We are proud that Pianovers Meetups, a weekly event organised by ThePiano.SG and held at Urban Park @ URA is given coverage in the Draft Master Plan 2019 Exhibition by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA). According to the description from URA, Urban Park @ URA is "A driveway turned public park with seating areas and pianos for music performances and weekly gatherings of Pianovers organised by ThePiano.SG."
To celebrate Bach's 334th birthday, on 21 March 2019, IT giant Google released its first AI-powered Doodle, which allows music lovers to input their custom melody. The software, created between Google Magenta and Google PAIR teams, then uses machine learning to harmonise the custom melody into Bach's signature music style.
An exhibition in 2006 showed Mozart's life as lavishly lived with an income that could beat other musicians in the 18th-century Vienna. He earned a whopping 10,000 florins a year! That made him one of the top 5% of the high earners. At this time, you could live an easy and elite life without any hassles. 500 florins a year was just enough!
Who knew that even a simple changing of hands for a used pianos could go wrong? Anna wanted to give her piano away, and was very confident that her piano was definitely in a good condition just before the piano was moved out. A day after Bella received the piano, she took a video showing the defects - several sticky keys and a few broken strings. Who's the culprit - Anna, Bella, or piano mover?
You could be looking to buy a used piano or selling your beloved piano. No matter the case, you’re probably wondering, “what is the current market value of the piano?” To have a good estimate, you will need a piano appraisal. But, what is a piano appraisal? Why do you need one? And how do you get one? Here we have some common questions about this topic and our answers to them! From the reasons why, to the process and tips when getting one, you’ll find all you need to know about piano appraisals.
If you have watched a piano concert or recital, you would have noticed that pianists on stage all sit with their right sides facing the audience. Why are the pianos placed in this position, at a right angle to the audience? Have you ever wondered who set this precedent? Who was the first performer to do this?
This year 2019, we celebrate Bach’s 334th birthday on 21-24 March around the world. And in Singapore, Pianovers Meetup #115 will join in this celebration by having it JS Bach Themed on 24 March, and Pianovers are encouraged to play pieces by Bach.
Vexations was found with the inscription: “In order to play the theme 840 times in succession, it would be advisable to prepare oneself beforehand, and in the deepest silence, by serious immobilities”. The first time the piece was performed in a marathon performance was on September 9, 1963, produced by John Cage and Lewis Lloyd. Cage underestimated the concert’s duration, which went on for as long as 18 hours.
Joseph Haydn, a famous composer, was age 77 when he died because he was suffering from an illness for a long time. It happened in Vienna on May 31, 1809. After his burial, his head was severed and stolen. Two men who were interested in phrenology, bribed the gravedigger to steal his head. Pretty eerie, isn’t it?
Recently, Morley College in London was planning to put on an event celebrating International Women's Day when it unintentionally caused a public relations uproar. The college had produced a poster featuring a male pianist and no women performing on what was supposed to be a day celebrating women. Female activitists immediately took issue to this.
When Rachmaninoff's Symphony No. 1 premiered in 1897, critics utterly condemned it. A critic and composer César Cui compared the piece with a depiction of the Ten Plagues of Egypt and brutally suggested that it would be well-received by the "inmates" of a music conservatory in Hell. Rachmaninoff fell into a depression that lasted for four years, suffered from writer’s block, and composed almost nothing.
Wolfson pianist Churen Li, who is also a Singaporean, recently participated in the Cambridge University Music Society Concerto Competition, and has been awarded First Prize. She played the Piano Concerto No. 2, Op.18, I (1901) by Rachmaninov. During this performance, she was accompanied by fellow pianist Antonia Huang.
Russia did not accept the fact that Tchaikovsky was gay and has been shunning that declaration. However, there were some letters which Tchaikovsky explained his likes and sexual attraction towards other men. They were hidden from the world. One of the letters read Tchaikovsky's adoration for a servant, “My God, what an angelic creature and how I long to be his slave, his plaything, his property!”
Many factors can contribute to a superhero movie’s popularity and success. In the case of Wonder Woman, the music plays an important part. How does the melody which is made up of the notes: E-G-B-B♭, create such intense and powerful feelings? Did you also get a hint of a banshee's cry in this theme?
Do you know elephant ivory was widely used to make piano keys many years ago? This was because of its value and aesthetic quality, and its ability to absorb the fingers' perspiration. Compared to plastic keys, ivory piano keys can even help to reduce the chances of the pianist’s fingers slipping while playing. If you have an old piano, and you're suspecting if its piano keys are made of ivory, check out the following 6 methods.
Among female pianists, a common question that comes up in their minds is: Can I play the piano with long nails? For all their interest and skills in playing the piano, having long fingernails may present quite a fair bit of problems when playing the piano. Let's nail the nails problem.
In the case where you need to sell your piano, it is very common that you need to locate its serial number, because, combined with its piano manufacturer's name, you can calculate your piano's age and consequently determine its estimated resale value. Learn how to find your piano's serial number now.
Amusia is a musical disorder which inhibits a person to process pitch, and affects musical memory and recognition. Amusia can be present at birth or sometime at a later part in life. It can also happen from brain damage. When you acquire amusia at birth, it is known as tone deafness, or Congenital Amusia. This type of amusia affects about 4% of the population. Acquired Amusia from brain damage, however, is more common.
Portuguese-American musician Domingos-Antonio Gomes (born 1977), aka Antonio Domingos, made it happen. With his choice of Yamaha CFX concert grand piano, Antonio sets a record of hitting the key B7 a staggering 824 times, in just 60 seconds, which works out to be 13 hits in a second!
You know the feeling when you always keep moving up? Just like the Penrose stairs which is an impossible reality, something that fools the human eye. A similar thing can happen with tones, giving you what you call an auditory illusion. The Shepard Tone is a tone that seemingly goes up or down endlessly – At least that’s what it appears to be doing!
Oh, the wonders of music! What can we expect from 7-stacked pianos and a musical charity piano marathon? Endless moments of bliss. Find out about Conor Hughes's annual Crosscause Project fundraiser on St. Stephen’s Day in Ireland, and Steinway and Sons' piano marathon in Singapore.
The Petrof Upright Piano Magic Egg is an instrument like no other. With its 150 years of tradition, experience, patenting and innovation it surely stands out as a masterpiece. The genius behind its creation is Ing. Arch. Robert Fišer. The diligence, skill and single-mindedness of a hardworking workforce has made it more fascinating. Its shell is futuristic, breath-taking and elegant.
Piano recitals are actually good opportunities for piano students to bring their skills to the next level, and they are an important platform for boosting their confidence. In fact, the benefits of piano recitals and public performances for pianists are priceless, period. Here are the top 20 reasons why performing at recitals is important.