.png)
Learn About My Piano!
The Starter
Model: Kawai CE220 Digital Piano
(For more information, go to my "About Me" page.) I got my first piano from a piano sale at W & J College. My dad set the sale up, and we were able to get a discount on the piano. The digital piano looks like an upright grand piano, but it runs on electricity. You use a button to turn the piano on and off. I think it was a great starter piano. It had a better feel than a regular keyboard, and I got to play around with tons of different features.
 |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Why a Grand?
As I said, the digital piano was a great starter piano, but as I advanced in my skills, I needed something more. Whenever I went to my lessons, I played on my teacher's Steinway grand piano. Going back home, my piano didn't feel as nice. A grand piano has a better keyboard action. There's more weight to the keys. A grand piano also has a better sound. The pedals are stiffer, and overall, it's a whole different feel. As I was getting into more advanced piano techniques, I needed that weight and feel.
The Grand
Model: Yamaha 5' Baby Grand (GB1K in Polished Ebony)
I got my grand piano in November of 2020. My dad and I had been shopping since 2018 for one. We weren't in a big hurry, so we wanted to take our time and find the right piano at the right price. I forget how my dad heard about it, but we decided to go up to a used piano sale at the Pittsburgh Opera. When we got there, the used pianos had been mostly wiped out, but they did have the baby grand piano that I bought. My dad got a good deal on it because he works at W & J College, and they were trying to get rid of the piano, so there was even more of a discount. It was perfect timing.
 |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
 |  |  |  |
 |
The Piano Setup
A few days before Thanksgiving of 2020, my piano was delivered. It came in a big box, and the movers assembled the whole thing in less than an hour. It was really cool to watch. I was able to play on the piano after it was set up, but it didn't get tuned until almost Christmas. You're supposed to let the piano settle for a bit before you do a tuning.
 |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Taking Care of a Baby Grand
The environment where your piano is can change what you need to do to take care of it.
My piano is in a sunny spot, so I have a fabric piano cover to protect it. I used Vanda King's website to order a custom cover that is fitted to my piano.
To keep the wood looking nice, I use a special piano polish and a microfiber cloth.
To keep the wood hydrated, I had a humidifying system installed under the piano. It keeps the wood from getting too dry and splitting, and when the air is too humid, it dehumidifies.
Every two weeks or so, I fill up the humidifier with water, and I "water my piano." I know to fill it up when the water light is on.
More Information on the Humidifier and Piano Cover ->
Tuning
I get my piano tuned by Shane Emrich. He was recommended by the people we bought the grand piano from. He comes to my house twice a year to tune the piano. It usually takes about an hour and a half or so.