by Tania Gleaves on February 24, 2010
A Gentle Reminder
While some people are content with a piano and a bench, there are three additional components that make the piano more comforting and longer-lasting. One often forgets the intricacies involved in the use and upkeep of a piano until it needs repair or when it becomes difficult to play. So this article will serve as a gentle reminder.
We’re all fairly knowledgeable about the piano bench because we use them. But what we may not know is that benches can be as fanciful as the piano that they sit under. There are several different kinds and the best of them accommodate for different kinds of sitters. Their finishes are widely varied as are their cushions, but the way that they function is what distinguishes them from each other.
Supplies for Comfort
For instance, some benches have lifting tops so that we may store sheet music inside. Some benches even have interchangeable legs so that we can match them to the legs of a piano. Others have adjustable tops so that we can raise their height and achieve proper posture. Good posture is extremely important in playing the piano because it gives us the endurance we need to play long songs and it also ensures that we can properly see the notes that we play.
A piano lamp of course helps us read music as well, and they’re as versatile as you could imagine. All of them work fine for both upright pianos and grand pianos with some lamps reaching 20 inches and beyond. Lamps are important accessories during the times when ambience requires that we play music in low lighting.
Maintenance Supplies
Over time you may notice that your piano may wobble or rock during play. Although you may want your music to rock, you certainly don’t want your piano to rock along with it! So look at some of the piano hinges available. The ones on your piano may simply need tightening, but be aware that over-tightening will render them useless from undue stripping. It only takes one pesky piano hinge to create instability.
Since most pianos are made of wood, they need to be treated with extreme care. Heat, direct sunlight, and extreme fluctuations of temperature and humidity can warp and damage the piano so much that its sound is distorted. Although you will have to do your part to keep the piano polished and out of direct sunlight, you can use a humidifier to maintain a constant level of moisture in the air. A piano humidifier sits inside the piano and will prevent the piano’s wood from drying out, splintering, and cracking. A good humidity level is 40 – 45 percent.
These accessories of course are just a few of the piano supplies that are available, but they should give you a good start toward the maintenance of your instrument and your comfort as an expert pianist.
by Tania Gleaves on January 12, 2010
One can’t help but be curious about the different kinds of piano benches around and of course, which one is the most appropriate. The vast number of preferences is as varied as their price, finish, style, and size, yet it’s these very characteristics that we use to select one over the other. The following offers a few considerations that you may want to think about before buying one of your own. After all, all good piano music comes from a comfortable player!
Cost
A lot of people find the cost of a piano bench the most significant factor. Generally the more expensive that a piano may be, the more expensive its seating should be. Putting functionality aside, this strategy of selecting one that’s appropriate is a matter of aesthetics and an attempt to match its overall quality to that of the instrument being played.
Sometimes this strategy is even used to match the environment in which the piano is being played. As an example, consider the symphony stage. An appropriate piano bench in this setting could be a duet concerto bench. This kind of seating sports a hand tufted leather top and it can be purchased somewhere around the 1,000 dollar range. On the other end of the spectrum, a smaller pad-less one is much more appropriate for recreational rooms or classroom school settings, and they’ll generally run around between 200 to 400 dollars each.
Finish
Keeping within the aesthetics of the piano, you’ll want its finish to match that of the accompanying piano. Different finishes will affect the costs of various benches, however they all seem to fall within the same range in which pianos are made. So that means you’ll have no trouble finding a black satin bench for your black satin piano.
Style
There are three basic components of a piano bench’s design and each contributes to its own unique style. One of those components is the leg style.
In short (no pun intended), the leg style should match the leg style of the piano — a style which could be spade leg, classic straight leg, brass ferrule leg, Louis XIV legs, or even round leg. The most common leg style is the spade leg or classic straight leg style, however the legs of some benches may be interchanged with a different style so that you can achieve a certain look.
Another component that creates style is the top of the bench. The most common top is simple wood but an upholstered top is more comfortable, especially for those long concertos. For benches that lack the upholstered comfort, you can later add one of various cushions and designs starting at about 60 dollars.
An adjustable bench is a style that allows a musician to fine-tune its height from the floor and the performer’s posture at the same time. Since posture tends to influence playing ability, both professionals and instructors recommend this kind of seating (although it can carry a hefty 500 to 800 dollar price tag).
Size
The size can influence preference as well and its length is what determines that size. The average piano bench is no more than 30 inches in length while longer ones (about thirty-five inches) are the better choice for two people who will play the piano together in a duet.