Fall 2021 Newsletter
In-Tune, the Piano World NewsletterFall 2021 Issue
Brought to you by Piano World The world’s most popular piano site, home of the World Famous Piano Forums! (Frank Baxter, editor – founder – owner) | |||||||||||||
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You should be reading our newsletter (oh wait, you are, thank you), join our world famous Piano Forums, host and/or attend a piano party, share your love of piano with others, keep your piano(s) tuned and maintained, support others who want to learn, tell hotels and restaurants you’d like to see/hear live piano players, … Please be sure you have viewing images turned on to get the full effect of our newsletter I’m betting some of you can easily add to the list above, feel free to send me your suggestions. frank@pianoworld.com When I first started Piano World in 1997 it was entirely related to acoustic pianos. I even had a web site in the very early days called All About Pianos (hosted by a company called tiac.net) . Eventually I added a little bit about organs, in part because I’ve always played organ too, and I used to sell both when I worked in music stores. Then digital pianos came on the scene. As a musician and piano tuner I felt they were a weak imitation of a real piano. But gradually they got better and better, to the point where they are pretty damn good (if you’re willing to spend enough money on them). Thanks to the NAMM shows and to my circle of musician friends I’ve been exposed to a lot of different brands and models. And so I created the Digital Pianos, Synths, and Keyboards forum, which has now overtaken the acoustic piano forum as our most popular. Hybrids Thanks to companies like PianoTeq/Modartt (https://www.modartt.com/) there are many incredible physically modelled instrument voices available for systems like the QuietTime ProRecord MIDI system from PianoDisc (https://pianodisc.com/) that I installed in my Estonia L-190. I love my Estonia but I also have a great time playing it as a B3, Honky Tonk piano, Steinway, Steingraeber, etc. And yes I realize I managed to mention three of our advertisers in one paragraph, but I did it because I like their products and I personally own and use them. It will be interesting to see how digital pianos continue to evolve. I hope to make it to the NAMM show next summer. Can’t wait to see my friends in the business, and test out the latest/greatest instruments! I’ve been composing music for years, but never bothered to have it professionally recorded. But so many people have told me I should record one of my original pieces in particular that I decided it was time. Two of my favorite pianist friends (Robin Spielberg and Dana Cunningham) both record at a studio in North Sutton New Hampshire called CedarHouse Sound & Engineering. So that’s where I went to record my piece. Gerry the engineer/owner of the studio is a great guy, he really knows his stuff and he makes you feel very comfortable. You can listen to my piece here: https://frankbaxtermrpianoworld.bandcamp.com/track/ours-is-a-special-kind-of-love It doesn’t cost anything to listen to it, but if you like enough to own a copy (and I hope you do) I’m asking $3.00. That gets you a hi-res/hi-def download to own and unlimited plays on BandCamp Either way I’d love to get your feedback Here I am seated at "Eleanor", the studio Steinway B 
I actually tuned the piano myself before I recorded on it. Saved me a few bucks and allowed me to get to know the piano’s personality (she has a lovely voice). With special thanks to Michael at TrekII products in New Jersey (www.trekii.com) I now have the Hammond D100 and the Leslie HL722 are now talking to each other, and they sound great together!
This system sounds amazing! It’s like the famous B3 only better! For sale, own them both for $4500 (USD) Additional Pictures and Information Here: https://pianoworld.com/hammond-d100-for-sale/ A 4 minute video of me demonstrating the setup… https://youtu.be/ToewUsRWKZY 
Here is a reply I recently had to send to a piano bench customer of ours… Hi Anthony, I’ve been staying in touch with the manufacturer, the picture is still bleak do to lack of materials. They are having major issues getting materials (mechanisms). While they do build the bench itself in house they purchase the mechanism (they are having the same problem obtaining parts for the dollies they sell). And they aren’t our only supplier dealing with this, it seems all of our suppliers are having similar issues. Much like the car industry having trouble obtaining computer chips, the manufacturers and suppliers here are having serious challenges obtaining the parts they need. Part of the problem starts with the sheer number of cargo ships waiting to unload. Thousands of containers have to be unloaded from these ships, then loaded one by one on trucks who will then haul them to the warehouses where they then need to be loaded on smaller trucks/deliver services to reach the manufacturers and suppliers. A shortage of laborers and truckers combined with an extraordinary number of ships is causing a bottleneck. See this article from the NY Post… (62 Container Ships Backed Up) Bottom line? It could be another 8 weeks before the manufacturers have the parts they need. I apologize for the inconvenience but unfortunately the situation is beyond our control and beyond the control of our suppliers. Everyone is doing their best but their hands are tied until the parts they need arrive. We will stay on top of this. All the Best, Frank Baxter Piano World / PianoSupplies.com Here in the north the weather is getting colder and drier. Changes in temperature and humidity can be tough on a piano. Ideally you should strive to keep the humidity around 50% and maintain an even temperature. Depending on where your piano is located you might be able to control the humidity with a good room humidifier. Although if you really want to be good to your piano, invest in a system designed for pianos like the Dampp Chaser systems. I use one on my Estonia L-190. Ask your piano tuner-tech about protecting your piano. Keeping the humidity and temperature balanced helps stabilize the tuning and prevent other issues. Many of the better piano manufacturers require this as part of their warranty. If you find yourself coming to southwest Maine, stop by Cornish, the Piano World headquarters and the home of Maple Street Music Shop (www.MapleStreetMusicShop.com). You can meet me and my Estonia L-190 with the installed MIDI system and PianoTeq software. And while you’re here, pick up your free Piano World Piano Forums member pin. 
