, no longer satisfied with just a box that made music. Their demands were heard.

Clients (both residential and commercial) were willing to pay six figure prices for pianos that stayed at the front of innovative design and performance.

Piano masters around the globe were inspired to redefine what a modern piano should look and sound like. And what they came up with was so incredible that pianists are still reeling, scheming to get their hands on these amazing European instruments.

Why is Redefining Shape Important?

Some people may think it odd that anyone would ever want to change the design of a piano, an instrument that has worked for musicians for generations. What’s the point? If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it mentality. But I believe that life, and the essence of all living, is a matter of change. Changing seasons, aging, degeneration and regeneration in myriad ways, both large and small, happen daily in every aspect of our life. You can hold that fact as a metaphor for major things right down to the most insignificant things, like the mosquitoes quit biting. Life is more alive with change because we march with the essence of it. Your surroundings, your thinking, your values and tastes are all subject to change. Embrace it, explore it, exploit it for the pure enjoyment that change can bring. Art, music and ambiance can change your entire outlook on life, so ask Change in, take a seat and enjoy the ride.

Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future. – John F. Kennedy

7 Pianos that Redefined the Shape of the Piano

1. From Italy - Fazioli M. Liminal Designed by NYT Line

Redefining the Shape of the World’s Favorite Instrument

Paolo Fazioli of Rome, Italy, began designing and building pianos, with the object of making the finest-quality instruments possible. There is no doubt that this manufacturer has surpassed the best of the best. Now even the most famous piano makers of Western Europe are recognizing his accomplishment, and artists throughout the world are using the instruments successfully on the concert stage and elsewhere. Many artists, and others most familiar with Fazioli pianos, describe them as sources of inspiration with a wide color palette and dynamic range, and combining great power with great warmth in a way that causes music played on them to “make sense” in a way made possible by few other pianos.

Fazioli always put performance first in their sublime ebony concert grands for professional halls and stages everywhere. But his personalized art cases are some of the most beautiful in the world still embracing the highest acoustic qualities Fazioli is known for.

Then when a valued client commissioned a special instrument for a yacht, using dolphins and the waves of the ocean for inspiration, NYT Line designers began to change the history of pianos. Centuries-old tradition of piano building was never going to be the same.

Fazioli engineers had to completely re-think the architecture to make the traditional case into an irregular-shaped case using carbon fiber beautifully balanced on a large single metal pedestal. The combination of use of carbon fiber, irregular shape of the case and completely re-engineered sound board in fact improved the acoustical qualities of the piano. The transparent reinforced lucite music stand and support rod streamline the visual effect so that M. Liminal, an elegant monolith, appears to float. That element of defying gravity gives M. Liminal it’s futuristic, spaceship sensibility.

The balance and grounding of M. Liminal is an architectural feat and gives M. Liminal absolutely stability on any surface and in any environment be it a yacht, an aircraft or a luxury penthouse. The most advanced Fazioli action rests within this high-tech case and gives a medium sized M. Liminal grand piano the power and resonance of a full concert grand.

2. Fazioli Aria Designed by NYT Line

Fazioli didn’t stop there. Their high-end design for the 20^thCentury, the M. Liminal, impacted customers across the globe, and a second model emerged not too long after.

Taking the engineering challenges learned from the M. Liminal, the FAZIOLI Aria was carried to the next step: the summit of innovation and piano engineering supreme.

There is something evocative of a mid-century modernism about the elegant and simple angularity of Aria’s key features and shapes. The black and chrome combination punctuated by triangle-derived motifs evoked Art Deco, placing this marvelously futuristic piano in the realm of the Chrysler Building of the future, or a skyscraper yet to be built.

3. From Hungary – The Bogányi Piano

Hungarian pianist Gergely Bogányi designed and built the Boganyi piano with its its distinctive shape and also with the use of carbon fiber materials. This performance grand piano is available as the Prestige B-262 and the Grand Prestige B-292 models.

The carbon fiber body and re-designed support of the Boganyi piano, creates a distinctive cantilevered shape which enhances the quality of its sound. The custom Boganyi bench echoes the design of the piano form perfectly. Centuries-old tradition of piano building was never going to be the same.

Some are calling it the Batpiano because of its sleek, Gothamesque look. For others, it’s a cross between an art deco sculpture and something out of Star Trek.

“There have been no major developments in piano construction in over 100 years,” said Gergely Bogányi, when he gave the Guardian a preview of his 10-year project at a workshop in Budapest. He has already spent 8,000 working hours on it.

4. From Germany – Schimmel Pegasus by Dr. Luigi Colani

The 9’10” Schimmel Pegasus is made of reinforced fiberglass resting on a Plexiglas pedestal. The piano is finished in high gloss ebony with brass hardware and hinges.

The top is raised and lowered with an electric hydraulic pump. The performance sound is very clear, and precise, almost crystalline. The piano bench is built into piano giving the clever aspect of a vehicle about to take off. Out of the fourteen of these pianos ever made, three of them were ordered by celebrities: Prince, Lenny Kravitz and Eddie Murphy.

5. From England - Whaletone Digital Grand Piano by Polish designer/owner: Robert Majkut

Each model is built to order and sized for chamber performance, but due to its capabilities with on-board speakers, subwoofer and digital connections, it could also fill a stadium or concert hall of any size with sound.

Buyers can choose an acoustic piano sound or select from 500 other options built in. The processor generates a superior authentic simulation of a string grand piano using Roland’s patented SuperNATURAL technology in three sounds: Concert, Studio and Brilliant. But that’s just the beginning. It can recreate vintage pianos from 1960 to 1980. The totally bespoke instrument is almost unlimited.

The keyboard is based on the full mechanics of a classical hammer mechanism to give the impression you really are playing a natural keyboard. But should you not wish to play, you can sit back and let the Hybrid player system take over with performances of your favorite artists, downloaded from the web and controlled via an iPad. You can even have the Grand Hybrid record and play back your own compositions.

6. From France - Pleyel Grand Piano by Peugeot Design Lab

Peugeot Design Lab team approached Pleyel, a 200-year-old French piano maker, with the idea of designing a new modern piano. Engineers and acoustic engineers from both companies collaborated to produce a streamlined design on a single cantilevered leg borrowed from the world of architecture.

The designers say the alignment of the cover and keyboard not only allows the audience to get a better look at the finger work of the pianist, but also delivers better sound quality to the pianist as the sound travels unimpeded.

Peugeot Design Lab’s automotive background helped innovate a self supporting lid mechanism borrowed from the design of a car’s tailgate. This replaces the traditional lid prop and allows the lid to be opened with one hand.

To retain the sound quality and touch, the body and soundboard of the piano are made of traditional wood, while the lid and leg are constructed from carbon fiber. While this helps with sound projection and weight reduction, a central frame is made from steel to support the piano, while the carbon fiber leg has been filled with expanded foam to eliminate any sound box effect.

“We do not do style for the sake of style,” says Gilles Vidal, Peugeot’s Director of Styling. “This instrument is not a concept but a real product which involves an exchange of know-how between the design studio and its client.”

7. From Germany – Bluthner PH Grand Piano by Danish cultural icon, Poul Henningsen

Blüthner, a privately-owned family business, has been making pianos of the highest quality in Leipzig, Germany, since 1853. And today boasts the world’s most extensive selection of extraordinary transparent “Lucid” grand pianos. The performance quality of all of their instruments is top rated and revered.

