Enjoy this video from one of our Richmond area customers. This was a Jordan Kitt’s Music piano rebuild as a Christmas day surprise….
A holiday piano surprise
Leave a reply
The benefits of learning on a Digital Piano…
(via Roland)
The piano can excite, move, and inspire; whether you’re playing Chopin’s Scherzos or the intro to “Clocks” by Coldplay. The only obstacles are learning how to play in the first place and practicing enough to play well. Enlisting a qualified piano teacher gives you a strong start in establishing good techniques and avoiding bad habits. Digital pianos can make learning more enjoyable.
The Benefits of Learning on a Digital Piano
The benefits of learning on a digital piano are significant. Below we discuss some of the standout features that make a digital piano the perfect fit for most homes.
Before we begin, note that a modern digital piano is designed to accurately simulate an acoustic piano. Instead of hammers and strings, there are strategically-positioned speakers which produce a convincing and organic piano sound. Weighted keys recreate the feel of an acoustic keyboard for realistic playing experience. Also, the ability to change the sounds keeps learning varied and interesting. Some digital pianos even let you create your sounds to suit your taste.
Practice in Peace with Headphones
Most digital pianos let you plug in headphones. This can benefit both the learner and the people they live with. As well as avoiding distraction, headphones can block noise nuisance leaving you free to concentrate on private practice. Twin headphone sockets allow students and teachers to listen closely, spotting mistakes more accurately.
Develop your Sense of Rhythm with a Metronome
Timing is essential to playing the piano well. This is often an issue for beginners as they are still developing muscle and mental memory. It is useful to slow down or speed up depending on the level of difficulty.
Metronomes help develop your rhythmic and timekeeping skills. For instance, you can flick between settings and tempos on the metronome and slow pieces down to learn and master them. They can also be useful for more advanced time signatures.
Record and Listen to Your Performance
Recording your performance helps analyze exactly what’s going on in your playing. This will help identify your strengths and weaknesses. Digital pianos allow you to play back, perfect, and pick out any problems, nipping bad habits in the bud before they become ingrained.
Listening back to a recording can resolve issues with timing and performance. If you have a good memory, but struggle to read music, you can learn a piece by ear and study the music while listening back to your recording.
A digital piano allows you to transfer your performance to a computer, edit it, and print out a score. This allows others to read and play it too. Sheet music is useful if you’re interested in composition. You can quickly record ideas as they come to you.
Keep Practice interesting with Different Sounds
One of the benefits of learning on a digital piano is the variety of sounds available. For example, there are typically five to 10 types of piano, electric pianos from the ’70s and ’80s, strings, harpsichord, church, and electronic organs. Some even have synth sounds for even greater versatility.
It’s great to be able to learn Scarlatti pieces using a convincing harpsichord sound. A change in tone can inspire you and help recapture the passion if those fingering drills are becoming tiresome. Younger children also love experimenting and mixing sounds to make learning more exciting.
Use Apps to Improve Ability
A key advantage of learning on a digital piano is the access to online apps. Apps can help liven up practice and improve your playing. For example, Apps for sight-reading skills ask the pianist to identify written notes. Flashcard-style apps help with understanding music theory. Aural training apps develop abilities such as listening for particular scales or intervals.
A tablet device is particularly useful here as it allows quick access to electronically stored sheet music. When linked to your digital piano, some apps display a piece of music and listen to you play, before moving to the next page when you reach the last bar. Kids apps include fun games to learn a song, play together or freestyle to make practicing a pleasure rather than a chore.
Set Time Aside to Practice
It’s always difficult to learning something new. So, it’s crucial to put in dedicated time and effort. Just 20 minutes of piano practice a few days a week can help develop your skills and techniques. If you’re struggling with motivation, playing with others—even making mistakes together—is a great way to stay motivated. Digital pianos are packed with features that maximize your practice. You’ll achieve more in a shorter time.
Taking the Next Step
Learning the piano involves dedication and discipline. However, once mastered, the rewards are endless. A digital piano can offer a variety of sounds, useful practice features, and integration with the latest apps. Most importantly, you’ll get all of this without the worry about ongoing tuning and maintenance costs.
