Just curious, really.

First, there's the piano sitting there.

Then I have a tiny round table to the right of the piano bench to hold stuff, which you have to negotiate to get to the bench. The stuff includes my trusty metronome and a digital clock for timing myself. There are several pencils. There's a coaster on it because my husband has to have a hot beverage while he plays, which never made sense to me but there you go.

On the other side near the wall is a cheap magazine rack from Crate and Barrel, which is expected to hold way too much music. Very unsightly. There are books of music and lesson sheets on the floor. There are two piano bags for toting music to lessons, unless I remember to hide them behind a nearby club chair.

There's a clip-on light, which provides plenty of light for practice because there's not enough light in the room and a gotta have light. It prevents me from closing the piano completely, though, which is causing way too much dust to get inside the piano.

The piano itself is always dusty. The fall board is usually up because no one remember to close it. There is always music on the desk -- whatever the last person was working on. There's a baseball under the piano for some reason; I'll crawl under there and pick it up tonight, I swear.

The piano area is a mess! It has to be. Otherwise it would stand out compared to the rest of the house.

picture please....just send one to Gryph if you can't do it yourself.

Thats what happens when you give the maid a two week vacation.

OK, I gotta take one. After I learn how to work this digital camera. Then I gotta upload it.

This could take *months!*

Cindy -- who thinks this whole cleanliness thing is overrated, but who can only speculate because her house has never once been completely clean

Mine used to look like this, only now there are blinds on the windows to prevent the sunlight from beating down on the piano, the folding screen is gone, as is the vase of fake cherry blossoms. (Hey, it was a staged photo!)

ain't that the truth.

Matt, that's a lovely, serene looking place. It's also disgustingly clean. You should be shot for that.

First, there's a piano there.

We live in a modest house. No foyer or entryway. The front door opens into the living room. Directly across the room from the front door is the piano. It's also in the corner that has the hallway to the bedrooms. Around the corner is the dining room and farther, the kitchen.

So the piano, is pretty much right in the middle of traffic.

Being an upright, it is also the second most popular place to put stuff. The dining room table is at the top of the list. But when I need to put something somewhere where I'll find it again, it lands on top of the piano.

There's a CD rack in back of the corner of the piano, but other than the piano bench, there's no other furniture adjacent. So the piano itself also collects the music books, pencils, metronome, and other paraphernalia of playing. I have an elbow lamp on top of the piano for lighting the music on the rack.

The music rack is sacred. Only current pieces go there.

This is what it looked like when the Winter spinet was sitting there:


This is what the area looked like the day the Knabe arrived:


I'll try to get a larger-area picture in the future.

My Samick is in the entrance to the living room from the dining room against the wall. On the left music desk I have a black flourescent desk lamp that I'm using as a piano lamp. I'll get some tut-tuts and tisk-tisks for this, but I usually set my hot beverage on the lamp stand . Like Cindy's hubby, I like to sip something while I'm practicing. One of these days I'll install a bookshelf on the left to hold piano books and the hot beverage. Behind the lamp is a small fan for use in the summer months.

The last think I practiced on is usually on the music stand. The music sits on a piece I cut off of a black rubber shelf liner so it doesn't slump. To the right of the music is a pencil and some black jelly beans. I like to snack while I'm playing as well as drink.

On the right music desk sets the seldom used metronome and behind it on the folded front lid sets the books I'm using, but not currently playing

I leave the front lid open all the time. It was just too much trouble moving the lamp every time I wanted to close up and open up shop.

The observant among you will notice the cat on the bench. The very observant will notice that the bench is not centered. That's because while I'm practicing the cat sometimes likes to sit beside me. (She's the only one of six cats that likes to do that.) We're boarding her and her partner while their National Guard owners are over in Iraq.

The rolled up carpet underneath the piano is one I picked up while I was in Turkey. It's waiting there until I have time to rearrange the living room.

Here's the requisite photo (click the link for the full sized version):

Full size photo (1.1MB)

Oh, my gosh! I almost missed the cat on the bench. I'm glad you mentioned it, or I might have sat on the poor thing!

My cats are funny. Even when there are no obstacles in the living room (which is rare), when the cats come down the hallway, they will jog to the right, and walk under the piano bench, and between the leg and body of the piano.

The Lester, the Kawai, and the Winter all had a pretty wide gap between the leg and the body. The gap on the Knabe is much narrower, but the cats still insist on walking through the gap.

Very beautiful Knabe juggler! It'll be interesting to see it in situ. Try and catch a cat mid-gap.

Bob, that is some metronome you've got there!

Cindy -- who has a thing for guys with big metronomes

Beautiful Knabe!

Essential things to have next to me are a pencil, eraser, metronome, and a coaster for the occasional tea/coffee/soda. And the dog likes to sit beneath and chew his bones.

I also have in my study area, a Yamaha digital Grantouch, which has a grand piano case, but is only 3-feet deep. The top of that one is doubling as a temporary place to rest huge piles of magazines and books until I can find time/space to put them away.

As soon as my new baby comes I'll send pix. Meanwhile my piano area is a MESS because we are in the middle of remodeling. I just came home from picking up one of my dogs from the vet and the gold ornate mirror that hangs above my piano is on the floor. Oh well. Things have to get worse before they get better.

Cindy - I REALLY want to see a picture of your piano!

Alex says he expects mine to arrive in Seattle later this week.

http://www.pianoworld.com/ubb/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?/topic/1/6718/2.html

1/2way down the page That's the old piano.. The new one is somewhere - that photo might be lost.

OK, OK. DH was too tired to do it last night, but I'll ask again tonight. And I'll ask him to teach me how to do this.