Bluthner PH can be customized in colors and finishes to suit the buyer. Henningsen, the designer, had this excerpt to say:

“In 1930 I designed something entirely new … and the result was this “glass piano”. My idea was that the piano is one of the very few instruments that is played inside its box. A violin, after all, is taken out of its case. The traditional wrapping of the piano has therefore always been a piece of furniture in the style of the time. I wanted to make it an instrument and maybe even improve the sound of it.”

About Euro Pianos Naples

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June 29 2019

What Is Piano Tuning And How Much Does It Cost To Tune A Piano?

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To understand tuning, you need to know how a piano produces sound. When a piano key is depressed, it drops onto a small felt-covered hammer that strikes one, two or three, generally speaking, steel strings. This complex array of strings provides a range from highest treble down to the deepest bass sounds. (Since there are 88 keys on a standard piano, some wrongly think there are 88 strings, but it’s actually over 200). The bass strings of the piano are wound with copper and fewer strings are needed, the deeper the bass–two and eventually one string for the lowest notes.

Tuning a piano is a matter of adjusting the tension on each piano string until it vibrates at the proper rate–-an assessment of the interaction of vibrations among notes, which is different for every piano.

A440

Pitch, while related to the strings’ frequencies, is actually a subjective perception of a sound wave, which cannot be directly measured. However, in the world of music, a consensus has formed by most people on the range of high to low notes. So as a way of standardizing tunings, pianos are often built with the note A above middle C vibrating at 440 cycles per second and thus is called A440 pitch, the international pitch standard.

Each note on the keyboard vibrates with a specific frequency. The A in the next octave up vibrates at 880 cycles per second, and the A in the lower octave vibrates at 220 cycles per second, so with simple math, each string can be tuned.

With standard tuning, the piano performing with other instruments plays in harmony. It is sometimes referred to as “concert pitch.”

But not all people prefer the same sound. For that matter, not all pianos can create the same sound. Some pianos are “brighter,” some sound “warmer,” and there are cultural differences in preferences of pitch and sound, as well.

Europeans often tune pianos slightly higher at A442 and even A444, depending on the piano itself, and the preference of the users. When very high-end European pianos are purchased and delivered to America, often the pitch is brought down to the A440 standard to suit American preferences.

Ideally pianos should stay tuned at the same pitch (whether European or American), as this is ideal for both the piano and for the musicians.

What Other Maintenance Might Be Needed?

Normally, tuning is the “lube” job of the piano. But just like an automobile, with use and age, sometimes other maintenance may be needed. It’s important to understand all the services a good piano technician (more than just a piano tuner) provides.

Touch – Adjustment of the action or action regulation

In order to ensure an accurate, balanced musical performance and ultimate sound experience permanently, the action must be adjusted at regular intervals. This adjustment of the instrument restores the uniformity of the touch by fine tuning the keyboard and mechanics. It must be checked, so you can always express the highest musical level.

Even in normal use and environmental conditions, small changes will occur over time that can affect the perfect balance of the touch. An adjustment of the keyboard and action assembly corrects these irregularities.

The many components of sophisticated action parts need to work accurately and precisely to achieve optimum results. In addition, even the weight in pressing down your keys can be changed to increase or decrease reaction and friction. Every really qualified technician will be able to do this.

Tone - Voicing the hammer heads

Voicing ensures the tone quality by treating the hammer heads. This is not something that is done as basic maintenance, but rather if hammers have changed over time or if a client desires a different tone.

“Voicing” means giving tone and it may well be classified as subjective. It is the art of influencing the sound character of your instrument by reworking the hammer head felts. Within certain limits, voicing can adjust the dynamic range, timbre and other parameters of the overall sound to your personal taste or indoor conditions. Through regular playing and constant impact on the hard metal strings, hammer head felt coverings condense and make the sound harder. When the hammer head felt fibers stretch due to exposure to high humidity, the tone becomes softer and duller. Such changes are not consistent and produce an unbalanced sound. With specialized tools and a lot of experience, a qualified technician will restore the initial state of the hammer head felts or alter the original hammer head felts to make a piano sound “brighter” or “softer”.

A technician may “needle” hammer heads to fluff them or may apply a drop of “hammer hardener” to harden them – either way, voicing is something only a qualified piano technician should do. Done incorrectly, altering the hammer head felts can result in permanent damage.

Why do pianos go out of tune?

There are two main reasons for a piano going out of tune.

When a piano is new, the pitch may drop while the strings stretch with use and wooden parts “settle.” This is a key time to provide more frequent maintenance so that the string tension and the structure can stabilize. Three or four tunings for the first year and at least two tunings during the second year are highly recommended.

The other reason is an ongoing issue because of the piano’s internal wooden structure. The soundboard is made of resonant wood (which is why the sound is so wonderful), but it is sensitive to climate changes, as are many other wooden parts within. Pianos are like living beings, and as humidity increases, the soundboard and wooden structural parts of the piano swells up and stretches the strings and their pitch. During dry times, the board flattens and puts less tension on the strings, so the pitch drops. Without servicing the instrument, the pitch will likely continue to fluctuate and distort sound. While better made pianos often hold the pitch longer than cheap ones, the fact remains that regular, professional maintenance is important to both.

A word about pitch raising

If any piano goes for an extended time without tuning, the pitch may drop way below standard. Tuning a badly out of tune piano is frustrating. Chances are the tuning will not “stick” and it will be back out of tune in a matter of days. An experienced tuner/technician will recommend a “pitch raise” tuning which is in essence two tunings. First a rough tuning to raise the pitch followed by a fine tuning to even the tension on all 200 plus strings. Accurate tuning or “fine” tuning is possible only when all strings are close to their proper tension or pitch.

A Word About Pin Blocks And Pins

The strings of a piano are held taut by pins which are screwed into a pinblock. If the pinblock is not holding the pins snugly, which sometimes happens in very old (or poorly made) pianos, the piano will fall out of tune, no matter how often it is tuned. The pins just cannot hold the tension.

The remedy to this can take different forms depending on the deterioration. There are some gluing techniques that can help, or oversized pins can be installed. Worst case scenario is to replace the pin block. This is costly and would likely be indicated only in pianos of substantial value, as the cost and labor involved is sizable.

It’s interesting to note that in some truly excellent, but aged, pianos, the pitch may drop below the A440 standard, but all the strings drop in an equal manner, with little or no distortion. A good technician can acknowledge and work with this, without pitch raising, if the sound is still acceptable to the pianist.

How To Tell If A Piano Needs Tuning

The easiest and most responsible way is to keep a record of the last time the instrument was tuned, and schedule accordingly. Sometimes, a piano doesn’t need to “sound” bad, to have bad things gradually happening within. It’s better not to wait for sound distortion or problems before scheduling maintenance. You don’t wait for an automobile to stop running to give it regular maintenance. The same should be true for pianos. Besides, tuners do more than just tune – they also clean the interior of your piano. The amount of dust that accumulates is astonishing and it can gum up the action if not regularly removed.

