Photo of the Day

I took this picture yesterday at the Royal Conservatory in Toronto using an iPhone 6 with tilt-shift and filter added using TiltShiftGen2. If you're on Instagram, you can follow me here.

Photo of the Day: Telemann Fantasia in D minor

Sometimes you need to explain things to students in the most visual way possible. This is from the middle section of the Telemann Fantasia in D minor:

Free CD Giveaway: Schubert's Winterreise with Jonas Kaufmann and Helmut Deutsch

Update: Congratulations of Yusuf Nasrullah, who has just won the CD!

Of all the great song cycles, Schubert’s Winterreise is the one that has the greatest capacity for repeated listenings, with its bittersweet emotions, unanswered questions, and downward trajectory of the protagonist. There is no doubt that something unimaginably profound happens in the final song, but as to what that might be and where it leads after the end of the cycle is left up to the listener.

Jonas Kaufmann and Helmut Deutsch’s new recording on Sony Classical is sure to fascinate for a long time to come. Helmut Deutsch’s pianistic colors are bolder in scope than what you’ll find in many recordings and strongly driven by poetical details. Kaufmann’s use of Wilhelm Müller’s text brings to life the psychological narrative, and the degree of specificity of poetic imagery (and artistic risks!) give an excellent account of the cycle.

To commemorate the relase of this memorable recording, Sony Music have graciously offered to give away a copy of the Kaufmann/Deutsch Winterreise to one lucky Collaborative Piano Blog reader.

A huge thanks goes to Sony Classical for sponsoring this latest Collaborative Piano Blog giveaway.  So here we go...

Competition Rules and Regulations

1. Send an email to collaborativepiano [at] gmail dot com with a) "Winterreise CD Draw" in the subject line and b) a link to your favorite Collaborative Piano Blog article about art song in the body of the article. Not just any article, but it has to be a link to an article about art song.

2. Only one entry per person and per email address will be accepted.

3. The deadline for entries is Sunday, April 27th at 10pm EDT. After that I'll randomly draw one entry from the pool of accepted responses and announce the winner on the morning of Monday, April 28th.

4. After that, I'll email the winner of the CD and send it to them at my expense. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to my email, after which I'll pick another winner.

4 Things To Know Before Buying a Used Steinway

Just over a year ago, I made a huge decision and bought a 1928 Steinway M. Finding the right combination of model, vintage, and quality was a huge challenge for me, and I was fortunate to have bought a first-rate instrument. Today's guest post is written by the folks over at Park Avenue Pianos, a specialty seller of high-quality Steinway grands in New York, who talk about what you should be looking for before buying a Steinway grand. You can find Park Avenue Pianos at 230 Central Park South in New York City, just a short walk from Lincoln Center. 

Buying a used Steinway piano is a big and exciting undertaking. A great Steinway is sure become the centerpiece of your piano playing life but it’s also a pretty big investment. Here are four things that you need to know before picking out your very own used Steinway.

1. Always check the serial number and age of the piano. You always want to determine the age of a Steinway to try to infer what type of life it has had since it left the factory. Different eras of Steinway production imply different things. For example, Steinway’s Golden Age was between about 1900 and 1955, and Golden Age Steinways are highly sought after. Identifying and aging a Steinway iseasy with this serial number age chart. Simply find the serial number on the cast-iron plate between the pins, and the number there should correspond to a year on the chart.

2. Learn the different types of used Steinways on the market. Each Steinway piano leaves the factory a technically perfect piano - what happens next is anyone's guess. There a few different categories of used Steinways on the market, and each suggests a different life the piano has had since leaving the factory. The trick is to get to know the different varieties of used Steinways out there. Steinways built with in the last few decades which have had regular maintenance are a great investment. They will most likely not require any repair work in the medium-term future. On the other side of the coin, restoring a Steinway in non-working condition is a big undertaking. It seems obvious but should always try to gauge your investment properly. Get as much information about the piano as possible, learn about any repairs it has had, any repairs it might night need, and if it’s had routine maintenance throughout its life.

