What Makes a Piano Truly Great?
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- čas přidán 9. 09. 2024
- livingpianos.c...
Welcome to LivingPianos.com, I'm Robert Estrin. Today's question is: What makes a piano great? I have come across thousands of pianos in my life. I literally grew up with pianos. We had four pianos in our home growing up because my father, Morton Estrin, was a concert pianist and a Baldwin artist at that. We had three Baldwins at one time, a Steinway, a Sohmer; we had different pianos at different times, but I grew up with all of those pianos. I got to try out my dad's pianos before recitals at Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall. During his recording sessions, whenever he took breaks, I'd play these magnificent instruments that were prepared to such a high level.
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1:25 "You're better off with a piano and no lessons than with lessons and no piano." -I completely agree!
I learned on my own in college, without lessons, because there were pianos all around the entire campus. Those were the days!
Last year, I bought a slightly used Yamaha baby grand (GB1K). I tried your test using the same keys you used to check it’s ability to sustain the note and was relieved that my little baby grand was able to sustain the sound as long as the piano you were using did. Whew!
Robert, I am always learning something new from you.
I've learned so much from this gentleman!
Another great video thanks.
Great stuff Robert! I feel like you made this one just for me. My 85 year old father and I are enjoying your channel greatly. Cheers and kudos from California! Love the b-roll and graphics. Keep going!
My video editor Chris is amazing!
Listening to Mozart’s operas provides good references for tempos on playing his instrumental works, which has a “singing” quality to them.
Robert I think I'm making room for another grand from You......Your the Maestro🎻
What a nice story, thanks for sharing.
You"re a master both on playing and on picking piano.
Absolutely great Robert. Love it.
This was me when I started lessons again!
Thank you!
Fascinating.
if you dont mind I would really like your help identifying a specific type of voicing that i am looking for in a piano? . I am trying to find out what is the "sound" of Tigran hamisayan and what to look for to find this style of piano?.. . . I would personally describe as an airy and seemingly full of what seems to be a dissonance induced stereo chorus effect, i suppose this is caused by strong sustained and over lapping harmonics of the strings giving it a phased, flange effect. . im in love with this beautiful and airy sound and find it mesmerizing. This video helped alot in understanding the importance of the sustain and this seems to be a big part of it but I not sure if great sustain is alone is what provide this gorgeous voicing . but more importantly what design features [brand, woods, sizes, actions etc] are attributed to creating this gorgeous sound and how to find what im looking for on the used online market to achieve this sound . . . . Here is an perfect example of exactly the sound I am referring to and is a absolutely gorgeous song by Tigran
czcams.com/video/PSgPYBn4yyE/video.html
. i would really appreciate your help on this it and it might even make a great video as Tigran is pretty popular, however as popular as he is i can find no info on his "style of piano" style of voiceing and the pianos he prefers. . ,so having a video on on Him and the description of what creates this sound my prove to be a pretty popular video, either way , as a novice in piano construction and types I would be forever appreciative your expertise on this matter :
This is an another exemplary example of this gorgeous style of voicing I am referring, it is such beautiful light and airy sound, and you can really hear the dissonant induced chorus like sound that i was referring to , you can especially hear it in the beginning and ending of the song, arround 1 min and 5-6min , It is absolutely transcending for me to listen to , no matter how many times i listen to it it is mesmerizing . I really wish to find this sound so i feel this sound feeling when i play at home
czcams.com/video/Shxly0YxuOM/video.html
This another song from him on the same piano
czcams.com/video/Mgzk5E8O9JI/video.html
As a jazz pianist whose seen a ton of your videos, what made your dad so partial to Baldwin?
I may sound weird, but is there any piano that is made with parts that replace animal by-products? Like with substitutes for wool felt, leather and shellac?
Even digital ones have felt parts.
Unfortunately it doesn't exist, for a reason. Baldwin for example tried to be innovative and use "synthetic" hammer butt and backstops in the 70s and 80s on some pianos, instead of leather. Guess what happened: Major disaster . The Corfam (leather substitute) hardened to a hard plastic and HAS be replaced with leather. This is a $500+ job easy, it not double that.
Go buy a 1980 Baldwin Hamilton. See how you enjoy playing the clicking and hard action feel.
Luckily Baldwin stopped this experiment in 1983 or so. Im in the piano business, and I specifically avoid Baldwin's of late 70s to early 80s as they are unsellable unless the Corfam is replaced with real leather.
On the other hand, I've seen real leather backstops on 100 + year old pianos that is still are in good condition.
My point is that you wouldn't want a piano with synthetic parts. Pianos are complex instruments, and the building hasn't really changed in hundreds of years, for a reason.
Robert, I’ve got a Boston 6’ 4” grand (give or take an inch or two), whose primary value is in the fact that Steinway will take its purchase price off a new or used (I think) Steinway when I’m able to trade up. Let’s just say it’s light years better than what I had before - a Baldwin studio spinet. I’ve tuned it twice since I’ve had it, but I touch up notes as they need it. The entire piano holds a tuning just great; it’s easy to get the strings in tune, and they hold it a long time... with ONE EXCEPTION. G5 keeps dropping. It’s the middle string of G5. It just won’t stay put.
So here’s my question for you: can a single string that keeps dropping be fixed? Can I fix it so that it grabs that tuning block and hold its place? Or once a peg won’t stay put, is it ruined? Seems a waste of a decent piano if it can’t be fixed. Thanks, Robert. Your videos have been very helpful to me! I live in the plains of southwest Oklahoma, where there probably isn’t a piano teacher within a 100 miles who can teach Scriabin, Bach, Chopin, Debussy and Brahms - with whom I spend about 90% of my practice time. Videos like yours are my only input from teachers. Thanks again!
Does one dare tap on the “loose” peg with a rubber hammer or something? Would that help it to stay put? Or would I just be making it worse over time? Maybe it’s time to trade up to that Steinway. (Can you loan me about 40 Grand? 🙀)
Get a piano technician out there! I do all kinds of maintenance myself on my piano but I would opt for a professional to fix this.
What has your tuner said about this issue? Lol. Shouldn't you be asking the person tuning and servicing this piano?
There are quite a few fixes available.
How much is string gauge taken into consideration when building or rebuilding a piano? I'm a guitarist & I've noticed using thinner strings on electrics & acoustics really helps with sustain but you do loose some of the fundamental.
It's essential to use the string gauge that is specified for the specific piano since this is a fundamental part of the scale design.
Hey Robert, I've a quick question. I just acquired a 1943 Baldwin with "gritty" (dirty) keys. I think the white keys may be ivory. What is a safe way to clean these up?
This should help you! livingpianos.com/how-to-clean-piano-keys/
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I am surprised that you nowhere in this video used the word keyboard, which to me is a great substitute while not owning a real piano.
Keyboards are not great substitutes unfortunately. They are OK, but not great substitutes.