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original by deloris
How should we know whether the tuning pin of the used piano is good or not? We cant ask the tuner to check b4 we buy, rite

buying a tuning wrench is not viable,and you still need a tech to turn it,although tis the best method.
i suggest you buy a tuning fork A 440c/s few dollars.test the A nos 49 keys and compare it with the tuning fork(if they sounds at the same frequency most likely its safe and also play the cromatic scale are they sounding right.
tips for you :to test the dealers professionlism.
many traders dont prepare a concert pitch standard piano ,
each of you play the same note on different piano at the same time .eg A49 together,you can hear do they sound the same .same frequency should sound the same if not forget it.
buying a new or used its same thing ,you need to tune to standard pitch of A440c/s the shop should do this if they really care for your child,affect her hearing if play too long on a wrong pitch piano,hearing test will be bad,

Ya lor... SQtech, how come you post so early in the morning? Due to strong coffee? Cheers, i think we are on the same track, to service and tune pianos in SG with honesty and pride...

Yah lor, why like that. For buyers who'd like to bring a piano tech along, just pretend he's your friend or brother lor. The seller should not be intimidated and be open about the sales. Who knows, it may be to his benefit. If the tech see a good piano, he will recommend others to the seller too.

Even if the piano is not tip top, but it may still sound great (minus the cosmetic) Ever play a looks great but sounds bad piano? But it piano is not good, worn out with "beef floss", sound bad, it should not be on sale in the first place.

I feel shop or private sale should welcome 2nd opinion from tech. They could disagree or agree and end result is to understand the needs of the customer more as a result. (a chance for the tech to sell service too, touch regulation, voicing..)
If the tech reflect that piano isn't worth the $$, at least the seller knows that he might have over priced a bit.

But tech must be non bias of course lah, cannot under table ok? How about asking the tech to wear a mask or put on a moustach so that the deal can't recognize him? How about blind fold the tech so that he doesn't know which dealer you are bring him to? When you reach there, put a black cloth tent over the piano for him to inspect under it, the dealer must remain outside and their identity withheld?

I think you all must be laughing by now.. hehehe

anyone here hire alvin who sells sauters to tune kawais or yamahas? how's the outcome?

talked once to him over the phone and found he really know his stuff. can describe the actual state of my old piano just be conversing....

Visited some shops and found these.....

1. Ellington Deluxe model (new at $4600), German parts, made in Korea.

2. Karl Schonberg KU121 (new at $5800) and KU131 (new at $6500) both made in Korea, and uncle said Karl Schonberg is a German Company bought over by the Korean.

3. Yamaha U2 (used about 35yo at $3200), felt and hammers replaced, board and strings (uncle said these are crucial parts) original.

4. Yamaha U10H (new at $6k+), made in Indonesia, not of spruce wood.

I would most appreciate it to hear your views on the above made and prices. Will be visiting some more shops to see see touch touch other make. Yet to see the Kawai K3.

1. Ellington Deluxe model (new at $4600), German parts, made in Korea.
ans:i thought its made in china

3. Yamaha U2 (used about 35yo at $3200), felt and hammers replaced, board and strings (uncle said these are crucial parts) original.
ans : try consider U1 or U3 and younger ones please,as U2 have been dicountinue production many years ago.age a little concern
4. Yamaha U10H (new at $6k+), made in Indonesia, not of spruce wood.
ans: should be U10J soundboard is laminated spruce thats why cheaper than a solid spruce one.

Hi,
I have to aplogise for interupting. I need some advise. I have actually enrolled my daughter (6 yrs old) for Yamaha junior course and she's been there close to 2 yrs now. The problem is she's way behind her peers in sight reading.
She's basically memorising the songs by heart. Is that the correct way?

Morever, she refused to come out to play the piano when it's her turn and shred tears every lessons. She's ok at home though, practising the songs.

I am at a loss what to do since it's abt 2 mths more to her exams.

I dont have a piano at home, basically she practises using the keybroad and we are hesitating in buying a piano as it can be a huge investment and it can go to a waste if she doesnt want to continue.