This is the 5'4" Boston I owned for five years and kept tucked in a corner of my family room:



In the lower right corner you can see the piles of scores that I kept on a table with a bottom shelf. On top of that table was where I set drinks and my metronome. You can also see the cord to the Dampp Chaser I'd had installed, and a humidty gauge on top of the piano. The gooseneck lamp provided light. The ball under the piano belongs to Felix the Cat. Mr. Plays' 12 string guitar, in it's case, rests next to the piano.

In 2002 I traded the Boston for a Steinway L, seen here in the same corner, but because it's larger, I had to place it differently.




what you can't see is the small music cabinet in the corner and the pole lamp that provides my light. On that small music cabinet rests scores, my metronome, that humidity gauge and occasionally a drink. On the piano I keep a small clock, a pencil, eraser and whatever music I'm working on at the moment. Also, I usually have the lid open on the short stick, but put it all the way up for this picture.

Nice setup Plays. I bet you're glad you don't have to keep moving all those picture frames just to dust the piano. Where did the left stereo speaker end up... in the fireplace?

Bob, those speakers are now resting peacefully in a landfill.

You're supposed to dust the piano?

It's here guys! I just talked to Alex and it has arrived. Will fly over to see it either next week or week after! He says it is gorgeous and sound that way too.

**Squeeee!**

Man, I feel like I'm getting the piano, Teachum!

You already did, Cindy!!! But thanks for the excitement! Alex said Steven played it and said it was really marvelous! He should know, the way HE plays!

Here is my setup. Sometimes I wish I didn't have to use the lamp so I could open the top for more sound.
Jon

All your set ups look so nice and tidy. MattG yours looks like a picture from a magazine! Plays, our pianos could be old relatives! I like the set up you have now with the piano turned the other way, very nice.

This picture has been done before in the Meetings area, but it is recent. (That is JeanneW at my piano)



I bought a cheap unfinished three cube storage unit and painted it black. It holds the usual along with a basket for pencils which never seem to be there when I need them! I keep those great Post It note Arrows there, too, to mark pages or passages without marring the books. Also my trusty dictionary and the latest, the Circle of Fifths clock from Frank's Pianosupplies.com. (I need constant reminders of my theory lessons..)

There is a drawer unit across the room for the library, about the size of a lingerie cabinet. Each draw for a catagory like Masters, Contemporary etc. The folding screen is needed at certain times of the year to block the sun coming from a foyer window.

As for lighting I tried everything and in the end Mr. BeeLady installed a track light on the beam above. It is perfect and not a second thought is needed to see what I am playing, well, except maybe that I need glasses... :rolleyes:

My piano is in the living room. A few pictures here: Piano World Members Gallery

Hi, Plays - I see that one (or more) of the piano legs is not on the carpet. Did you do anything special to keep the piano level?

I'm going to have the same problem with a carpet and bare floor... I'm thinking that I'd have to cut out some similar thickness of carpet to put under the caster cup that's on the bare floor to try and make it the same height as the caster that's in the carpet...

btw - beautiful piano...

BeeLady - When you gonna get those glasses?

Ah, you guys all have such nice roomy areas for your pianos. Mine is a little Gulbransen spinet in the corner in the den. I have to move the love seat over to pull out the bench. LOL!! On top of the piano are CD's and my metronome and a lamp. On the the right end are 2 stuffed toys. They were "Rally Monkeys" when the Angels won the World Series, now they're my practice monkeys. BTW, Bernard, I was looking at the gallery pics. When was the SoCal get together? I'm in SoCal and I missed it.

pdolce

very nice pictures Bernard - I dont remember seeing them in the picture gallery... I'm sure we'd be the best of friends if we just knew each other.

(I sure would like a glimpse of pique.) Sure wish she would post a picture of her piano with the owner playing it.

hi, apple,
i sent frank some pictures from last autumn's piano crawl, including one of me playing the gilt pleyel, but he never posted them. (you could see the top of my head at least in that one. )

dear apple,

I'm sure we would. The internet is not to be blindly trusted! It emphasizes differences, without allowing us to see similarities.

It boils down to me and my computer, not me and you (he and him, she and her, he and she, them and they, etc.).

I'm sorry it is this way.

On the other hand, it brings us into contact with people we would probably have never known!

This being the fact, in the long run, it's probably worth suffering the ego trips (mine included) long enough to get past them to the sweet people behind it all.

(I'm still voting for Kerry. )

Vow, amazing set ups you have!

Plays, your piano bank has two legs on the carpet and two out of it. Doesn't it move when you are sitting?

My piano is in my bedroom. You almost have to jump over it to reach the bed . I'll see if I can post a picture.

Neus

pdolce, there was a Southern CA party just recently. Keep an eye on the "Piano Forum" and the "Forum Members Tours, Parties, Cruises & Meetings" for announcements that someone is going to be hosting a party. That's where most announcements are made.

Can I do this without pictures?

Starting with the piano (Estonia 190) counterclockwise:

Piano w/Mission-style stained-glass lamp, opening to dining room

Wall with modern art, Yamaha P90, and small table

Front wall with windows, (sofa) table, pictures, and buffet lamps

Side wall with a lovely Mission-style wood lateral filing cabinet full of music, adorned with stuff and above it a drawing of Ronald Reagan on the wall.

Rotate around to a floating corner with blue leather Martha Washington chair and side table.

And all the time I thought it was just me he didn't like. (I've sent him pictures twice).

Bernard,

Thank-you for the information.

pdolce

Chickgrand,

Your piano is beautiful. Thank you for letting us have a look!

Ditto, on the beauty part. I bet that monster will blow you sox of though. Play something REALLY BIG, just for fun!

