Posted on November 22nd, 2019 by Sascha Ehrentraut
Planning a wedding can both be exhilirating and terrifying. So many things to consider, from the decor to the food, invitations, themes and venues, just as soon as you have thought of one thing, a million new options and questions arise! It can become quite daunting fast, and often you may find yourself loosing sight of the most important aspect of having a wedding in the first place: a celebration of love with family and friends!
So simplify things for yourself. Hire a planner, or get a wedding binder filled with useful lists and tips; it’s smart way to plan your wedding yourself. Slowly but surely check off all the items systematically! If you are brave enough perhaps you are even considering a destination wedding, and this comes with it’s own unique points to consider! How do you find all the vendors for each aspect of your wedding? Especially the things you need only on the wedding day, like flowers or music!
If you are doing all the planning alone or with help from friends and family, the internet is your best friend. Forage through sites like Pinterest, or better yet, use the suggested follow option on Instagram to source local vendors, trust me, there are plenty listed. If you don’t know the local lingo, use apps like google translate to help you translate hashtags so that you can search in the language of the country of your choice! Now you can find local help to source your flores y musica!
At Shine Instrument Rental we have helped dozens of brides and grooms and even international wedding planners with making sure they have the right instruments available and ready for the musicians at the wedding. So the bridal couples dreams of walking down the aisle to acoustic guitar strumming or even flamenco can be realized! Everyone needs music at their wedding, and having it performed live just makes it that bit extra special. Renting instruments is a far easier and economic option for weddings, which are once-off events! You don’t have to worry about difficult flights lugging a guitar or even a piano around, when Shine Instrument Rental instruments can be delivered right to your venue.
Hiring instruments in Barcelona and the rest of Spain has never been quite as easy as this, you can relax knowing that you have checked off an important item on your list. Enjoy a beautiful wedding while listening to your favourite classics or dancing the night away to a live band! Not only will your guests or clients be thrilled with the attention to detail, but instruments make a beautiful addtion to any photoshoot, why not include them in the wedding photos and make a unique collection of memories to last a life time!
Posted in Rental Tips & Advice, Weddings |
No Comments
Posted on November 5th, 2019 by Sascha Ehrentraut
The guitar is undoubtley the most popular and widespread of instruments today. If you sit back and think about your favorite music or musicians, it’s likely that the sounds of the guitar feature somewhere in there. It’s portable, flexible and with technology today, the guitar has made leaps and bounds; it has been used in music from heavy metal all the way through to rap and electronic music. It’s interesting to note that this was not always the case, with other instruments, such as the piano once being the instrument of choice for families across the world. The guitar has streaked to the forefront however, with musicians spanning all genres of music making it accessable to pretty much everyone. You can find guitar players in concert halls performing classic pieces, and on the streets jamming on home-made insruments.
The guitar’s first iteration dates back to around 3000 years, with guitar like instruments first documented in Persia as well as Egypt. It makes sense then that the instrument came to Europe via Spain, gradually being perfected over time, into the instrument we love now.
In Seville a carpenter named Antonio de Torres Jurado is now considered the father of the modern guitar, the classical acoustic guitar. Torres perfected the symmetrical design of the guitar we are familiar with today. He increased the guitars volume by making them larger, and outfitted them with thinner and lighter soundboards which arched in both directions. This was created by using a connection of bracing struts in a kite shape. The new system worked so well and was so superior to that which was being built at the time, that everyone followed suit, first in Spain and then in the rest of the world. Curiosly you can find a guitar that Torres made with a papier-mache back and sides in Barcelona at the Museum of Music, which is still playable today.
Up until the 1930s guitars were all made of wood, with hollow bodies, which helped to create their unique sound, when the guitarist plucked the strings across it. This changed with the invention of the electric guitar in the United States of America. Now the guitar’s sound was able to be produced electronically through pick ups and amplifier. With this new found flexibility, the guitar could be made from a wide range of materials, as well as in myriad shapes. BB King is considered to be the pioner of the electric guitar, and with this new dynamic edition to the family, the guitars popularity was cemented in history.
The Beginners Guide to Guitar
Today the guitar features heavily in most music, and is a well loved string instrument the world over. It works well played on its own or as part of an ensemble or band.