Does anyone faces similiar problems when it comes to kids?

I empathize with you. Every child has different ablilties and timings. Keyboard is OK. The love for music cannot be obstructed. Don't have to focus too much on exams. Hastening results could be futile at this stage.

As for real account. Last sunday i tuned a petrof. The pianist is an 8year girl. I notice a stack of 12" high music books on top of piano. After i tuned, ashlyn plays many songs from memory, little bach here, little jazz there, some counterpoints. I'm amazed, seems she likes piano music well. Her younger brother haven't take up lesson yet, but anyhow press the keys but sound like fusion jazz already... hahaha
She even pose for me to take a pic! As i was waiting for the lift, her playing fills the neighbour corridors.. thumbs up.

Interestingly, when i enquire her mom, she is only in grade 1 and taking exams soon. But, like you, her child took the 2 year yamaha course(i need to attend these course). So, this really strikes me. The yamaha children development course is doing it's part in developing budding pianist is well establish working model. And the thing is they bought this 131petrof only a year earlierm meaning she uses a keyboard too at the learning stage.

Do worry, not to pressure her if she isn't ready for mini recital or exams. Give her a hug and tells her it's ok, tell mommy or daddy when you are ready. Giving her phobia is the last thing you'd wanna do. Slowly expose her abilities. Encourage her to "preform" to family members, applaud everytime as a reward.

Be patience. The aim of music is a life long learning journey, instill into the heart of those chosen to be musician. I constantly hear piano owner saying, my children is grade 8, but now as grown ups in 30s, has given up or stop playing completely.... sad.

cheer up

original by rzz
The problem is she's way behind her peers in sight reading.
She's basically memorising the songs by heart. Is that the correct way?

thers not right or wrong on the above,agree with snoopycar/after 2 years she have aquire good sense of hearing and most likely aleady have music appreciation in her .
she will enjoy piano more then many childs whom simply start piano the traditinal way,
music is to enjoy,dont stress her n yourself,(i knew of many grade 8 player,without a score they can play(do you want your child to be like this?

since she have aquired sense of hearing,its important that the piano you invest in future must be tune to A440 c.p.s (international standard pitch)

Talking about piano playing, i have some more interesting observations.

It about problem solving skills development.
How do you breaks up a difficult task into sections. After overcoming the individual section, how do you connects it up. How do you transform the mechanical playing to and enjoyable musical moment?

It's also about finding the right teacher to strengthen the weak areas you have. Another encouraging story i heard is this play can't sight read well, but can memorize, doesn't take exams, no grade. So end up he could play at road shows demos. In real life, he's a lawyer.
What about the aeronautic engineer story ......

Perhaps its time to get an Acoustic Piano Like U1 and you're halfway there already.

Come to think of it U1 sounds like YOU-WANT. Yes you-want, buy me now......

Then U2 sounds like YOU-TOO, yes you want to buy 1 too.

U3 sounds like Are YOU-FREE.. no i'm busy tonight.

Don't buy U5 coz it sounds like U're Fired... hahaha

cheers

"Yah lor, why like that. For buyers who'd like to bring a piano tech along, just pretend he's your friend or brother lor. The seller should not be intimidated and be open about the sales. Who knows, it may be to his benefit. If the tech see a good piano, he will recommend others to the seller too."
haha...sorry I can't help it! Singlish lol. I'm singaporean too...

I took the yamaha course when I was a little kid too for about 5 years, although they never corrected my flat fingers, I know it did my alot of good. I really taught me to love music and made a difference to my life as compared to many other kids

Hi Fun Fun Trip,

Sorry, late reply. Me not online for some days.

Kawai K3 dimension:
Height 48" (122 cm)
Width 60" (150 cm)
Depth 24" (59 cm)
Weight 483 lbs. (219 kg)

I also can't really play the music with out the song sheet.
I have stopped playing for more than 10 yrs. Now start again. :b:
All the fingers are hard already..
Usually i just try the scales, I feel scales is good, you can feel all the tune.

