PTG Blog

Keeping the Piano Industry in Touch

Earl Wild dies at 94

Renowned American pianist Earl Wild has died at age 94. This New York Times article is a nice tribute to him.

A “Million Dollar” Christmas Piano

Winston-Salem, N.C. (PRWEB) December 10, 2009 — If you’re looking for a spectacular Christmas present for your special someone, consider the $1.2 million Kuhn-Bösendorfer piano, the world’s most expensive new piano.

The optical quality crystal reflects light like a living work of art.

Winston Salem, NC (PRWEB) December 10, 2009 — Winston-Salem, N.C. (PRWEB) December 10, 2009 — If you’re looking for a spectacular Christmas present for your special someone, consider the $1.2 million Kuhn-Bösendorfer piano, the world’s most expensive new piano.

Composer reinvents the piano

Fluid

Geoff Smith believes he has come up with the first multicultural acoustic piano – what he has trademarked as a fluid piano – which allows players to alter the tuning of notes either before or during a performance.

What I Do: I repair pianos

PTG Member William Monroe got this nice write up in the Wisconsin State Journal

Kemble pianos: out of tune with the times

The lid has closed on Britain’s last piano-makers, defeated by overseas competition and the rise of digital pop. But the real tragedy is that we care so little.

This article from the Guardian tells the story.

Fresno hosts popular Southern gospel concerts

Another PTG member Wilbur Daniels, RPT is in the news. He hosts gospel music in his home town of Fresno. This report is from fresnobee.com

Loving restoration of a piano captured on film

PTG Member John Callahan has rebuilt a Steinway M and the process was the subject of a film by John Korty. This article from SFGate in San Francisco details it.

Film Showing: Miracle in a Box/A Piano Reborn: 3 p.m. Saturday at Rafael Film Center in San Rafael, 2:30 p.m. Oct. 17 at the Sequoia in Mill Valley. (877) 874-6833; www.mvff.com.

Talking Piano

We used to have talking guitars. Now engineers have separated a speaking voice in to “pixels” which are then played on a piano. The narration is in German but there are subtitles. It’s a bit hard to understand but is amazing nonetheless.

This link has further explanation of what he doing with this piano.

Scaling new heights: Piano stairway encourages commuters to ditch the escalators

Here is an article about people who transformed a stairway in the subway in Stockholm, Sweden into a working piano keyboard. This was done to encourage more people to climb the stairs and not take the escaltor.

IPhone App Lets up to 10 People Play the Piano

Here’s an article from PCWorld about an iPhone app that lets up to 10 people play a Yamaha Disklavier from their iPhone. I can’t see a great use for this yet, but usually innovation starts with something unusual and then gets changed into something useful.