Japanese workmanship is synonymous with precise execution and attention to the most minute detail.  While Boston pianos are naturally equivalent to their Kawai counterparts, Boston pianos tend to be more expensive than Kawai.  This is due to the fact that there is an additional layer of markup, as Kawai does not build the Boston pianos out of the kindness of their heart. Kawai charges Steinway a sizable premium to construct the Boston. This additional layer of markup must then be passed on to the consumer.

A new Boston studio piano of this size retails for just under $10,000. At just $5,990 this is an incredible opportunity for someone to own a fine Japanese instrument for a small fraction of the new cost. If you are searching for a Yamaha U1, Yamaha U3, Kawai K300, Steinway upright piano, in the greater Tampa Bay area, you should certainly put this piano on your must-see list!

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Cristofori worked for the Florentine court of Grand Prince Ferdinando de’ Medici during 1688. His task was to look after harpsichords and other instruments. In 1700 as mentioned by Medici instruments, Cristofori invented an Arpicimbalo i.e. an instrument that resembled the harpsichord. It had a brand-new hammer and damper mechanism with two keyboards and a range of four octaves (49 keys).

Later in 1711 Scipione, a journalist and poet described this invention as “Gravicembalo col piano, e forte’” or Harpsichord with loud and quiet sound. It is here when pianoforte found its name.

Composers Felt The Need to Expand Their Range of Music

Just after people came across Cristofori’s amazing musical invention, composers started working on more and more music for the piano. However, the four-octave range of the instrument was limited which made piano manufacturers design new pianos having more keys to let composers like Mozart and Haydn write challenging materials for a fuller keyboard.

Later when Romantic composers such as Liszt and Chopin started writing music in the mid-1800s, pianos started to have seven octaves that allowed them to compose pieces having more ambitious range such as bafflingly virtuosic ‘La Campanella’.

The Invention of the 88-Key Piano by Steinway

By the late 1880s, Steinway a piano manufacturing company created an 88-key piano and since then this model has been the standard and still in use. This model had seven octaves and three additional lower notes (B, B flat, and A) below the bottom C. It comes with 52 white keys and 36 black keys (sharps and flats), with each octave made of seven white keys and five black keys.

Why Didn’t The Piano Manufacturers Go Beyond 88-Keys?

Most composers today write piano music fitting within the range of the 88-key model. The manufacturers also accept it as the limit because anything beyond it is considered too low or high for the human ear. However, there are exceptions. In 2018, Stuart and Sons came up with their 9-octave piano having 108 keys.

There is another piano with 97-keys sold by Bösendorfer having nine extra black colored keys helping to distinguish this model from the standard 88-keys. However, the additional keys are rarely used but their extra bass strings do add harmonic resonance contributing to the rich, overall sound of the instrument.

If you are looking to buy a new or a used piano in Tampa Bay, FL, contact Dave’s Piano Showroom. They have a wide variety of pianos for sale suiting almost any budget and requirements.

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What is the basic difference?

Acoustic pianos are the original pianos having a solid wood case that cradles the soundboard. It comes with 220 strings, hammers, and several other movable parts.

On the other hand, digital pianos are electronic and do not come with many moving parts. Built-in speakers produce sampled piano sounds. Both have their advantages and disadvantages. So, which one should you go for? You need to make some considerations before selecting one. Important ones are:

• Space: Digital pianos take lessor space in comparison to acoustic pianos. Grand pianos would take anywhere between 5-to-9-foot space in your house. Hence, if you are short on space, go with digital pianos.
• Noise Level: Digital pianos are not as loud as acoustic pianos. You have an option to lower the volume but acoustic ones do not give you any such feature.
• Considering the piano player: Experts would always prefer an acoustic piano. But if you are a beginner or an intermediate player, digital pianos would be fine.
• Estimating your Budget: New acoustic pianos might cost you anywhere between $2000 to $50000. You may also buy a second-hand piano for a lower price. Electronic pianos are comparatively cheaper.

Upsides of Acoustic Piano

Organic sound is primarily the best thing about an acoustic piano. Electronic piano manufacturers have been trying to improve the quality but are still far behind. Playing classical music on an acoustic piano is a treat especially on the beautiful and sturdy piece of furniture that can add elegance to any house.

Downsides of Acoustic Piano

Its size and weight are the major downsides. Once you have placed it in your house, it would remain there as it is difficult for anyone to move easily. The least a baby grand piano weighs is about 500 lbs. A piano needs to be tuned regularly which is highly dependent on usage which generally people would only do twice a year. Additionally, you should be dusting the piano at least once each week using a soft cloth.

