Cool Accoutrements Keep Piano Players Comfortable For Longer

There are many things that people need, when using a great old keyboard, which makes the experience that much better. An adjustable piano bench, for example, will make life easier for players who all have to use the same keyboard. Pedal extenders also do the same job for the smaller players and sheet music storage cupboards make the scores that much easier to find. These are only some of the accoutrements available for these magnificent instruments and most of them make life much easier for the novice and professional alike.

As with all instruments, many hours will be spent practicing on them. Being comfortable therefore is a must. Stools which have extra cushioning are imperative if the player is not to be distracted by discomfort. Wooden seating often feels too hard for some folk once they have been playing for a while so finding some wonderful padding, perhaps with some tasteful decoration is advisable.

These seat pads come in many shapes, sizes and finishes of course, but most of them have one thing in common. That is, they are made thick enough for the player to remain at work for a longer length of time. Plush finishing means that they fit in with many forms of decor but most people have their own idea of what looks good and what does not.

For the avid Mozart fan, and other composers too, there are pads which have embroidered covers showing a famous score from the relevant artist. This should bring inspiration to those who want to play professionally one day, or fun to those who just like to play for pleasure.

Most players will collect several dozen sheet music scores over the years and these used to be kept in the seat. However, these days, it is much more likely that the player will get a lovely cupboard, with very slim drawers like a filing cabinet, to keep all this treasure in. The finish of this cupboard is normally in the form of wood which could match the instrument itself and certainly makes the scores more secure with little chance of them becoming damaged over the years.

Lamps too are very important since the player will not want to strain to see what he is doing while practicing or playing in public. These come in many different designs and they can be chosen to suit the instrument itself or the decor in the surrounding areas.

One important thing that people should consider is to get a cover to go over the entire instrument. With modern heating and cooling methods, this poor and beloved instrument could be damaged without anyone noticing. Since most of them are handed down through generations, it is imperative that they are kept in a good state for as long as possible. Would it not be great to think that the grandkids will one day show their kids how to play this great instrument, but they can only do this if we take care now! Of course, this is what the players of today may already be doing too.

About the Author

Stewart Wrighter researched purchasing some
pedal extenders
for his piano. His wife ordered an
adjustable piano bench
so her young children can play the piano.

Kids by MGMT piano cover (with sheet music)

Kid A $4.27 How is it that Kid A’s opening track, laden with an electronic vocal stuttering “bleh, bluh-bleh bleh bluh” is the most fascinating statement made in rock & roll this year? Because somehow, even when Radiohead blathers and blips nonsense, it’s profound. The band’s future-perfect musical grammar may be hard to decipher, and the melody is even more subliminal, but the journey traveled with Radiohead…

For the Kids $8.46 Benefiting the VH-1 Save the Music Foundation, this is a collection of children’s songs, ranging from traditional to ’70s classics to originals. Includes \The Rainbow Connection”"”"”" by Sarah McLachlan”"”…

You Are My Sunshine $9.19 Elizabeth Mitchell is a smidge less locked into the no-frills folkie formula on You Are My Sunshine than on her debut, You Are My Flower. In fact, if you subtract the A-list collaborators (and, OK, the dulcimers, mandolins, and human beat boxes), Mitchell starts to look a lot like the female Dan Zanes. The same rootsy sensibility rules both artists’ recordings, as does a reverence for tried-and-tr…

The Secret of Moonacre $5.49 SECRET OF MOONACRE – DVD Movie…

The Best of Victor Borge Act One and Two $6.73 Victor Borge was a master at combining two seemingly disparate elements: comedy and classical music. While the Dane’s dapper dignity fit the image of “longhair” music, Borge undercut it with broad physical comedy, clever spoofs, and off-the-cuff wit. A pioneer in the field of live comedy recordings, Borge is nevertheless best appreciated on video, and The Best of Victor Borge Acts One and Two capt…

The Mickey Rooney & Judy Garland Collection (Babes in Arms / Babes on Broadway / Girl Crazy / Strike Up the Band) $33.99 No Description Available.Genre: Feature Film-DramaRating: NRRelease Date: 25-SEP-2007Media Type: DVD…

Theory Games Software Levels 1A – 2 (Alfred’s Basic Piano Library) $10.99 This upgraded software boasts new and improved games, a higher level of organization within each subject, improved record-keeping and testing features as well as colorful graphics. Different aspects of music theory, such as note recognition, intervals, rh…

Children’s chamber ensemble. Repertoire of Children Music Schools. $23.00 …

Pieces by Russian composers. Button and piano accordion. Senior classes of children’s music school. Ed. by A. Sudarikov $24.00 …

Children’s album for accordion $12.00 …

USED: How Could Hell Be Any Worse? [Bonus Tracks] $5.99 This 2004 version of Bad Religion’s 1982 debut takes the place of 80-85, which had previously accounted for the group’s earliest output. Fully remastered (as Epitaph has done for a bulk of early BR releases), the set includes the first LP’s full track listing, as well as the first three EPs. The expanded booklet features a full lyric sheet, reprints of the EP cover art, and a great photo collage that’s as informative a scene history as any wordy liner retrospective would be. The energy in those photos of sweaty, awkward teenage kids gathering in well-lit rooms to play music and dance is correspondent to the music itself, which puts Bad Religion’s initial forays toward hardcore and punk into tense, buzzing relief. Listening to How Could Hell Be Any Worse? is like cupping your ear against the garage door of their practice space. Greg Graffin’s vocal style isn’t fully formed here, nor is his lyrical agenda, but the building blocks are significant and affecting, bigger than piles of collapsed cathedrals. Indeed, “Voice of God Is Government” begins with a caustic caricature of the money-grubbing preacher, who assures that donations will be used to “censor TV and radio, ban questionable books, and contribute to many other Godly services.” Snotty punk then crumbles into accelerated, anthemic hardcore. The subtle “We’re Only Gonna Die” opens the album; the piano and acoustic guitar midsection is a nice foil for the youthful anger in the vocal and its crackling lead guitar riff, a sound and tone that would only become more refined and powerful with consecutive ’80s outings. “Fuck Armageddon…This Is Hell” is another highlight, with its tense, urgent opening instrumental section and Graffin’s Southern California-centric rail against throat-choking smog. Longtime fans will love the inclusion of the early EPs, cleaned up a bit to reveal even more of the group’s gritty hardcore genesis. Varying sonic signatures define the swaggering theme “Bad Religion,” “Slaves,”…

USED: Things Aren’t So Beautiful Now $2.99 *CD-JEWEL CASE* The track sheet for A THORN FOR EVERY HEART reads like a band well beyond their one year old status. Coming out of the gate in late 2003 with a strong songwriting chemistry and an intense, confident stage presence, ATFEH immediately made impressions on kids, fellow bands and start-up label, KICKBALL. Their music embodies elements of their favorite hardcore, emo and punk bands but at the end of the day, it is a straightforward rock sound. Big drums, double riffage, passionate dual vocals and at times even encompassing violin and piano, this record keeps you singing along with its keen ear for structure and bad ass choruses. The band intends to tour forever, stay home never.