RGPT Newsletter

Pianos Express Feelings, Too

A Funny Story from the past!

May 4

Posted by bigpianoman in Funny Stories and Piano Humor | No Comments

I have a story when I first started tuning full time in 1996.

I received a call from a potential customer who wanted their old upright tuned and fixed. In the process of making the appointment, the customer told me she had two very large dogs, being Great Danes. Being a dog lover (I have two of my own), I said “Great!. I look forward to meeting you and them”.

The day came when I arrived for the appointment, and of course, the dogs had to greet me at the door, along with their infectious love and need for attention (slobber included).

After introducing myself to the customer and the dogs, I sat down at the piano to start the tuning process. After looking over the piano for information I gather about a piano on my initial visit, I started with the A440, played it several times, and with that, I felt a very warm breath on my right shoulder. Sure enough, it was one the the dogs that sat down next to me and put his face on my shoulder. As I turned to admire his rather attractive canine features, I heard an astonishing sound from my left side; the other dog started pawing at the keys in the bass end as if he was playing the piano. Needless to say, the customer was hysterical with laughter, and frankly, besides being shocked and amazed, I could not hold back on the laughter either. It took a few minutes to coax them leave my shoulders and get back to work. I have to say, that while I was working on the piano, the two Danes sat there dutifully, listening without making a sound. Once finished, I started to test the piano in the way that I normally proceed and then started playing a melody. With that, the dogs started on my shoulders again and just wanted to be next to me while I was serenading them with a light classical piece.

To this day, I have never had that experience repeat, and unfortunately, these two canine friends of mine passed not too much later from a sickness.

The thought that dogs have feelings for music was totally reinforced by their actions. I can only hope that they are in canine heaven with a piano tuner who loves dogs as much as I do.

I miss these two “puppies” terribly, and, the customer also moved from the area a short time later. To this day, nothing like that has happened since.

New Improved Website

May 2

Posted by bigpianoman in General Piano Questions & Answers | No Comments

After many months of working “computer in computer” with my webmaster, we have released our improved version of Rich Goldberg Piano Tuning and Rich Goldberg Music. Having received many comments from friends, family and customers, it was time to improve our efforts in bringing forth new information, better quality products, more timely information, interesting stories, and now…Rich Goldberg’s music (in the not too distant future). We will now be offering regular sales on items that are important in daily piano needs, as well as other supporting items including seating and furniture, floor protection, lighting, technical training and 1000′s of other items through our “amazon.com ” associated relationship. And we are now giving “FREE UPS GROUND SHIPPING” on all seating and select other products in the 48 contiguous states. In the future, we will be introducing a rewards program for customers who purchase from Rich Goldberg Piano Tuning and Rich Goldberg Music. The rewards will be disclosed when available, and will come in handy for future business with RGPT.

We ask you to encourage your friends to visit our site as well. If they mention to us that you referred them, you will have another method of getting rewards, good towards merchandise and/or credit towards future purchases.

Thank you for allowing us into your home. We wish you many years of peace, health, prosperity and listening pleasure with your musical choices.

Harmoniously yours,

Rich Goldberg
Owner, RGPT and Rich Goldberg Music

HAPPY HOLIDAYS from Richard Goldberg and family

Dec 9

Posted by bigpianoman in CDs and MP3s, General Piano Questions & Answers | No Comments

As I sit here in my office reflecting upon the past year, I look at my life, thanking the Lord that I have what I have. I know the past several years have been economically difficult, but when I look what I have been blessed with, having the best wife in the world, two beautiful daughters, a great son-in-law, fabulous granddaughter, and the best friends in the world; more than a man could ever hope for. I just wanted to take a moment to wish everybody a very happy, healthy and safe holiday season and a joyous New Year. I learned a beautiful toast from a friend, and I would like to pass it on to everybody:
“May the best of your past be the worst of your future. ”

I want all of my readers and customers to know that we are here to help you with any of your needs for your piano tuning, maintenance, repairs and any other concerns or questions you may have for your piano and its care throughout the year. Please feel free to contact us at any time via telephone or e-mail and we will do our best to return messages as soon as possible. We truly believe in keeping our customer base happy, because without the customer base, we don’t exist.

We would also deeply appreciate your considering looking at our testimonial page and adding your comments about the quality of service you have received from Rich Goldberg Piano Tuning. We look forward to hearing and seeing your comments and will be happy to address any concerns you have individually about any of the issues regarding your piano and its care.