3. Know what a soundboard is, and ask about it! The soundboard is the heart and soul of any piano. This is the piece of wood above which the string vibrate, the resonance of the wood amplifies the string’s vibration as well as adding its distinct tone. Steinway fabricated their own soundboards from close-grain Sitka Spruce. This is what gives Steinways their unique sound. When purchasing a used Steinway you want to make sure that the soundboard is in good condition or has been refurbished well. Remember that the soundboard is what gives a piano a lot of its auditory character.

4. Steinway pianos are a financially sound investment. As the cost of factory new Steinway pianos increases, so do the prices of used Steinways at a much higher rate than inflation. For example, a Model B Steinway built in 1985 now sells for over twice the original price. A Model B built in 1960 sells for over nine times the original price. Steinways have always been a sound and potentially profitable place to invest your money. The craftsmanship and integrity of Steinway & Sons insures that the pianos will continue to retain their value for a long time to come.

Photo of the Day: Another Piano Cat

What is it about musical cats that makes them so cute? This photo's original title on Imgur is "I WILL learn to piano. I WILL".

How Musical Culture is Quickly Becoming a Culture of Headphones

A few years ago, I had a lovely pair of full-size speakers that had a solid stereo image, crisp highs, deep bass, and filled a room with sound. When we moved into our new house, there was no longer any place for them so I gave them away.

Let's face it - the way we listen to music is changing very quickly. Music as a live activity is becoming increasingly challenging to promote, at the same time that the traditional speaker setup in home audio systems is in danger of becoming obsolete. Why?

Headphones.

This infographic from Sol Republic shows the sheer scale of the change, especially among millennials (people who became adults around 2000). The musical culture is becoming increasingly a headphone-oriented culture, and we as creative artists ignore this fact at our risk. What's more, people's use of music is becoming a private activity integrated into everyday tasks such as waking up in the morning, working out, or commuting.

The Collaborative Piano Blog community is known for their commitment to music, its creation, re-creation, and enjoyment. Music is our livelihood and our passion.

That's why I'm totally honored that headphone manufacturer Sol Republic approached me regarding a headphone promotion and giveaway for the CPB community. Stay tuned, as details on the promotion will be posted tomorrow morning...

Pleyel Has Just Shut Down Its Piano Production

The year begins with some sad news out of France: Pleyel has just shut down its production facilities at the end of 2013. NPR's article on the subject looks at the reasons for Pleyel's demise in light of the demographic and geographical shifts in the piano market. Everyone has been talking about consolidation in the piano industry in the coming years, but it's mighty sad to see it happen.

Here's Janina Fialkowska talking about and playing an 1848 Pleyel:



This optimistic AFP report from a few years ago talks about Pleyel's strategic decision to move upmarket that might have led to its eventual demise:

The Phantom Listener

I've been busy for the last few months. Really, really busy. Midway into a five-week examining tour of duty (Texas, Tennessee, Newfoundland, and Ontario), I had a three-day stop in Labrador City (in case you're wondering, here's a map link). When I stepped into the examining room at the Lab City arts centre, there was a cellophane-wrapped figure right behind the piano. Since it was part of a buiding-wide installation, it couldn't be removed. None of the pianists or singers were spooked, but it sure made a great picture:

My New Instrument

My studio finally has a grand piano! Just before Christmas, I purchased a 1928 Steinway M (5'7"), rebuilt by Rob O'Brien in Brampton and sold by Grand Piano House in King City. It's got an awfully big sound for an M, and its Steinway/Renner action brings to mind the classic Steinway feel, with a sound that can deliver both sweetness and power, requiring depth of tone in order to bring it forth.

For those of you enamoured of my rebuilt Yamaha U1, I have no intention of selling it. Having a second piano in the studio is awesome for teaching (my younger students begin their studies on it and continue on it up to Grade 2), and once the summer rolls around, I look forward to working on concertos with my advanced students.

Piano Tombstone

What a fascinating way to be remembered. I only hope that Ms. Brazier is buried underneath rather than inside that piano carving.

Photo by NatalieMaynor on Flickr

Cow Piano

This bovine piano scene was spotted in the wild by twistedbydesign on Flickr. If you have any dreadful puns that you would like to share, leave them in the comments...