Whether you’re young or old, there’s no better feeling than learning to play an instrument. While many try their hand at learning the guitar, beginners often give up after only a couple of tries, as the guitar can be deceptively difficult to learn. However with a little perseverance, players can pick up some tricks and with the help of a teacher or some online tutorials, its not long before you can play your favorite song. Don’t begin to think that you are too old or have no time to study the guitar, its a well known fact that learning an instrument at any age is possible and even has many health benefits to boot! So keep your brain active and begin a new hobby that you can enjoy with your friends.
Choosing a Guitar
While deciding to learn to play is the easiest step, how do you know which guitar to choose? Your local music store should have an expert who can help you choose the right instrument for the type of music you want to play, be it a classical spanish guitar for flamenco, or an acoustic guitar for some pop or folk music at your next campfire sing-along. They will be able to guide your choice. If you have signed up for lessons, your teacher will also no doubt be able to help aide you in choosing the right guitar.
In general however, acoustic guitars are usually the most popular choice for beginners. They dont require extra equipment like an amp or cables, and they can be played quite softly at home, or louder when needed. Classical guitars have wider necks and for those with smaller hands, these might be just that much more tricky to reach all the notes if you are just starting out. Don’t worry though, if you begin with an acoustic guitar, you can always change later once you are more advanced. And if you are still unsure, you can even rent guitars. While a rental guitar may not be the best quality, it offers a great opportunity to get a feel for the instrument and offers you the opportunity to try various kinds or brands, before you invest in your own.
Need some Tricks up your Sleeve?
As with any new hobby, it may be difficult at first, but the more you practice, the more rewarding it becomes. Perhaps you will be come the next Jimi Hendrix, one of the most famous guitarists in the world, or invent a new kind of guitar. You may even make guitar history and own a famous guitar from one of the top brands such as Fender or Stratocaster, like the Eric Clapton’s “Blackie” Stratocaster which sold for $959,500 in 2004.
A few tricks and tips can get you off to a great start. Ever heard of the famous 3 Chords Trick or the viral hit “Four Chords” by Axis of Awesome? Well it’s true, with a little knowledge and practice you could both be performing and even writing your own hits. What many musicians discover is that the chords or notes of each key go very well with each other, and playing them together makes a good tune. This is the perfect trick for a beginner. Being able to play not only one song, but a bunch, just after learning a few chords, is a great confidence booster, and it will inspire you to keep practicing, adding more and more knowledge and songs to your reportoire!
There’s nothing you can’t find online!
All guitarists both beginner and advanced can find information, chords, tips, techniques, tutorials and tabs on the internet. There is a vast array of free info for guitarists and a large community sharing stories and videos about their favorite instrument. So without further ado, get out there and you too can be playing like a pro! If you like you can even sign up for online lessons, so there really is no reason not to start playing straight away! Guitar can become a very enjoyable part of your life, and a huge benefit to your health too!
Posted in Instrument Guides, Music Education & Learning |
No Comments
Posted on May 30th, 2019 by Sascha Ehrentraut
Music, whether it’s just listening on your headphones or with friends and family to actually playing or practicing your instrument, can change your perception of the world! Both literally and figuratively! Science has long proven the benefits of both playing music, and listening to it. It has restorative powers, can sooth the soul or get you fired up! Playing an instrument improves concentration, develops your brain and helps with a slew of other important social skills. Dive in, and learn how you can see the world in a completely new light with the help of music!
Music changes your perception:
Music is not only able to affect your mood – listening to happy or sad music can even change the way we see the world
Music heals:
Chronic pain and depression can be alleviated by listening to music. Even your heartbeat adjusts a little to the sound you are hearing
Music makes you smart:
Studying music can improve cognition and enhance learning and memory
Music makes your brain strong:
The pet of your brain that deals with language and reason also deals with music, actively using this part of your brain while playing an instrument helps to develop these skills. Studying music physically changes your brain, and playing an instrument is a workout for your whole brain.
Music for kids:
Learning and playing an instrument develops a child’s imagination and intellectual curiosity.
Musical performance:
Plants grow faster, cows produce more milk, and you can run faster, all when listening to music.
Musical origins:
The word music comes from the ancient “Muses”, goddesses of the Arts in Greek mythology.