Upsides of Digital Pianos

Each year manufacturers launch improved versions of pianos that are better than their predecessors. Some products come fitted with wooden keys that respond like acoustic pianos. You may also find options that have actual hammers coupled with similar striking action despite having no strings for the hammer to hit. Further, the sound produced by them is better and at times it becomes difficult to differentiate them from an acoustic piano.

Also, digital pianos are lighter and you can easily move them from one room to another. You also don’t have to tune them which saves you both money and time. The major advantage is that you won’t be disturbing your neighbors as you have the option to lower the volume or connect your headphones. Other advantages include MIDI capability, the option to record your sessions, multiple sound choices, etc. Lastly, they are more affordable as the most expensive option would be around $2000.

Downsides of Digital Pianos

Notes don’t give the same feeling like an acoustic piano and this is one of the major reasons pianists don’t prefer the digital ones. However, some great products in recent years have transformed this belief and feel to an extent. Acoustic pianos are more sensitive to their surroundings as compared to digital pianos making the latter a less preferred option.

You will surely miss the feel of using a pedal, resonating each string with the other, a lively feel, vibration sound, etc. that isn’t possible for a digital piano to match. They also don’t have the wow factor as you could easily miss out on noticing a digital piano in a room but not the acoustic one.

Closing Remarks

It would be sensible to buy a digital piano if you are a beginner and not sure if you would be going to get on. However, if you have the budget and a decent experience of playing the piano, you should always be opting for an acoustic piano.

If you are planning to purchase a piano, contact Dave’s Piano Showroom and schedule an appointment. The showroom serves customers across Tampa Bay, FL.

Picture Credit: Freepik

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• The superior natural feel of a near 100% authentic piano action
• Yamaha’s CFX and Bösendorfer Imperial piano samples
• CFX Binaural sampling
• (Virtual Resonance Modeling) VRM
• Grand Piano Damper Pedal
• Sophisticated elegance that will enhance the aesthetics of any room
• Audio Recorder via USB
• Bluetooth connectivity to virtually any Smart Device

If you are considering a NU1 or NU1X and live in the Tampa Bay, Clearwater, St. Pete areas, or beyond you will definitely want to consider this heavily discounted NU1X Yamaha hybrid piano.

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1. Improves neuroplasticity: Neuroplasticity is the capability of your brain to recognize and form synaptic connections typically as a response to learning or treatment after injuries. In simple terms, this is the capability of your brain to convert to another form and function specifically for it when it is stimulated with physical activity. Playing the piano positively changes your brain. Studies indicate that music is responsible for stimulating the brain in a manner no other kind of activity can.

When you are playing a musical piece on a piano you are making additions to the brain in terms of neural connections. It primes the brain for other kinds of communication. Therefore, when you are thinking that you are only working on a difficult piece you are improving your attention span, memory, language, speech, math, and spatial skills, and also your capability to convey emotions vocally.

2. Improves hand-eye coordination: Piano playing needs you to have good hand-eye coordination. Research conducted recently suggests that a person playing piano changes the cortical mapping of his brain for increasing the finger speed. For people with lesser motoring skills, piano playing can challenge their brains for making newer connections and develop motor skills. It also helps kids and also the adults to improve hand-eye coordination later in life.

3. Greater stress relief: Studies indicate that piano playing is good for improving your mental health. People that play the piano are less likely to experience depression and anxiety than the non-musical counterparts. Playing the instrument just for a few minutes every day may improve your self-esteem and make you feel positive. It can also reduce your blood pressure. It is significant to note here that piano lessons are commonly used as a kind of therapy for ADD.

4. Good for split concentration: The split concentration is also termed as divided attention. It is an integral part of piano playing and helps in sharpening the concentration. For playing this instrument you are required to make use of both hands, read the music, work with pedals, and also listen to the notes you are playing on the machine. That is a lot you have to do all at once. If you can become adept at playing with split concentration you will find improvement in your multitasking abilities in the actual world away from the piano as well.

The wonderful part of playing the piano is that it is possible to share the event with family and friends. Music is one language that crosses all forbidding barriers such as ethnicity and age. It is also a great way of bringing together big communities and small groups of friends and families. If you want to buy a piano in the Tampa, FL area you can get in touch with the licensed firm Dave’s Piano Showroom for a reliable purchase.

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Imagine controlling your piano using your iPhone, iPad, laptop, or android device.

Stream music for free 24/7, without commercial interruption or subscription fees.

Watch Elton John, Billy Joel, Andrea Bocelli, Michael Bublé, etc. live in concert, while your piano is in perfect sync with the performance.

With the optional PianoDisc player system you will see no boxes hanging underneath the keys or on the pedal assembly. In other words, the new player system is completely invisible. Your guests will not know that your piano is capable of playing itself until the keys start moving.

The new HD system is capable of 1024 different levels of expression.