We also can’t impress enough the importance of an organization known as ChildHelp. Since we have become involved in helping to fund services for the Suffolk County area, we have seen few people help with monetary contributions. We know that times are tough, but what we are asking for all of you to do is to donate under two dollars to purchase a song that is available on my website to help out children throughout Suffolk County as well as the United States. By showing support for this organization, you are also showing a commitment to help the younger people grow to be responsible rewarding adults who have strong values and a belief in keeping society strong and free. Please consider helping out by purchasing the song we sell for $1.99, “For The Kids of the World” and of course, if you can afford any additional funding, please go directly to ChildHelp.org and donate whatever you feel comfortable. Also, for those of you who have heard my music and would like to hear more, the album called “Eclecticity” is available as a download or as a CD purchase. We have heard comments here at Rich Goldberg Piano Tuning that the music played on the CD and on the downloads is a variety that is both relaxing and enjoyable as well as uplifting and thoughtful. For any fans of easy listening, new age, light jazz or light Latin, you will be in for enjoyable listening .The music also makes a wonderful gift for those who need help in relaxing. All the music spoken of is available at the website http://www.reverbnation.com/richgoldberg.

Again, please accept our warm wishes for the healthiest and happiest of holiday seasons and peace throughout the year.

One of my fans on the job

Oct 28

Posted by bigpianoman in General Piano Questions & Answers | No Comments

Recently, I visited one of my long time customers and had a big welcome from one of my furry friends. “Augustus”, aka, “Gus”, likes to listen to music, and watch as I do my thing at his mom & dad’s piano.
Here are a couple of photos taken by Stephanie, showing that her cat likes music.

Gus and me at his piano!


I like Gus too!

Tags: pianos cats siamese repairs tuning

This Is A Great Time To Take Care of Your Piano

Oct 21

Posted by bigpianoman in CDs and MP3s, Dampp-Chaser Use & Care, General Piano Questions & Answers, Piano advice, Piano care | No Comments

Here’s another song from the Eclecticity album.

Brazilian Nights

Since I have been playing piano, and live in the northeastern USA, I always have had the experience of having my piano serviced (before I could, obviously!!!) in the fall or early winter, which is a great time to get a visit by your tuner/technician. In most of the country, as the weather changes, the environment where your piano is located will change accordingly. So, unless you are fortunate enough to have your piano in a completely climate controlled room where humidity and temperature are always the same, it is best to have your piano serviced by a technician who knows what to look for in the body of the piano, and what areas to examine for any indications of potential trouble. Because air gets dryer in the winter, your piano will react to the dryness by having the wood constrict, glue joints losing some effectiveness and other problems, such as potential cracks in the wood. This, of course, has been addressed in the past by the installation of a Dampp-Chaser System.

With todays economic environment, not everyone has the necessary funds to install a Dampp-Chaser system, so things that can be done in the environment without the system, are very important to your pianos survival.

1.- Make sure that your piano is not directly next to a heater vent, especially with forced air heat. If it is, try to relocate your piano into another area of the room. If you can’t, try to get a baffle made to put near the heater vent to drive the hot air away from the piano. This one step could help not only save your piano from early destruction, but will also help the tuning remain a little more stable by not having dry air being directed at its’ body.
2.- If you don’t have a humidity system in your home (which most of us don’t), you can also get a room humidifier with digital controls that give you the option to keep humidity to approximately 45%. These systems are available on e-commerce sites and can be priced by going to various web services that help you to compare pricing and features.
3.- If you are not able to place a humidifier near your piano, then the next best thing is to keep a small container of water (about 2 quarts) under the piano to allow some mild humidity to escape into the body of the piano. Of course, you want to change the water on a weekly basis minimum to make sure you do not build algae in your water container.

All of these solutions for keeping the piano in the winter will be ineffectual if the piano is not serviced by your technician. In order to protect the integrity of the piano, regular care is the single most important item that you can have completed.

If you have any concerns about your individual piano, feel free to use the Feedback page to express your concerns, and we will do our best to get you an answer as quickly as possible.

Tags: Dampp-Chaser, dryness, environment, heat, piano care

“ECLECTICITY” Released

Aug 9

Posted by bigpianoman in CDs and MP3s | 2 Comments

Eclecticity CD

“Eclecticity“

NEW MUSIC DIGITAL AND CD RELEASE

FROM RICH GOLDBERG

The summer of 2011 marks the first release of an original music collection, along with other well known songs from the past, all performed, arranged, recorded and produced by Rich Goldberg (except for 2 tunes produced by another wonderful musician noted on album information). The album is named “ECLECTICITY” as a result of my wife telling me for years,  that I have an extremely “eclectic” taste in music. Hence…the naming!

Here is a song to sample. Enjoy!

