My Piano…
- February 6th, 2010
- Posted in Music
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Kawai GM-10K
Since I posted about the favorite of all my guitars a couple of months back, I figured now would be a good time to write something about the newest edition to my arsenal of instruments. Pictured is my first piano: a baby grand K. Kawai GM-10K. I bought this piano roughly 4 months ago. Now, I didn’t decide one day that it was time for me to learn piano. I took a few piano lessons when I was about 6 years old, but eventually chose the guitar as my instrument of choice.
The main justification for the purchase of a piano is that I wanted to start my children’s music education in the very near future and decided a piano would be a good start. So, my wife and I began looking at pianos. The first place we started was the Steinway Piano Gallery here in San Antonio. The gallery was a nice place filled with many pianos from many different manufacturers. While there I became somewhat frustrated about selecting a piano. Aside from the unique timbre of each instrument, I couldn’t play anything to tell them apart. Pianos have different “action” as well. Sure I could press the keys on each but that would provide little help.
Baby Grand Kawai
Of all the pianos in our price range I listened to, the GM-10K had the best sound in my opinion. So I did a little research about the manufacturer and gathered all the opinions I could regarding this piano line. I found nothing negative, so decided to purchase the GM-10K. We got the piano home the same day and it looks wonderful in our sitting room, but there was still one more problem. No one in the house could play it!! This problem was also frustrating to me, so I took it upon myself to learn how to play something. Since I am a fan of classical music (Chopin is my favorite composer), I decided to learn Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 14, Op. 27 popularly known as the “Moonlight Sonata.” It took me about a month to learn and in doing so I realized how much I enjoyed play the piano. So much so, I decided to learn other songs. I’m currently working on Debussy’s “Clair de lune” from the Suite Bergamasque, Chopin’s Prelude in E minor No. 4, Op. 28 and Nocturne in E-flat major No. 2, Op. 9.
-Tim
If you’d like some help learning “Clair de lune”, you might be interested in these free video lessons that go through the piece note by note for absolute beginners:
http://www.pianofromscratch.com/clair-de-lune/page-2
Hello Hugh!
Thanks for stopping by! I am very familiar with your website and the awesome free lessons you have on how to play “Clair de lune” (I need to work harder at proof reading my posts!). I am able to play the play the piece up through measure 42, but still need practice playing the piece at the correct tempo in some places. Your lessons have been an enormous help since I’ve decided to learn piano. I’ve been able to read music to a degree for a while, but I have learned a lot more since visiting your site. Thanks again, and I hope to see new lessons soon!
-Tim
Tim — I’m really glad that this is working out so well for you! Come in sometime (I know you were in recently — sorry I missed you) and show me how you are progressing. Sounds like you are kicking it, and having fun to boot.
Enjoy, and let me know if I can help you with anything.
Brad
Hello Brad!
It’s great to hear from you! Yes, Monica and I did stop in a couple weeks ago. After playing the Kawai for a bit I had the desire to play a Steinway. I absolutely love the Model “B”! Thanks for visiting and I’ll stop by the gallery again soon!
-Tim