Most pianists can tell, sitting down at a piano, that it’s out of tune because the notes do not sound like they should. Striking a key that usually sounds sweet and clear now sounds buzzy or twangy. If a note trembles or is wavy, it’s probably time for a tuning. By playing an interval or a simple chord, the notes should blend in harmony. If they don’t, it will be noticeable. Even the tiniest change in a string’s tension can be heard by a practiced ear.

How Often Should A Piano Be Tuned?

As already noted, the quality of your piano can affect the duration of its pitch or time between tunings. Fluctuations in temperature and humidity affect pianos. Contrary to popular belief, moving a piano does not affect the tuning, rather it is the change in environment that will.

If you live in a stable climate and the piano is played only moderately, a tuning once or twice a year is probably adequate. If your climate vacillates from dry to humid, and/or if your piano is used daily for teaching or practice, a minimum of twice a year, is recommended.

Professional pianists who give a piano heavy workout should consider tuning their instrument every four months, and before every paid public performance.

Fun fact: Performance grands are sometimes tuned several times a day between rehearsals and performances.

What Is The Ideal Temperature and Humidity for a Piano?

Optimum climate conditions for a piano would be a stable 68-degree F temperature with relative humidity of 42 percent.

Most environments don’t provide this kind of exact stability, so preserve your instrument accordingly with maintenance.

How Much Does It Cost To Tune A Piano?

Tunings can range from $100 to $225. Usually this will include inspecting the piano and cleaning the interior. You can add more to that for any repairs, replaced strings, pitch raising, action and pedal regulation or voicing.

Like any other service, there are variables in the cost of tuning a piano. There are many reasons that the prices are different.

Poorly Maintained Instrument?

How badly is the piano out of tune? If it is poorly maintained, it could require much more work than normal. Does it need to be pitch raised before it can be tuned? If it needs new strings, repairs or return visits, the costs will be higher.

Location, Location

Location can sometime affect the price standards. Do you live in a climate where piano tuning is required frequently? Do you live in a major city where prices are higher? And what about the location in your home? Have you placed your piano in front of a sunny (or snowy) window making it more susceptible to fluctuations?

Technician, Tuner, Hobbyist?

What kind of technician are you hiring? There are as many levels of skill in this field as any other profession. Piano tuners spring from many sources. While your Uncle Harry may insist he knows how to tune a piano, we would recommend using a registered professional. You can find one on The Piano Technician’s Guild website or by asking your local piano store or performance venue. You could also ask a friend or neighbor who owns a piano, or a piano teacher for recommendations. It doesn’t hurt to check references.

It is convenient, but certainly not mandatory, to have a technician that can perform additional services, especially if you have an antique or somewhat damaged piano, an off brand, or at the other end, an expensive collectible or high-end handmade brand. Once you find a trustworthy and competent technician, you can let him help you keep your piano in tip top condition. Good technicians will value your input as to how you want your piano to sound, they can make the necessary changes to enhance your enjoyment of your piano.

So How Much for Additional services?

Right now, the average national costs are listed below, with the stipulation that the prices may be entirely different in your area. These are, after all, average prices.

Many piano tuners also offer piano repair and additional services. It is smart to ask them their prices in advance of the tuning, just in case you need services that go beyond tuning. If you suspect your piano needs more than just tuning, always confirm whether the tuner is experienced with action work. Some tuners really do just tune.

Repairs: $65 – $100 per hour
Voicing: $175 – $600
Action & pedal regulation: $300 – $400
Grand action reconditioning: $2,500-$3,500
Vertical action reconditioning: $800-$2,500
Soundboard cleaning: $100-$150 (this entails going under the strings)
Climate control system installation: $450-$800
Piano rebuilding: $5,000-$8,000
Written inspections, assessments or evaluations: $100-$250

Should I Hire A Registered Piano Technician?

It is always best to hire a registered piano technician. The Piano Technician’s Guild offers a directory of tuners and many other services which you might need over the life of a piano, so it helps to immerse yourself in the information and expertise that will give your investment the best chance for retaining its value and performance qualities.

Tuning By Ear Vs. Using A Machine

Traditionally pianos have been tuned by ear, and technicians adjust the pitch based on the scale design of the piano, using intervals to set and test proper spacing between the half notes. The tuner needs a tuning fork to establish the reference pitch source. The rest is his/her skilled talents and ear. Even the tiniest change in a string’s tension can be heard by a practiced ear.

As you might suspect in today’s electronic world, there are now machines and apps that can take readings from your piano. These machines can store recallable tuner settings which is handy for concert halls, music schools and recording studios where the settings are consistent and frequent tunings are required.

While technology has its place, it is important not to discount the subtleties and nuance of pianos and pitch; tunings should not be rote and uncreative. A technician still needs to balance piano reaction to change in tension and what electronic tuning device is displaying. Besides, you need to ensure that your technician is experienced at changing strings, making repairs, regulation and voicing.

How Can A Piano Be Helped To Hold Its Tuning?

We always tell people to buy the best piano they can afford, because quality shows not only in the sound performance, but in the components that hold pitch and make the instrument an investment that will last many lifetimes.

Working with an experienced technician is a big step in helping a piano hold its tune. Some tuners have “a way” with pianos and the right amount of pressure and just the right touch for more stability. In the industry, it’s said they do tunings that “stick.” Getting references and recommendations from reliable and knowledgeable sources all helps. You might want to find that tuner who is familiar with the brand of your piano, (especially if it’s European, high-end, antique, or “special” in any way), heeds your preferences, and is skilled in full maintenance. For example technicians that work on Fazioli pianos are supplied with factory training and tools.

Paying attention to the location of your piano and how the temperatures will affect it is another way of helping. Hot sun, floor and wall heaters, window air conditioners, and wet condensation on windows next to a piano can have detrimental effects on the overall health of the instrument as well as the tuning. Stability in climate is key.

There are climate control systems available today, installed into your piano with sensors, a humidistat, dehumidifiers and humidifiers to keep a piano at a consistent safe humidity. In some extreme climates, such systems can be a good investment. This is of particular importance with institutional pianos in schools, concert halls or churches when the heat or air conditioning may be turned off and on.

Should A Piano Be Tuned After Moving It?

The answer is yes. But not immediately. While a piano has thousands of parts and is sensitive to the touch, the actual move is NOT likely to throw it out of tune. Pianos are quite hearty and are built to withstand decades of heavy usage, so moving it is not the issue. The larger concert grand piano hold a lot more tension compared to smaller grand and baby grand pianos, thus will be move affected by movings.

However, all pianos are very sensitive to climate change. A small difference in humidity between the two locations will affect the soundboard, actually changing the shape of it–which automatically changes the tension of the strings, throwing it out of tune. A fan above piano will move air faster and will effect the tension in the strings.

Even moving a piano from one room to another can affect it if air conditioning or heating is not identical in both rooms.

The prevailing advice is to wait for one or two months after the move before having it tuned. This gives the instrument time to “settle in” and reacclimate to the humidity and climate of the new locale.

We would say that this is the best advice for a new instrument that has traveled through warehouses, trucks and climates. New pianos are special cases anyway because their pitch drops quickly for the first few years, strings and wood needing to settle in, so more tunings are required the first year. If the new piano is tuned, you can be sure it will need to be tuned again soon, regardless.

