When to upgrade from upright to baby grand?

[djbrak]

At what point do you know when you upgrade?
-Renato

[Swan]

As soon as you can afford it!  

[f0bul0us]

You don't "need" to upgrade at all, you become a success as a pianist not by what kind of piano you own, but how you play it. (This coming from a Steinway Model B owner !)

Good luck, and (your personal) god speed!

[Clare]

If I were you, I would wait until I could afford a proper grand. But that's just what I'd do. I think a good upright is better than a baby grand.

Man, I wish I had a Steinway.  

[Snappy Joe]

Man, I wish I had a Steinway.  

I wish I had TWO  
one for each hand  

[djbrak]

But don't you think that a grand piano has a different feel than an upright?  Based on the physical aspect of the hammers on the upright being standing up, while on the grand they are lying down, which, in my opinion, allows you to control the output much more than an upright.

[donjuan]

But don't you think that a grand piano has a different feel than an upright?  Based on the physical aspect of the hammers on the upright being standing up, while on the grand they are lying down, which, in my opinion, allows you to control the output much more than an upright.

The grand piano is superior in touch and sound to the upright piano on so many levels.  I upgraded to a grand because I needed it to do the heavy pieces of Liszt.  Without my grand, I wont be able to control the most sensitive tone, repeat notes faster, or lift a key halfway and still hear it sound without the use of the sustain pedal.  Get the grand as soon as you can!  I suggest Yamaha or Petrof to start.  Oh, and I should mention, as soon as I got my grand, my technique got so much better and I started to do well in city music festivals.  I should have had it from the start.
donjuan

[f0bul0us]

The grand piano is superior in touch and sound to the upright piano on so many levels.  I upgraded to a grand because I needed it to do the heavy pieces of Liszt.  Without my grand, I wont be able to control the most sensitive tone, repeat notes faster, or lift a key halfway and still hear it sound without the use of the sustain pedal.  Get the grand as soon as you can!  I suggest Yamaha or Petrof to start.  Oh, and I should mention, as soon as I got my grand, my technique got so much better and I started to do well in city music festivals.  I should have had it from the start.
donjuan

Bad, DonJuan, go to your room and think about what you've done. Grands cannot and will not improve your technique, ever. The only reason you still hear a sound without using the sustain pedal is because of the grand's very strong tone, and the acoustics of the room. An upright will do something similar especially in compact areas where sound is very restraint (basements). Don't try to argue! My teacher uses a Conober Cable upright in her basement and I get the same effect.

Good luck!

[donjuan]

Bad, DonJuan, go to your room and think about what you've done. Grands cannot and will not improve your technique, ever. The only reason you still hear a sound without using the sustain pedal is because of the grand's very strong tone, and the acoustics of the room. An upright will do something similar especially in compact areas where sound is very restraint (basements). Don't try to argue! My teacher uses a Conober Cable upright in her basement and I get the same effect.

Good luck!

Look, the action of the grand is developed very well to allow you to play a key and immediately relax, letting the key up halfway...This is the key to playing lightly.  however, I dont want to argue, enjoy your teacher's ConoVer Cable. hehe (j/k)
donjuan

[f0bul0us]

Look, the action of the grand is developed very well to allow you to play a key and immediately relax, letting the key up halfway...This is the key to playing lightly.  however, I dont want to argue, enjoy your teacher's ConoVer Cable. hehe (j/k)
donjuan

The B and V are so csole thgoeethr!

[in_love_with_liszt]

I've found digital pianos to be most helpful in the development of technique. If you turn the volume down low, it forces you to play harder to hear the notes, thus strengthening your fingers(old heavy steinways have this effect as well, but those run in the millions of dollars sometimes). Then if you go to a quality acoustic, you can refine your touch and dynamics. Although this approach may not be right for everyone, as I had to have the Clavinova repaired many times, and since the keys are plastic if you sweat at all they get oh-so-annoyingly slippery. But there is really no point in upgrading to a grand if all you can afford is a crummy one. It's much better to either buy a good upright or wait untill you can buy a nice grand, or ask to use the facilities at a nearby college or institution, if they have music programs they most likely have practice rooms with quality pianos (steinways and upscale yamahas) that are kept in tune.