I also cant afford to pay the whole sum in 1 go. I do the installement by the credit card.
You may check with the store.

Hope you can find the good piano that suits you..

Hi rzz,

You should not be worrying too much about her sight-reading skill at this time. I am sure she will improve with more practice.

What you should focus now is on learning the correct fingering. Make sure she don't learn the bad habit of playing with flat fingers. No good. It will be difficult for her to unlearn the mistakes in her later years.

Don't be stingy about getting a good acoustic piano. Think of long-term benefit.
Go for a piano with a good tone and medium touch (not too hard or soft).

... and most importantly, get a private piano teacher, who is qualified (LRSM) and good in human management skill.

Wow, i like the Bach Partita.....
http://www.audiolunchbox.com/album?a=24073
What should the tempo of Capriccio?
BACH: Partita No. 2 in C minor, BWV 826 - Capriccio
I have one mp3 in my handphone thats so fast, the one play in the link seems 3 time slower...

hehehe, yes the singlish makes this thread unique, less former tone, more fun. I heard from my friends angmors here speaks with lahs and lors too nowadays. Join in, don't paisay lah...

Anyway, i wish i was enroll into the yamahahaha junior course when i was young. No chance to be a teacher at my age now. But somehow i mananage to learn some intermediate song and loving the piano everyday, epecially weekends when it's ok to play anytime in the day hours without volume restraints.

Hmmm Canada, long way from home huh? The usual question, do you miss chay kuey teow, roasted chicken rice, haimanese oily chicken rice, rojak, durian, ice kachang, ice cheng teng, wanton mee... char siew rice, ban mien, ngo hiang bee hoon... ok i'll stop here to prevent you from drooling further.. or do you have a hawker center there selling all these already?
Tiong bahru hawker have rebuilt you know??

Ah ha... canada had a famous Bach specialist call GG, i wished 2% og me can play like him.

Good advise, hope rzz will take it easy and be encouraged.

Hi there,
I'm glad I found this forum. Really appreciate all your comments and advise.
Been ignorant,I would never have thought about LRSM when hiring a private tutor.

I dont have any music background, it may sound stupid, what do you mean by flat fingers? and in any event shd I invest in a acoustic or a digital piano? My hubby is more hands up for the digital as he feels that there wont be any tuning required and the sound effect is the same. Maintenance, will be much easier.

When will be a gd time to start her off on a 1-1 basis? She will be completing her 2 year course in Sep.

Hi rzz, welcome to the forum, and to our Uniquely Singaporean (TM) thread.

An acoustic piano and digital piano are most definitely NOT the same. I have both and I can assure you that for piano music, a decent acoustic instrument beats a digital piano hands down.

can i add...... but the acoustic piano gotta be of decent brand, tone and touch in the first place, then only it can beat the digital hands down(spanking + yee haa).. hehehe

http://www.pianoworld.com/ubb/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?/topic/1/17651.html

Quote clam "...They had this anniversary offer when I bought the K8 so I paid $11K+ for the K8...."

>>>> Hi clam, what makes you finally decide on the K8?

>>>> Hi SQtech, understand that K50 is being replaced by the K5. Does that mean it is better to buy the K5 instead of the K50 as the latter would be discontinued in production just like the U2?

This afternoon went to see the K3, K5 and K50 at Centrepoint. Got the salesperson to play on the K3 and K50. Lovely!

One thing that a digital piano can NEVER do is provide you with the tone intermodulation that an acoustic piano can. It also cannot imitate the effect of the damper (sustain) pedal. That's why I bought an acoustic piano last November, after years of feeling dissastisfied with a digital keyboard.

Haha....thanks lah! Would like to help you with the Bach Partita in C minor (Capriccio) but i've only learnt the Sinfonia besides I have enough to learn now!

Yup, to be exact Canada is 18 hours away from Singapore by plane...so far arh. I miss singapore alot lor, here you can't get food as good for 2 or 3 dollars if you get the same you'll probably pay about $12 singapore dollars which is crazy...