A PIANO LESSON
by Erica vanderLinde Feidner
So You’re Thinking of Purchasing a Fine Piano….
10 Essential Points to Consider:
1. Piano Education: An Education for Life
The benefits of playing the piano are well known. Playing the piano enhances
sensitivity, self-discipline, patience, coordination, abstract reasoning skills,
and the ability to memorize and concentrate. Much like making the choice of
which school to attend, the purchase of a fine piano is essentially an
investment in musical education.
2. Why Buy a “Fine” Piano?
Starting out with a fine piano makes the most sense. Progress is fostered best
by an instrument that is inspiring, which will in turn motivate any player at
any level to visit the piano more often. The better the quality of the piano,
the better the sound; the better the sound, the better the likelihood that the
player can and will realize their full potential.
3. What Level of Excellence?
Buy the very best piano you can afford. In addition to the musical benefits a
fine piano offers, industry standards indicate that fine pianos hold their value
much better than poor or average pianos. In addition, well-known brands of fine
quality sell much more quickly than pianos of lesser known brands and those of
lesser quality.
4. The Pitfalls of a Poor or Average Piano
A poor piano can be both discouraging to the player as well as a questionable
investment for the purchaser. A poor piano can inhibit or even inappropriately
misdirect the piano player toward a less-than-favorable technique. More
importantly, becoming familiar with the sound of a poor or average piano can be
detrimental to the development of the player’s listening ear, even ~and
especially~ at the beginning of learning to listen.
5. Music Makes You Smarter!
A fine piano encourages playing, playing more and playing more often. The sooner
you acquire a fine piano, the sooner you will enjoy its pleasures. Scores of
articles demonstrate the benefits of music education - such as improved spatial
intelligence and improved ability to perform types of reasoning required for
science and math. In fact, it has been demonstrated that playing music exercises
more brain functions at one time than most other activities.
6. The Basics
The buyer should take into consideration the style, size, sound, touch and price
range of their potential purchase.
A. Style: Would you prefer a traditional or period style piano? Is black
or a wood finish more in keeping with the décor of the room in which it will
rest? Is a shiny or a satin finish more appropriate?
B. Size: Should you consider a grand piano or a vertical piano? To
maximize tonal quality and harmonic richness, choose the largest piano you can
accommodate. A vertical piano requires significant wall space, whereas a grand
piano has more flexibility vis-à-vis placement. A vertical piano projects sound
against the wall, whereas the sound of a grand piano resonates into the room.
Most importantly, the geometry of the action mechanism in a grand piano has the
critical benefit of gravity on its side, providing a much more responsive touch
than a vertical piano.
C. Sound: No two pianos sound alike – even if they are identical in age,
size, style, finish, price and make. Each and every piano ~even within each
brand~ has its own special characteristics. Most pianos are constructed of a
minimum of 85% wood – an organic material. Have you ever seen two trees of the
same species that look exactly the same?? Of course not. And so each piano –
handmade or otherwise - will sound different. Preference for certain kinds of
sound stems from past experiences, expectations, and the type of music you play
or listen to. Not all pianos are created equal in sound and touch. Rather, each
piano is “born” with its own set of DNA.
D. Touch: Each and every piano also feels different. Preference is a
matter of “fit.” Perhaps you want the touch to be free and easy, so you can sit
down and play without much effort. Then again, perhaps you are one who prepares
for performances and wants the feeling of strengthening the fingers. Although
the touch (action) can be customized somewhat, there is a limit to how far you
can go.
7. Trying Them Out: The Real Fun Begins!
Once the parameters of size, finish, style, sound, touch and price have been
approximated with the guidance of a knowledgeable consultant, the real adventure
of selecting your perfect piano begins.
8. Communication
Is it magic? How does piano consultant Erica vanderLinde Feidner understand and
translate the rhythm of her clients’ lives so quickly and so clearly, to find
the piano that is the musical equivalent of their soul mate? Having grown up in
a home with 26 pianos, Erica understood that every piano, like every person,
possesses different traits. Trained as both a pianist and a teacher, she’s able
to speak the language of a professional as easily as she understands the needs
of the amateur – even the beginner. The key is to find the right match between
player and piano, hence the name of her business, “Piano Matchmaker LLC.”
9. The Value in Hiring the “Piano Matchmaker”
Perhaps you are new to the idea of selecting the perfect fine piano for your
family. A trusted guide assisting you through the piano matchmaking process can
minimize your time, price and concerns during the process, and can even make
choosing a fine piano a marvelous and memorable experience ~ as it should be!!
10. Erica’s Qualifications
Erica has captured unprecedented national and international press coverage for
her work. She was the subject of a feature story by Pulitzer prize-winning
journalist James B. Stewart in The New Yorker Magazine, was the cover shot on
Inc. Magazine with an accompanying feature story in 2002, was featured in the
new book “Achieving Sales Excellence” by Stevens and Kinni, along with
appearances in the NY Post, Forbes Magazine, Smart Money Magazine, The Music
Trades Magazine, Westport News, among others. Television appearances include
A&E, NHK, The Hallmark Channel, The Genuine Article, and CNN.
Erica assists clients in the selection of fine pianos such as Bosendorfer,
Fazioli, Bluthner, and Steinway & Sons, among others. She can be reached at
(203)644-9197.
Printed by Brooks Community Newspapers, "Home & Garden", April
2007