Top Piano Facts

April 10, 2012 admin No comments

Known for its versatility and range, the piano is one of the most enduringly popular musical instruments – from rock to pop and classical to jazz, there is nothing that can’t be played on a piano. I’ve put together some of my favourite piano facts to share with you in celebration of this wonderful instrument!

  • According to a study led by German scientist Dr Timo Krings, piano players have more efficient brains. In the study, both pianists and non-musicians were pitted against each other in a task to perform complex finger movements, having their brains scanned by functional magnetic resonance imaging. The study found that pianists were capable of making the correct movements whilst using less brain activity leading them to believe that musical training can enhance brain functionality
  • In 2007 the Swarovski-Bosendorfer grand piano was put up for

    The Swarovski-Bosendorfer Piano

    auction on ebay. Studded with 8,000 hand cut crystals, the piano was priced at a staggering $750,000. That’s over £400,000! And the most expensive piano put on the website to date.

  • There are currently over 50 different brands of piano

 

  • The word “piano” comes from the term Piano et forte meaning soft and loud and was first coined by Bartolomeo Cristofori who also built the first practical piano in 1700

 

  • Steinway and Sons was formed by Engelhard Steinweg in 1853 after he Anglicised his name for marketing purposes

 

  • The piano has been dubbed “The King of Instruments” because of its massive tonal range and ability to produce melody and accompaniment at the same time

 

 

  • Studies show that children who learn piano perform better in school.

 

  • In 1997 an original Alma Taderma Steinway was sold to the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute in Massachusetts for $1.2 million; almost £800,000. Christies Auction House, who sold the piano called it “the most artistic piano ever produced”
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The Early Days of The Battles – on stage

January 8, 2012 admin No comments

Those wanting to celebrate the work of a well known band or solo artist have a lot to choose from in the West End, whether it is a pop star appearing onstage like when Mel C appeared Blood Brothers or an artist’s work immortalised in a musical like Queen with We Will Rock You. But there are also those that tell a particular story from the band’s history and this provides another opportunity for fans of the band to celebrate their career and output. It goes to show that the West End has a lot to offer when it comes to entertaining music fans at the theatre.

One show that falls into this category is Backbeat at the Duke of York’s Theatre, which tells a story from the early days of The Beatles. Those that have picked up box office theatre tickets will therefore get to explore the relationship between three people – John Lennon, the original bassist of the band Stuart Sutcliffe and the latter’s girlfriend Astrid Kirchher – whilst well known songs from the era amplify the proceedings and make it into a stand-out stage musical. It is a story that was also told in the 1994 movie of the same name and that movie’s director Iain Softley is among those that have brought this show to the Duke of York’s Theatre.

Directing the show is David Levauex, a director who has already worked on numerous London theatre shows over the years. He has directed the likes of The Real Thing at the Albert Theatre (now the Noel Coward theatre), Nine at the Donmar Warehouse and various productions on the other side of the Atlantic. He is also well known or his work with the National Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company, making him experienced enough to get a lot out of Backbeat and the story of The Beatles.

So if you want to experience a real-life story about The Beatles whilst also hearing some hit songs of the era – from Long Tall Sally to Twist and Shout – then witnessing Backbeat at the Duke of York’s Theatre is the show for you. It shows that there is plenty in the West End to keep music fans entertained.

Music

Worst Christmas songs that will make you snore

December 9, 2011 admin No comments
singer

Unless you’re a real Scrooge, everyone loves Christmas. The chance to exchange gifts, eat lots of delicious food and fall asleep in front of the Queen’s Speech in TV. What could be better than that? There is only one aspect of Christmas that a lot of people would agree they could do without; Christmas songs. Not Christmas Carols, which are always special when heard in church, but the cheesy hits that used to be churned out regularly in the 70s and 80s. Today’s music may not be perfect, but at least modern artists have ditched that annoying habit – although even the most festive tune wouldn’t stand a chance against the X-Factor’s dominance of the Christmas number one spot!

The main problem is that these songs get everywhere. You hear them on the radio, on television music channels, in shops and bars and, of course, at Christmas parties. It’s enough to have you reaching for the stop laser snoring treatment so you don’t disturb everyone’s good time when you head for a White Christmas-induced nap on the sofa.

It’s probably considered sacrilegious to criticise White Christmas, one of the most popular festive tunes of all time, but let’s face it, the song is a bit on the dreary side. Not like the great cosmetic results you can get from Private Clinic Harley Street. A compilation featuring Bing Crosby followed by Jona Lewie and Stop the Cavalry is more than enough to send even the biggest Christmas fans into a coma. They may be just as annoying, but Slade’s Merry Xmas Everybody or Wizzard’s I Wish it Could be Christmas Every Day are at least lively enough to stop party-goers dozing off…

There are some really terrible Christmas hits out there if you search through the archives, ones that are probably too loud and lively for you to fall asleep to, but bad enough that you really wish you could doze for a few minutes until they’re over. For instance, did you know that Miss Piggy had recorded her own Christmas hit? Or, possibly even worse, that the stars of Minder released a record in character in the 80s, at the height of the show’s popularity? Even a snoring husband would be more tuneful than those numbers!

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Music

August 22, 2011 admin No comments

Like many forms of entertainment, music is an art that involves a long process of creation to bring a finished product to the listener. It might start with an idea or a thought, then progress into sheet music and written lyrics, before these ideas are fleshed out on a guitar or another instrument. If you are a band it might continue to rehearsals with the full group until everything gels together and the song comes to life. Read more

Music