Piano Guy

Lang Lang and McCartney at the White House

2012-02-22T07:23:00.000-08:00

The pianist Lang Lang played in a tribute to Sir Paul McCartney held at the White House, where Sir Paul was presented with the Gershwin Award for Composition. There was a minor dilemma that was solved with duct tape. Lang Lang is under contract to Steinway, and the event had a Yamaha grand on which he was to play. Awkward . . so some enterprising tech solved the problem as seen below . . Clever !

It wasn't a problem, though, when Sir Paul was playing !!

Sold Pianos happy in their new homes!!

2012-02-21T15:03:00.000-08:00

Bruno Mars - Just the Way You Are (Piano Cover) ThePianoGuys

2012-02-16T21:53:00.000-08:00

This is a beautiful, serene performance . . . enjoy . . .

Recorded Music Media Evolution

2012-02-16T19:30:00.000-08:00

There was a time, a few decades ago, we were packing up our LP's and trading them in for cassettes, an invention of Phillips of Holland. I bought my first cassette player in 1969 in Geneva, Switzerland.
At the same time, I bought Led Zepp's first album, and being a bit or an adolescent rebel, I played it in public loud enough to piss off people in the vicinity. Time moves on, and now my tunes are on my iphone, and yes, there still are some Zeppling tunes in the playlist.
This Graph shows how we have migrated to the latest, newest thing.
I wonder what's next . . .

click the graph

A Mystery for the Eagle Eyed . .

2012-02-16T13:25:00.000-08:00

The photo was in Time Magazine in Jan. 2000.
This piano was photographed in the Waldorf-Astoria in an article about Imelda Marcos, wife of the deposed Philipino Dictator, Ferdinand Marcos. She stayed in a suite which had in it, among other things, a Steinway D.

However there is a surprise in the photo . See if you can spot it !!!
_______________________________
Correct answers . .

Jules B

Did you know that . .

2012-02-16T13:00:00.000-08:00

Piano strings are pulled to an average tension of around 200 pounds. Each piano has over 200 strings; thus, the total string tension of the average piano is around 40,000 pounds, or 20 tons.

Indeed . . What happened ???

2012-02-09T12:24:00.001-08:00

You can still Honk !!

2012-02-06T06:01:00.000-08:00

When I added the licence plate enhancement, I received several admonitions from our local OPP that it was 'confusing' and I could be liable to a $$ fine $$. This informative process culminated with a lengthy phone call from some senior OPP official, who was very clear that a number of his junior officers were itching to ticket me. He was not confused, in fact, he used the visible information to go to my website ( the whole point of the exercise ) and get my phone # from the site. I'm sure he could have used the MOT licence database to get the same info, but the 'plate' worked. He was understanding, and in no way intimidating or pressuring, adding that he found the whole thing very creative and impressive. However, he suggested some changes, so I compromised, and now have a new look. ( My wife says it actually is more noticeable ) We'll see . . .

New Look

Original

For Sale - Bentley Compact - $1,195

2012-02-06T05:31:00.000-08:00

Imported from Britain, this attractive piano lives up to it's name, Bentley. Built for the pianist with a love to play, but not a lot of room in their home, the Bentley will be the answer. Includes a professional quality adjustable padded bench.

Ref. #11330

For Sale - Heintzman Grand - $9,995

2012-02-02T20:58:00.000-08:00

This piano is in original condition, and has been in the same family since 1924.

Considered a Boudoir size, it has a very warm tone and a precise action.

The mahogany case really shows the beauty of the wood, that enhances what this piano will do for it's new owners. Includes matching bench.

Ref # 12033

For Sale - Dominion Classic - $1,195

2012-01-17T14:14:00.000-08:00

This classic example of Dominion craftsmanship was built in 1895. Leaving Toronto, it is now in rural Creemore, and it's condition shows that it has been well looked after. Currently, it has new hammers, new dampers and bridle straps. An easy move from it's ground floor location, this piano has another half century of music in it !

Ref.# 11130

For Sale - Heintzman Piano Stool - $1,500

2011-11-03T14:49:00.000-07:00

Comes with a beautiful Square Grand at no extra cost !!

The piano was built in the late 1800's, and is in beautiful shape. It is currently in it's original home, in Oro Medonte Twp. It was originally purchased by the owners great grandmother, at the 1st Canadian National Exhibition, then known as the Toronto Industrial Exhibition, in 1879.

Ref # 11301

For Sale - 1945 Mason & Risch - $1,795.00

2011-08-17T08:51:00.000-07:00

Mason & Risch was one of Canada finest piano manufacturers, on a par with Heintzman, and Bell.

This piano will be a wonderful addition to a family.

Beautiful design and condition, upholstered bench included.

Ref.# 11227

Why Study Piano?

2011-06-14T03:18:00.000-07:00

Maybe we should have our local school boards review this research: if the goal of public education is to teach students to learn and be better equipped to think, there may be merit in this research . . Jim KIn a study released in 2000, second graders from a low income school in Los Angeles were given eight months of 'piano keyboard' These students, taking the Stanford 9 Math Test, went from scoring in the 30th to the 65th percentile. An interesting finding given the TIMMS results of 1998. (Neurological Research, March 15, 1999; Gordon Shaw, Ph.D, University Of California, Irvine)

A related study by University of Wisconsin Professor, Dr. Frances Rauscher published in 1997 in the Scientific Journal Neurological Research showed that children involved with keyboard instruction at an early age showed significantly enhanced abstract reasoning abilities, critical to success in science and complex math.