Digital Piano Advantages
- Maintenance-Free: A digital piano doesn’t use hammers and strings to produce a sound so no tuning is required
- Headphone Support: Practice any time of day, perfect your performance, and keep the neighbors happy
- Touch and Sound Quality: Speakers are strategically positioned to recreate an acoustic piano sound
- Record and Edit: A useful way to analyze your performance
- Built-in Metronome: Helps develop rhythmic ability
- App Integration: Helps develop ability and performance skills, keep you motivated and make learning fun for kids
Making music helps thinking and memory
New research suggests making music actively may improve cognitive impairment. MesquitaFMS/Getty Images
- Research suggests that music may be of benefit to older adults with cognitive impairment.
- Existing studies encompass both listening to and active participation in music, which is the focus of a new study from the University of Pittsburgh (Pitt), PA.
- The new study is a meta-analysis of earlier research.
Previous research has suggested that music in general may be able to improve the quality of life of older adults with dementia.
A new study from Pitt seeks to identify the benefits of active participation in music versus passive participation, that is, listening to music. It is a meta-analysis of 21 previous studies involving 1,472 individuals.
The new study finds making music delivers a small but significant positive effect in people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia.
The researchers also found that music improved quality of life and mood for the same people.
The study describes MCI as “a preclinical state between normal cognitive aging and Alzheimer’s disease” that affects 15% of older adults who do not have Alzheimer’s. Of these people, however, 38% will eventually develop it.
The study’s lead author, Jennie L. Dorris of Pitt, said:
“We are excited to see these results because participating in music, like singing in a choir or playing in a drum circle, is a safe, engaging activity that our research demonstrates can support cognition at a critical time for older adults facing cognitive decline.”
Read more here…
Music study on the neuroscience of imagination
“Amazing Grace.” Johann Pachelbel’s “Canon in D Major.” “Baby Shark.” The songs have one thing in common: They’re all instantly recognizable.
They are so recognizable that you can likely “hear” when you think about them — even when you’re sitting in silence. But what’s happening in your brain when you imagine them? What about the moments of silence between notes of music? What’s happening in your brain then?
These questions have long perplexed scientists. However, a pair of studies published Monday in the Journal of Neuroscience has, in an unprecedented way, finally illuminated the auditory-imagination process.
These findings point to a better understanding of the neural processes involved in “the music of silence,” and give a more precise picture of the neuroscience of imagination. Ultimately, music is more than a sensory experience: Our brain attempts to predict notes even when no music is playing.
Co-author Giovanni Di Liberto, a researcher and Assistant Professor at Trinity College Dublin tells Inverse this study also serves as “a new method to study imagination.”
“The brain tries to predict upcoming music events,” Di Liberto says. “That same predictive process is, in my opinion, related to what we experience as imagination.”
What you need to know first — Central to the study is the concept of “melodic expectations.”
Our brains are very good at learning patterns and using that information to make predictions about what might happen next. For example, if you’re driving and see another car weaving dangerously in and out of traffic, you might instinctively give that car a wide berth, knowing that they could abruptly change lanes or brake unexpectedly.
The same process of recognizing patterns occurs when we listen to music, explains Di Liberto.
See worldwide concert artist Nikita Fitenko perform on the Bösendorfer Appassionata
The Bösendorfer Appassionata Grand Piano is the most unique, handcrafted piano in the world.
Now you can watch Dr. Nikita Fitenko, International Performing Artist & Artistic Director of the Washington International Piano Competition, put this one-of-a-kind piano through its paces during a unique performance event held at the Jordan Kitt’s Music Premium Piano Salon.
For more information about the Appassionata piano, visit here!
Piano Self-accompaniment Tips for Singer-Songwriters
Backing yourself up as a singer can be a daunting task. Here are a few strategies to help improve self-accompaniment skills. Photos of Jordan West by Oscar Genel
Accompanying yourself as a singer can be a daunting task. The main challenge is dividing your focus between playing and singing. The secondary challenge is to keep the performance interesting and engaging for the listener. In this article, I’m going to share a few strategies that helped me improve my self-accompaniment skills.
Practice Scales in All Keys
Running through major and natural minor scales is a great place to start. At the beginning of each practice session, play major and natural minor scales in every key. For added benefit, try practicing with a metronome in different tempos.
This is a great exercise to warm up your fingers, boost your muscle memory, and improve ear training. It will also help you pay attention to rhythmic flow. Once you feel comfortable doing so, try practicing without looking at the piano.