It might blow my socks off if I ever wore any while I play. Therein's a problem. I find my pedaling is only well-refined if I play totally barefoot. So if I ever get anywhere with this piano thing, I'll be the one in the tux and flip flops that only stay on till I sit down to play. I'll make Glenn Gould look positively normal. I do absolutely lay into it on that last page of Lecuona's "Malaguena"--and it is major[/b] fun. It sings and sustains like a big pipe organ at FFFF levels with all those high treble notes and low bass notes in those last bars evenly suspended with their fundamental pitch and beautifully harmonized partials so clearly identifiable you feel you could pick them each out of the air with your hands. When all those pitches line up in a big two-handed chord, the sound very distinctly rises in that glorious blossom of power even after the initial attack is over. That's my favorite moment to just sit and listen.

Very nice looking piano, chick.
You've told us before what year it was built, but I've forgotten even if its pre or post 1900. Care to clue me in again?

Also, maybe it's the perspective, but it I don't see the lid stick in position. It looks as though a black stick is laid across the plate, and a more "golden" stick is holding the lid up farther in from the edge of the lid than they normally are.

ah, i love carpets under the piano. Nice to step on when practicing. Chick, i like your piano. But i think the picture doesnt do it enough justice.( i can tell this piano would take my breath away with its beauty) Id love to help you with the rug.
This is my piano area. The lid is opened most of the time because i spread out my practices(and also because im a lazy ass)



and yeah, my room is nothing but pinkness.

I've been researching Chickering numbers--serial numbers and case numbers for two full years, through three curators of museums and personal contact with owners. The Smithsonian has the old Chickering & Sons records after the company closed in 1986. The records have been through several hands since the last Chickering heir, widow of the youngest son, sold the company in 1909 when Knabe and Chickering merged in the American Piano Co., then finally in the 30s with Aeolian and many other brands.

What the curators and I have just recently concluded is that the numbers for Chickering commonly published in several resources in print and on-line are not valid for the concert instruments, but only for the "mass produced" home series. If one makes the error of using those numbers, concert instruments would appear to have been produced apprx. 50 years earlier than dates that can be reasonably established. So we have concluded they were separately numbered in series, but have not yet found among the records any comprehensive list for the concert series and unfortunately, many of the old microfilmed records are quite damaged. We have taken a few known examples with good records for original purchase and extrapolated a vague range which narrows this one down to around 1895, though it could be as early as 1885 or as late as 1900. Of the 86 of the "modern" type Chickering built after the lovely old series of the roccoco "dragon-leg" beasts, the earliest like this one is fairly well documented to 1885, simultaneuous to the last of the old roccocos. That one, a 7'9" "semi-grand" looks distinctly like this one in all details of the plate and case except for size.

Among the old photographs of the concert instruments, one can see subtle and not-so-subtle variations. The one photograph that shows one identical (perhaps it IS this one--and there are telltale clues) is dated to 1898, though the piano pictured would have been produced sometime before that date.

There appears to have been one last evolution of the Chickering concert grand after this one that was produced in the usual small numbers from about 1918-1932. That series had a lighter plate design than this one (I think they were removing weight to boost sales), which is a full inch thick in some parts and about a half overall, which along with the unusually thick case and inner rim account for the enormity of it's extraordinary weight. (I hired a crew of movers who specialize in concert grand placement at music venues. They hadn't seen it when they agreed to move it for their usual price. After moving it, they told me I have to pay double next time . They said it was well over double the weight of the norm and they'd had to use twice as many men as usual, and even at that, they struggled with it.)

I like a little mystery, and piano, too, so piano detective is an occasional fun diversion whenever I find another Chickering resource, concert grand owner, or afficianado. (I research other interesting oddities, too). I've been going over worker lists and comparing names to signatures on the action and other parts of the case to see if there's a way to pinpoint this one precisely based on those details. In the end, though, the only part of the story that matters to me is that I have ended up with it and enjoy it every day even while it suffers my mutilations of Gottschalk .

The little stick is a solid brass hinged stick that folds in flush with the big ebony stick when you use the long stick. The long stick has rubber pads that rest on the plate struts and bear the weight when the short stick is used. So the angle of the short stick is as you see in the photograph.

(The other part of the Chickering story I want to sort out is how it came to be that "Chickering Bros." came into existence even while Chickering & Sons was still in business. I'm curious who slept with whose wife. :p And why is there one Chickering with the name and "Established 1852" cast in the plate, even while every other example shows the date "1823"--typo? )

Chick - Breathtaking!

I notice so many of the pianos are sitting on hardwood floors. Any observations about the acoustics or damage from casters? I'm considering removing my carpeting, but am a little nervous. This is the same room that contains our stereo system with monster Klipsch speakers. Thoughts?

Joyce: have you identified any deficiencies in the tone of your piano that you want to rectify by removing the carpet? If you are happy with how the piano sounds, why not leave it alone?
Jon

Tom, sorry I'm so slow to reply -- I don't know how I missed this post, but this is the first time I've actually read it.

To answer your question, all three legs are resting in casters and the bench, as you can see, is half on and half off the carpet. I haven't experienced any balance problems at all and even if I did, I think cutting a hole in your carpet is a pretty drastic measure! The weight of the piano pretty much ensures that it's going to smush down that carpet anyway.

Not much I can do about it except get rid of the carpet, which is in the works for sometime in the next year or so.

Thanks, Plays... no, I wasn't going to cut a hole in the carpet.
I was thinking I had to put a small piece of carpet under the caster cup that sits on the bare floor - to raise it up to the same level as the caster cup that's already on the carpet - to make the piano/keyboard level...