Or as I like to call them, Tuner Helpers. I always enjoy meeting the fur babies at my tuning customer’s homes. 
Lorraine took me to see the Jersey Boys live at a theater in Westbrook Maine.
What a fantastic show! The music was great, the story telling between songs was fascinating. I learned a lot of things I never knew about Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. (I also didn’t realize Frankie Valli is the only one of the original group who is still touring, at 87) The actors/singers were amazing, wonderful voices, so talented. The theater required all attendees to show proof of vaccination and to wear a mask. (As much of a nuisance as wearing a mask may be, it’s a lot less intrusive then dieing from Covid.) If you get a chance to see/hear this show I would highly recommend it. I was recently given this accordion. It is a Scandalli from Italy. It’s in really good shape and everything is working. I’ll likely end up selling it but I don’t have any idea what it might be worth, or where to sell it. Anyone familiar with them? Please send me an email if you have any suggestions (frank(at)PianoWorld.com) 
I’ve decided it’s time to find a new home for this antique reed organ (pump organ). Although I love the design, I need the room more than I need the organ. Free to good home. Currently located in my barn in Cornish Maine. I also know where there are two other nice reed organs for free (in Lowell, MA). 
As many of you know, I purchased a big (9 bedroom) old (1850) house in Cornish Maine thinking I’d open a little
music shop in the house, and do some Air BNB.
The store is now open, MapleStreetMusicShop.com 48 Maple Street Cornish, Maine 04020 If you find ourself in this area (Southwest Maine) please come by for a visit. The BNB part is still not up and running, although I do have one guest room completed (and a queen size sofa-bed in the library). I still have some work to do, and I’m still concerned about the virus. I think it’s pretty safe if guests are fully vaccinated (I am). I’m keeping an eye on things as places open across the country. Speaking of Piano Tuners… I am a professional piano tuner and I rely on tuning pianos for part of my living. Since the pandemic my tuning business has dropped off significantly, but it’s slowly coming back. Things are just starting to pick up for me. So if you are in the Southwest Maine or Mid-East area of New Hampshire I’d be happy to tune your piano. And yes, I’m fully vaccinated and being careful. You can find My Ad Here If you have any interest in learning more about Piano World and/or your host (that would be me), please visit our About Us page. 
Get your children interested in music at a young age and they will have a companion
the rest of their lives.
Making music can be so rewarding, plus it’s fun and relaxing. Not to mention that many studies have shown the children who study music also do better academically. So if your child shows any interest in music, support them, encourage them, get them an instrument (please make sure it’s one that is in good playable condition, find them a teacher. I see that live music events are slowly but surely coming back. (I’ve even picked up a couple of small gigs myself). If you know of any concerts or competitions being held virtually, please post about them on our Piano Forums so we can share them. I know that my friend , concert pianist Jeffrey Biegel is working with composers on some pieces for smaller orchestras, and locally the Oqunquit Playhouse (Maine) is holding their events in a huge tent. Remember, if you know of any piano concerts, competitions, or events … let us know! You can post in this section of the piano forums (and/or email us). Don’t forget to keep an eye on the forum below for news of upcoming concerts, competitions, and special (piano) events. Piano Concerts – Competitions – Events I love my Estonia grand piano but just to make it a bit more interesting I installed a PianoDisc ProRecord system which gives my piano the ability to transform into a MIDI controller. What does that mean you ask? Among other things I can assign different instrument sounds to my piano. I’ve included a couple of examples below. If you’d like to know more contact me, or if you are in my area (southwest Maine) stop by and I’ll be happy to demonstrate live (and let you try it). Estonia piano with piano and choir Estonia L-190 sounds like a choir Estonia L-190 sounds like Hammond B3 And for Comparison, one that is straight piano (original composition) I also added a couple of Christmas pieces to my YouTube channel. The Piano Forums on Piano World are not just one forum, there are in fact several, each with a specific targeted audience in mind. The following is a brief description of some of our most popular forums.
About Closing a Piano Forums Account We don’t like to lose any members (well, ok, there have been a few we weren’t sorry to see go 🙂 But if you are thinking of asking us to close/delete your account, please see this page: Forums Rules and Guidelines Visit the Piano Forums Today! Did you know you can easily view a list of the current active topics in the forums? You can view active topics from the last 24 hours, the last 48 hours, or the last 7 days. Here is an example of the current active topics from the last seven days Piano Forums Active Topics You can find the Active Topics link at the top of the page, or just use the link I provided above. When you get there, you can always change the time frame to one of the other choices.