But for your own used, well-tuned piano that has received regular maintenance, and is being moved from one home or room to another, waiting for just a week or two would probably suffice, especially if the climates are very similar in both locales. If the piano has not been well maintained, all bets are off. Go ahead and tune it, and then you’ll have to do it again soon.

In the case of upright pianos, they also need to adjust to a new climate, but in addition, be careful about the flooring where it is placed. An uneven floor, or half on/half off a carpet can cause a vertical piano to go out of tune. Put it back on a flat floor and it will revert to pitch. But climate changes will have similar effects, so give it time to adjust.

Being open to spending $250.00 annually to look after your piano, protects your investment and results in a dependable, beautiful sounding instrument.

A woman is smiling and holding her piano.

April 25 2019

The Multiple Mind-Blowing Benefits of Playing Piano

Sunny R Under The Lid Piano Blog piano basics

Pianos have been around for hundreds of years and have never yielded their place as the preferred and select musical instrument. There are good reasons for this. Unlike other instruments, the piano provides both melody and harmony, requiring no accompaniment. (instead, piano is usually required as the accompaniment to other instruments.) This makes it a world of music unto itself, and a whole “container” for individuals to pursue music solo or in public.

But that is merely the most obvious boast of pianos. In truth, the piano is a time-honored wellspring of extraordinary advantages for any adult or child who makes the effort to learn to play. Piano playing, even at the most rudimentary levels, opens up an entire world of benefits to the individual. The benefits are so vast that we can actually say they are mind blowing!

Social Benefits

The most superficially alluring of all the benefits are the obvious social benefits.

Participation with People

People love music, and musicians are often sought after to participate in social events. This increased participation is a wonderful way to round out the personalities of both children and adults in an ever-increasing world of lives lived in relative seclusion, devoted to computers, television, and gaming devices.

Influencing the Quality of Life of Others

When someone walks into a room and sits down at a piano, the entire mood of a family or group can be lifted by music. There is the potential for magical power with the ability to transform the everyday into–the memorable, the enjoyable, the notable shared musical experience. People who share their talents with others are a magnet for friends and new experiences. If you play the piano, chances are you’ll never be lonely again!

Accepting Criticism and Compliments

The commitment to learning to play piano represents a major benefit in one’s outer representation of self. There will be disappointments as well as successes, as learning to play music is a life-long pursuit. There is always the next level, the next challenge and mastering it is never a fait accompli, even for professionals. Musicians learn to roll with the punches, and react with ease to their own mistakes or equally daunting, the acceptance of accolades from others. Such experiences give pianists the added benefit of public and social ‘presence’ – being comfortable in their own skins—which can benefit all other endeavors in their lives, as well.

Physical Health Benefits

Learning to play the piano requires focus, concentration and practice! It is not an easy task to set for oneself, and it requires commitment (or in the case of children, a little inducement). But the added physical benefits are worth every struggle.

Hand Eye Coordination and muscle strengths

In the young, all kinds of new coordination skills are developed, but even in adults, the hand-eye coordination and the strengthening of the muscles in the hands is vastly improved.

In the beginning it is difficult and frustrating to coordinate two hands, each playing something different, so it splits your concentration. Learning to do that is a tremendous skill in itself, but it also allows you later to hear differently, splitting your aural awareness of your playing in both up close or from back of the room vantage points. Splitting your focus is a mental training that will serve in other ways in everyday multitasking.

Slowdown of Aging Losses

Studies have found that ongoing piano playing by older people slows down the losses of memory, losses of hearing and slows the breakdown of intricate processes of the brain in advanced aging. That benefit alone, like doing crossword puzzles and word games, is something like putting money in the bank of the future.

Mental Health Benefits

Music has Charms to Soothe a Savage Breast

While we’re on the subject of health benefits, we don’t want to forget that mental health is as important as keeping our bodies flexible and coordinated. Music is soothing and healing, even to an ailing elephant in Thailand (above).

Psychological and Neurological Changes

It’s widely reported that learning to play piano has a tremendous effect on the brain. While some people’s brains seem to be more adept at piano, scientific studies have ascertained that learning piano can actually change brain structure and mental abilities, improving skills in people who come to it less naturally.

Furthermore, in other studies that compared piano practice to other activities like sports, crafts, and hobbies, the piano players showed better psychological and neurological improvement as their tactile and kinesthetic skills were honed.

Self-Esteem and Confidence

While better self-esteem may seem like a natural offshoot of accomplishing anything, it was nonetheless put to a test. In a study of children with three years or more of piano study, they tested higher than non-musical children in self esteem and confidence in their abilities.

Playing the piano often leads to performance opportunities. It could be playing for family and friends or at teacher recitals or even proper concerts. Learning to focus on sharing music rather than on our own fears and insecurities develops confidence and presentation skills necessary in life.

Reduce Stress and Promote Focus

The piano can be a great stress reliever, and in the process, playing on a regular basis can improve one’s ability to handle stress to begin with. Because of the complexities of the piano, and its challenges, it is so much more involving and personal to the player. It is not a mere diversion or past time, but a comrade or accomplice of sorts, in everyday living situations. It has brought great solace to many people. Many physicians, politicians, lawyers and actors play piano to decompress after a difficult day.

Intellectual Benefits

Improves Brain Power in overall life

In 1993, researchers tried to establish the idea that listening to Mozart made children smarter. It caused a stir which increased when some German researchers strengthened the idea. They found the region of the cortex that is responsible for analyzing pitch was 25 percent larger in musicians– the size increases correlated to the age at which the musician began playing. Thus, musicians would ideally be started young.

However, other researchers, discovered the Mozart Effect effects did not last more than an hour. They discerned that the real discovery in all this might be that playing an instrument (as opposed to listening to music) is the thing that really catapults one’s intellect. Their later research showed early language development and spatial-temporal intelligence could be boosted by music lessons for preschoolers.

In further exploration, which instrument might provide the strongest cognitive returns became a huge scientific project, and the winner of this research over all other instruments, was the piano. A team found that those receiving piano lessons had scores boosted 34 percent higher on tests measuring spatial-temporal ability. This big revelation was all the more important for these skills figure heavily in activities like mathematics, science, engineering, and playing chess, thus music lessons affected much more than making music.

Some of the things to be learned are: Sightreading, Notes, Intervals, Chords, Theory, Ear Training, Scales, Arpeggios, Rhythm, Articulation, Technique, Interpretive skills and Compositions. While it may sound daunting, it’s no more than one learns doing anything well. Whether it’s designing a building, competing in sports, or playing world class bridge, the details coming together is what makes the endeavor worth doing in the first place. It is the secret to joy in our lives.

Math, Reading and Language Skills Improvement

Rhythm is not something you’re necessarily born with; it can be learned and developed in piano lessons. One of the really astounding finds is that children exposed to music training over time, in programs of complex tonal and rhythmic skills displayed superior cognitive performance in reading and language comprehension in comparison to non-musical kids.

Studying the piano aids in understanding math. Time signatures specify how many beats there are in bar. Notes each have a value, some are fractions. The multitasking and variety of tasks in children’s piano lessons mirror much of the complex needs that adults later face.