[f0bul0us]

I've found digital pianos to be most helpful in the development of technique. If you turn the volume down low, it forces you to play harder to hear the notes, thus strengthening your fingers(old heavy steinways have this effect as well, but those run in the millions of dollars sometimes). Then if you go to a quality acoustic, you can refine your touch and dynamics. Although this approach may not be right for everyone, as I had to have the Clavinova repaired many times, and since the keys are plastic if you sweat at all they get oh-so-annoyingly slippery. But there is really no point in upgrading to a grand if all you can afford is a crummy one. It's much better to either buy a good upright or wait untill you can buy a nice grand, or ask to use the facilities at a nearby college or institution, if they have music programs they most likely have practice rooms with quality pianos (steinways and upscale yamahas) that are kept in tune.

Your hands sweat while playing? The problem with Keyboards is you can't get too used to them, especially with demanding pieces. You'd win both ways if you had a Disklavier.

[f0bul0us]

Rachmaninoff listened intently, eyes closed and totally silent, all the way through the concerto. At the end, he looked up and said. "Piano out of tune."
lmao!

[DarkWind]

donjuan, I think your technique only improved because you felt more enthusiastic about playing on the piano. If I had a grand, I would never move from the seat, maybe except for eating and all that other "life essential" crap they always talk about . My technique would improve to!

[donjuan]

donjuan, I think your technique only improved because you felt more enthusiastic about playing on the piano. If I had a grand, I would never move from the seat, maybe except for eating and all that other "life essential" crap they always talk about . My technique would improve to!

possibly, but I could do so many things on the Grand I couldnt on the upright!!  I felt invincible the first time I played on a Grand, like I could do anything if I tried long enough.  When I had the upright, I couldnt improve- I had this feeling as if the piano was complaining "no, stop it, Ive had enough!"  Now, the Grand says to me, "Is that all you've got?  "  
donjuan

of course, you may be right--> it may all be in my head...

[djbrak]

"Don't just play the piano...make love to it!"
lol

[in_love_with_liszt]

"Don't just play the piano...make [/i]love to it!"
lol

....I've personally never condoned intimate relations between humans and inanimate objects.....

Your hands sweat while playing? The problem with Keyboards is you can't get too used to them, especially with demanding pieces. You'd win both ways if you had a Disklavier.

Yes my hands sweat. My feet do too (I guess you really diddn't need to know that...) And Clavinovas are disklaviers......but I agree they are not acceptable for performing big pieces, but the conversation had turned to pianos helping your technique, and I was just telling my own personal experience.

[Ashley_Steinway]

And since when has the piano been an inanimate object? To make love to her is to caress her gently, allowing her overtones to sympathetically resonate. It is to be brutally rough with her, and release her inner glory.

Pound her keys, and let her sing.

[in_love_with_liszt]

And since when has the piano been an inanimate object? To make love to her is to caress her gently, allowing her overtones to sympathetically resonate. It is to be brutally rough with her, and release her inner glory.

Pound her keys, and let her sing.

Hmmm....well perhaps I look at things too logically....maybe too much star trek as a kid...but yeah, don't go making moves on your piano all the same...it can't end pretty....I'd rather think I'm becoming part of the piano, and vice versa, not making a love scene for the camera....but I could just be crazy....*mothership comes to take in_love_with_liszt home to his native planet*

[Clare]

Uh......... back to the topic............... this website explains the differences between uprights and grands. There are WAY more differences than I realised. https://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Lab/8779/grand_VS_upright.html
But I still think it's better to save up a bit more and get a proper grand instead of a baby grand. But that's just my opinion.