We will load you up with nearly 1000 tunes to start; classical, jazz, vintage favorites, theme, musical, popular, sacred, holiday, etc.

These are all capabilities of the IQ HD system by PianoDisc, the world’s best selling piano player system.

The definition of a European hybrid piano is the fusion of European componentry assembled where labor rates are favorable. In these pianos, the absolute best materials are used. Every tangible component that can be measured or observed, in each step of the building process, is incrementally or substantially better in a piano such as a Ritmüller, than that of a similarly priced Yamaha or Kawai.

Ritmüller pianos date back to the late 18th century. In 2007, Ritmüller pianos were completely redesigned by Lothar Thomma. The goal being to fuse the best components the world has to offer, chiefly from Germany, in conjunction with the most accurate forms of modern construction, such as the use of more precise CNC machinery.

The importance of Lothar Thomma’s involvement can not be overstated. For decades Lothar sat at the helm of the engineering department at the world’s highest rated piano maker, Bechstein; a handmade piano built exclusively in Germany. Thomma was hired by the world’s largest piano manufacturer, a brand which also is the official builder for Steinway’s Essex line of pianos, to breathe new life into an old standard. Thomma has achieved world wide success and notoriety with his new Ritmüller designs.

This is illustrated perfectly in the Piano Book by Larry Fine and is likely the single most powerful point that can be made with regard to the quality of a Ritmuller piano. You will notice in the following chart that there are three areas of concern.

https://www.pianobuyer.com/Articles/Detail/ArticleId/243/The-New-Piano-Market-Today-Staff-Picks

Classical / Perennial Favorites – This is essentially what is popular.

Musical Standouts – Amongst connoisseurs and aficionados what is considered musically sublime.

Good Value – Best bang per buck

Most people respond that musical standout status of these three categories is the most important and this is precisely what I would like to bring your attention to. But before I point this out, it is important to know that size matters in pianos. The longer a grand piano is the larger the soundboard is, which is the speaker in the piano, and the longer the strings become. String length and soundboard size determine decibel production or overall volume. Therefore, smaller pianos are more difficult to make musical. While larger pianos are easier to make musical.

Scroll down and look at grands between 4’10” – 5’4″. Is Yamaha, Kawai, or even Steinway present as a “musical standout”? They are not! Ritmüller is! Fine writes, “Amazingly good performance from such a small piano”. He also naturally checks the boxed under “good value” for this piano. Yamaha, Kawai, and Steinway only achieve “musical standout” status in the upper 6′-7′ range!

If one wants a “musical standout” from Yamaha one would have to spend $57,000 for a 6’7″ semi concert grand.

A Kawai would set you back $78,000 in a handmade Shigeru 7′ concert grand.

Both of which are less than the $87,000+ that one would have to outlay for a Steinway model O (5’10”).

Ritmuller somehow finds a way to make an inherently non musical size piano a “musical standout” at a fraction of the cost of the standard brands.

The sale includes:

• Local, ground floor delivery
• Tuning
• Prep work
• One tuning
• 10 year Ritmüller warranty
• Matching bench

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1. Actually practice: Most children and adults these days lead busy lives and so it is easy to make the mistake of not paying sufficient attention to practice. Sometimes you make piano practice a second priority than compared to other commitments. Everyone goes through a period where they struggle to find time for practice. But if you start to enjoy playing piano this practice can be something you will look forward to. Try to provide a certain time every day for the practice and make it a part of the daily routine.

2. Set up the piano in a place where it is easily visible: You should not set up the piano keyboard in a backroom you rarely visit. Or worse, some people may place the keyboard in a cupboard with the intention of using it for practice sometime. It is not an encouragement to piano practice. Rather place the piano keyboard in a prominent position such as the dining room or living room where it can be easily accessible and just the sight of the piano will act as a reminder for the practice session.

3. Do not practice what you already know: It might be enjoyable to play the songs you already know or have learned but are you learning anything new this way? Most students are excited when they feel that they have made progress in their efforts to learn playing the piano. This results in them playing the chords they have learned instead of making an effort to learn new things. In most cases, this is followed by discouragement and boredom. Try to learn new things in all practice sessions by keeping things interesting.

4. Revise the pieces for a healthy repertoire: After having made the point above, it might surprise a few people to find out that several students after learning a piece are not inclined to practice it again. They rather try to move on to the next piece. It is the addiction to completing the levels and it may lead to a situation where these students are unable to play any pieces for family and friends as they are not through learning the current piece and they have forgotten what they have already learned. You need to maintain a balance here between learning new things and practicing what you have already learned.

5. Use correct fingers: All fingering you will ever need for playing the piano is printed on the music sheet and for a reason. Using correct fingers has many advantages and one of the significant ones is that it leads to the correct sequence of fingering for all pieces. Apart from mentally learning a song, it is also important to learn the physical shape of movements. If you are not consistent with the fingering you will be insecure while playing in front of others.