NOTE:
Our friends in Europe have hosted piano parties every year since 2013… 2013 it was Brussels, Belgium 2014 it was Lisbon, Portugal 2015 it was Lucerne, Switzerland 2016 was in Milan, Italy (Kathy my former partner and I went to this one, amazing) 2017 had not one but two European parties, one was in Bulgaria, the other in Spain. Here are some Reports & Pictures from the one in Spain. 2018 was In Germany I know there were a few parties posted for 2019. There was talk of a piano party in Bulgaria in 2020 Bulgaria Piano Party Thread We’ve also hosted a tour of European Piano Makers (2011), a Piano Cruise , a Piano Crawl (NY), and several tours of the Mason & Hamlin factory in Haverhill MA and the Steinway factory in NY. Unfortunately the pandemic put a damper on a lot of party plans in 2020 and into 2021.I’m hoping for a comeback soon. Not sure what a piano party is? Check out the links above, and this forum Forum Members Parties, Tours, Cruises, & Meetings Also, see this Collection of Piano Parties and Tours compiled by one of our moderators (thank you Casinitaly). We now have a special sub-forum under the Piano Forum specifically as a place for posts about members getting a new (to them) piano. I love reading the threads posted by members who have finally purchased their piano. Seeing the pictures and hearing the stories reminds me of one of the most important reasons we are here, to help each other. And if you’ve found Piano World and/or the Forums to be helpful, we’d love to know that too. Unfortunately these posts get buried quickly as new threads get created. If you recently got a piano, or you know of a thread where someone is talking about getting their new piano, please let me know. I’d love to move the threads to this one central place for all to share in the joy of owning and playing a piano. The New Piano Owners forum lives here , right under the primary Piano Forum.  Organ Repair Vintage Hammond and Leslie Specialist Repair or Rebuild – To Sound your Best Sales – Service Pleasant Mount, Pa. 18453 570-960-1018 / 570-679-2715 www.tonewheeltech.com Have you visited our online store for music lovers? PianoSupplies.com is a division of Piano World. Sales in our online store help support Piano World. 
We sell benches,lamps, cushions, music related party goods, tuning equipment, piano moving equipment and so much more. And we offer free shipping on Jansen Artist Benches* and CocoWeb Piano Lamps* (*contiguous U.S.) PianoSupplies.com is Piano World’s Online Store
A Few of the New Items In Our Physical Store in Cornish Maine…
I’ll Show You Mine if You Show Me Yours (Show Us Your Piano Room Pictures) This thread has been running for over ten years now! Every once in a while someone discovers it and adds pictures of their own Piano/Music room. If you haven’t posted yours yet, please feel free to add them. We don’t care if you only have a keyboard sitting on a table or two concert grands in an elaborate music room, we just love seeing people’s set up and knowing they are enjoying making music. If you would like to add your pictures to this thread PLEASE be sure to upload your pictures to our servers (see Posting Pictures on the Piano Forums below). Otherwise they may just disappear some day, as you will see in some of the posts in this thread. the Show Us Your Piano Room Pictures Thread Here is a view looking out the front door of my music shop, with a classic Woodie antique parked across the street. 
This is a picture of my Music Room in my house/music shop in Cornish Maine. 
Have you visited the member recordings forums? This is a great place to hear some of your fellow forums members. One is a sub forum in the Pianist Corner which features primarily classical music. Member Recordings – Pianist Corner The other is under the Fun Stuff category and contains hundreds of recordings of all types of wonderful music. Member Recordings – General I’ve even posted a few in there myself. Find a Piano Professional *Piano Dealers – Piano Stores *Piano Tuners *Piano Movers *Piano Teachers *Piano Restorations *Piano Manufacturers | |||||||||||||
Please Share Our Newsletter with Others, & Invite People to Join Our Forums If you’ve actually read this far, Thank You! And if you have suggestions for future issues of our newsletter, please feel free to share them with me. In closing I’d like to thank each and everyone of you for being a friend of the Piano World and for visiting my web site(s). I hope all of you come through this craziness ok and that things get back to normal soon. (the girl I’m dating is a respiratory therapist at a major hospital, I worry about her and her co-workers every day). Keep playing the piano, and sharing your music. We could all use a little music in our lives about now. It’s Fun to Play The Piano … Please Pass It On! Warm Regards, Frank Baxter (Founder / Host) Piano World & the Piano Forums, PianoSupplies.com Maple Street Music Shop 48 Maple Street Cornish, Maine 04020 100,000+ Forums Members, Over 3 Million Posts, and always growing! frank@pianoworld.com Piano World On: Facebook … Facebook.com/PianoWorldDotCom Online Store for Music Lovers … www.PianoSupplies.com LinkedIn … www.linkedin.com/in/ecommerceseo YouTube … www.youtube.com/user/PianoWorldDotCom | |||||||||||||
Piano Girl Playbook: Notes on a Musical Life
