Victorian Steinway Grand Piano

We recently completely restored a 1898 Victorian Steinway Grand piano.  It is known as the ”Fireplug” leg style because of its unique legs.  It is absolutely incredible to see the craftsmanship that these craftsmen did on these vintage pianos.  It also is a witness to the quality that these Steinway pianos were made with since we are able to restore a piano over 100 years old.  We have only sold a few of these rare styles.  Several years ago, famous hockey player, Martin Brodeur (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Brodeur) goalie for the New Jersey Devils actually purchased a piano identical to it.  In addition, several years ago a client from Minnesota purchased the similar antique Steinway Grand piano from our company because his previous Victorian Steinway Grand piano was completely destroyed when his house caught on fire. 

    I have posted several photos of this magnificent piano.  It has a beautiful set of ivory keys and it also has the original matching bench.  It is currently available for purchase on our website at www.lindebladpiano.com/gallery.asp.  ENJOY!

1912 Louis XV Steinway Grand Piano, Model B

Just the other day we acquired a vintage Steinway Grand Piano, Model B, in a beautiful Louis XV style case.  It was shipped across the entire United States from California.  It is in all original condition but we plan on restoring this masterpiece to its original beauty and tone.  It also has the original ivory keys which really complement this beautiful piano.  We plan on restoring it with authentic Steinway parts.  The piano can be seen at our website:  www.lindebladpiano.com/gallery.asp.  The photos are below:

This is truly a masterpiece!

Playing Music Is Educational

I came across this several years back and found it to be fascinating.  This is just another reason to encourage parents to have their children learn how to play music.  Its amazing that wherever we travel across the world, music is understood across all cultures.  Not only is music educational but it also is appreciated by everyone.  I hope you find this information insightful and motivating to learn how to play piano!!!! 

Music Students Are Scoring
Music students are outperforming non-music students on the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT). College-bound seniors with coursework or experience in music performance scored 52 points higher on the verbal portion and 37 points higher on the math portion of the SAT than students with no coursework or experience in the arts. Source: The College Board, September 1997)

Music Is Beating Computers
at Enhancing Early Childhood Development. Music training, specifically piano instruction, is far superior to computer instruction in dramatically enhancing children’s abstract reasoning skills necessary for learning math and science. Learning music at an early age causes long-term enhancement of spatial- temporal reasoning. (Source: Frances Rauscher, Ph.D., Gordon Shaw, Ph.D., University of California, Irvine, 1997)
Music Enhances Linguistic Skills
Music — specifically song — is one of the best training grounds for babies learning to recognize the tones that add up to spoken language. (Source: Sandra Trehub, University of Toronto, 1997)
Scientists, Therapists Agree: Music Heals More Than Just The Spirit
Music benefits older adults. Active music-making positively affects the biology and behavior of Alzheimer’s patients.
(Source: Music Making and Wellness Project, a study conduc ted at the University of Miami)
The Window Of Opportunity For Studying Music
is between the ages of three and ten. This is the time when we are the most receptive to and able to process music.
(Source: Newsweek, February 19, 1996)
Studying Music Strengthens Students’ Academic Performance
Rhode Island studies have indicated that sequential, skill-building instruction in art and music integrated with the rest of the curriculum can greatly improve children’s performance in reading and math.
(Source: “Learning Improved by Arts Training” by Martin Gardiner, Alan Fox, Faith Knowles, and Donna Jeffrey, Nature, May 23, 1996)
Music and Spatial Task Performance: A Causal Relationship
Music lessons, and even simply listening to music, can enhance spatial reasoning performance, a critical higher-brain function necessary to perform complex tasks including mathematics.
(Source: Frances Fauscher, Ph.D., Gordon Shaw, Ph.D., University of California, Irvine, 1994www.lindebladpiano.com

10 Easy Tips to Keep your Piano Looking and Sounding Beautiful

1. Dust your piano regularly. Nothing will keep your piano looking nicer than the simple use of hand duster.
2. Keep the piano lid closed when not being used.  This will prevent from dust getting inside the piano. 
3. Do not place your piano next to a window or where sun light might be able to enter.  Sun light will lighten and damage the finish.
4. Clean those dirty keys with a damp cloth and wipe off the keys quickly.  Never apply any liquid directly onto the keys. 
5. When having guests, put up the lid on the piano to prevent people by placing their glasses on the lid of the piano.  A piano is to be played not to place drinks.  Otherwise round rings may appear.
6. Keep the humidity between forty and fifty percent.  Nothing will make a piano go out of tune faster than the fluctuation of humidity.
7. Tune your piano regularly.  Typically when the heat is turned on and the heat is turned off will make the piano go out of tune.  If not twice a year than once a year should be adequate. 
8. Do not place your piano next to a heater.  Again, a direct heat source will harm the piano and make it go out of tune quicker. 
9. Be careful not to place items on the piano.  A piano is to be seen not covered.
10. Just because a piano may look old and sound bad does not mean it can’t look and sound beautiful again.  Have an expert restore it to its former beauty to give it another lifetime of use.

 **read additional information regarding pianos at www.lindebladpiano.com**