Promotes Discipline and Concentration

Children and adults alike who have learned the skills of organization, concentration, patience, and time management find that life becomes more manageable and less stressful. Piano lessons are almost a metaphor for life, in this respect. Scientists have tested the brains of musicians and discovered that multiple areas of the brain light up when playing. The discipline needed to play piano is the equivalent of a total brain workout. It takes focus, practice and patience to learn to play piano. It’s a gradual, encompassing, and thoroughly consuming endeavor that builds habits and inclinations in people that will serve them throughout life in many different ways. Anyone who has practiced scales on the piano knows that instant gratification is not the way to make music, nor is it the way to live one’s life to reap its best rewards.

Provides Cultural Knowledge

Exposure to music lessons can be an education in more ways than how to play a tune. The rich history of pianos, famous musicians, old world countries and cultures are part of the backdrop of musical exploration. Learning is often prompted by curiosity. When one sits in front of a piano, it is not uncommon for the player to filled with questions and the music and lead to study of music theory and, music libraries. The heritage of classical, folk, and jazz music can be an adjunct of information that both informs the performance as well as educates and delights the musician.

Spiritual Benefits

Opens Creative Urges

If one had to define “spiritual,” there would be references to the Divine, the connections to the universe, the basic dimensions of one’s life and inner self. The definition would also encompass creativity, which is, after all, the expression of one’s deepest inner feelings and awareness of self in relation to the world. Playing piano is a doorway, egress for the emotions and reflections of the personal spirit that resides in all humans. Some call it soul. Some call it a personal muse. But music is fundamental to us because of the spiritual/creative release it provides.

Heals and Soothes the Inner Soul

Often when we are troubled, there are no clear resolutions or answers to our issues. A problem can fester within us, causing our lives to take dangerous turns of illogic and despair. It is at these times that playing music can be almost a balm for the illness within. It provides access to parts of ourselves that we cannot put into words or actions. Each person has an inner self that hides from the everyday mundane experience, and is awakened by the peak experiences of peaceful contemplation and beauty. It often remains a mystery, but when stirred, there’s no mistaking it.

Music for Churches and religious events

For those who attend religious services, an organ or piano is often featured to provide liturgical music to celebrate and praise the divine entity and enhance the experience of worship and prayer. Pianists provide community service and get personal pleasure from such employment. If one’s religion reflects the most private values and worth of individuals, then it is music that echoes those ideals.

In Summary

Playing the piano offers myriad benefits that can enhance every aspect of your life. To own and play a piano places you into a cultural tradition that has abided for the last three centuries. The power of music has sustained human beings since their beginnings, and the joys of learning to play a piano enrich every individual who chooses that path.

Please visit our website and choose the piano of your future, and let us help you realize that spectacular dream.

A man playing piano in front of a group.

April 3 2019

The Crazy Piano Man Of Washington Square

Sunny R Under The Lid Piano Blog Celebrities and Pianos

One of the iconic city parks in New York City, Washington Square, sits in lower Manhattan, and boasts a large fountain and a marble arch (built to commemorate the inauguration of George Washington) in the middle of Greenwich Village. Surrounded by buildings owned by NYU, it has a long history as a gathering place for political rallies, “flower children,” chess players, tourists, dog walkers, cyclists, and street musicians of every stripe: steel bands, hip hoppers, jazz trios, soloists with violins and guitars, as well as vocalists.

A classical pianist named Colin Huggins has become one of the most famous buskers of Washington Square. Born in 1978, hailing from Georgia, self-trained in guitar and piano, he was uncertain what to do with his life. He hit New York City in 2003. For four years he played for the Joffrey Ballet as an accompanist for ballet dancers, but found himself wanting to be more creative. Drawn to street performers, he learned to break dance, but decided his piano talents might be more viable.

He and his roommate decided a real piano played in the street would be a spectacle to draw attention and allow him to be his own boss.

Dubbing himself “The Crazy Piano Man,” in 2007, he pushed his upright piano outside and rolled it on a dolly to Father Demo Square in Union Square where he successfully began a new career ($30 the first day) as a busker. That is until neighbors complained about the crowds and he was forced to move on.

Playing in the New York City subway, he earned a guest performance on the television series Louie, and he began playing in Washington Square two or three times a week. Becoming a career busker, Huggins bought more pianos off Craigslist and stored them around the city close to his favored spots.

He found himself loving the work and often plays up to twelve hours a day, surrounded by listeners.

The rest of the week he practices and participates in related activities. The long hours outdoors are tiring, hard on his hands which actually bleed when he plays in the winter.

Loving classical music, he takes the time to learn pieces by heart to add to his repertoire, including “Un Sospiro” by Liszt which had evaded him in his early training. He also mastered Rachmaninoff’s “Etude in E-flat minor,” among many others. He plays entirely from memory, so this is no small feat. He is as comfortable with classics as the Beatles and other contemporary piano music.

There was a setback when the NYC Dept. of Parks and Recreation began ticketing musicians near monuments and park benches. In 2011, he was fined over $6,000, but that policy was later revoked. In the same year he began a Facebook crowdfunding campaign to raise almost $9,000 to purchase a baby grand piano to replace the uprights.

His Yamaha baby grand was stored at a Spring Street mini-storage facility less than a mile from the park. Weighing hundred of pounds, the instrument was rigged to roll down the city streets without its legs which were attached on site. Huggins mastered the feat with glee.

He hires piano tuners to come to the storage units and maintain his numerous instruments. The tuners acknowledge that the pianos which are regularly rolled over curbs and exposed to the elements take a beating.

He plays in the park all year around, during all seasons, keeping a careful eye on weather reports. Weather dictates his work days. He said he feels guilty about the humidity and sun exposure on a baby grand, but the whole of his audience agree that the larger instrument is incomparably better sounding than the uprights. Huggins agrees that nothing beats an acoustic piano, and that, added to the freedom of playing outdoors to an appreciative audience, is ideal.

Over the years Huggins fan base has exploded. Social media has made a celebrity of him and appreciation for his music, his helpful, easygoing demeanor, and talents can be found on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter as well as many television and print articles about him. He has gone through many pianos, many fundraisers, and a Steinway currently makes a statement. It carries a message, an indication of Huggins personal philosophy which he explains.

Huggins says, “the phrase comes from Woody Guthrie, and is first and foremost a statement of nonviolence.

Woodie Guthrie saw this phrase posted in a weapons factory in America during World War II. He then proceeded to put the phrase on his guitar.

The fundamental meaning, as far as I can tell, is that we remove divisive ideology from humanity best with music and knowledge and thoughtful discussions, and we should only concern ourselves with wellbeing.”

In Washington Park, he is a permanent fixture around which events and happenings swirl.

In 2017, one man requested Clair du Lune and asked if he could lay under Huggins’s piano while it was played. The man wept while doing so, and Huggins decided it was something he could offer anyone. It’s become a thing now for people to lay under the baby grand to experience the music in this special way.

“When you get closer to a piano, you can actually feel the vibrations,” Huggins says. “So you’re not only hearing the sound, but you can feel it too. It makes it more of an intimate and powerful experience.”

He estimates that six out of 10 listeners who try it end up weeping. Even Alec Baldwin couldn’t resist it and a tear or two.

During the summers, “Opera Nights” are held with Huggins accompanying singers. Listeners flock to celebrate the occasions. Free opera in the middle of iconic Washington Square in the Big Apple on a balmy summer night—it’s hard to beat that for a happening.

