Piano Forum



Remembering the great Maurizio Pollini
Legendary pianist Maurizio Pollini defined modern piano playing through a combination of virtuosity of the highest degree, a complete sense of musical purpose and commitment that works in complete control of the virtuosity. His passing was announced by Milan’s La Scala opera house on March 23. Read more >>

Topic: Complaints about your piano  (Read 2776 times)

Offline chopin2015

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 2134
Complaints about your piano
on: September 08, 2012, 05:24:13 AM
Hi there! I am certain that some of you would like to share what frustrates you currently, it could be the piano you have at home or a piano you have been working with. Perhaps the opposite: what you really like about a piano, your perfect mate(still talking piano) but most of all, maybe some things sound better than others, depending on the instrument's character?
 
I really like my teacher's piano.
My piano is beautiful and it is all I have, her or a keyboard(yuck). Ivory literally cuts hands if you try to play fast. SO rough. It feels very delicate under the fingers and in your hands, but it has a dark side! Right now I just want to go play on a yamaha upright with a practice mute. :)

you?
"Beethoven wrote in three flats a lot. That's because he moved twice."

Offline zezhyrule

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 378
Re: Complaints about your piano
Reply #1 on: September 08, 2012, 05:31:50 AM
It has an incredibly light touch. And a really bright sound. Good for some stuff I guess, not so much uh... most of the stuff I wanna play.
Currently learning -

- Bach: P&F in F Minor (WTC 2)
- Chopin: Etude, Op. 25, No. 5
- Beethoven: Sonata, Op. 31, No. 3
- Scriabin: Two Poems, Op. 32
- Debussy: Prelude Bk II No. 3

Offline outin

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 8211
Re: Complaints about your piano
Reply #2 on: September 08, 2012, 07:14:32 AM
I have already complained enough I guess, but the latest...for the past week my fingers are slipping all the time... I guess my skin just dries after the summer, I remember having the same problem last winter. There's really no room for error when playing the black keys (my fingertips are quite small so I have hit excatly the right spot and angle to avoid slipping).

Using hand cream before I play is out of the question, then the keys would be even more slippery from the grease. Those stupid plastic keys just drive me grazy >:(

Offline hfmadopter

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 2272
Re: Complaints about your piano
Reply #3 on: September 08, 2012, 08:12:02 PM
I just want to go play on a yamaha upright with a practice mute. :)
you?

 I suggest you run that line by Outin again and see what the reply is or look up old posts about the Yamaha with pratice mute that are part of the Outin threads. Not happy it seems, least not about key tension and plastic feel of the keys.

I'm not complaining about my late 1800's Henry F Miller grand though !
David
Depressing the pedal on an out of tune acoustic piano and playing does not result in tonal color control or add interest, it's called obnoxious.

Offline chopin2015

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 2134
Re: Complaints about your piano
Reply #4 on: September 09, 2012, 02:34:54 AM
I suggest you run that line by Outin again and see what the reply is or look up old posts about the Yamaha with pratice mute that are part of the Outin threads. Not happy it seems, least not about key tension and plastic feel of the keys.

I'm not complaining about my late 1800's Henry F Miller grand though !
David

WOW! Do you have pictures of it? My piano is 5'2 but it has ivory...i complain about it sometimes though because I just want to get rough with a piano. And I don't get to do that with her :(
"Beethoven wrote in three flats a lot. That's because he moved twice."

Offline outin

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 8211
Re: Complaints about your piano
Reply #5 on: September 09, 2012, 03:21:04 AM
Right now I just want to go play on a yamaha upright with a practice mute. :)


I cannot deny that the mute function is handy. Without it my time on the piano would be really limited due to living in an apartment and working late often.

But I find I use it less and less lately and this has actually affected my practice time. I often just feel that if I cannot play "properly" then I don't want to play at all. It is good for learning the notes and fingerings, but I feel like I still need to relearn the passages with the "real" piano sound. Also the keys do feel a bit different when playing mute, so the touch changes as well.
 
I think this maybe be depending on what your focus is. I have learned things about myself lately. I really don't care whether I learn to play difficult pieces or learn to play fast. I am obsessed with the piano sound. I can spend ages with a piece just trying to get the perfect sound. Playing with the mute digital sound doesn't do anything for this, so somehow it feels like a waste of time.

If I lived without neighbours, I would never play with digital sound again. I have just decided to get a cheap used piano to my summer house. It's literally in the middle of the woods, so at least for a couple of weeks in the summer I could play as long as I wanted any time of the day (night)  :)

Offline ranniks

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 802
Re: Complaints about your piano
Reply #6 on: September 12, 2012, 07:43:18 AM
The action in the beginning was a bit heavy, but my fingers have gotten a lot stronger now. Only when I remove the damepers does the action lighten and feel like my teachers yamaha baby grand/grand. But heavy action is a virtue; realism.

