http://piano.about.com/ Get the latest headlines from the About.com http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hh http://www.about.com/ 118 20 en-us 2013-05-22T07:25:42Z Wed, 22 May 2013 07:25:42 +0000 hourly 1 2000-01-01T12:00+00:00 http://piano.about.com/b/2013/05/22/everyday-piano-cleaning.htm <p>When it comes to pianos, cleaning and polishing are two different actions --<strong> polishing should be kept to a bare minimum</strong>.</p> <p>But, a regular cleaning is a good thing, and can help to prevent dust and oil (a dangerous combo for pianos) from building up in between keys or deeper inside the piano body. Learn good habits for cleaning your piano, and keep it looking its best:</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://piano.about.com/b/2013/05/22/everyday-piano-cleaning.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://piano.about.com/b/2013/05/22/everyday-piano-cleaning.htm Wed, 22 May 2013 07:25:52 +0000 2013-05-22T07:25:52Z http://piano.about.com/b/2013/05/22/how-to-invert-chords-identify-them.htm <p><img style="float: right; border: 3px solid white;" src="http://0.tqn.com/d/piano/1/C/J/J/-/-/piano-chords-lessons.png" alt="Chord inversions and root notes." width="84" height="61" />You won't always be able to identify a chord by looking at its lowest note. Take the C major chord: <strong>C - E - G.</strong> Suppose you change just one of those note-letters (for example, let's use the notes <strong>C - E - A</strong>) -- could this still be a C major chord? The answer is no.*</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://piano.about.com/b/2013/05/22/how-to-invert-chords-identify-them.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://piano.about.com/b/2013/05/22/how-to-invert-chords-identify-them.htm Wed, 22 May 2013 07:25:42 +0000 2013-05-22T07:25:42Z http://piano.about.com/b/2013/05/22/avoid-a-rip-off-on-the-piano-sales-floor.htm <p>Sales tactics are used in every trade, but the piano's cost and complexity allows some people to take advantage of those not "in-the-know." Don't fall victim:</p> <ul> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://piano.about.com/od/buyinganinstrument/a/PianoSalesTactics.htm">Watch Out For These Sneaky Sales Tactics</a></li> <p>&#160;</p></ul> http://piano.about.com/b/2013/05/22/avoid-a-rip-off-on-the-piano-sales-floor.htm Wed, 22 May 2013 07:15:14 +0000 2013-05-22T07:15:14Z http://piano.about.com/b/2013/05/21/how-to-sit-at-the-piano.htm <p><img style="float: right; border: 3px solid black;" src="http://0.tqn.com/d/piano/1/0/A/S/-/-/Piano-posture-Thinkstock.png" alt="Piano posture" width="120" height="180" />If you've been to live shows, you've probably noticed a few pianists taking their merry time adjusting their piano benches ...some quite meticulously. This is perfectly acceptable, so don't feel self-conscious if you find yourself having to do so at <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://piano.about.com/od/recitalsperformances/u/RecitalsPerformances_UserPath.htm">your piano recital</a> -- you want to be comfortable, flexible, and stable:</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://piano.about.com/b/2013/05/21/how-to-sit-at-the-piano.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://piano.about.com/b/2013/05/21/how-to-sit-at-the-piano.htm Tue, 21 May 2013 08:00:01 +0000 2013-05-21T08:00:01Z http://piano.about.com/b/2013/05/21/playing-chords-scales-with-the-left-hand.htm <p><img style="float: right; border: 4px solid black;" src="http://0.tqn.com/d/piano/1/G/f/2/-/-/L1_bass_reading1a.jpg" alt="Bass piano fingering." width="160" height="105" />The left hand often plays rhythm in piano music. But, you will find yourself playing many left-handed melodies and arpeggios, particularly if you're into classical piano. Practice the following finger techniques to target dexterity in the left hand:</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://piano.about.com/b/2013/05/21/playing-chords-scales-with-the-left-hand.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://piano.about.com/b/2013/05/21/playing-chords-scales-with-the-left-hand.htm Tue, 21 May 2013 07:05:03 +0000 2013-05-21T07:05:03Z http://piano.about.com/b/2013/05/21/nows-the-perfect-time-for-a-piano-tuning.htm <p>It's not always easy to tell when a tune-up is in order. Many piano owners delay costly tunings for as long as possible, so long as pitch doesn't stray <em>too</em> far from the norm.