Posted in Music Education & Learning |
No Comments
Posted on November 28th, 2018 by Sascha Ehrentraut
Digital Pianos for the Classic Pianist
After our post about Pianos we wanted to take a deep dive into Digital Pianos.
Digital pianos are electronic keyboards which have been developed to mimic acoustic pianos. Technological advances mean digital pianos now sound and feel (almost) like classical acoustic pianos, but with the convenience of being portable and not requiring fine tuning. Digital Pianos can also easily be amplified for concerts or connected to headphones for playing at home. Digital pianos are usually cheaper than regular acoustic pianos, but their advantages often outweigh the fact that they may not feel or look exactly like an acoustic piano, and they are rapidly becoming the instrument of choice for the modern day classical pianist.
Key considerations for the classical pianist when choosing a Digital Piano.
1: Weighted Keys
Piano keys have a characteristic feel due to the hammer action inside the piano when pressing the keys of the piano, as they strike the strings. This feeling is replicated more or less across different digital pianos using a variety of ways.
1.1 Weighted and semi-weighted actions have a response to make it feel as close as possible to a traditional piano.
1.2 “Hammer action” adds actual mechanical hammers into digital pianos for a realistic feeling. Literally a small hammer imbedded inside to give it the same thud feeling.
1.3 Fully weighted keys are the best as they work relative to the octave of the keys. The lower the octave the heavier the hammer. Known as “graded hammer action”. These types of digital pianos tend to be more expensive.
2: Built-in Sound & Sound Quality
The sound produced by a digital piano and its quality are as good as its components. Speakers are not the only important factor to consider. If a digital pianos speakers are not good, the piano can easily plug into an external speaker system. More important is the way the the sound has been stored digitally.
Listen for the whole tone as well as the tapering off of the sound as you play. It is crucial to consider the polyphony of a digital piano. This is the ability of an electronic keyboard or synthesiser to play a number of notes at the same time. 32-note polyphony is good, but if you want to go to town, ideally make sure you are getting 64-note polyphony or higher which enables you to play more complex pieces.
The current highest polyphony count available is 264. Many digital pianos allow you to play the piano with various timbres – from a grand concert piano to a honky tonk piano.
Most often the sounds that are simulated by the digital piano are created with “sampling”, meaning that each sound played is a recorded sound from an acoustic piano. This method leaves something of the acoustic realness behind, in that each sound is very precise, and sampling does not give much room to the visceral sounds produced by an acoustic piano, or the accumulated reverberations of the strings. However, some top digital piano brands have been developing techniques to compensate for this. Look for pianos with DSP (digital sound processing) which adds even more to the simulated experience of the digital piano with acoustical effects.
3: Weight VS Size VS Presentation
Digital pianos are versatile. Since the sound they produce is all housed within the keyboard body, they can be easy to handle and far smaller than regular acoustic pianos as they do not require the large cases for the strings and hammers. Because of this, a digital piano can easily be placed on a table or stand to be played.
They can fit in a bag and be transported by one person. They can be stored in a cupboard or even under a bed, when not in use. This flexibility means that playing the piano is now far more accessible.
However many digital pianos are available in cases to create the look of an acoustic or grand piano. These offer stability and protection for the piano, however increase its size and also contribute to making it more difficult to transport, once put together.
The exterior look of the piano is greatly dependent on the person playing the piano, or perhaps the situation in which the piano is being played. Certainly, the larger, hard cases that make the digital piano appear as an upright acoustic or concert grand piano have more presence and give a more romantic or classical atmosphere. They may be preferred for use in a professional concert or wedding.
4: Connectivity
Being able to connect to your devices opens up a whole new world for classical pianists. Digital pianos often have MIDI or USB port connections allowing the digital piano to interface with computers and other recording equipment. Some models accept flash memory cards. Being able to record and download ones musical pieces is a huge advantage for many musicians, where otherwise they would need to visit a recording studio which can be time consuming and expensive.
5: Recording Capability
Some pianos allow you to record yourself playing which can be a benefit if you are learning a long difficult piece.
6: Teaching and Learning:
Digital pianos often have built-in exercises, music note displays, lessons, and metronomes which can come in handy for students and teachers. Digital pianos sometimes have two headphone jacks so both a teacher and student work together quietly which can be ideal for lessons given at home or in environments where practising a piano could disturb others.
