Tag: Baldwin piano

blogger, blogging, Classsical music blog, pianist, piano

Piano Adventures!

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

This past week brought a nearly insurmountable challenge to help a 90-year old sell her 7-foot Baldwin grand piano. Sight unseen, I'd enlisted a volunteer effort while facing a built-in pressure cooker deadline of 30 days to sale. The owner's move to Assisted Living could not include a lion's size instrument. With less than a… Continue reading Piano Adventures!

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GRAND comparisons

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

It's always telling to compare a piano's tone, resonance and decay in the showroom where purchased to its performance in one's living space. Unfortunately, one cannot transport the piano to one's home while evaluating it at the store. In this regard, I can share a pertinent experience where a 7' ft. Grotrian grand whose bass… Continue reading GRAND comparisons

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My New Baldwin Grand Piano Arrives! (on video)

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

https://youtu.be/u_YG7qNUpkU Baldwin Grand with lid up plays J.S. Bach Prelude in F minor, BWV 881 (WTC Book 2) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSNOvkbqbKw And J.S. Bach Prelude No. 1 in C, Well-Tempered Clavier Book 1 https://youtu.be/TmGa78iBM04 Mozart Sonata in C, K. 545, Allegro https://youtu.be/qWDdJOG318I LINK: MY BIRTHDAY PRESENT TO ME! https://arioso7.wordpress.com/2015/04/09/my-birthday-present-to-me/

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My Birthday present to me!

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

Who would have imagined that a new piano would be my special gift to myself! It was one week since my mother had passed away at 100 and I was devastated, shaken by the loss-- too distressed to be thinking about celebrating my upcoming birthday in any way. Yet when I saw an ad for… Continue reading My Birthday present to me!

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The argument for learning piano on an acoustic

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

Today I was scoping out some Baldwin Acrosonic pianos on New York Craig's List as I have a few East Coast Skype students who are playing not-so-terrific sounding digitals. They cannot produce a singing tone on them, or enjoy the "feel" of a real piano. (the so-called hammer-weighted feature, notwithstanding) Naturally, not every "real" piano… Continue reading The argument for learning piano on an acoustic

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My Baldwin grand piano gets its first diagnostic, tune-up, and regulation

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

It sounds like I'm talking about a used car. For Mark Schecter, Registered piano technician it might as well be. He emphasizes that the piano has thousands of parts that must work harmoniously to make playing a smooth and pleasurable journey over the 88s. In the case of my blind date Baldwin, "the old car… Continue reading My Baldwin grand piano gets its first diagnostic, tune-up, and regulation

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Fritz, 8, Baptizes my “new” Baldwin Hamilton Grand in El Cerrito, CA (Duet playing video)

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

My El Cerrito students received a musical morale boost from Hammy's surprise appearance in their learning sanctuary. I guess we'll call the latest piano, "Hammy," while Haddorff in Fresno remains "Haddy" Someday, who knows, the two may pair up in Bay area cultural harmony. HADDY/HAMMY In the meantime, here's Fritz, an 8-year old, second year… Continue reading Fritz, 8, Baptizes my “new” Baldwin Hamilton Grand in El Cerrito, CA (Duet playing video)

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DREAM PIANO: Overview and Acknowledgments

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

My two-year long romp on the piano finding trail with York as my professional companion and consultant had been worth all the time spent in, around and under pianos. How else would I have acquired knowledge about the piano’s harp, or cast iron plate were it not for his having the bravado to dismantle it… Continue reading DREAM PIANO: Overview and Acknowledgments

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Samick, York, Tofujie and me: On the piano-chasing trail

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

York called me from a client's home in Clovis right after our great treasure-seeking adventure under the Kawai 7-foot grand piano. He'd been appraising a Samick studio upright manufactured in 1990 that was owned by Joel Van Ginkel. "I'd appraise it at about $2000," he said, "but between you 'n me, he'll unload the piana' for a lot… Continue reading Samick, York, Tofujie and me: On the piano-chasing trail

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Pianos I own and those that I reluctantly let go

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

My Steinway, model "M" grand, 1917 is a permanent fixture in my living room which doubles as my piano studio. It was rebuilt to perfection in 1992 by Dale Erwin, Modesto. (http://www.erwinspiano.com) I cannot give anyone a higher recommendation than Dale. He views the piano as a singing instrument and voices it exquisitely. His skills… Continue reading Pianos I own and those that I reluctantly let go