</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://piano.about.com/b/2013/05/21/nows-the-perfect-time-for-a-piano-tuning.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://piano.about.com/b/2013/05/21/nows-the-perfect-time-for-a-piano-tuning.htm Tue, 21 May 2013 07:00:51 +0000 2013-05-21T07:00:51Z http://piano.about.com/b/2013/05/21/sixth-chords-piano-keyboard.htm <p><img style="float: right; border: 3px solid white;" src="http://0.tqn.com/d/piano/1/0/P/a/-/-/F-min6_piano-chord.png" alt="Minor 6th chords for treble keyboard." width="180" height="146" />I've heard a lot of musicians agree with the idea that sixth chords are an acquired taste. What do you think? Test some out today and see if you can find a place for them in your playing:</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://piano.about.com/b/2013/05/21/sixth-chords-piano-keyboard.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://piano.about.com/b/2013/05/21/sixth-chords-piano-keyboard.htm Tue, 21 May 2013 06:20:15 +0000 2013-05-21T06:20:15Z http://piano.about.com/b/2013/05/20/dynamics-volume-commands-in-music.htm <p><img style="float: right; border: 3px solid white;" src="http://0.tqn.com/d/piano/1/0/6/J/-/-/music-dynamics_symbols.png" alt="Musical dynamics symbols." width="125" height="88" />Musical dynamics control the volume of a song, and may be signified by words, symbols, or both. Dynamics mark the <em>relative changes</em> in intensity, and do not express precise decibel levels; a song in <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://piano.about.com/od/termsrelatingtodynamics/g/GL_mezzoP.htm">mezzo-piano</a> played by two different pianists may sound slightly louder or softer depending on the instruments as well as the players' interpretations:</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://piano.about.com/b/2013/05/20/dynamics-volume-commands-in-music.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://piano.about.com/b/2013/05/20/dynamics-volume-commands-in-music.htm Mon, 20 May 2013 07:10:02 +0000 2013-05-20T07:10:02Z http://piano.about.com/b/2013/05/20/enharmonic-keys-redundant-and-pointless.htm <p><img src="http://z.about.com/d/piano/1/0/s/8/-/-/blog_enh_140x144.jpg" alt="" hspace="5" width="140" height="144" align="right" />Try this quick exercise: play the first couple measures of the <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://piano.about.com/od/scalesexercises/ss/Scales_04_Majorflats_6.htm">Gb major</a> and <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://piano.about.com/od/scalesexercises/ss/Scales_04_Major_7.htm">F# major</a> scales ...d&#233;j&#224; vu?</p> <p>Both scales are played with the same exact piano keys, so why are they written using different notes and accidentals? Actually, these are two of the six musical keys with alter-egos known as the "enharmonic keys":</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://piano.about.com/b/2013/05/20/enharmonic-keys-redundant-and-pointless.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://piano.about.com/b/2013/05/20/enharmonic-keys-redundant-and-pointless.htm Mon, 20 May 2013 07:05:07 +0000 2013-05-20T07:05:07Z http://piano.about.com/b/2013/05/20/piano-term-of-the-week-rinforzando-2.htm <p><img style="float: right; border: 3px solid black;" src="http://0.tqn.com/d/piano/1/G/6/K/-/-/GL_rfz-rinforzando.png" alt="Rinforzando (rfz) musical command." width="106" height="95" />The Italian musical commands <strong>rinforzando</strong> and <strong>sforzando</strong> affect articulation (and, in a way, volume). Learn their meanings and pronunciation:</p> <ul> <li><a href="http://piano.about.com/od/musicaltermsa1/g/GL_rfz.htm">(<em><strong>rfz</strong></em>) <strong>Rinforzando</strong> </a></li> <li><a href="http://piano.about.com/od/termsrelatingtodynamics/g/GL_sfz.htm">(<strong><em>sfz</em></strong>) <strong>Sforzando</strong></a></li> <br /> </ul> <p><span style="color: #333333;"><em>_{Image&#160;&#169; Brandy Kraemer}</em></span></p> http://piano.about.com/b/2013/05/20/piano-term-of-the-week-rinforzando-2.htm Mon, 20 May 2013 06:30:40 +0000 2013-05-20T06:30:40Z