You make an excellent point, that the weight of the piano should crush down the carpet enough to make the issue irrelevant.

Chickgrand,

I just saw the picture of your piano ....... breathtaking ...... I love the rug too.

Hi all,

Just got back from a short vacation from Atlantic City and was browsing through my favorite thread, taking pleasure from all the wonderful pianos you guys have. The one thing that caught my eye mostly was how all the pianos and areas are meticulously clean, neat, orderly with hardly anything lying on or around them. This is wonderful ---- but --- I’m unable to keep it that way myself. God bless all you guys.

So I took a couple of shots without adding or subtracting any of the “stuff” that’s all over it at the present time. This is the way my Steinway looks virtually always --- sloppy. Of course the music and various things on top change, but it’s always cluttered, sometimes even more so. The main cover is also always on there and the keyboard is always open. I don’t think I had it closed in over 50 years.

The shots are similar to the ones I posted on my “Music Room” thread a short while ago. However this one is without me plastered all over it, and it shows better the music shelves I built just to the right and back of me, so I can reach for anything I want without getting up and wobbling away from the piano. There’s another cabinet to the left of the sitting position next to the window, where there are piles of miscellaneous music. It also shows my “home made” music rack light and my tapestry hanging over my keyboard. Hey --- I like it that way. My “sit up straight” sign is clipped to the music rack. Of course Beethoven is forever watching over me as well as my sculpture of Liszt (I don’t think I showed it in my last thread). One of my other sculptures of a wooden abstract sits on top. Also I love oriental rugs, so they are all over the place. I have a small audience under the piano rack listening to me, and a little skunk sitting on top of the light. It’s a private joke on how my playing sounds.

Speaking of Beethoven, his piano and room are worse than mine, but I’m working on it. I understand he also kept a potty under his piano. When I get to that point my wife will empty it over my head.


[img]http://publish.hometown.aol.com/genem825/myhomepage/music%20rm%20no.1%20aug%2004.jpg?mtbrand=AOL_US[/img]

[img]http://publish.hometown.aol.com/genem825/myhomepage/music%20rm%20no.%203%20aug%2004.jpg?mtbrand=AOL_US[/img]

[img]http://publish.hometown.aol.com/genem825/myhomepage/music%20room%20no.2%20aug%2004.jpg?mtbrand=AOL_US[/img]

Thanks for viewing.

Zongora

Now Zongora, I distinctly remember you telling how you would dust the piano keys before playing. I remember thinking how I would welcome a key duster in my household.

My whole house is pretty cluttery and there is always music, folders, binders, paper clips, pencils, (I learned to not use pens), and a tape recorder, on around and below mine. I think you win tho.

Hey Zongora, it looks very comfortable and lived in. At least with the covering on the piano, you don't have to worry about dusting it.

I want to put shelves next to my bench as well. One of these days...

Zongora,

The only reason some of us have clean "uncluttered" music rooms is that we're just getting started. I'd give anything to have your roomful of wonderful art and that talent that went into creating it. Ever since you published your first picture of it (and your wonderful collection of historic photographs), I've thought that's my idea of a music room. Art is messy. And it's work that requires resources. You have those and so much to inspire you around you in your room. I hope someday my music room will look just like yours. But I doubt I'll ever have the opportunity or talent to collect so many wonderful memories.

Sorry Apple -- but I don't think it was me.

This is my ultimate goal.

[img]http://publish.hometown.aol.com/genem825/myhomepage/beethoven%20no.1.jpg?mtbrand=AOL_US[/img]

Zongora

Zongora,

I still think you have the coolest music room around ..... I wonder if Glenn Gould used a pillow too .....

Now if I could find me a more comfortable piano chair .... then maybe I'd practice more .

Zongora,

I still think you have the coolest music room around ..... I wonder if Glenn Gould used a pillow too .....

Now if I could find me a more comfortable piano chair .... then maybe I'd practice more .

Zongora - I went searching for the key dusting post and ran out of time.. What I did find with the search function and the word Zongora was a compilation of all the photos and posts you've shared of famous pianists. It's been a most enjoyable hour. I encourage anyone in mood for browsing to do so.

Chickgrand,

You are right! You're big Chickering looks just like my big Knabe...even the harp...and music rack. Amazing.

Would love to post the Knabe now,..but don't know how to do the photo transfer thing.

skyblanche

Hey,

Can anyone post a picture of my music room on the Forum for me...my computer skills only include e-mailing...not hyper-linking (I think that's what it's called)

Appreciate it.

skyblanche

I just had this piano delivered today. It's an old Howard (1920s?) that a friend of ours wanted out of the way. It actually sounds terrible right now, but I had a piano tech look at it before we moved it, and he said he could tune it and get it in playable shape without doing anything major to it. It does have all of the original ivory keys. I think it looks nice in this room (used to be part of our garage! we had it finished off last year). Sorry the picture's not very clear.

That piano bench looks HARD!

Yup - If you got the piano for free or little, I'd sure invest in a nice padded bench. I have a cushion on mine and I can hardly wait for the Real padded one. Funny how you notice that when you really start playing a lot!

I have some natural padding. :rolleyes:

I hope the piano works out well, Piano Again.. It looks lovely. I just love looking at everyone's rooms and instruments. Can hardly wait for mine. Hopefully I can post pictures of the piano next week - and then again after I get it home. I love everyone's "space".

Chickgrand,

Very interesting story about the history and the markings of the Chickering. AS you know my Knabe D is very similar overall to your Chickering, and is relatively the same age. As well the action has several names and in fact one signature in pencil on it...which I too find really interesting. Must be the detective in me.

It might be interesting to find the same names on Knabes and Chickerings after the merge date.