After learning about this research, the Wisconsin School District of Kettle Moraine wanted to see how this concept would work in the real world. They implemented a program that replicated the Rauscher study, using kindergarten students and group piano

At the end of the school year, students in classes that had received 'piano keyboard' instruction outscored those who received no keyboard instruction by 46 percent! The program has since expanded to K through 6 students across the entire district.

For Sale - Bechstein Grand - $9,995

2011-05-25T06:34:00.000-07:00

This Bechstein has been refinished, and is looking for a new owner with a taste for the classic.

It will need some TLC, but is definitely worth a look.

Bench, tuning, and moving included.

Ref. # 11078

Way back Then !!

2011-05-10T17:29:00.000-07:00

From Strand, January 1898: When match manufacturers S.I. Moreland and Sons challenged their customers to create “the greatest novelty of any sort that can be made with not less than 1,000 of our match-boxes,” G.W. Roberts of Birmingham submitted a full-size piano composed of 3,776 matchboxes and 5 pounds of glue.

Victorian Humour !

2011-04-29T05:34:00.000-07:00

There was a composer named Liszt,
Who from writing could never desiszt.
He made polonaises
Quite worthy of praises,
And now that he’s gone he is miszt.

There was a composer named Haydn,
The field of sonata would waydn;
He wrote the Creation,
Which made a sensation,
And this was the work which he daydn.

A modern composer named Brahms,
Caused in music the greatest of quahms.
His themes so complex
Every critic would vex,
From symphonies clear up to psahms.

An ancient musician named Gluck
The manner Italian forsuck;
He fought with Puccini,
Gave way to Rossini,
You can find all his views in his buck.

– Anonymous

Not Exactly Bob Darch !!

2011-04-26T14:37:00.000-07:00

I grew up in a home where Ragtime was a strong influence . . Scott Joplin, Joe Lamb, and many others were played, and people like Bob Darch, and John Arpin visited our "Red Carpet Saloon" in Temperanceville, north of Toronto. The first Ragtime Society 'Bashes' were held at our home, hosted by my father, the late Jim Kinnear SR, editor of the "Ragtimer", the newsletter of the Ragtime Society.

Creativity

2011-04-20T12:47:00.000-07:00

Bach in the Woods . . . . brought to you by a Japanese Cellphone Company. . . . .

For Sale - Harrington - $1,695

2011-04-12T13:38:00.000-07:00

This piano would add class to any living room. The Hardman Peck Company was purchased by industrial giant Aeolian during the Great Depression era, and they continued to build Harrington pianos until the 1960's.

The bench is not an exact match, but looks like an antique in its own right.

Ref.# 11088

Descendants

2011-04-03T11:24:00.000-07:00

Descendants from Goro Fujita on Vimeo.

It isn’t often that an animation leaves me dumbstruck, but this one did the trick. Descendants is an extraordinary 14 minute animated short about the wish of attaining the unattainable and that out of every great evil some great good must come. The music is wonderful . . .

The protagonists are a pair of flowers (the older more experienced voiced by Whoopi Goldberg in full form and the younger by Christy Scott Cashman). They grow on the edge of a clearing next to one another. One wonders from the start whether there is some symbiotic connection between them.

One is aged and world-weary, made bitter by an unexplained backstory - the other one still youthful, vibrant and inquisitive. Providence has joined these two almost as one and it seems this is how it could continue, until one day a company comes to the clearing conveying something unanticipated to their lives.

This short film started as a diploma project by Heiko van der Scherm and Holger Schoenberger at theInstitute of Animation (part of the Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg). It is a fascinating piece of animation – you can read about its history and how it was made here.

Piano Makes Peace

2011-03-25T16:14:00.000-07:00

The attraction of a piano knows no limits to a musician.

In the middle of the hostilities, a soldier still has time for music. .

Wonder if he's playing the War of 1812 . . .

Handel's 'Water Music' anyone ??

2011-01-26T05:06:00.000-08:00

FLORIDA KEYS: A US Coast Guard boat passes near the grand piano on a sandbar in Biscayne Bay in Miami.

A grand piano recently showed up on a sandbar in Miami's Biscayne Bay, about 200m from condominiums on the shore.

The piano, which weighs at least 1000lbs, was placed at the highest spot along the sandbar so it doesn't get underwater during high tide.

While officials aren't sure how it got there, they know it won't be going anywhere unless it becomes a hazard to wildlife or boaters.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission spokesman Jorge Pino says the agency is not responsible for moving such items, The Miami Herald newspaper reports. And, he adds, unless it becomes a navigational hazard, the US Coast Guard won't get involved.

For now, the piano has become a fancy roost for seagulls.

Bohemian Fiddle

2010-12-31T13:39:00.000-08:00

In the interest of noticing interesting musical presentations, have a listen to this . . .

For Sale - Steinway Upright - $ 7,995

2010-11-11T11:51:00.000-08:00

PRICE REDUCED TO
$ 5,950 !!

Do you have a prodigy in the family??
Have you always wanted a STEINWAY??

Here's you chance to own one !!!

This beautiful Steinway Upright, Ser # 63,184 was built circa 1887, and has been fully restored. Included are new strings, new hammers, and it has been refinished in black polyester. Includes bench.

Owner motivated to find a new home for this heritage instrument, and would be willing to entertain offers.
Ref.# 10121