Piano tuning prices go up, but Best Piano Care stay low!
May 26th, 2009Due to the gas prices this summer, piano tuning prices in Sacramento went up. Normally, a piano tuner will spend about two hours per day on the road. That’s around 80 miles/ day. However, I’m able to hold my price down at $80 per piano. Go to www.bestpianocare.com for more details on piano tuning in Sacramento.
Piano as a solo instrument in the classical period.
May 21st, 2009 The piano first declared itself in Europe prevailed Rococo era (1725-1775) - the period of transition from Baroque to Classicism. During the period of classicism piano became a popular tool for home use and live performance.
The emergence of a piano also caused a change in the repertoire of ensembles and orchestras. Concerto for piano and orchestra - a new genre that became very popular during the classical period. A long time, a harpsichord was the tool of accompaniment, rarely taking the role of solo instrument; piano, however with its dynamic capabilities was able to stand in a group of solo instruments such as violin and trumpet, and take center stage in concert halls of Europe.
The piano of Kristofori was very simple.
May 15th, 2009The piano of Kristofori was very simple. The piano did not a damper actuator, or pedals. The impact of the key forced a hammer to strike the strings, causing its vibration, not at all similar to the vibration of strings from the harpsichord or clavichord.
The most remarkable fact of the piano - the ability to resonate and dynamic range. The wooden hull and steel frame (invented later in the XIX century, frame of the piano Kristofori was wooden) allow the instrument to reach almost bell sound at the fort. Another difference of the piano from his predecessors - the ability to read not only quietly and loudly, but do crescendo and diminuendo, to change the momentum suddenly or gradually.
In 1709 the Italian Bartolomeo Kristofori invented the first piano.
January 14th, 2009At the end of the XVIII century composers and musicians started feeling the need for a new type of KEYBOARD, which could be as expressive as violin. Moreover, a necessary tool with a large dynamic range, capable of thunderous fortissimo, the most subtle and delicate pianissimo and dynamic transitions.
These dreams became a reality when in 1709 the Italian Bartolomeo Kristofori, engaged in musical instruments making for the Medici family, invented the first piano. He named his invention “gravicembalo col piano e forte”, which means “keyboard instrument that plays gently and loudly.” The name was subsequently reduced, and it became “piano”. Later, similar instruments have been created by music teacher from Germany Kristoforom Gottlieb Shreterom (1717) and Frenchman Jean-Marius (1716).
Another keyboard instrument - harpsichord - Piano History (Part 3)
December 17th, 2008Another keyboard instrument - harpsichord - most likely was invented in Italy in the XV century.
In this case, the string are picked with feathers or pieces of skin (like the picks). In addition, harpsichord’s keys and strings are parallel in position, like a modern grand piano, not perpendicular, as the clavichord and the modern piano. Sound of harpsichord - quite weak, do not seem to be suitable for performance of music in large halls. Harpsichord is typically used for accompaniment …
Click on the image to view full size…
Clavichord was a very simple device! - Piano History (Part 2)
December 12th, 2008Clavichord was a very simple device. When you press the key a little copper box called Tangenta strikes wire. At the same time raised damper allows wire to vibrate. A clavichord was one wire to each key, while the modern piano each key can be up to three strings. Being very quiet instrument, clavichord still allowed to crescendo and diminuendo. See picture…
Piano History (Part one)????
December 9th, 2008Each thing has its own history, so has a piano. Know it certainly, it’s not only interesting but also helpful. This enables better understanding of musical styles and understand the content of a peace.
The invention of the piano at the beginning of XVIII century was a turning point in the history of European culture. Piano completely changed the nature of musical culture of Western civilization.
Keyboard instruments existed even in the Middle Ages. The organ, the oldest of them - this is a wind instrument keyboard (it has no strings, but there are plenty of tubes), and it is not a direct relative of a piano.
The first keyboard instrument that had strings called clavichord. It appeared in the later Middle Ages, although no one knows exactly when. Harpsichord was a device similar to the modern piano. But its sound was too soft and quiet so that you couldn’t perform in front of a large number of people. Harpsichord was quite popular tool for composing and improvisation at home, and it certainly was found in the homes of baroque composers, including Bach.
Piano Tuning Service in Sacramento
November 13th, 2008Piano Care provides high quality piano tuning in Sacramento area. Click HERE for pricing, details or go HERE to contact us!
The standard piano or grand piano usually has 88 keys and 220 strings, which hold a combined tension of approximately 20 tons.All 220 strings have to be tuned in process of regular tuning or pitch raise.
Regular tuning is a 1.5-2 hour process which has to be performed 2 times a year in order to keep your instrument in pitch A440 (A440 is the 440 Hz tone that serves as the standard for musical pitch). If your piano has not been tuned for 1.5 year or more there is a possibility that the instrument will require a pitch raise.
Pitch raise can take 2-4 hours or it may require more than one visit, depending upon how far the pitch had to be changed.
Not tuning piano for more than 1 year directly effects the sound of your instrument. It makes playing unpleasant and the music produced by untuned instrument loses its main purpose - to please listeners.
So, please keep your pianos in tune!
Go to Contact to schedule an appointment or ask questions. Please visit Schedule page to see what time we’re available.
???Welcome to Bestpianocare.com! It’s all about pianos!
November 4th, 2008Welcome to www.bestpianocare.com and its ufficial blog @ blog.bestpianocare.com!
You will be finding some useful information about pianos here. The blog will be updated several times a week so be sure to come back. Remember, if you have any suggestions and/or questions about this blog, website, pianos in general, feel free to comment on this blog.