Enjoyed the post.

skyblanche

Zongora,

That is a Hamburg Steinway M...right? I forget which of the Steinways have the slow flat rise on the cheeks(Hamburg I believe) and which have the more sudden rise in the cheeks (the New York I suspect, as that's what my B has)

I remember it as one of the quick ways to recognize the Hamburg and the New York but obviously, I don't remember it very well.

Your room is wonderful...just like my teacher's. She's 88 and just played a recital at my home with a young friend or hers 77.

It was quite a party.

They played the Thomas A. Johnson "Rhumba" four hands on the Knabe D and it brought the house down.

Thanks for your post.

skyblanche

Beelady has kindly solved my posting dilemna...and thanks again.

Skyblanche,

It's a New York Steinway M built in the 1920's and rebuilt around 1951 when I purchased it for $1750.

Party must have been great. Would have felt like a youngster since I'm 74 this month.

Wish I could help with the photo posting, but I too am not a whiz at it.

Zongora

P.S. Thanks Chickgrand, Katie and you guys for your kind words.

Thanks BeeLady,

Here's a warning for all the posters of what can happen to you when you 'start' with pianos!!!

http://tinypic.com/27brc

It used to be the living room....now it's the Piano's 'living room'

Enjoy, and excuse the clutter.

skyblanche

skyblanche, the picture is great! I love the way you have to two pianos arranged! HOw often do two people play together at your house?

We should start a "bold colored piano room club" Seems we'd have quite a large membership.

BTW, what color is that? It is lovely.

Glad to help.

Thanks BeeLady,

Both for your help posting the picture and for your compliment.

I try to get together with as many pianist and singer friends as possible on a regular basis and play for 'fun'

The recent house concert (60 guests)was in honour of my concert pianist friend from Berlin who was visiting as well as his technician from Berlin being here at the same time in Winnipeg.

The technician/builder did a prep on the old Knabe and we had a short concert, just to see what the old beast could do...featuring my pianist friend from Berlin, then my piano teacher 88 (originally from Shanghai Conservatory)and her good friend, age 77, who played four hands for 40 minutes in the second half. It was quite special.

There was absolutely no moss on the 'olders'...and there experience, depth of musicality and love of the piano permeated the room. My concert pianist friend was inspired.

I think the colour is called 'old fashioned gold'...duh... it was popular in the 50's. It has a lot of green undertone in it at night...and a lot of yellow during the day. It's easy to live with and is a dramatic backdrop for the pianos...and all the other 'stuff' (crap, was the first word I chose!) I have in the room.

thanks again,

skyblanche.

Zongora,

You would have been most welcome at the party. There were two former and one current Dean of the School of Music in attendance...so we couldn't really be too sloppy now, could we.

I bought my Steinway B in 1992 for 20,000CDN and it has been a joy to own, until I bought a Knabe D which has made the low notes of the B sound a bit let's say, less. But the Steinway still has lots of wonderful qualities and I'm not ready to give it up just yet. Perhaps after the Knabe rebuild.

skyblanche

Steinway is a 1955, forgot to mention that.

skyblanche

In looking at the photos on this thread for a second time, I notice Matt has a duet artist bench[/b].

Color me green.

I've been admiring the many piano rooms on this thread and decided to post mine as well. This is my Yamaha U1 in my living room, with one of my cats, Blitz. The second photo faces the back deck which overlooks the river:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v431/sleepingcats/My%20Yamaha%20U1/U1-1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v431/sleepingcats/My%20Yamaha%20U1/U1-2.jpg

My Fandrich & Sons grand will be going into another room which we have to prepare before it arrives Nov. 6! Gotta hurry!

Nice room sleepingcats. There looks to be enough room where the upright is for a grand. I hope there's as nice a view out the window where you're going to put it as there is in this room.

I agree with Bob sleepingcats I love the look of your background (tons of trees).

Cathy

Beautiful room. Did you take pix of the Fandrich? What finish?

Thanks Bob, Cathys and Teachum...

The room where the grand will go won't have quite an extensive view of the river or island across the way, but just a blip from a narrow window. From the other direction I'll be able to see the driveway/mailbox area. I haven't decided exactly how to position the piano yet. There's an exercise pool in the room which we have to demolish then put a new floor in with soundproof flooring because the garage is underneath. (The previous owners of the house used the pool for their arthritis, but my husband and I don't want it and would rather have a regular room).

I would rather not have my grand out in the living room anyway because my 2 year-old step-grandson who comes over gets into everything, and likes to throw things. So far he's only thrown a spongy ball toward the piano - whew! Kids! Sorry, but I don't have kids of my own, just my spoiled cats and a dog. He also likes to run circles around the couch with his truck toys, etc.! Eeek! I'd also like the fact that I can be alone in "My Piano Room" and practice into the night without disturbing my husband if he's watching TV, or if he's gone to bed. We may keep the upright and leave it where it is - haven't decided.

Teachum, I didn't take any pictures of my Fandrich because I had to order one. The only 6'1" size they had was in Rosewood which is too red for me. I ordered a ebony satin. I like the bench that's coming with it - it's adjustable, AND has storage! It should be delivered when Darrell Fandrich drives down to Portland for a Technician Guild meeting in November. That'll give me enough time (I hope!) to get the room ready!

Wow! What a fantastic setup! Beautiful piano, and I love all your stuffed animals!

Are those things on the wall soundproofing material? Just curious.

It doesn't really show the piano area, but illlustrates the bare walls. The picture was taken a couple of years ago, the poster in the lower left corner was finally hung on the wall a couple of months ago.

OMIGOD! Ed, is back. Your ears must have been burning (or your finger tips - whatever). We were just bemoaning your absence. Welcome back!