It’s worth noting here that apps like the Roland Piano Partner 2, which you can use with your Roland digital piano, make this particular task extremely easy.
Start with Simple Grooves
A great place to begin is with simple grooves using the left hand. There are so many grooves you can play. But simple whole note, half note, and quarter note variations are standard in most accompaniments—especially ballads.
As you get used to playing standard rhythmic patterns in time, start incorporating different combinations into your routine. For example, you can play quarter notes with your left hand, while you’re playing whole notes with your right hand.
Roots, Power Chords, and Octaves
Try using your left hand to play root notes, power chords, and octaves. In most cases, you’ll feel inclined to play the root and the fifth degree of each chord more than anything else. This is especially common in genres such as pop and folk. But even for jazz and R&B pianists, it’s a solid starting point.
“By changing the order of notes, you can express different colors and emotions.”
Inverted Chords
You can also add variations by playing inverted chords with your right hand. Most piano players who are self-taught learn chords online and assume that there’s only one way to play them. But by simply changing the order of the notes, you can express different colors and emotions.
For instance, there are three ways you can play a C major chord: root position, first inversion, and second inversion. Likewise, there are four ways you can play a C major seventh chord, with the added third inversion option.
The more you practice playing inverted chords, the better. In situations where you want to improvise on the spot, you can rely on inversions to avoid panicking about playing the wrong note.
Incorporating Arpeggios
Arpeggios can save a performance from becoming stagnant. In fact, well-placed arpeggios will bring rhythmic excitement to almost any piece of music. Instead of playing the chord tones altogether, play them one by one, in the order and rhythm of your choosing.
Read the full article here
Or find out more about Roland solutions for Singer-Songwriters here!
The world premiere of the Bösendorfer Beethoven Appassionata player grand piano!
Jordan Kitt’s Music was the proud recipient of the one-of-a-kind Beethoven Appassionata grand, handcrafted by Bösendorfer in Vienna, Austria.
The piano was recently unboxed at the Jordan Kitt’s Music Warehouse and Distribution Center in Rockville, Maryland, and was just delivered to the Premium Piano Salon in Fairfax, Virginia while a crowd of customers, students and teachers looked on and were treated to a premiere performance by Yamaha Artist Nikita Fitenko.
This unique instrument will be involved in some unique upcoming performances at major area institutions (to be announced soon) but will reside in the meantime as the centerpiece of the Jordan Kitt’s Premium Piano Salon, a unique room dedicated exclusively to concert grade pianos from around the world.
To learn more about this piano, or for more information if you’re interested in acquiring this one-of-a-kind melding of music and art, visit here today!
The Summer Jordan Kitt’s Music School Education Newsletter is here!
Download the Jordan Kitt’s Music School Summer Education Newsletter here to get news, information and updates on metropolitan DC’s oldest and most trusted home of piano lessons!
or
A behind-the-scenes look at the arrival and unboxing of the Bösendorfer Appassionata Piano!
The Bösendorfer Appassionata has arrived from Vienna, Austria, and here is a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the unboxing of this unique combination of instrument & art.
This grand piano is the one-of-a-kind, and is designated as “#23” in reference to Beethoven’s beloved Sonata. It also features the high resolution Disklavier player/recording system. Find out more about the details of the piano here.
Or join us on Friday as we bring this amazing instrument to the Premium Piano Salon at Jordan Kitt’s Music in Fairfax (RSVP Here!).
“Appassionata”
Jordan Kitt’s Music is proud to offer a one-of-a-kind world exclusive, coming soon to Jordan Kitt’s Music: The Bosendorfer “Appassionata”.
This unique instrument celebrates the 250th Anniversary of Ludwig Van Beethoven’s birth, designated number 23 for his 23rd Sonata, the famous “Appassionata”.
Hand crafted in Vienna, Austria using the platform of Bosendorfer’s famous model 214VC piano, this amazing combination of instrument & art offers shimmering mother-of-pearl adornments of the famous composer, chrome fittings, inlaid musical scoring on the inner lid and a silver frame.
Also, it is the only special edition piano to include the extraordinary Disklavier high-resolution player and recording system. Numerous other exclusive features and artistic elements combine to make this instrument completely unique.
If you are interested in acquiring this one-of-a-kind piano, there will only be one opportunity in a lifetime. Register here for more information and updates on its imminent arrival at our Premium Piano Showroom…