Piano

Every parent wants their child to master one instrument at least. The piano is one of the most popular choices. However, before you purchase anything for your young one, it is important that you gauge his or her level of interest first and try to determine if this is truly the instrument your kid prefers. Pianos can be very expensive. Knowing the different types and progressing through the different brand can be quite helpful. Here are some tips.

Introducing the Piano

Introduce the piano to your child by browsing the internet or showing him pictures in books. It will be best if you can visit someone who has a piano or try to observe different kinds in a music shop. The piano is a musical instrument that is generally played through a keyboard. The piano can be used for solo performances, chamber music and accompaniment. The piano is very versatile, making it one of the most popular musical instruments worldwide.

If you press a key on the keyboard of the piano, you will trigger a felt covered hammer to hit the steel strings. The hammers will rebound, thereby letting the strings vibrate at their resonant frequency. The vibrations will be passed on via a bridge to a sounding board, together with the acoustic energy in the air. Pianos are categorized as both a string and percussion instrument.

Two Modern types

Modern pianos are divided into two types, namely the grand piano and the upright piano. Grand pianos are characterized by its horizontal frame and strings. The strings tend to extend away from the keyboard. There are different sizes of grand piano. The concert grand spans 2.2 to 3 meters long. The parlor grand or boudoir grand spans 1.7 to 2.2 meters long. The baby grand piano is considerably smaller.

Long pianos with longer strings have bigger and richer sound. The inharmonicity or the degree of frequencies of overtones also tends to be lower, as far as the strings are concerned. Pianos with short and stiff strings like baby grand pianos also have more inharmonicity. The longer strings can vibrate more freely compared to the shorter strings.

About the Upright Piano

Upright pianos are also known as vertical pianos, characterized by their vertical frame and strings. The hammers tend to move horizontally and will return to the original resting place by springs prone to wear and tear. Upright pianos with tall frames and long strings are called upright grand pianos. Modern pianos may be classified by authors based on their height.

Studio pianos are about 42 to 45 inches tall. Console pianos have compact action because of shorter hammers. Anything that is taller than a studio piano is referred to as an upright.

Gauging Differences

Digital pianos are electronic instruments made to sound just like an acoustic piano. These have no hammers, soundboard and strings, however. Electronic speakers and circuits replace the original parts. If your child wants a digital piano, you can introduce its features such as having various kinds of piano sounds such as organ and harpsichord, having instrument sounds like percussion and flute and having the ability to record your performance or work with other electronic instruments or music. Digital pianos are portable, easy to carry and do not need to be tuned.

Investing in a Piano

If your child wants a piano, it may be wiser to set a certain budget, so you do not overspend. Some grand pianos can cost as much as $10,000 or more. There are also cheaper models, with fairly decent sound. The most important thing is that you get a good tuning serviceman who will set the piano right. You may also think about getting a digital version instead at first. Your kid might find it more interactive, fun and easy to learn. After a few years, you can replace the electronic device with a real classic piano.

About Brands

There are several popular brands of piano available. Each of these will have different prices determine by factors like kind of wood used, country of origin and other parts used in the entire instrument. You can visit different shops and consult an expert to make the perfect choice. You can also start browsing the web for the available options.