Researchers have established a link between playing sounds to the positive treatment of and relief from stress and ailments like Parkinson’s Disease and hormonal problems. People who have had problems speaking have also been healed with the help of music. In today’s modern, fast-paced world, where stress takes its daily, unrelenting toll on us, it may be worthwhile to take a step back and explore sound’s healing effects.
Steinway & Sons announces the release of a new limited- edition piano to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Steinway-Designed Boston line. These 125 unique “Silver Anniversary” grand pianos feature handsome additions and enhancements that showcase the sterling character of the Boston.
In Pianovers Meetup, we welcome piano teachers who bring their students. Exposure to platforms outside the classroom is something we value and appreciate. Learning should be holistic and at ThePiano.SG, we appreciate teachers like Jennice who make the effort to bring their students to Pianovers Meetups!
At Pianovers Meetups, we frequently have children joining us and we are very happy to have them around. We believe that growing up should not be just about classroom-based learning. Children should be exposed to other environments and learn from beyond their textbooks. It also helps that they gain confidence performing in public and make new friends along the way!
17 June 2017 marked a major milestone for ThePiano.SG. On this beautiful Saturday evening, Pianovers came together at Clarke Quay for what would be the inaugural Pianovers Hours. Taking on a very apt slogan “Indulge in an evening of piano music with Pianovers over dinner”, Pianovers Hours brings Pianovers Meetup to a whole new level, while allowing Pianovers to enjoy music and mingle over dinner in a cosy environment.
Owing to the school holiday period, this Meetup saw a number of children, many of whom were students of three piano teachers. The young ones were brought by their teachers to perform and to gain exposure in public performances. At ThePiano.SG, we wish all students all the very best in the upcoming piano exams! May you shine in your musical journey!
For the first time on March 2nd 2017, a classical symphony concert was conducted with an innovative hybrid piano, the CELVIANO Grand Hybrid from CASIO. Right in the middle of the first part of the concert with the New Prussian Orchestra and pianist Haruka Kuroiwa, CASIO's hybrid piano played in direct comparison to a traditional concert grand piano.
Having played in the last Meetup and watching herself in the video, Gwen was elated by her own performance. That was why she returned this evening! Armed with a light sabre, Asher and his Dad played their rendition of Theme from Star Wars. It was very heartwarming to see both father and son seated at the piano and enjoying their father-son bonding over music!
Just as people ask if driverless cars will replace the joy of driving and if sending email kills the warm personal touch of writing a traditional letter, people too, are asking if it is really possible for computers to make music. Music, after all, has been an essential part of human existence for as long as civilisations have existed. Now then, to what extent can humans accept music that is artificially-created as part of their lives?
It was another Sunday evening and once again, it was time for piano lovers to gather at the URA Centre. Known as Pianovers, this group of piano enthusiasts comes together every weekend to meet, to bond and to share their love for piano. Each week sees not just the return of regular Pianovers but also the joining of new members. Regular members have also been bringing their families and friends, and this is something that we are certainly very happy about!
The world of music has certainly had its fair share of oddities. A piano had mysteriously appeared on top of Ben Navis, the highest peak in the United Kingdom, in 2006, located only 200m from the summit. And across the Atlantic Ocean, in Santa Monica, California, another piano was also found on a mountain. Let's unravel the mysteries!
As ThePiano.SG builds a community of piano lovers, it is heartening to see people coming back week after week to soak in not just the melodious sound of music, but also the warmth of the close-knit community. In addition, people who came alone have returned with their families and friends. Seeing the community truly coming to pursue their passion, we couldn’t be happier!
It is amazing how music not only entertains people in the ways it is meant to entertain, but how its performers adapt it to suit their personalities and transform it in ways that one never imagined possible. Music and creativity go hand in hand, and when put together, they create magic that inspire people and leave them in awe. Olivier Cumming created his piano on wheels called Rimski’s Piano, while Gary Skaggs pedals his own piano bicycle along San Francisco's streets.
This evening we had many Chopin's works performed! Theng Beng played "Waltz in C-sharp minor, Op. 64, No. 2". Zhi Yuan, who recently joined us at the Meetups, introduced us to three Preludes from Op. 28: No. 4, No. 7, and No. 20. Ren Adachi mesmerised us with "Fantaisie-Impromptu in C-sharp minor, Op. posth. 66", "Étude Op. 10, No. 12 in C minor (Revolutionary Étude)", and "Ballade No. 1 in G minor, Op. 23".
Dutch pianist and composer Jeroen van Veen built a life-sized Lego Piano over a period of more than two years. Consisting of almost 30,000 second-hand Lego bricks, the idea of building the Lego Piano came about over a debate at the coffee table between Jeroen and his two sons. He gave his first public performance on the Lego Piano in his concert in Almere, Netherlands on Friday, 12 November 2016.
Eager to start the evening, Corrine and Wenqing were seen playing an impromptu duet. Theng Beng made his debut performance at The URA Centre today with the 1970 romantic piece "Love Story (Where Do I Begin?)". What's more, newcomer Sean Kong, at a tender age, impressed everyone present with Toccata by Aram Khachaturian!
It was such a magical moment, being to attend Adam Gyorgy's concert with a group of such well-dressed and passionate Pianovers, and to take a group photograph before Adam’s large standee. Although the concert was over, Pianovers could not help but reminisce about the evening, as they made their way to Toast Box for a post-concert supper where they continued to bond and bind, and to share their views about music.
It was a very distressing moment, then, when in April 2007, an Austrian-made Bösendorfer grand piano found its way onto a set of granite steps. The GBP26,000 (SGD78,000 in then’s terms) instrument was being delivered to its new owners at Devon in southwest England, when accident struck.
Since ThePiano.SG introduced the weekly Pianovers Meetups nine months ago, it has become a much-anticipated gathering for piano lovers. The Meetups are all about bringing together people with a passion for piano and music, to bond with one another and to enjoy music together. This week, however, Pianovers had a surprise in store for them, when world-renowned pianist, and Steinway Artist, Adam Gyorgy graced our session, and even had a Live Interview with us!
After Joseph played Für Elise by Beethoven, a small snippet of trivia about "The Mysteries Behind Beethoven’s Für Elise" was shared - Beethoven probably never wanted the version which is popularly played today to exist, and would have preferred the 1822 version instead. Neither was there a person by the name "Elise".
Highly acclaimed Singaporean pianist and distinguished music educator, Benjamin Loh, has officially been conferred the title of Steinway Artist on 9 December 2016 by Steinway & Sons. Benjamin will now join the prestigious international roster with over 1,600 leading musicians and have access to the worldwide resources of Steinway & Sons and its exclusive network of dealers.
Bringing food and snacks for the group, it was a potluck-style Pianovers Meetup #31. There were pizzas, fruits, dim sum, wings, otah, nasi lemak, bee hoon, egg tarts, potato chips, tuna on biscuits, home-made Ching Tng, curry puffs, salads, roast chicken, chicken pie, and plenty more going round. The Meetup began with some casual chat at the barbecue pit, and the moment was captured by a lovely group photo.
When the old Broadwood & Sons piano was sent for tuning and repairs just before Christmas in 2016, workers found a hoard of full and half sovereigns dating back to as far as 1847. According to the Coroner’s Office, the coins, which were made between 1847 and 1915 were intentionally stashed inside the upright piano.
What a big turnout it was this week at the Pianovers Meetup! Not only was there a record number of 11 kids performing in the recital, the group also gathered together for the biggest group photo of 45 Pianovers ever taken since Pianovers Meetup began 8 months ago on 31 Jul 2016.