I participated in a recital for my teacher's adult students -- just two days ago.

Before she began the program, the teacher asked each of us -- round robin -- to make some comment about the piece we were about to play.

I played a sheet music edition of "Unchained Melody." My comment was that we associate grand pianos with power and crescendo, but it is remarkable how quietly a grand can be played.

Much of this piece is played very pianissimo, and it certainly begins that way. If it is done right, the music sort of "emerges out of silence." Even the crescendos, such as they are, seem to be subtle and only slightly less quiet. Extreme legato is used, and pacing is important to the effect.

We were playing on a Yamaha grand of approx 5'8" which was on a stage. On a grand I seem to be able to control these effects a lot better than on an upright.

I have always had better luck controlling dynamics on my grand at home as opposed to using the upright which is my teacher's studio piano. Sometimes I am a bit unhappy that she does not have a more suitable piano available.

On a grand it seems you can move from very piano to very forte entirely by touch without needing the soft pedal. This is not so easy on many uprights. Or so it seems to me.

Other threads posted here have asked persons to contrast grands to uprights, or asked, "do you need a grand?" Well, I guess I would say, once you have one you don't want to give it up -- in part for the reasons stated here.

Any comments?

Depends on the upright!

Depends on the pianist as well.

I searched for the best upright I could find and played many along the way.

From the Yamaha U5 up, I was able to get a nice tone and able to play pp easily as well as ff. There was a nice quality to so many uprights. Good action as well as tone.

So, I would have to say again, it depends...

Could I play my old spinet pp and ff? Yup, but it was not very satisfying!!! Terribly thin tone. Do I love my new MH grand? Yup, but I certainly loved a few top uprights along the way as well!

glyptodonta,

With an upright piano, you are always looking at a wall.

But playing a grand piano is like driving a "convertible indoors"!

The convertible is just "way" more fun!

Just a thought!

Just to give another perspective, I have an upright at home and my teacher has a grand piano. Our recent recital was also on a grand piano. I find it difficult to transition back and forth and much prefer my upright piano, a Steinway 1098 to the Yamaha grands that my teacher has and that we played for the recital.

I think it has more to do with what you are used to when you are practicing than anything else. I readily admit that i have never had much access to a grand piano. I find my upright Steinway to be way more responsive than the Yamaha grands. THe only thing that i like better about the grands is the sound of the bass notes.

--Emily