Thing is; when I remove the dampers I play even faster because the action lightens, hehe.

Offline hfmadopter

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 2272
Re: Complaints about your piano
Reply #7 on: September 12, 2012, 08:38:04 AM
WOW! Do you have pictures of it? My piano is 5'2 but it has ivory...i complain about it sometimes though because I just want to get rough with a piano. And I don't get to do that with her :(

Sorry I didn't notice your post here. I don't have photos of mine but it looks like this piano only in satin black and is or was advertised as 5'11" though I measure it as 5'9". So the piano shown is foot longer than mine. Mine has that same music rack and basically the same leg design though. And it sounds wonderful. I've owned it for more than 30 years now, doubt I'll ever part with it:      https://www.antiquepianoshop.com/product/36/henry-f-miller-victorian-parlor-grand-piano/
Depressing the pedal on an out of tune acoustic piano and playing does not result in tonal color control or add interest, it's called obnoxious.

Offline 49410enrique

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 3538
Re: Complaints about your piano
Reply #8 on: September 13, 2012, 09:37:56 AM
at one point i was having so many little recurring issues with my action it i would have gone on the rant of rants, a rant to end all rants...but my very patient and competent technician has since exorcised those demons and now i'm only slightly peturbed by the sounds that come from my lowest bass strings (more a function of the short length of my grand than anything but space is at a premium, so be it). I do need to get c# 2 voiced a bit, the hammer i believe is a little soft so there's a definate change in tone quality to just that single high note. hope to get it rectified this year sometime. other than that i love my gal. she's a little petite but oh so marvelous.

Offline chopin2015

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 2134
Re: Complaints about your piano
Reply #9 on: September 13, 2012, 04:29:56 PM
My piano cut me again today when I was practicing winter wind. More like bit me and said "perhaps you could play slower for a little bit more, and then speed up later or I will do it again." :`(

"Beethoven wrote in three flats a lot. That's because he moved twice."

Offline starstruck5

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 798
Re: Complaints about your piano
Reply #10 on: September 13, 2012, 06:00:45 PM
My piano cut me again today when I was practicing winter wind. More like bit me and said "perhaps you could play slower for a little bit more, and then speed up later or I will do it again." :`(



Never mind -think of it as an excuse to get plastered.
When a search is in progress, something will be found.

Offline chopin2015

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 2134
Re: Complaints about your piano
Reply #11 on: September 14, 2012, 12:35:00 AM
Haha, I don't drink much...but I did have a rough day and am having an O'doul's.
"Beethoven wrote in three flats a lot. That's because he moved twice."

Offline rachmaninoff_forever

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 4933
Re: Complaints about your piano
Reply #12 on: September 14, 2012, 01:52:39 AM
I don't have a real piano.

I just have a shitty digital where only 83 keys work and is barely weighted.
Live large, die large.  Leave a giant coffin.

Offline chopin2015

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 2134
Re: Complaints about your piano
Reply #13 on: September 14, 2012, 02:00:41 AM
:(((((((
"Beethoven wrote in three flats a lot. That's because he moved twice."

Offline pytheamateur

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 645
Re: Complaints about your piano
Reply #14 on: September 14, 2012, 09:14:22 PM

I really like my teacher's piano.

Lucky you.  For me, it's the complete opposite.  I have to keep telling myself that my playing is not that good and therefore does not really deserve playing on a better piano.  Or reflecting on the fact that my teacher is miles better than me yet he has to make do with that substandard instrument.
Beethoven - Sonata in C sharp minor, Op 27 No 12
Chopin - Fantasie Impromptu, Nocturn in C sharp minor, Op post
Brahms - Op 118, Nos 2 & 3

Offline chopin2015

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 2134
Re: Complaints about your piano
Reply #15 on: September 15, 2012, 12:43:26 AM
Oh, I know what you mean. The transitions between the pianos in my life are intense! Keeps things interesting though. How is your etude coming along?
"Beethoven wrote in three flats a lot. That's because he moved twice."

Offline pytheamateur

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 645
Re: Complaints about your piano
Reply #16 on: September 15, 2012, 09:08:26 PM
Oh, I know what you mean. The transitions between the pianos in my life are intense! Keeps things interesting though. How is your etude coming along?

I suppose you mean the Chopin Etude?  It's getting rusty as I've moved on to something else (I'm having trouble updating my signature).  Mind you I was never satisfied with it in the first place because wrong notes keep cropping up.  For an etude of this nature, if I can't play cleanly, then for me it only means that my technique is not good enough.

