I just got my new piano delivered last week and now I need a piano light.
I looked up several online stores and found some of the lamps a bit pricey, also, I do not like the looks of many.
Right now I am using a sleek looking chrome desk light out of my husband's office which looks really nice on top of my piano. It has a heavy base with a long thin neck, the entire lamp weighs about 4 1/2 lbs.
BUT it's a Halogen light.......so its bottom gets hot while in use, and while not in use is still always somwhat warm.
The lamp sits on the back half of the piano top. Do you think because of the heat my piano will get out of tune faster? Or do you think I am totally overreacting?

thank you so much for your input on this

If it gets hot put it on a hot pad. Heat rises so the piano shouldn't gain heat but check to see how much of a draft you create around the piano. Drafts will send it out of tune.

I used to use the smoke from cigarette to chase down drafts but now I use a stick of incense.

thanks for your answer - I guess a hot pad makes sense.......
I decided to go ahead and order a piano lamp now. I found this one that I think looks really sharp........in case anyone cares **gg*

http://store.affordablelamps.com/p14-501-62.html

Just to clarify. Heat doesn't rise; hot *air* rises. So if a hot object is in contact with the top of the piano the heat will conduct directly into the wood. I don't know how hot such a lamp gets, but if its too hot to touch, it can't be doing the finish much good.

I think the hotpad idea is a good one. It won't conduct much heat and will block most of the infrared radiation as well.

Don Gilmore
Mechanical Engineer
Kansas City

Nice lamp...btw, what kind of piano, do you have any pics? Post Piano Pics here...

A Kawai K3 in polished Ebony.

I wanted to get my kids(8&9) started on the piano and started looking into digital pianos.
I myself had not touched a piano in over 20 years, but have had lessons from the age of 9 through 17........this whole piano shopping got me thinking of playing the piano again myself and at the end I decided to get a real piano instead of a digital.
I'm having my first piano lesson tomorrow, I am very anxious to see where I am at after all those years.

Welcome back to the piano....keep us updated.

congrats btw nice pick with the K3

cordless lights...http://www.mightybright.com/

Does anyone have one of those grand piano lamps that clamps to the music support? I think I would like one, but I'd like to see if they really are useful:
This is what I am considering.
http://www.perfectlygrand.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?page=PG/PROD/GPL/01010

Stanny, thats way better than http://store.affordablelamps.com/p14-501-62.html
I have a few customers & churches with that one, they love it.
Personally, I would go with a nice floor lamp over my left shoulder like my optometrist says I should.

Stanny, I have one and do like the sleek look, it's not intrusive at all. I also have a table lamp behind me to the left that works fine too Which can be seen in these pics

A note on the desk lamp...if you like to put your music desk down and close the lid all the way, you will have to remove the lamp...a pita

Stanny,

I have that one and think it's perfect. At first, I had trouble with bulbs burning out very quickly but now the unit seems to have "settled in". MM&H is right about having to remove the lamp to put the lid down, though.

I heard the same thing (I think from Derick) but i have yet to burn a bulb out...they will vibrate loose and flicker...i've probably jinked myself now...