There are several ways you can take piano lessons from home, but if you are looking to move your piano to another place, get professional help in the Tampa, FL area from Dave’s Piano Moving that is a licensed company and will move the instrument safely into a new place.

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Get the necessary material and moving supplies

Firstly, you have to ensure that you have everything you need to securely move the piano. For moving both upright and grand pianos you will need a lot of moving blankets for its protection. The last thing you need is scratches. You may use blankets or thick towels for covering the piano. You will also need a lot of tapes to make sure that the blankets stay in place. Moving the piano also needs a dolly with the requisite strength to hold the piano.
Because of the size and structure of the grand pianos they are more complicated to move and need additional supplies. Apart from the moving blankets, you can also get appropriate piano boards for handling the move. For holding the piano in place on the skit boards you will also require straps with a screwdriver.

Get helpers

Once you get all the necessary material in place you will have to put together a team of helpers. You are going to need at least four persons or even more depending on the size of the machine and the difficulty involved in the move. The best way is getting your friends, neighbors, and family members with the experience of moving such heavy items and they also need to be in reasonable shape. Ensure that they wear all the necessary clothing required for moving and sneakers with excellent traction.

Measure the staircase, doorway, and hallway

Before executing the move you will have to take into account the places in the home where the piano has to pass through. Ensure that you have measured all the staircases, doorways, and hallways to check how easy it is to maneuver the piano through them. It is a wise idea to keep the doors open and floors properly protected. The furniture that is likely to get in the way must be removed before moving the piano. If there is a concern that the instrument might nick a corner or get scratches during the process, try to cover all the sharp edges by using additional towels or baby-proof bumpers.

Protecting the keyboard and lifting the piano

Moving both kinds of pianos “upright” and “grand” requires a lot of preparation. While moving the pianos you must ensure that the keyboard lid is locked. This will ensure that the keyboard is protected during the move. It is necessary because the piano keys are fragile. If there is no lock on the piano, keep the lead closed while wrapping up the instrument. While lifting the piano keep in mind not to lift it by the legs. They are extremely vulnerable. Keep the machine in an upright position.

Keep in mind that every time a piano is moved it is necessary to tune the instrument. Although a piano is a solid object the inner working is sensitive to bumps and movements. If DIY piano moving is not for you, you can get professional help from Dave’s Piano Moving in the Tampa area. It is a licensed and insured company so you can rest assured that the piano move is in safe hands.

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Call Dave today for your fast free quote!

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Why Play Your Instrument Frequently

Typically, these instruments have a long lifespan. Abuse, not use, is what’s usually responsible for its deterioration. This is because the inner mechanism is very sensitive. This is what makes the engineering here so marvelous. Although its inner parts are sturdy and designed to withstand the test of time and the hardest blows your fingers can deliver, they must be in good condition to one another and overall for this to happen. Here’s a great reason to play your new piano as often as possible. By doing so you’ll appreciate its great craftsmanship and artistry.

Where to Place Your new Piano

As long as your home is well insulated, you can place your piano against any wall there. You don’t want to place it in direct sunlight or near an air vent though. Once there, try to keep your room between 72°F – 75°F. Keep the humidity in the room between 40% – 50%. This is important because excessive dryness or humidity will harm your instrument in several ways:

• Your soundboard and cabinet components will be damaged.
• The pinblock’s glue joints will grow weak.
• Rust will form on the strings.
• The soundboard and its active parts will swell making the keys sluggish and sticky.

No piano is immune to these issues. These things will result in costly repairs.

How to Move Your Instrument

Different types of pianos need to be moved differently. For instance:

• Vertical pianos with legs that aren’t attached to its main cabinet should be lifted off its front casters and rolled on its rear casters.
• Upright pianos with legs attached to a toe block can be rolled on all four casters.
• Grand pianos should be lifted and carried, not rolled.

Every piano is really heavy and could leave imprints on your floor. This is why you should have someone who’s qualified and bonded move it for you. Someone who’s inexperienced could use the wrong equipment and cause serious damage.

Tuning Your Instrument

You also need to tune your piano, which simply means bringing each string to its proper tension. With about 230 separate strings, each with 160 – 200 pounds of tension, this is a big job since each string must vibrate 440 cycles per second. Even if your piano is just ½ step below pitch you could be dealing with 3,000 – 5,000 pounds of tension. This is what technicians mean when they mention that your piano needs a “pitch raise.”

Now that you have a solid understanding of how to care for your new instrument, you should stop by Dave’s Piano Showroom. Here you’ll find a great choice of pianos to choose from, including one that will make a great new addition to your home.

Image credit: Hallet Davis

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