Nice picture Ed. Were your ears burning last week? Someone referred to me as a "renaissance man". I corrected them by telling them you hold that title here. Don't be such a stranger!

:blink:

It's . . .

Nah, it can't be.

But it *is!*

Welcome back, Ed!

Gee, thanks guys. You mean you really missed me?

Awww, Ed, shucks, do you even need to ask?

[img]http://images.google.com/images?q=tbn:UuUegwHjZeMJ:www.lorries.com/catalog/images/bashful.jpg[/img]

Ed! Where the heck have you BEEN? We've MISSED you!



Jodi

Hi Jodi! How's your back side these days?

I thought I would sneek in a couple of quick posts, sort of "hit and run." But I should have known better; y'all are way too vigilant here.

I'm glad to see everyone is still around.

Jaz Pianist - what a beautiful arrangement. How much of that sound-proofing stuff do you have to spread around to make a difference? I'm scared to death my new piano is going to blow my husband right out of the house! Also - do you guys think I should go with a 5X8 rug or a 8X10. My room is rectangular - 13X20 but one end is narrower because the fireplace juts into it (I don't use the fireplace - never fear!) I plan on putting the keyboard in the 9' wide section and the tail heading towards the 13 foot wide - piano going the long way of the room. Does that make sense? I just got rid of all my carpet and put down wood laminate and I don't want the dust and allergen problems of carpet with too many rugs, but am wondering if 5X8 is going to be enough to help reduce sound. ALso - should I put it directly under the piano or what?

Backside's fine, thanks for asking, Ed. How have you been? Zero-gravitied (or whatever it's called) in any airplanes lately?

Jodi

ok how do you add pic on here of thing you like to show people

pianolady: First, you need to find someplace to host your photo. If you have a website set up, that's a good place to do it. After you've uploaded your photo, copy the link address. Next start a new post on this thread and paste the link address. If you want to make the image appear when the thread is viewed then you have to add [IMG] before the link and [/IMG] after. Make sure to include the brackets. Try it and see what happens.
Jon

Hi teachum,
I'm no acoustics expert, but I do know a small rectangular shaped room is not ideal from an acoustics standpoint. (Mine is 16x36 with an 8' ceiling and a half-wall separating the two spaces).
I think things like furniture, drapes, bookcases, and area rugs are probably the best for a living-room type space, partially because they are easily changeable. There have been some recent discussions about the floor material, and people seem to have different experiences. Should be easy to experiment with rugs under the piano, though. Probably hard to know until you get the piano there and listen to it.
My situation is probably a little unique since I record my piano all the time, but didn't want to close-mic it, and didn't want the poor acoustics of a small room, so I was going more for a deadening effect, and have a fair amount of sound-absorbing material around - probably more than most folks would want.

JazPianist - one other thing - I have a cathedral ceiling'd room - 12 foot or so with that acoustical stuff on it. That should help I would think. Let's hope so.

PianoGirl - People here sent me to photobucket.com to put my pix on. It was a piece of cake!

Teachum,
I think a cathedral ceiling will be a big advantage!

Jaz - Whew - I think so too. I told my hubbie he can just wear those ear protector thingies!

What part of Idaho are you in Jaz?

You're going to have a sweet setup when you get your new piano. Must be hard to wait. I had to wait about two weeks for my Samick and that was hard enough, even though it was just replacing a baby grand.

You are right about that. Idaho Falls is a whole 'nother world than NI.

JazPianist/Teachum,

I too am getting a room ready for my grand. Today was my first day - got the splash tiles removed with a hammer and chisel. We will hire someone to break apart the pool and tile floor. I'm looking for a nice light mossy green color to paint the walls - something calming. I also need to talk to my husband's friend who does windows about soundproof windows since there's a neighbor not too far from that room - and since I like to practice at night. Then, I may possibly get that UV filtering film for the skylights and one window where the sun shines directly in, and install those up-down windows shades. That is, after we get new flooring with the soundproof material. We'll probably end up installing carpet in that room, but not too plushy. I'll have to call the Homasote company in NJ about their soundproof flooring - whether it actually absorbs the sound, or reflects it back into the room. They were already closed when I just called.

Although not perfectly rectangular, the room is about 21' x 14', and part of it has a 9' ceiling, and part has a 14' angled ceiling with 2 skylights. There's a bay window also so I'll have to have a cushioned bench made there for the cats to sleep.

I hadn't planned on getting a grand so soon, but now that it's coming in November, my husband wants to get the room ready right away. Sounds good to me!

Teachum, it's exciting isn't it, to prepare a piano room?

Sleepingcats,
That should be a great (grand) piano room. I hope you'll keep us posted with your progress.

Yes - it is! But I am exhausted. We ended up doing the drywall finishing ourselves in our new room - what a job that is! Texturizer everywhere! I was up at 6:00 this morning painting. The windows went in today and hopefully we can start putting in the flooring on Wednesday. I have to go back to school on Wednesday so I can't spend all day working on it anymore. The piano room is actually ready - it's just got living room furniture in it! But I think I can get it in no more than two weeks. I'm playing my spinet on an enclosed back porch right now. I had some young bucks muscle it out there for us so that we can get all the new flooring in. Poor thing - demoted to the dog/cat porch/bedroom. It started life with me in a garage while we remodeled and now it's sort of come full circle - living in a porch while it awaits moving to my classroom! Sleeping cats - your room sounds great. I don't have to worry about neighbors as we live on 10 acres - I just have to worry about my husband's ears!