7: Top Brand and Differences
Today there are myriad companies producing digital pianos, so effectively choosing the right piano for you means knowing a little about each brand and their focus:
Yamaha offer a wide range of quality digital pianos from pianos for beginners to professional digital grand pianos. They are a well known and well respected brand, with good reason. They have been effectively pioneering in instrument technology for years, and are known for their dependable digital pianos.
Kawai are known for focusing on the acoustic sound of their pianos, producing beautifully crafted digital pianos with a focus on digital pianos that carefully mimic the real thing.
Korg focuses on the technological advancement of digital pianos. Working closely with their synthesizers and other digital instruments, they are an innovative brand and their digital pianos attest to this. if you are a DJ or interested more in the recording and musical production side of playing the piano, Korg may have what you are looking for.
Casio digital pianos are without doubt one of the better price for performance products. With a diverse range, you can often find economic pianos with the same or similar details featured on the more expensive brands.
Roland make some of the most technologically advanced stage pianos, their digital pianos are well respected by professional pianists, and their award winning instruments have notable recording and output features.
Our Top 3 Digital Pianos:
Yamaha P-45
The Yamaha P-45 Digital Piano is an incredibly portable piano featuring weighted keys, 10 different sounds, and 64 notes of polyphony. It is a dependable and economic piano with 88 keys, all with touch sensitivity and a graded hammer action. It is a piano well loved by beginners for its simplicity and ease of use.
Made for portability, the lightweight piano is perfect for traveling musicians, as it can be carried by one person, and easily fits into smaller spaces, all the while not detracting from its professional sound. The P-45 is a great entry level piano, with two inbuilt speakers. It may not be suitable for musicians who need a variety of instrument sounds and sound effects to create music, but for the classical piano player, it is a good solid option.
The piano features 2 6W speakers which are perfect for a small room and for practice. When performing in a larger room or space, the piano would need to connect to an external speaker system, however it plays well and its sound does not distort at high volumes. The Yamaha P-45 comes with a number of modes and settings from Dual mode to split mode with a Duet feature which is very helpful in a teacher- student scenario.
The piano includes both transpose and fine tuning which allows you to adjust pitch. An inbuilt metronome helps you to keep pace in your practice playing. The piano does not feature a MIDI function which would allow you to record your pieces, however it can interface with your computer or other devices and the Yamaha P-45 does include a USB port which can be very useful for the musician.
Casio PX160 BK Privia Digital Piano
The Casio PX-160 Digital Piano is a well made full size, 88 key piano. Created specifically for the beginner pianist, it is a quality digital piano with a solid feel and sound. It is well laid out and its simplified form means that it is easy to use, without unnecessary menus or buttons. The keyboard includes a full 128-voice polyphony.
The Casio Px160 is a piano that gives beginners a competent instrument to learn on, maintaining its quality features despite being an economy piano. The piano includes impressive speakers, with even and loud bass, and is true to the Casio brand, giving users a better sound for less money. The keyboard includes sensors in the keys, allowing for better translation of the key motion, resulting in more accurate responses to keys being played. This digital piano also features hammer response, damper noise, and damper resonance, giving the keys an even more realistic and authentic feel and sound.
The keys of the keyboard are created with a synthetic ivory, which mimic acoustic pianos in how they feel under your fingertips, as well as allowing for sweat absorption which makes playing the piano very comfortable. The piano is also fully graded from left to right, which results in a piano playing experience that is more expressive. The piano includes a pair of audio outputs for use with an external speaker system, two stereo mini jacks for headphones, and a MIDI USB for interfacing with a computer, tablet, or other device. 18 different sound options are available with this piano. As well as a slew of other piano sounds from Grand Piano to Organ.
A split and layer function is an added feature, which means you can both split the keyboard into different sounds, as well as layer two together to create a more varied and textural sound. There’s also a built in variable metronome, a duet mode and a key transpose feature that’s very clever and useful for playing along with a singer or other instrumentalist. The Px160 digital piano also has a small range of effects. All in all, a superb quality and popular digital piano for the beginner.
