Archive for the ‘Guides and Information’ Category

Ann Marie Kurrasch strikes again!!!

Monday, March 30th, 2015

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Ann Marie Kurrasch

Many of you were my readers when I did my Interview With Ann Marie Kurrasch.  Well, as fate would have it Ann Marie has done it again.

Her reissue of her last work is entitled “Let’s Play”.  It features the same songs as her last book but is now available on Amazon under the name Let’s play.  This book is a must have for the enthusiast who is looking for fun yet challenging songs to play.  The CD that can accompany it will make it easy for the student to learn to play.  It helps assist the student in learning how the music is written and makes it easier to follow along.

Ann Marie is one of the nicest and congenial ladies I have met.  Her gentile style along with her demeanor makes her an absolute jewel among teachers.  Her no-nonsense approach in writing makes her music a delight to play and this is a collection you should not be without.

To learn more about “Let’s Play!” feel free to click here to go to her website or click here to go to her Amazon offering.

Ric Overton in Beautiful Downtown Burbank, CA

The Piano Was Not The Original Keyboard (Part 3)

Monday, December 10th, 2012

The Virginal

 

The Virginal

The Virginal

 

The precursor to the harpsichord came in the 1400’s known as the Virginal or Virginals.  The logic behind the first virginals came in 1460 when a writer described it in a letter from Paulus Paulirinus of Praguein relation to the clavichord.  History books can differ in their opinions or ideas of its origin.

Quite a bit of music was written on a virginal because of its size and ease of transport.  This is a larger model of a virginal.  Some were quite decorative like this one while others were quite simple in their design and much smaller.

The tone quality or the virginal as compared to the clavichord was/is quite different.  While the clavichord struck the strings the virginal was closer in tone to the harpsichord.  Later as people began to want more sound we started making the harpsichord with longer strings and a larger soundboard with more depth of sound.

The virginal was identical to the harpsichord in the way it was made with the plucking of the strings rather than the clavichord mechanism which struck the strings like the piano.

A Smaller Virginal

A Smaller Virginal

The virginal was very popular during the early Baroque period although like the clavichord and by a large part the harpsichord the tone was to light to be heard with the other instruments and even more difficult in larger public performances.

If you do a quick search on the virginal you will quickly see many different variations of this cool instrument.  It is difficult to imagine that once this was cutting edge technology and this was a privilege to own.  The tone quality of this instrument was among the best available in a keyboard instrument at this point in the 1400’s.

 

Art in a VirginalArt in a Virginal

However, music for the virginal and the clavichord would be written for many years to come BECAUSE of the tone.  You may also note that many, MANY works of art show a young lady sitting in front of an instrument that most people assume is a harpsichord or clavichord but, as it turns out is actually a virginal.

Ric Overton

http://PianoSD.com

The Piano Was Not The Original Keyboard (Part 2)

Monday, December 3rd, 2012

Although keyboard instruments as we commonly know them today has gone through many changes the idea on the whole was originally created in 1361.  In 1361 there were essentially no flats or sharps as we know them today.  Over the period of the next 300 – 400 years (yes, that is an accurate number) we had gone through a number of changes that brought us to the “newest” scale and was finally publicly and famously endorsed by Bach.

Bach The Well Tempered Clavier

Bach The Well Tempered Clavier

In 1722 J.S. Bach penned The Well Tempered Clavier which was arguably one of the most famous works of all time. He repeated this work in 1742 and underscored the original endorsement of the idea of equal temperament in keyboards.

More information on The Well Tempered Clavier can be found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Well-Tempered_Clavier in the Wikipedia website.

While we have little information of the first pianos to be created the Medici Family indicates that pianos in their pseudo present day form was in existence as early as 1700 and potentially as far back as 1698, however, the only pianos that we have in existence today date back to 1720.

The point is that the whole idea of the modern day piano would date back to the early 1700’s.  In the beginning the present day piano is closest related to the Clavichord.

The Clavichord

The Clavichord

The Clavichord

Most people agree that the clavichord was invented sometime in the early 1400’s.  Then as early as 1502 and later in 1504 there is some mention of the Clavichord being used in public performances in both England and Germany. In 1460 however, in a descriptive letter of the virginal which was also believed to have been invented in the early 1400’s and there is some reference to the clavichord as well as virginal.

The clavichord has various “editions” which differ in sense of temperament and design.  Some clavichords are “fretted” instruments while others were “unfretted” which would help determine the technique used while playing as well as the music that could be used as well.

The Virginal

The differences in the virginal and clavichord will be discussed in later posts as well as the harpsichord and piano.  So you can see some quick pictures of the virginal and clavichord, I posted a couple here.

The Virginal

The Virginal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The differences are not really noticeable at first glance but there are some significant differences between these two instruments.  We will get much more acquainted with these early instruments and how they are finding their way back into music  today.

 

Ric Overton

http://PianoSD.com

The Piano Was NOT The First Keyboard (part 1)

Monday, October 29th, 2012

As most of you know, I am 100% a piano fan.   I love the way they look, feel, sound and maybe even smell ( at least when they are new ).  I thought about the fact, however, that I am never looking past the piano.  I never quite get back to the basics of where it all started at least as far as the lineage of the piano is concerned.

There is a very rich history in piano building that spans back to the late 1300’s into the 1400’s and I thought it would be fun to go back and look at the very beginning and see if we can (at least partially) bring it all full circle.