Well I finally took some pictures last week and got them uploaded so here is my piano room. Please don't look at the dark spots on the carpet next to the pedals (I need to get a little rug for under there). Last weekend I also got a little 4 track recorder and a couple mikes so those are missing from the photos.
The thing I really noticed after taking the photos is how much I need some artwork on the painted wall; it just looks so big and empty, well eventually we'll get there. You actually have to click on the photobucket album link to see the room from an angle which gets that wall.

Photobucket Album

Very nice, Cathy! I really like your lamp. Does it provide sufficient lighting? The basket with all your scores is another good idea for keeping the area neat.

Thanks Plays - I do like the lamp and couldn't do without it since the only other lamp in the room is a small table lamp the doesn't shed nearly enough light. It sheds plenty of light for the music but when I'm playing at night sometimes I'm distracted by the keys being kind of shadowy. I don't think it's from lamp just not enough overall light in the room. I just got the basket (a whole $3 at PierOne), I just got so tired of having this towering stack of music always on the piano and if it's something I'm working on or I want to keep fresh, I hate having to dig through the cabinet for it. Somehow I just noticed I still seem to have some stacks even with the basket :rolleyes: but they're not as tall as they used to be. Oh well, I'm just destined to be cluttered.

Cathy

Lovely piano Cathy! If it were me though, I think I would move it around so I could see something besides the corner. One of the biggest advantages of a grand, I think, is being able to look over the piano and see your audience or a nice view out the window while playing.

Ditto what Bob said about the corner. And oh yeah - the piano is very pretty! I like your thingy on the wall too!

Cathy,

Beautiful piano! I like the basket idea as well. I'll have to find something like that when I get my grand. With my upright it's easy to pile everything on top of it.

Thanks Bob, Teachum and sleepingcats!
I've been thinking the same thing about the position of the piano but the room is kind of small. Of course I have to convince my husband to help me move it, he's kind of gun shy since when we move heavy things he figures he'll be repositioning more than once before I figure out exactly how I want it .

A friend of mine builds furniture and he made me the sheet music cabinet that is against the wall. Very convenient for storing all the extra music.

Cathy

From what little I can see of your room, it looks like you only have three other options for the piano placement.

1. Against the windows which is probably only feasible if these are north facing windows. It's frequently recommended that the piano not be placed against an outside wall, especially if the wall isn't well insulated. Mine is placed against an outside wall with no insulation at all though.

2. Against the wall with the doorway. This placement would depend on the distance between the doorway and the window wall. Again, sunlight would also possibly play a role.

3. It appears the best position would be against the wall with the music art on it. Possibly with the tail angled away from the wall if there's enough room, to give a better view of the outdoors and the audience. If not, at least the audience isn't staring at your back and you can still occasionally glance out the window.

To try and get the move down to just a single effort, take lots of measurements and move your bench around to see what it's like in each position. (where you can of course )

What a fantastic music cabinet!!!! I'm just taking up woodworking, but it'll probably take me a couple of years before I have that kind of expertise with cabinetry.

Kathy:

Wow your piano is amazing! I love the seat and the music art on the wall. It's a great room.


In fact.... grrrrr .... to everyone who has a grand piano.


p.s. all the pictures I've seen so far are brilliant.

Hey everyone - the room is ready! Now all I have to do is wait for the piano to arrive. They can't deliver until 9/24 so now I have to hurry up and wait! We have done 550 square feet of flooring since Friday night. I am exhausted and school starts tomorrow! Maybe I'll just play with them the first day instead of making them do any work - or maybe we will all take naps! I wish!!

P.S. - Here is room "sans" piano. The picture is actually intended to show the new rug that just arrived. The piano will have it's back (keyboard) to the landing facing out into the part of the room you cannot see.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v369/teachum/PICT0870__2.jpg

Just bumping this to show you guys my new rug that just arrived. I edited last post to add pic of it. 8 days!

Teachum - Nice room I missed it the first time you posted glad it got a bump back up. Nice rug and love the wood floors and the stone work on the fireplace. Can't wait to see the update with the piano in it!!

Cathy

nice rug

Cathy, I love your music cabinet! Wish I had a friend cabinet-maker. I've been looking all over for something exactly like that for my music. And I have the exact same music staff & notes art on my wall too! (It's much heavier than it looks isn't it?) Really heavy metal. Beautiful piano -- very inviting place to play.
Virginia (from Virginia)

Thanks Virginia - I know I looked all over to find a music cabinet and couldn't find what I wanted in the wood/finish I wanted. It was really nice to be able to sit down with my friend and describe what I wanted to do and then have him actually make it a reality.

Bob - BTW Thanks for the pointers I really like the idea of being able to see people and out the window when I play. I think I have my husband convinced but he wants to wait till Thanksgiving when he'll have some folks here that he can convince into helping with the moving.

Teachum,

The room looks lonely - it is just waiting for a piano to fill the space. Anxioux to see it when it finally arrives.

Jennifer

Old Yamaha GC1A
[img]http://us.f2.yahoofs.com/bc/40d91128_1b23/bc/My+Music/panarama.jpg?BCyj2TBBg2CZSzE1[/img]
[img]http://us.f2.yahoofs.com/bc/40d91128_1b23/bc/My+Music/keys_y.jpg?BCyj2TBBFXrxmX0G[/img]

Replaced with Steinway, June '04
[img]http://us.f2.yahoofs.com/bc/40d91128_1b23/bc/My+Music/profile.jpg?BCyj2TBBhFDZiEEl[/img]
[img]http://us.f2.yahoofs.com/bc/40d91128_1b23/bc/My+Music/keys_s.jpg?BCyj2TBBln4AOKbr[/img]

Thanks for looking :-)

Mikester,
I wonder if your photo link is ok - At least I'm not seeing any photos at this time. Maybe it's just me!