Roland FP30 BK Digital Piano
The Roland FP30 is a stage piano. Created to fulfil the needs of the on-the-go performer or musician. The pianos are built to be robust and sturdy, everything a pianist would require for a live performance and the rigours of set up and installation in different venues. The Roland FP30 Digital piano aims to give a very realistic piano sound but also to be able to play well with other instruments. It’s the perfect band piano. They have powerful internal speakers. Special attention has been given to the weight and feel of the keys which are responsive with a light touch and spring, making the piano playing really fun and in keeping with the pianos role in a live experience.
The Roland FP30 Digital Piano can be a little heavy to carry, but this is due to all its elements being perfectly contained within a strong and durable case, and the extra weight can really be justified in the sound it is able to produce. Roland use their own technology called SuperNATURAL sound which includes dynamic sampling giving their pianos a more authentic sound full of the character of a real piano. As with the Yamaha pianos, The FP30 Digital Piano also carries synthetic ivory keys which feel pleasant to play. Piano, Electric Piano and “Other” sound variations are provided via 3 “tone” buttons and a “Split” button that gives you the ability to perform two different instrumental sounds with the keyboard split down the middle. USB and Bluetooth connections are available.
Final Thoughts Digital Pianos:
With all the important ingredients for producing that unique piano sound cleverly confined within the keyboard, a digital piano can offer a far more flexible musical experience for the pianist. Despite the lack of a huge case, digital pianos don’t scrimp on sound or feel, and if looks are what you are after, many digital pianos can come built into faux cases to mimic the look of both upright acoustic pianos and grand pianos. With the numerous brands available, all with their particular advancements and attention to detail, the classical pianist may find the digital piano fulfils all their needs in this modern age. We can only imagine that as the technology advances, so will the digital piano. For the beginner student or musician who needs to practice on the go, a digital piano can be a vital tool for their musical journey.
Posted in Instrument Guides, Music Education & Learning, Piano, Rental Tips & Advice |
No Comments
Posted on November 8th, 2018 by Sascha Ehrentraut
Free Music Events
Quartet Urània – 8th November
The Quartet Urània performs the Suite of the planets and the Suite of the Dwarf planets, created by Sergi Sirvent. Sirvent is a prolific Catalan musician and composer who, inspired by the planets, has unravelled the essence of each of them through music. The quartet, created specifically for this project, has been part of several orchestras such as the OBC.
Website
Lanz Bass – 22 November
Laura Castanyer, Naomi Ramírez, Zaira Escamilla and Allison Baidal are Lanz Bass. An all female double bass quartet born from the Vozes de Nou Barris project. Its repertoire spans a fusion of different styles, from classic to modern and contemporary. The alternative group plays pop or grunge with a classic twist to surprise and move the audience’s emotions.
Website
Dance party to save the world – Fridays
Dramaturgy and direction: Miguel Ángel Blanca
Performers: Jordi Vilches, María García Vera
Live music: Joan Colomo, Sara Fontán, Edi Pou
Screenings: Guillothina
Dance party to save the world is a journey through history, pop culture and its choreographies. From Lindy Hop to Reguetón, Saturday Night or Lambada. Since the invasion of Poland to the collapse of the Twin Towers, dancing the fall of the Berlin Wall. An experience that combines theater, audiovisual remix, a live concert and a dance contest. Stand up, burn the armchairs!
Barcelona Cultural District
Website
Free Performances
The Little Prince – 9th November
The little prince is a poetic story, the work of the author Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. A pilot is lost in the Sahara desert after his plane suffers a breakdown, but to his surprise, this is where he meets a small prince from another planet. The story has a philosophical theme, which contrasts the view of the complex and materialistic world of adults with that of the little prince.
Dionisis Theater Group.
Friday, November 9 and 16 and Saturday November 10 at 8:00 p.m.
Website
Until stocks last – 9th November
Author and interpretation: Verónica Navas Ramirez
Verònica Navas Ramírez sets out to respond to questions about the relationships between mothers and daughters. How this relationship marks identity, and ways of being. She confronts all these questions in a spectacle that is performed under the guise of a conference.
Barcelona Cultural District
Website
Duromine will effectively reduce your appetite and help to successfully start a weight loss program. However, under no circumstances should you stop observing a low-calorie diet after completion of the drug therapy, if you want to continue losing weight after the abolition of the diet pills.