Although keyboard instruments as we commonly know them today have gone through many changes, the idea of a keyboard instrument  was originally created in 1361.  In 1361 there were essentially no flats or sharps as we know them today.  Although there are physically notes on the keyboard with the 5 incidentals they had different notes in the beginning.  Over the period of the next 300 – 400 years ( yes, that is an accurate number ) we have gone through a number of changes that have brought us to the “newest” scale and was finally publicly and famously endorsed by Bach in the early 1700’s.   Much more about that to come in the next parts.

I will be presenting to you in the next few blogs about the history of the piano.  I learned quite a bit myself and hope that you will as well.  It is a little confusing as you move backward to understand the scale designs so, I have tried my best to put the information in my own words and leave out some of the less famous keyboards.

Over the period since the early 1300’s (over 700 years of history) there have been many, many versions of the piano that did not “take” and were unsuccessful for one reason or another.   Some did not stay in tune for long periods of time, some were too awkward to be moved while others simply did not function correctly.

Over the next few posts I will attempt to put the most popular stringed keyboard  instruments in a logical order so you can easily follow the information and pass it along to others.

Please enjoy.

Visit our new affiliate program at http://coolstuffformusicians.com and our gear shop at http://pianosd.spreadshirt.com and of course http://pianosd.com

Ric Overton

Interview with Ann Marie Kurrasch

Sunday, June 17th, 2012

NEW INTERVIEW

I had the nicest interview with Ann Marie Kurrasch this week that I wanted to share with you.  Ann Marie is such a nice lady and also quite talented.  The interview only tells you a small portion of her talents and what she has accomplished.

Ann Marie Kurrasch

I took a look at some of her             (more…)

Which Piano Should I Own ?

Thursday, May 3rd, 2012

This question is among the most asked questions that I get on the sales floor.  Here’s my response.

I Love My Piano

I Love My Piano

PICK THE ONE YOU LOVE !

So you walk into the store and here’s ALL these pianos.  Black ones, brown ones, grands, uprights, digitals OH NO which one is mine.  You sit and play every one but the one you love is the last one you would have thought you would love.  Yep.  That’s right.  You came in with a predetermined idea of exactly what you thought you wanted.  The shiny black grand with “that name” on it.  However, the one you really, I mean REALLY like is the satin brown one that is 4 inches bigger than what you had in mind, and to top it all off – it has (more…)

AGE is all in your mind ?

Monday, April 30th, 2012

Hmmmmm……well, its hard to imagine that age is all your mind when you feel it in your bones.  Yes, it’s true.  I realize I’m not 30 anymore.  I know I know….I don’t look 30 anymore either.    I just picked up this article that you might find interesting.  Click on  the picture below for more on this subject.

Article on Aging and Playing The Piano

Article on Aging and Playing The Piano

 

There are teachers all over the U.S. that will teach people of any age.  There are many in Texas for example.  Give your local teacher a call.

It really is never to late to learn.  Recently, I sold a piano to a gentleman that was in his late 80’s and he had never played before and always wanted to.  He told me “If I’m going to learn, there’s no time like the present”.

Stop by Piano Social Directory and see what’s new.

Ric Overton

So You Want To Be A Concert Artist ?

Friday, March 30th, 2012

This documentary is one of the best I have ever seen.  I learned of it today from http://PianoStreet.com and was very impressed with our insight into the mind and heart of the concert musician.  I have experienced a small part of what you see in this documentary and believe me – it doesn’t come easy.  Perfect practice and a drive for perfection is what these people all have in common.  Amazing video I hope you enjoy.

Incredible are the only words I have to describe.

Ric Overton

http://PianoSD.com

Powerful Influences – Teachers

Tuesday, February 21st, 2012

Today’s podcast is about influential people in our musical journey.  I also covered the passing of Whitney Houston and my own personal experiences as a student when I was first learning to play.

I hope you enjoy.

Ric Overton / http://PianoSD.com

NAMM 2012 Highlights

Saturday, January 21st, 2012

NAMM 2012 is almost over.

I spent two days at NAMM in Anaheim.  It is the most exciting and exhilarating trade show that I have ever been a part of.  So here are some of my thoughts.

First Wednesday night Max from http://MaxMorganDesigns.com started the completion of www.pianosd.com. I spoke with him last at 1:00 a.m. Wednesday night.  Then 6:00 a.m. he was still working. BUT its almost completed.  If you go to www.pianosd.com you will see the changes, I am VERY EXCITED.

I saw so many friends and people that I have known for many years and made several new friends.  It was very nice to renew old acquaintances.  The piano selection was down this year for various reasons HOWEVER, Brodmann’s latest AS 275 was incredible.  I mean, yes we do business with them but it was unbelievable how nice the piano sounded and the way it felt.

Brodmann AS 275

Brodmann AS 275

I had the opportunity to play on a Sauter Concert Grand too.  As many of you know Sauter is one of my favorites and I was not disappointed  at all. The sound was absolutely incredible and the look and feel of the piano as well as the incredible.

Sauter 275 Concert Grand

Sauter 275 concert Grand

There were some amazing piano teaching programs along with education materials, etc.  There was every music instrument that you could think of  and then some.  As we begin to make our changes and improvements we will be doing some new things.  I cant wait to show you some new things.

I attended the Yamaha Breakfast on Friday morning and was completely blown away by the new product lines they have and some very cool programs for the dealers, sellers and customers at http://yamaha.com

I will give you more as we move around some.

Ric

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