Merry Christmas

We had a nice Christmas at home this year.  The dogs were excited about opening gifts...mostly liking the paper and tearing it apart.  We had Christmas music playing softly in the background as we read the Christmas story from Luke 2 and then we each opened our gifts, took pictures, and ate.  The rest of the day was spent relaxing.

Cindy's Piano Studio is now on a two-week break. I'm hoping that I'll come back to teaching with new ideas and more fun with technology.  The website is just about done.  I just need to get all the videos uploaded.

A duet recital is in the works as well as an animal music party at the Audubon in Jamestown.

Merry Christmas!

Sohmer & Co. Baby Grand for sale

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

At this time of year, I have people asking about pianos for sale so I wanted to make you aware of this one that is available through my piano tuner.

He is asking $3,000 plus appropriate sales tax for the piano and matching bench. This includes delivery, one free tuning, and a one year warranty.

The baby grand piano model is a Sohmer #69129 Mfg. 1927 5'4" Mahogany cabinet Cupid Model With matching bench. Sohmer is an old piano company that manufactured pianos into the 1970s. Although not a Steinway, it is considered among the better American pianos.

The piano is in very good original condition. It has not had much use over the years. Soundboard and pin block are very good for excellent tuning stability and sound projection. Keytops are ivory in excellent condition. Action is in very good condition. (Which means the keys respond easily to the fingers) Finish is fair to good. Some checking and minor blemishes but no major defects.

My piano tuner purchased this piano from the estate of a woman whose parents had purchased it for her as a young woman. She played occasionally. He had serviced the piano over the years. He cleaned the entire piano inside and out and touched up the cabinet. He also resurfaced the hammers and completely regulated the action (which means that the inside mechanical parts work the way they are supposed to with no sticky keys). The piano has had two tunings and the hammers have been voiced (means it has a nice sound). Given a healthy environment (not too humid or dry), it should have excellent tuning stability.

If you are interested in looking at this, please let me know.

Piano Lessons Equals Better Grades

I love it when students learn the benefits of piano lessons for themselves.  At her first lesson of the year I asked a student what her goals were for piano this year.  Her statement was something like "keep taking lessons".  She said that when she was taking lessons previously with another teacher, she got all "As" in school.  She stopped lessons for a year and got mostly Bs.  When she started lessons with me, she got all As again.  She proved what I've known for 29 years...piano players are better smarter!

I don't have to quote all the research that has been done on the benefits of piano study.  I just have to teach and let the students discover for themselves.

As I think of my other students, I realize that they are great learners too and they go on to college for further learning. 

Yea! for piano

Alexander Schimpf

I just attended an awesome concert by German pianist, Alexander Schimpf.  He started with Bach's French Suite No. 5 in G major, BWV 816, Debussy's Images II and L'isle joyeuse.  After the intermission, he played Beethoven's Pathetique Sonata and ended with Liszt's Ballade No. 2 in b minor. 

From the first notes I knew that it was going to be a special concert.  His technique in voicing the Bach was beautiful.  The bass notes were there but the melody was just beautifully more than the accompaniment.  The Debussy was fun as he brought out the story of each of the three pieces.  I especially enjoyed the Poissons d'or as it reminded me of a Tom and Jerry cartoon.

The "Moonlight Sonata" was played just as I would have expected it to be.  Beautiful and dynamic.

The Listz was awesome to watch.  It always amazes me when the hands are going so fast they are a blurr.

A beautiful concert to listen to and watch. 

I was able to talk with him afterwards for a few minutes at the reception and he was very personable and humble.

An amazing night with some new friends.

Here's his website:  http://www.alexander-schimpf.de/main_en.html

New piano, New teacher, New adventures

Here it is!  My new Kawai K-3 Professional model studio piano.  We are so excited to be able to play on this new piano.  What a joy to hear the beautiful sounds that come from it.  No sticking keys and it's in tune!

Cindy's Piano Studio in Bemus Point is excelling.

Not only do we have a new piano but we also have a new teacher. Brianna Lopez has joined the teaching team providing private and group lessons during the times I'm not available.  Brianna has taught for ten years and was trained by Helga Hulse.

We are looking forward to doing a Christmas recital together at Bemus Point United Methodist church on December 1st.  We will be taking a free-will donation for St. Susan's Center.

Good things are happening at Cindy's Piano Studio in Bemus Point!

Check out Cindy's Piano Studio online at http://www.cindyspianostudio.com.

Do you like taking piano lessons?

I like asking my students if they like taking piano lessons and why.  I recently asked the older beginners class of three girls aged 9-12.  They said because the class is fun. They like being in a group of friends. They like the songs we are learning. And one said that it helps her to play video games and learn typing. 

Fun answers and made me feel like I was doing something worthwhile!

Piano Playing Makes You Smarter?

I was reading a book by Dr. Caroline Leaf called The Gift Within in which she mentions that there are seven ways that we all process thoughts.  We all go through all seven ways but in a different order, which is probably why no two people think alike.  One of the processes is musical.  She listed ways to increase our thought life in each of the seven ways.  One of the ways of increasing musical thoughts is to take music lessons. 

So if you want to be smarter, take piano lessons!  I really do have smart students.  They are learning to think logically which helps with math and spacially, which helps with science. 

Come see me at http://www.cindyspianostudio.com and let's talk about how to make you smarter too.