There’s a Vimeo of interpretive dancer, Emily Smith, in a collaborative performance with Huggins, made in 2018. Her naked upper body is an artistic statement, covered with words supporting her position. Another happening in Washington Square.

There are digital albums of Huggins work online, as well as many ongoing interviews and videos of him over the years.

From our viewpoint, it looks like not all the keepers of the flame of music reside in concert halls and the lofty halls of classical music institutions.

This veritable self-taught young man has a mission in life to give music to as many people as he can reach from the piano bench he’s chosen, and he seems to be doing a very authentic and interesting job of it. Maybe not so crazy at all.

A white piano in an empty room with a bench.

March 21 2019

Haessler Acrylic Pianos – A Well Kept Secret And A Family Affair

Sunny R Under The Lid Piano Blog best piano brands

When it comes to pianos, there is a world of fascinating stories, history and inventions that are hard to ignore. The Bluthner – Haessler story is just such a complex and inspiring tale.

This is a Haessler acrylic upright piano. The inner action of the instrument can be seen through the acrylic, making it one of the most interesting and fun uprights on the market.

Most people have no idea of the difficult series of intricate and unknown steps that led to the creation of this instrument, but it’s a story worth telling.

Haessler transparent acrylic upright piano

It all began in Leipzig, Germany.

Julius Bluthner

In the piano world, Bluthner is a famous, highly reputable name. The master German piano builder, Julius Bluthner, began his enterprise in 1853 and at one time sold more pianos than any other manufacturer in Europe. Family-owned and operated, the quality of Bluthner’s instruments ranked the company as a national treasure, with customers such as Queen Victoria, Tsar Nicholas II, the Danish King, the German Emperor, the Turkish Sultan and the king of Saxony Well known artists like Mahler, Brahms, Liszt, Rachmaninov, Schumann and Tchaikovsky were guests in the Bluthner home and proudly promoted the Bluthner name.

Julius had eight children and three of his four sons joined the business and were as passionate as their father in building the best pianos in the world.

Julius Bluthner

Robert Bluthner

Max, Bruno and Robert Bluthner continued the business with the successful family formula. When Robert’s daughter married Dr. Rudolph Haessler, a successful merchant and lawyer, he was soon embraced into the Bluthner piano world. Robert legally adopted his new son-in-law, to incorporate the Bluthner name with Haessler, merging the surnames for the sake of the business.

Rudolph Bluthner-Haessler

Robert died in 1932, and his son-in-law took over the Bluthner factory. It was the same year the German Admiralty commissioned a lightweight piano built for the famous Hindenburg dirigible. It was an international event, and a huge success for Bluthner, when the airship crossed the Atlantic with a concert performed on board, and Dr. Rudolph Bluthner Haessler in attendance.

Haessler Acrylic Pianos – A Well Kept Secret And A Family Affair

Rudolph Bluthner-Haessler was at the helm in 1943 when the factory was bombed in a World War II air raid and completely destroyed three generations of work in a matter of minutes. All was lost.

Leipzig 1948

It was through Bluthner-Haessler’s massive efforts and visionary perseverance that the factory was rebuilt. The Soviet occupation did not much help private enterprise, but rebuild he did, and in 1948, pianos began to ship once again. The Bluthner national treasure was also shipping pianos to Leningrad and Moscow conservatories, which might account for what cooperation he could get.

Ingbert Bluthner-Haessler

“Quality above everything” was the Bluthner philosophy, and when Rudolph died in 1966, his son, (and the great grandson of Julius Bluthner) Ingbert Bluthner-Haessler took over the company. He weathered the East German nationalization of the company in 1972, and with great difficulty maintained the directorship, keeping the enterprise in the family, until the wall came down in 1989. Thanks to Ingbert, the Bluthner brand survived intact and had regained its standing in the world and flourishes.

Letting no grass grow under their feet, a new concert hall, a new factory, and increased sales all point to a bright future.

Haessler – A New Line Of Pianos

Haessler Classic Grand Piano

In the 1990’s, Ingbert, with his two sons already trained and involved in the business, started a new line of pianos just as his great grandfather had done. The line carries the name of Haessler, and they incorporate all of the excellence and knowhow of the Bluthner instruments, with a few technical bells and whistles (like aliquot stringing) omitted to cut the pricing by 25%, making a more affordable Bluthner for the West’s ever increasing appetites for high-end pianos.

Lucid Bluthner – A New Line Of Transparent Pianos

At the other end of the spectrum, Bluthner began a full line of exquisite transparent high-end pianos made from 100% quality acrylic. By forming a partnership with Lucid Pianos, a Spanish company solely creating acrylic instruments, the new Lucid line of acrylic pianos now carry the Bluthner name, as well as the German technology made so famous since 1853 under the see-through lid.

It is the brilliant combinations of 160 years of expertise combined with vision for the future that make Bluthner and Haessler such important contenders in the industry.

Haessler Acrylic Pianos

So, rather than a simple happy ending, it’s the beginning of a new story of the affordable acrylic Haessler pianos – a pretty well kept secret, if you ask me.

Haessler transparent upright

But beautiful, all the same, and a good, good story.

For more information, contact Euro Pianos Naples.

March 19 2019

Bluthner’s Crystal P.H. Grand Piano

Sunny R Under The Lid Piano Blog pianos and interior design

If you know anything about pianos, you know there’s been a revolution in the industry in the past century. Yes, I said century. Because the three-legged acoustic piano has managed to look pretty much the same for centuries after the first pianoforte was created in an evolutionary leap from virginal, (one step up from a harpsichord) in 1700 by Bartolomeo Cristofori.

Bluthner, a family owned, German piano builder who’s been around since 1853, is one of those historical wunderkinds who left their indelible mark—first as the largest European piano maker before 1900, and then after WWII, the most innovative piano designer and game changer.

Bluthner incorporates unique aliquot stringing into their grands, giving the treble notes four strings rather than the standard three, which aids the singing tone.

They introduced the first “backward” piano for left-handed pianists which can still be special-ordered in two sizes, with treble strings, hammers and keys on the left and bass on the right.

When you stop to consider that their pianos are always built with superb materials, and carry a rich tone, -warm, romantic and lyrical, and has become their trademark- think of the excitement created when they became the only piano builder in the world to carry a full line of transparent, high-quality acrylic pianos with the same performance values.

When I say innovative, I want to impress on the reader their readiness to find designers out of their fold, to create models that bear no resemblance to the traditions of their historical success, and their utter insistence on Bluthner quality, regardless of the size, shape or style of the instrument they make.

A case in point is the PH Grand Piano which was so far ahead of its time that today it still stands as one of the most modern pianos in the world. It was designed by a Dane named Poul Henningsen (the PH) in 1931. At that time, it was an unheard-of departure from any others’ piano designs and carried all the organic mystique and glee of the Bauhaus artistic fervor of the day.

Poul Henningsen, the son of a famous Danish actress, Agnes Henningsen, had a flair for the dramatic, but all the balanced and simplified tastes of an architect and a democratic thinker of his time. Just imagine such a piano in 1931, with its gracefully curved, chrome-plated steel legs, its peekaboo lid made of crystal-clear Plexiglas (the latest and most expensive material), and the matching music rack that sweeps across the entire width of the instrument. Banded in leather, it was the perfect marriage of organic and new materials.

