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I am again taking new students interested in learning to play the piano or guitar. I teach on Wednesdays at the Avalon Music Center in downtown Avalon Park. My time there is spent teaching to and learning from my young students. This has been a great experience. Looking forward!

I recently tuned a piano for an interesting client named Hector Torrez. He lives in Orlando. His entire family is very musical, to say the least.  He shared with me the story of how one his sons decided to pick up the trumpet at the age of 14 and try out for the school band. He was apparently born to play. His music teacher later called to explain this apparent phenomenon to Hector. After just a few years of playing and practicing his trumpet,  Hectors boy did not disappoint.  He submitted some of his demo recordings to a number of artists.

Posture is everything for you the  piano player. Your physicality must sustain back, shoulder and especially arm and finger strength.  While sitting at your piano try to lean in a bit  to give your playing more volume and lots more  intensity. Try to  keep your neck and head aligned with your spine as much as possible. This will help you to avoid neck and shoulder injury and also improve your breathing while you play.

 Sunday, January 2, 2012 Look at this ! Those smaller pianos are actual full-sized grand pianos. The world record  and largest Grand Piano. Daniel Czapiewski has unveiled a giant piano called "Stolëmowi Klawér". This particular project weighs in at a mere 4000 lbs.  with a height of six meters 

This is a strange place indeed to find a grand piano. On a sandbar in Miami's Biscayne Bay perched on the highest point. Nobody knows how the piano got out there. Does it even play? perhaps Birdland? Dampp-Chaser installation required..  

1901 Antique Upright Grand piano. O.K. Houck, African ribbon grain mahogany, 100% rebuilt and restored this year, 2011. Full restoration by Steinway & Sons dealer associated technician included complete, closed pore refinishing of case and bench. Installation of 100% new, hard rock maple action parts. 88 new hammerheads. All new German Roslau steel strings. All new Mapes solid copper bass strings. All new French Larouex damper felts. New keycovers. All new Larouex key felts installed throughout. Completely regulated, voiced and tuned twice this year. Meticuously maintained after the 100% restoration this past January. This restoration was done with the same mindset and in the

Hi Steven,  I have an upright piano (Senoma brand I think)  that needs the outside casing repaired.  The legs were broken at one time duing a move, and the outside wood needs to be refinished or restored.  It belonged to my roommate and she passed away last year.  Her children do not want the piano.  I hate to see it trashed, but don't know what else to do with it.  Most of the donation organizations such as Goodwill, will not pick up extra large heavy items like this.  So I feel stuck. I know my roommate was hoping one of her

Gary Grimes recently hosted another concert event at his Altamonte Springs location for young pianists and announcement of PianoBank award winners. I wanted to share just one comment I read from Gary's site that I found  interesting and worth repeating  regarding our children and  the study of music. “Studies have shown that playing a musical instrument, especially piano, raises test scores, makes the brain more efficient, and decreases the likelihood that kids will become involved in undesirable activities.”  Happy Holidays!