Posted in Community |
No Comments
Posted on October 26th, 2018 by Sascha Ehrentraut
Where Can You Find An Open Mic Or Jam Session In Barcelona?
This is a question we get asked all the time. And with nearly 30 music teachers from our school, a Music Co-working space and the no 1 Instrument Rental Shop in Barcelona you have come to the right place to find the answer.
The good news is that they do happen and they usually happen on a weekly or monthly basis. The venues, bars or café call them open mic nights (micros abiertos) or live jam sessions. However they are not heavily advertised because the venues are usually intimate and have limited capacity.
Jam sessions Barcelona
Do note that the events are sometimes not just for music. Quite often there are for the “open mics” to be open to all types of performances like comedy, spoken word and more.
This is the definitive list of venues that offer open mic and jam sessions. But wait! Before you dive into the list id like to shamelessly promote our space The Music Room which is a place to play music and practice. Check out the website.
Freedonia
Freedonia Website
Address: Calle Lleialtat, 6, 08001 Raval, Barcelona
Days: Every day except Monday and Tuesday
Bar Zoo
Zoo Website
Address: Carrer de Balmes, 52/B, 08007 Barcelona
Soda Acoustic
Soda Website
Address: Carrer de les Guilleries, 6
Days:Thursday and Sunday. Also on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday in case there’s no concert (Please check their calendar on the website)
Barcelona Pipa Club
Pipa Website
Address: Calle Lleialtat, 6, 08001 Raval, Barcelona
Days: Every day except Monday and Tuesday
Jamboree
Jamboree Website
Address: Plaça Reial 17 (Jamboree 3)
Days: Mondays and some Sundays
La Sonora de Gracia
Sonora Website
Address: C/ De la riera de Sant Miquel, 59
Days: Wednesday and Sundays (May change every month)
Cockteleria Milano
Cockteleria Website
Address: Ronda de la Universitat, 35
Days: Tuesdays
JazzSí
JazzSi Website
Address: Carrer de Requesens, 2
Days: Tuesdays and Sundays
Harlem Jazz Club
Harlem Website
Address: Carrer de la Comtessa de Sobradiel, 8
Days: Tuesdays
Guzzo
Guzzo Website
Address: Plaça Comercial, 10
Days: Tuesdays and Sundays
Marula Funky
Marula Website
Address: Carrer dels Escudellers, 49
Days: Sunday
Robadors 23
Robadors Website
Address: Carrer d’En Robador, 23
Days: Mondays, Tuesdays and Wedensday
Bar Makinavaja
Makinavaja Website
Address: Carrer de les Carretes, 51
Days: Tuesday
Barcelona Balkan Gipsy Orchestra
Balkan Website
Address: c/ Princesa, 53
Days: Wednesdays
Sala Sinestesia Jazz
Sala Website
Address: Carrer de Santa Caterina, 52-54
Days: Fridays, Wednesdays, some Sundays
BlackLab Brewhouse & Kitchen
BlackLab Website
Address: Palau del Mar, Plaça de Pau Vila, 2
Days: Thursdays
Craft Barcelona
Craft Website
Address: c/ del Paradís, 4
Days: Every day there’s a Jam Session or Open Mic
El Café Rock & Roll
Cafe Rock & Roll Website
Address: Carrer del Torrent de l’Olla, 48
Days: Wednesdays
Sala Continental
Sala Continental Website
Address: Carrer de la Providència, 30
Days: Thursdays
Big Bang Bar
Big Bang Website
Address: Carrer d’En Botella, 7
Days: Saturdays
Inspiral
Inspiral Website
Address: Carrer del Doctor Trueta, 192
Days: view web
Nota 79
Nota 79 Website
Address: Carrer Vallirana, 79
Contact them to propose a concert.
Gypsy Lounge
Instagram page
Address: Carrer de Mallorca, 330, @ Backstory Bookshop
Follow on Instagram to see when the next Open Mic will take place
Shine Jam Sessions
Shine School of Music Open Mic for Students – If you are a student at the school, you can sign up for the open mic, which takes place once a month. The Jams are open to the public and anyone can come and listen.