Poul Henningsen

It was the frontrunner of the wholly transparent acrylic piano they make today, but stands alone even now as an incredible icon of futuristic design. The PH Grand Piano is a symbol of functionalism and represents Poul Henningsen’s personal ideal of simplicity. He called it a “glass piano” and said, “this is how music looks.” That was just the beginning.

The case and components of the PH Grand Piano can be customized in infinite ways. Even the metal aspects of the piano can be changed to colors and finished to individual choice. Similarly, the leather banding can be color coordinated to interior settings or unique preferences. It isn’t surprising that the PH Grand Piano is available with a unique self-player system, controlled by any device (smartphone or tablet) and turns the PH Grand Piano in to the most sophisticated piano available today.

One of our favorites of the infinite variations for customization is the crystal PH Grand where the leather band is replaced with Austrian Swarovski crystals. Can a piano get any more dramatic or beautiful?

We can picture it in cozy cocktail lounges, sexy music rooms in lavish homes, and on any performance stage where glitz and drama fit the bill.

The late, great Liberace (who wisely purchased a Bluthner grand piano for his first important engagement in Las Vegas) later went on to deck out a Baldwin piano in Austrian crystals.

If he were around today, Liberace could have commissioned Bluthner to custom built that PH grand piano for him out of transparent Lucite, set it aglow with LED lights and a hidden player piano to accompany him with a full orchestra and I bet Liberace would have been overjoyed to show it off.

Lucid PH in Custom Swarovski Crystals Trim

The PH Grand piano is available in two sizes, a Grand of 6’1″ and a Petite Grand of 5’.

Contact Euro Pianos for more information about Bluthner Lucid Pianos.

A woman in black dress holding a microphone.

March 14 2019

Ariana Grande Sang us a Sweet Love Song at the 2015 Grammy Awards

Sunny R Under The Lid Piano Blog Celebrities and Pianos

Long before she gave us girl power anthems like ‘God is a Woman’, ‘7 Rings’ and the iconic, ‘thank you, next’, 25-year-old Ariana Grande sang us a sweet love song at the 2015 Grammy Awards.

Ariana Grande arrives at the 57th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California February 8, 2015. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni

The 21-year-old singer performed her piano heavy hit, ‘Just a Little Bit of Your Heart,’ alongside a beautiful Lucid Bluthner grand piano. The dimly lit stage helped set the mood, with help from blue and purple lighting accents. The pint-sized pop star stood alone at the mic, dressed in a beautiful black gown, and serenaded the audience with her angelic voice.

Ariana Grande Sang us a Sweet Love Song at the 2015 Grammy Awards

Ariana Grande performing at the 2015 Grammy Awards

Since 2015, Grande has grown increasingly popular at a fast rate. After starting her career on Broadway, she landed a major role in Nickelodeon’s “Victorious” and its spin-off, “Sam and Cat.” Her debut album, Yours Truly, was released in 2013. She has since released 3 wildly successful albums, including the incredible, ‘thank you, next’.

Grande is often compared to legendary songstress, Mariah Carey. After winning a Grammy, a BRIT, 3 American Music Awards, 3 MTV Europe Music Awards, and 2 MTV Video Music Awards, it’s safe to say Grande’s career is headed in a similar direction.

Similar to Arianna, Lucid Bluthner pianos are quickly rising in popularity, as well. Lucid pianos are an instrument most only dream of owning. The combination of modern acrylic design intertwined with the high-quality performance standard of Bluthner, makes for a show stopping art piece.

The use of over-the-top, modern pianos, like the Lucid Bluthner in live musical performances is becoming the latest trend. To date, we’ve seen Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, Cardi B, Bruno Mars and Arianna Grande all on stage, flanked by gorgeous grand pianos.

The crystal Lucid Bluthner is absolutely stunning. Euro Pianos Naples can accommodate the choices, custom order, and delivery of this German-made beauty. It is available with LED lights, and can be customized in colors and graphics incomparable in their beauty. A luxury item, due to its 100% acrylic futuristic design and intricate manufacturing, the price is necessarily high-end and top of the line.

To achieve a similar look, Euro Pianos can introduce you to our own semi-transparent Aire™ baby grand at more affordable prices.

Aire™ Piano

The Aire™ is exclusively manufactured by Euro Pianos. Designed by owner and lead designer, Sunny Reuter, these pianos are the perfect mix of classic and modern. We are sure they will satisfy your needs with regard to performance, as well as give you that cutting-edge look.

The Aire™ pianos are available in bright red, jet black and crisp white. The lid, legs, and music stand are handmade with top grade acrylic, guaranteed not to yellow. To date, the Aire™ is the only American made acrylic piano on the market.

Whether you’re an experienced musician, an individual with an eye for interior design, or someone who enjoys entertaining without being taken away from their guests, (Installing a player system leaves you more time for hor d’oeuvres and happy hour martinis) the Aire™ piano is sure to be a perfect fit for you.

On her most recent hit, ‘7 Rings’, Miss Grande puts a pop spin on the classic, “My Favorite Things” by Julie Andrews. Similarly, Euro Pianos’ is giving consumers a new take on the classic baby grand piano, with our Aire.

Arianna Grande, shown here in the 7 Rings video

Prepare to hear plenty of “wows!!!” from your guests when they see the Aire™ floating effortlessly in your home. Like Arianna on ‘7 Rings’, you’ll be repeating “You want it? I got it! Gee thanks, just bought it” over and over again.

A flower with the words " our favorite music quotes ".

March 14 2019

Our Favorite Inspirational Music Quotes and Piano Quotes

Sunny R Under The Lid Piano Blog piano basics

“Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent.” Victor Hugo

“Music is the wine that fills the cup of silence.” Robert Fripp

“No matter how corrupt, greedy, and heartless our government, our corporations, our media, and our religious and charitable institutions may become, the music will still be wonderful.” Kurt Vonnegut

“Music has a poetry of its own, and that poetry is called melody.” Joshua Logan

“Music in the soul can be heard by the universe.” Lao Tzu

“Music is my religion.” Jimi Hendrix

“Music should strike fire from the heart of man, and bring tears from the eyes of woman.” Ludwig van Beethoven

“One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain.” Bob Marley

“Music touches us emotionally, where words alone can’t.” Johnny Depp

“Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.” Berthold Auerbach

“Music can change the world because it can change people.” Bono

“Music is the divine way to tell beautiful, poetic things to the heart.” Pablo Casals

“Where words fail, music speaks.” Hans Christian Andersen

“If I had my life to live over again, I would have made a rule to read some poetry and listen to some music at least once every week.” Charles Darwin

“Good music is good music, and everything else can go to hell.” Dave Matthews

“My music is a luxury.” Lana Del Rey

“I need music. It’s like my heartbeat, so to speak. It keeps me going no matter what’s going on – bad games, press, whatever!” Lebron James

“I think music in itself is healing. It’s an explosive expression of humanity. It’s something we are all touched by. No matter what culture we’re from, everyone loves music.” Billy Joel