Pop-Up Pianos for Sale at Sing for Hope Charity Auction

Calling all fans of custom piano mods: the opera-based social change charity Sing for Hope is auctioning 10 pianos from its stable of 88 Pop-Up pianos installation from the NYC area. About the Pop-Up piano program:

Sing for Hope's Pop-Up Pianos bring live art to The Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island with the installation of 88 pianos, representing each of the 88 keys, placed at parks and public spaces throughout the five boroughs. For the two-week duration of the project, the pianos feature formal and impromptu concerts by amateurs and professionals alike, in an open festival of music involving all elements of New York’s culturally diverse population.

Sing for Hope’s Pop-Up Pianos celebrate our vision: that all New Yorkers — from Times Square to Coney Island, Lincoln Center to Arthur Avenue — have access to the arts. Each one of the 88 pianos on New York City streets has been painted by a Sing for Hope Volunteer Artist who shares our mission of bringing the arts to all. These professional visual artists volunteered hundreds of hours in our piano warehouse to bring their Pop-Up Pianos to life!

This project combines the participation of dozens of community organizations, the creativity and passion of hundreds of professional artists and public school students, and the spirit of a one-of-a-kind city – New York – to present Pop-Up Pianos.

All profits raised from the sale of these pianos will go to Sing for Hope's Art U! youth outreach program. Get your cash ready soon, as the auction closes on Thursday, July 14 at 5pm.

The pianos being auctioned are:

• Love is Life by Diane von Furstenberg (pictured above)
• Hello Miss Piano by Isaac Mizrahi
• Chopsticks, anyone? by Kate Spade
• Playing One Continuous Line by William Conroy Lindsay (NB: my personal favorite, as its design may assist in getting the point across when explaining legato)
• Manhattan Rhapsody by Scott Taylor
• Got Away and Just Wanted to Play by Samson Contompasis
• Brooklyn Love by Adam Suerte
• Polychromatic Scales by Chris Soria
• Homage to Fred by Scott Glazer
• Pedal to the Metal by Moira Fain

(Via Camille Zamora)

Photo of the Day

Spotted by Elizabeth Grimes in New York City - how on earth does this pianist get his lovely Yamaha grand to and from Washington Square Park every day in order to play on the street?

BTW Elizabeth's blog (+Facebook page) is really, really worth a look. She's a freelance pianist whose blog looks at one magical and unique moment every day.

Photo of the Day

Spotted in Spring Valley, NY. I couldn't have said it better.

Piano Toilet

Image from briancolella

What better attraction to find at a sewage treatment plant than a piano-shaped bathroom building...

Picture of the Day

(Image from the Austin Play Me I'm Yours installation by Ed Yourdon)

Infographic: The Costs and Returns of the World's Theater Business

Have you ever wondered just how much a successful Broadway show can make in a given week? This infographic lays out the stakes for the global theater business in places such as New York, Las Vegas, and London. Risky, but with lots of potential and plenty of jobs for those in the arts when a show hits its stride.


Infographic by: bestshowticketslasvegas.com

Adjudicating (and Eating) in Edmonton

View from the hotel balcony

In case you're wondering why I haven't posted since the Easter break, it's because I've been adjudicating piano classes at the Edmonton Kiwanis Festival. This has been a fascinating week, and I've heard a lot of fine young pianists with lots of promise. But what made adjudicating so special this time around is that for nearly all the Grades 4-6 classes that I judged, the pianists had new and interesting repertoire. Very rarely did I hear the same piece twice, and I think that this variety of repertoire reflected well on both the teachers (who showed inventiveness and creativity in choosing unique rep) and students (who were inspired by some truly fine music).

Then again, I wasn't thinking about music for the entire time - here are photos from some of the places I managed to visit in the last few days.

Waterpark at West Edmonton Mall

Pirate ship at West Edmonton Mall

Wiener Schnitzel at Bistro Praha

Croque-monsieur at Queen of Tarts

Carrot cake at Queen of Tarts

Picture of the Day

A great bokeh shot by olvych on Flickr.

Outback piano

From merewetheroz on Flickr, just the type of piano you might expect to meet while hiking the Australian outback...