Follow on Instagram to see when and where the next Open Mic will take place
Have fun! Please do share feedback on your experience at these venues.
*If you are a venue that would like to be included or would like us to edit your details, please contact us.
Posted in Community |
No Comments
Posted on October 26th, 2018 by Sascha Ehrentraut
Pianos are renowned the world over, despite being just over 300 years old. A relatively short rise to fame compared to that of the guitar, whose beginnings can be traced back to around 3000 years ago. And yet they have been a prominent part of society almost since they were created. Today the piano is still often found in middle and upper class homes, and taught at schools across the world. In china alone, a survey counted over 40 million children learning to play the piano in 2015.
*The oldest Piano in the world
Considered a vital instrument for musical learning, the piano is here to stay. This is hardly surprising, as pianos have been found to enhance our performance in numerous ways, and brain imaging has shown that playing the piano actually physically changes our brain, forming more connections between both the left and right hemispheres. Pianists are a step ahead of the game in problem solving, language, spontaneity, decision making and social behavior. It’s no mental leap then, that parents and teachers alike would encourage learning the piano. Pianos have opened the gates to music for many people, they are relatively straightforward to understand and play. They provide an important basis of musical knowledge and have become a stepping stone, often allowing musicians to move onto other instruments. For many years pianos brought music into homes and the lives of people. Forming such an important role in our social history, the instrument has easily found its way into popular culture. Movies, books and musicians highlight it as a magical and versatile instrument.
A BRIEF HISTORY
Pianos were invented in Italy by Bartolomeo Cristofori in the 1700s, and by 1747, when they had been approved and endorsed by Bach himself, were quickly considered an important instrument, snapped up by kings and dukes alike to form part of their personal orchestras. They were more functional than a harpsichord, due to their ability to produce a louder sound and therefore be more easily heard in the larger halls and venues where the orchestra performed. Soon piano concertos were being performed across the western world, and piano composers were lauded as geniuses.
Curiously pianos were initially dominated by female players, as playing the piano was seen as an appealing talent for women, and a skill which made them more marriage worthy. Learning the piano at home became a vital part of any well-to-do child’s education. By the 19th century pianos were an esteemed household instrument, with players being able to share current compositions with family members before the advent of the radio.
The Great Depression of the 1930s sadly saw a downswing in the hefty pianos popularity, with the cheaper and portable guitar taking its’ place, however the advent of digital pianos is again seeing a rise in the pianos use.
*Famous Piano Players
WHAT IS A PIANO?
Pianos are string instruments, although this is contentious, with some claiming it is a percussion instrument. All the important parts are usually hidden inside its hard casing. The strings are hit by hammers which are triggered by the visible black and white keys, on the exterior of the instrument. A piano player will press the keys, which in turn will cause the hammer to strike the string, producing the sound. The hammer is either released with a spring or with the aid of gravity. A piano is versatile in the that the sound produced can be varied by pressing the keys softly or with more force, as well as the ability to press more than one key at a time, allowing for complex notes and chords. Pianos have the widest range of notes out of all of the instruments, being able to produce sound in seven different octaves, allowing them to play over 8000 chords! Today pianos have been split into two types; Acoustic pianos and Digital pianos. Both kinds are valued for different reasons.
ACOUSTIC PIANOS
Acoustic pianos come in two forms, the Acoustic Grand piano and the Acoustic Upright piano. Grand pianos are probably as close to the original piano design as you can find today. They have their strings and hammers laid out horizontally in the body of the piano. The mechanism of the hammers striking and releasing the strings when the keyboard is played, is aided by gravity. Grand pianos take up more space in an environment, because of this arrangement of strings. To compensate for this, Upright pianos were designed to be space savers. They have their arrangement of strings in a vertical manner, and the mechanism for releasing the hammer from striking the strings is aided with the use of springs. Upright pianos are often cheaper than Grand pianos but are subject to wear and tear on their springs. The question most people ask when comparing a grand piano to an upright piano is whether the sound is different. It is difficult to answer this as pianos come in so many variations. Many factors are responsible for the sound of a piano, the mechanisms of the hammer, the length of the strings, the workmanship of the piano, and also the materials that were used to make the piano itself. Some upright pianos may actually be taller and therefore have longer strings than a smaller baby grand piano, making them sound quite different. Whereas the soundboards of grand pianos are often bigger than Upright pianos giving them a larger tonality and greater volume. The biggest difference between a Grand piano and an Upright piano actually comes down to gravity. The mechanism of the hammer releasing the strings is much more even and almost instantaneous, allowing the pianist to play both faster and with more control. Understanding this difference between a grand piano and an upright should aid potential piano buyers in their choice. As much as a beginner would enjoy a Grand piano, it is probably unlikely that it would be necessary. On the other hand a master pianist that was going to perform in a concert hall may require a grand to perfectly execute difficult piece.