“Music is really driving my whole life.” Ariana Grande

“If you want to make beautiful music, you must play the black and the white notes together.” Richard M. Nixon

“Life is like a piano. What you get out of it depends on how you play it.” Tom Lehrer

“Without a piano i don’t know how to stand, don’t know what to do with my hands.” Norah Jones

“When I had nothing else, i had my mother and the piano. And you know what? They were all i needed.” Alicia Keys

“Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything.” Plato

“If music be the food of love, play on.” William Shakespeare

“Life is one grand, sweet song, so start the music.” Ronald Reagan

“If I were not a physicist, I would probably be a musician. I often think in music. I live my daydreams in music. I see my life in terms of music.” Albert Einstein

“It’s like a whole orchestra, the piano for me.” Dave Brubeck

“I believe in using the entire piano as a single instrument capable of expressing every possible musical idea.” Oscar Peterson

“What has keys but can’t listen to the beauty it unlocks? A piano.” Jarod Kintz

“The important thing is to feel your music, really feel it and believe it.” Ray Charles

“Life is like a piano; the white keys represent happiness and the black show sadness. But as you go through life’s journey, remember that the black keys also create music.” Unknown

“Piano playing is a dying art. I love the fact that I can be one guy with one instrument evoking an emotional and musical experience.” Jon bon Jovi

“The piano keys are black and white but they sound like a million colors in your mind.” Maria Cristina Mena

“Piano is very elegant. I also think it’s a very truthful instrument.” Howard shore

“When you play, never mind who listens to you.” Robert Schumann

“If music is a place — then jazz is the city, folk is the wilderness, rock is the road, classical is a temple.” Vera Nazarian

“A great song should lift your heart, warm the soul and make you feel good.” Colbie Caillat

“Music comes from a place we don’t know.” Chris Martin (Coldplay)

A man in a red suit and black jacket standing on stage.

March 10 2019

LIBERACE – From Bluthner to Baldwin Crystals – “Mr. Showmanship”

Sunny R Under The Lid Piano Blog Celebrities and Pianos

In his forty-year performing career, the megastar, Liberace, was one of the most widely-known and well-loved living pianists in the world. The son of Polish and Italian immigrants, Liberace performed in concerts, television, motion pictures, recorded, wrote books and made endorsements. At the height of his fame, from the 1950s to the 1970s, he was the highest-paid entertainer in the world with established Las Vegas “residence” bookings and an international touring schedule.

LIBERACE – From Bluthner to Baldwin Crystals – “Mr. Showmanship”

What is not as well known is that Liberace was a child prodigy, learning classical piano at aged four, with the encouragement of his father who played French horn with bands and wanted his entire family to be musical.

Liberace’s mother, before her marriage, had been a concert pianist, but considered music lessons for the children to be “luxuries” they couldn’t afford. His father opposed such thinking and took his children to concerts and set strict rules for musical practice and learning the classics.

During the Depression and hard times, at a young age, Liberace was able to find work as a musician in jazz groups, cabarets and strip clubs, under the disapproving eyes of his parents.

With the later help of music teacher Florence Kelly, who oversaw Liberace’s musical development for 10 years, he gained experience playing popular music in theaters, on local radio, for dancing classes, for clubs, and for weddings.

Always considered a bit fey by his classmates, he struggled in school with a speech impediment, and was teased for his effeminacy, love of piano, cooking and avoidance of sports.

At age fifteen, the young prodigy won a scholarship to the Wisconsin College of Music where he was required to play stuffy recitals which bored him, so he would play with dance bands at night. At the age of sixteen, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra asked him to be a soloist. He was warned that he could not play dance bands under his own name and keep the job. So, the name Walter Busterkeys became his pop music stage name, and he learned the enmity between classical and pop performers at an early age. Loving all music equally, Liberace couldn’t help but work a bit of “crossover” into his recitals. In 1939, he did “Three Little Fishes” as an encore to a classical repertoire, winking at the audience, playing with them, and the applause was thunderous. It was a turning point for him. He would have it his way, classical music without “the boring parts” mixed with the popular music of the people.

He took his wink and smile to New York the next year and played the Persian Room of the Plaza Hotel as an intermission pianist.

Seven years later he returned to the Persian Room, wearing diamonds, and bringing his own custom-built Bluthner concert grand piano (said to be the largest at the time, and insured for $150K) along with Louis XIV candelabra for the performance. It was also the debut of ballroom dancers, Marge and Gower Champion that night.

One of the reviews read,

Liberace has masterful stage presence, a twinkle in his eye, a good grasp of humor that seems natural and, of course, a brilliant touch at the piano. He needed all of the human props as well as the manufactured ones opening night because the dancers had received an ovation, but he was equal to the task. He opened with Liszt’s 14th Hungarian Rhapsody just to show the crowd he knew how to play good music, then he played a popular duet with Joel Herron, the latter pounding away in the background. Herron played at other times too, but his efforts were lost in the tones of the larger piano.”

In spite of his amazing successes, for most of his 93 years, Liberace’s father refused to forgive his son for what he considered butchering and shaming the music classics.

The rest is well known history. Liberace soared to fame. It is no secret that the famous pianist, Liberace, “Mr. Showmanship,” was one of the most flamboyant and glittery stars of his time. His entire act, in time, included an homage to Austrian crystals.

His stage sets. costumes, shoes, candelabra, and capes were covered in crystals. He wore a white mink coat lined with crystals. A vintage Duesenberg roadster covered in crystals was dramatically used to escort Liberace onstage. The auto was on display in the lobby of the Cosmopolitan luxury hotel (whose motto is “Be strange but not a stranger”) until 2014 where it was photographed by thousands every day. The rock group, Duran Duran, commissioned the car for their “Pop Trash” album cover in 2000.

And of course, Liberace’s Baldwin piano, one of many he owned, is covered with Austrian AB lead crystals. Not only every panel that the eye can see, (apart from the see-through acrylic lid and prop) but the underside as well!

The Austrian crystal-makers, known for their highest-quality crystals, loved Liberace. The availability of crystals at any given time is limited, but he likely got preferential treatment from these artisans, being a million-dollar walking promotion for their products.

In 1985, the Austrian crystal-makers presented to Liberace what became known as the “Heart of Liberace” – the largest rhinestone crystal in the world. It measures 115,000 carats, 50.6 pounds and is valued in the millions.

Throughout his career, his sexuality was in question, and Liberace carefully cloaked his homosexuality without defending it. Indeed, from the stage he courted older women in the audience who adored him. Later in life his personal life became more open, and scandal and lawsuits hounded him.

But another sort of criticism hurt him much deeper. He admitted that being dismissed as a schlock artist and reviler of the classics cut him to the core, because it recalled the early disapproval he received at home and when starting his career.

Like his music or not, there is one thing you cannot take away from this iconic performer. His larger than life persona imprinted the American entertainment industry and set the standard in Las Vegas for showmanship.

Liberace’s Baldwin crystal piano might not have been Euro Piano’s first choice, but his early instincts with a Bluthner concert grand were right on the mark.

Today Bluthner could have custom built a LUCID PH crystal grand piano for him out of transparent Lucite, decked out with LED lights and a hidden player piano to accompany him with a full orchestra and I bet Liberace would have been overjoyed to see it.

Bluthner PH with Swarovski Crystals