I mentioned this to my teacher hoping to get some practical tips from a performer on how to play cleanly.  However, none is forthcoming.  I have been told not to worry about mistakes; Gilels apparently couldn't play cleanly.  This is quite frustrating.  I thought the whole point about learning Chopin Etudes is to improve one's technique.  I don't understand why he lets mistakes like that go, so I'm not keen on learning another Chopin Etude at the moment.
Beethoven - Sonata in C sharp minor, Op 27 No 12
Chopin - Fantasie Impromptu, Nocturn in C sharp minor, Op post
Brahms - Op 118, Nos 2 & 3

Offline chopin2015

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 2134
Re: Complaints about your piano
Reply #17 on: September 15, 2012, 10:05:41 PM
Well the best thing to do in this case is just concentrate on the music. Can you sing along to a recording of it? Just know how the piece is supposed to sound and that sometimes helps. Or maybe you need to choreograph the piece...my teacher and I talked about this. It is important to know, for example, which hand are you going to look at, because it is hard to keep up with both. So the hand you are not looking at, make sure you can hear what you are doing.
"Beethoven wrote in three flats a lot. That's because he moved twice."

Offline j_menz

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 10148
Re: Complaints about your piano
Reply #18 on: September 16, 2012, 05:23:02 AM
Mine lacks an autocorrect function.  >:(
"What the world needs is more geniuses with humility. There are so few of us left" -- Oscar Levant

Offline outin

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 8211
Re: Complaints about your piano
Reply #19 on: September 16, 2012, 05:37:31 AM
Mine lacks an autocorrect function.  >:(
I'd be happy with a backspace key...

Offline lloyd_cdb

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 539
Re: Complaints about your piano
Reply #20 on: September 20, 2012, 08:46:58 PM
I have small hands and a light touch, my Yamaha C3 has a touchweight of almost 70 grams.  My arms hurt.
I've been trying to give myself a healthy reminder: https://internetsarcasm.com/

Offline crownrib

  • PS Silver Member
  • Newbie
  • ***
  • Posts: 12
Re: Complaints about your piano
Reply #21 on: October 25, 2012, 11:59:28 AM
I have small hands and a light touch, my Yamaha C3 has a touchweight of almost 70 grams.  My arms hurt.
All the Yamaha Cs I have played have stiff actions as well.  I wonder why Yamaha releases them on the market like that? 

Offline tdawe

  • PS Silver Member
  • Jr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 80
Re: Complaints about your piano
Reply #22 on: October 26, 2012, 09:33:24 PM
I'm in a pretty good situation right now...

At university we have access to some really nice pianos. There is a brand new Steinway concert grand, and many other nice grands with beautiful actions and tones. Back at my room I have a Clavinova CV-300 which is pretty nice, not in the same league as the real thing but overall I'm pleased with it.

At home I have a Kemble upright. Not the most high end of pianos but still can get a surprising amount of mileage out of it. The tone and action is pleasant, but you must be careful as it's easy to play jarring notes especially in the bass.
Musicology student & amateur pianist
Currently focusing on:
Shostakovich Op.87, Chopin Op.37, Misc. Bartok

Offline mahlermaniac

  • PS Silver Member
  • Jr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 98
Re: Complaints about your piano
Reply #23 on: December 03, 2012, 02:10:05 PM
The fact that it is just a possibility so far, and not in fact my piano yet  ;D

Offline iansinclair

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 1472
Re: Complaints about your piano
Reply #24 on: December 03, 2012, 03:19:18 PM
Mine lacks an autocorrect function.  >:(
Oh dear -- that would be lovely!  It would be working all the time, though... either that or Outin's backspace key... !
Ian

Offline patrickd

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 287
Re: Complaints about your piano
Reply #25 on: December 03, 2012, 04:24:43 PM
No serious complaints aside from the fact that it's not an acoustic piano.

Offline the89thkey

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 400
Re: Complaints about your piano
Reply #26 on: December 18, 2012, 11:16:51 PM
It's just a little out of tune now...I'm getting it tuned for the first time in 3 or 4 months, in 2 days :P

Offline liug_2012

  • PS Silver Member
  • Newbie
  • ***
  • Posts: 17
Re: Complaints about your piano
Reply #27 on: January 11, 2013, 07:43:50 AM
I see that I have found the First World Pianists Problems' forum...

Offline chopin2015

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 2134
Re: Complaints about your piano
Reply #28 on: January 13, 2013, 06:54:30 AM
I see that I have found the First World Pianists Problems' forum...

You mean pianist with first-world problems?
"Beethoven wrote in three flats a lot. That's because he moved twice."
For more information about this topic, click search below!
 

Logo light pianostreet.com - the website for classical pianists, piano teachers, students and piano music enthusiasts.

Subscribe for unlimited access

Sign up

Follow us

Piano Street Digicert