DIGITAL PIANOS
Digital pianos also come in two forms, designed to replicate the look and sound of the original Grand Piano and the Upright piano. Digital pianos are advanced keyboards, they have 88 black and white keys, but this is where the similarity ends. Without the need for strings or hammers, the look of the piano is purely fabricated. One of the many advantages of digital pianos is that they are portable and affordable when compared to traditional acoustic pianos. You no longer require a huge body encasing the pianos mechanism in order to produce a sound. Read more on our Essential Guide to Digital Pianos.
In addition, technological advances have meant that digital pianos sound like classical acoustic pianos, but with the added convenience of being easily amplified or connected to headphones providing a whole host of opportunities for the modern day pianist, from volume control to recording your music. The mimicry of digital pianos is done with the use of sound files. “Sampling” has been the key to unlocking the digital piano revolution, by giving each key played an authentic sound.
Digital pianos are a step ahead of keyboards, because in addition to a better sound, the main difference between a keyboard and a digital piano is “feel” of the keys. The keys are weighted, imitating the hammers releasing from their strings in an acoustic piano. Digital Pianos are sleek and often smaller than classical pianos, a comfortable option for those wishing to use them in an apartment or hotel. Without the need for actual strings and their protective casing, the digital piano can easily be toted in a bag and set up almost anywhere. You can rent digital pianos with us for the best rates in Barcelona.
FUTURE OF PIANOS
Of course a digital piano cannot create the same textured and tonal sounds of a good acoustic piano, but, a top quality digital piano can far surpass a cheap upright piano. These days digital pianos have the added bonus of interfacing with computers and other recording or producing rigs, allowing musicians to be creative with their sound and to easily record their music. Digital pianos can be played in total silence too, the pianist being the only one to hear the music via headphones. A valuable tool for the modern world. These technological advances transport the piano into the future, making enjoyment of the piano accessible again to many more people, and continuing to inspire musicians just as it did 300 years ago.
Kraftwerk on 4 Digital Pianos
RENTAL VS BUYING
Understanding the piano as an instrument, how it works, and your requirements for it, should answer the all important questions of rental vs buying too. Understanding your needs, and the different kinds of pianos also helps to narrow down a brand or make of piano that would work for you.
Students or first time piano players may choose to initially rent a digital piano, trying out as many kinds as they want, or getting a feel for the instrument before they decide to invest in the real deal. Travelling musicians may already have a trusted instrument at home, but prefer to leave it there when performing in different cities.
Needless to say the options for renting a piano are endless and the benefits can be clearly seen. Renting instruments makes the world of music much more accessible. For musicians who are just beginning their musical journeys, renting a piano provides them with tactile knowledge which they can apply to the process of buying a piano. It’s worthwhile to become familiar with different brands, and understanding the piano effectively answers questions about which make of piano would suit them.
INSTRUMENT RENTAL BARCELONA
Barcelona Instrument Rental has a wide range of digital pianos for rent as well as acoustic pianos for rent. Whether you are a professional musician looking to rent a piano for a performance, or a beginner in need of a piano for practice, we have an instrument for you. We offer long term piano rentals for students as well as short term piano rentals for weddings, event companies, concerts, festivals and other similar activities. Our rental plans can be adapted with the option to buy your piano.
Our stylish rental digital piano range includes trusted brands (such as Yamaha, Casio and Roland) and range from compact digital pianos that can fit into a bag easily transported by hand, to larger models with a more traditional look and feel of a classical acoustic piano, with built-in casing and stand. The larger models require transportation via vehicle.
Posted in Music Education & Learning, Piano |
No Comments