I'm not seeing any photos either!

oops sorry let me get that fixed...

Yamaha GC1A



Steinway



Thanks :-)

-------------
Mikester by day.
Mykinator by night :-)

mike: Is that the Hamburg? What a beautiful piano. Two pianos, WOW!!
Jon

Jon - You took the words right out of my mouth. Nice set up Mike. I like the third piano too - (Is that third one a music box on the table?)

Cathy

Thanks mikester. Beautiful setup!
Cathy, Jon, I think he said the Steinway replaced the Yamaha.

Thanks guys! You are too kind. Jon, yep the Steinway is the Hamburg. jazpianizt, you are right, the Steinway replaced the Yamaha. Though I think it would be so cool to have grands side by side. The music box is the "third" piano :-) I use it to store keys and little things, it plays Fur Elise when you open up the top.

Oooooh!!!! Pretty cool!

Teachum,
It's beautiful! Congratulations and enjoy!

Mikester,

It is VERY cool to have two grands side by side.

http://tinypic.com/27brc

skyblanche

Mikester,

I recognize the progression of pianos...I went from a Yamaha to a Steinway, then added the Knabe

skyblanche

Skyblanche that is sooo cool. The room looks really big.

Cathy

At long last, I have piano pictures!

What you're seeing is an Estonia 190 in polished mahogany, single bench and a new magazine holder I picked up from Crate and Barrel last week to hold music. It is red burlap with black leather accents, and it keeps things neat when certain individuals in the home can be coaxed into putting music there instead of tossing it on the floor. There is a lot of unused music stored in a table in the foyer by the front door.

You'll notice the absence of the tiny round portable table that normally holds the metronome, timer, pencils and dh's coffee mug. I removed it from the shot and conveniently forgot to put it back.

One leg of the piano sits on a thin sisal rug, and the other two are on the hardwood floors. They haven't marred the floors or anything, so I haven't bothered to add castor cups.

This little exercise was actually quite helpful. I cannot believe that a whole year I have allowed the walls to remain blank! And something must be done about those awful wires hanging down below the piano. I am going to take care of that *today!*

I am always surprised at how very large a grand piano is. Geez, it feels *huge,* even though the room is 13 x 20 and the piano corner is the intersection of two 9-foot walls.

Cool Cindy! The piano looks great! So do those wires. And I like the bare walls, too, and have tried to emulate the look (even before I saw yours).

I think one of the reasons grands always seem so big after you've put them in your home is that you had only imagined them as their footprint before you got it in the door. But in reality, they stand a lot taller than you had anticipated.

Wow Cindy, what a beautiful piano. It's cool to see the polished mahogany vs. teachums satin mahogany.
Jon

Beautiful piano Cindy. Although Ed is right and there is nothing wrong with blank walls, I do know the feeling of wanting to do something with the blank space. We put a few things up but I still have one big empty wall that's driving me crazy. I just haven't found the right thing yet. Are you thinking of painting or would you like to find some things to put on the wall? Any particular plans?

Cathy

Way to go, Cindy. It looks beautiful! It's interesting that you have the exact same size room I do. Mine is also sitting between the 9' section because the huge, white-elephant fireplace sticks out. We have not burned in it once since we installed a Quadrafire wood stove in 1992! Are your floors real hardwood or wood laminate. I ask because I have laminate and we were really afraid of putting the casters on the floor for fear it would crack it. Real hardwood would tend to just dent a little I think, but not actually break. We have some makeshift ones (as you can see in the pix) until mine arrive that Alex shipped to me.

Thanks for sharing!

I have real hardwood floors. We moved the piano from its initial position to get better sound, and I didn't see any floor damage. And frankly, after three kids and two dogs, it would be hard to damage our floors more than they already are.

As for getting something on the walls . . . I am just hopeless. If I see a painting I like, I'm too insecure to buy it. What if I buy it thinking it is wonderful but anyone with even a rudimentary background in art would find it laughable? Not to mention how darn expensive the stuff is! I think I need some cool rug to hang instead, which would help with the room acoustics.

Ah, heck. Who am I kidding? What I really need is a decorator to tell me precisely what to do.

I'll let you in on a little secret on how to get cheap art no one will ever criticize. For years, I've been framing my kids' art work. Just slap it into a matted frame and you're all set. I just have a hard time displaying any of that kiddie stuff next to the piano.

Cindy -- thinking Ed has proven himself to be a *man's man* because he appreciates dangling wires

What!?!? That's never stopped me. If YOU think it's wonderful--THAT's the only litmus test for art in the home.

If you think it's wonderful, it's a successful art work. Period. Plain and simple. Nobody else in the whole wide world has to like it.

Bernard is right, Cindy. Trust yourself and buy what you like! You've already proven you have good taste.

RE: wires - do you suppose the uninitiated will think we have player pianos?

Cindy your house simply gleams and sparkles like mine shoud. Very nice taste... love everything.

If you think you are bad at decorating, you need to walk a mile in my tennis shoes in my house.. yikes...

I still have a happy birthday sign from last summer up on a wall. I was going to put up the happy birthday sign this summer. I looked up and lo and behold!!! there it was - right where I put it last year... all throught the different seasons.... it's glowed in its pink and blue glory and I never noticed.

What is there to be done about those wires? They have to plug in somewhere! I guess you just don't take pictures from an angle where they show.

I just need to secure the wires to the underside of the piano. This would require me to get on my hands and knees. Which could take a while.

Bernard, I know I should be more confident about art, but, well, you know. It's easier said than done when you don't have much experience decorating and mistakes cost real money!

Cindy -- who thought she was being daring by getting a red magazine holder