Upright Pianos!

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Is the action on an upright piano always comparably different than that of a grand piano? My piano (an Allison???) has some has some awful faults and I suspect that the action of the keys may be hindering me playing as smoothly as I perhaps could be, sometimes the response is awkward (particularly in Ravel, it is impossible to play the beginning of something like Ondine as quietly as it should be). I have actually never played on a grand piano, but I suspect that due to the flat nature of the hammers, rather than those of the upright, this may lead to a smoother action in playing? Also, is it normal for hammers to snap off suddenly? (this normaly happens when I become irritated at the fact that I sometimes can't get the sounds on particular music right)

Am I right? ... or am I just a shit player who should practice more?

-- To embarrassed to say (noname_poster@yahoo.com), February 19, 2002

Answers

I think that the action of a grand piano is superior to those found in uprights, due to the nature of the horizontal hammers. However, I teach and play an upright for cost and space limitations. I think a well-maintained upright will still afford good control of tone and volume. Your piano may need some professional help from the sounds of it. For the fun of it, why not go to a location like a piano store, college practice room, church, and try a grand?

-- Kyle Johnson (keyboardkylewyo@yahoo.com), February 22, 2002.

"Your piano may need some professional help from the sounds of it"

Indeed, I stripped some of the keys away to check whether the felt was still in good condition or not - I found a farthing from 1865 in one of the cavities at the side.

But I'm not sure if the actual mechanisms themselves are that old though.

-- - (noname_poster@yahoo.com), February 26, 2002.


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