From Me to You (A Song for Barbara)

Composed for my wife, and taken from the original tune composed in 2005 that is also on this release, called “From Me To You (Piano). But now, the original tune is now dedicated to all of you. I wish you all peace, health and happiness throughout all your years.

There are 7 original songs, of which 2 have different versions. Three other well known tunes are included. The material is varied in type, including Light Jazz, Light Rock, Easy Listening, Latin and New Age; all but one are instrumental, as no one wants to hear me sing (trust me!). The one song with a vocal was originally thought of and created for a  commercial for Harley-Davidson motorcycles (or any other motorcycle company)! (And … the vocalist is really something!)

As July 31, 2011, all 12 tunes are available as  singles, a digital download album, or a CD format that can be ordered online at ReverbNation. All tunes are also available as ring tones for your mobile phones. The store on the website can take orders by Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover and PayPal. (Sorry, no CODs or checks!)

Please contact me with any questions about obtaining the music by download or by CD. I hope you give the music a listen, and play it everywhere you can possibly listen safely.

Thanks for your time, and may you be blessed with good health, happiness and prosperity throughout the years.

Sincerely,

Rich Goldberg

Owner, RGPT

Tags: Barbara, Brazilian Nights, Eclecticity, From Me to You, Impossible Dream, Let Me Take You on a Ride, music, Mystery of Life, orchestral, piano, Up & Down

Music is now available on line

Aug 1

Posted by bigpianoman in General Piano Questions & Answers | No Comments

Following up to the prior RGPT Newsletter, the album “Eclecticity” is now available on the web store for Rich Goldberg at ReverbNation. The download is priced at $9.99 and a full CD version with literature and standard case is $12.49. You can go to the site and sample some tunes if you wish, download single tunes for $.99 each and even get ring tones for your mobile phones.

I do hope you give the music a listen, and pass this on to all your family and friends.

May you be blessed with good health, prosperity and peace throughout the coming years.

Sincerely,

Rich Goldberg

Tags: album, CD, download, easy listening, Eclecticity, latin, light jazz, music, new age, piano, piano music, singles

Finally. After all these years of dreaming about it…

Jul 20

Posted by bigpianoman in Dampp-Chaser Use & Care, General Piano Questions & Answers, How to See if a Used Piano is Okay to Purchase, Piano advice, Piano care | No Comments

Rich has finally done it! Yeah, I said, “done it“!

Thinking about music for over 50 years and how I could bring some joy to others with music I created, or, arranged other great tunes to my style, finally my first release is coming out this summer (2011). The album, available digitally and on CD format, is entitled “Eclecticity“. The name came from a suggestion by my beautiful wife and love, telling me that my taste in music has always been so “eclectic” since she’s known me. So, due to my tastes in music, I named my first entry into public music a word that I have never seen before  and think I invented (not to say it wasn’t around before).

The music is centered on Easy Listening, New Age, Lite Jazz, Latin and light rock. Some on piano, some with orchestra via my iMac and Logic Pro 8, and all performed and arranged by Rich Goldberg. Notable, are the piano selections, recorded in a wonderful studio, AP Music, in New Jersey, and engineered and produced by the wonderful Joe Vulpis, a dear friend and fabulous musician, writer, producer and sound engineer.

In doing my recordings, stories are told through the notes and expressions with the aid of feeling from the heart and a sense of past happenings in my life. The fun with “Let Me Take You on a Ride” was meant for the motorcycle (Harley Davidson specifically) crowd, the rhythm of “Brazilian Nights” and Latin #1.09 were meant for partying, and the others meant to listen and enjoy.  I am most proud to dedicate to my loving wife, “From Me to You (A Song for Barbara)”, as it was her belief in me and strength that has helped me to this point in my life.  With all the things we have seen and done in the 28 + years together, I would like to have done more to date, but I do know that the music will be there for many years.

All the other tunes have meaning to me, an explanation will be coming in the album.  There will also be 3 other tunes on the album that are not originals, and once the proper legal things are completed, the album will be issued in full for sale digitally and/or CD format.

To go to the music site on ReverbNation, click here.

Please feel free to sample a tune or two, and if you like, tell your friends and family about this “new” artist on the map.

Thanks, and may the lord be kind to you all.

Rich

 


When Should My Child Start Piano Lessons?

Feb 17

Posted by bigpianoman in General Piano Questions & Answers | No Comments

This is one of the most common questions asked of me in the near 15 years in the piano business. It is a subjective question, in that children are different. The answer and explanation I generally offer is meant for most children of average intelligence and maturity for their age group.

Generally, when a parent or guardian would like advice on when to start piano education for their children, the first thing I ask is: “Did your child ask to play piano or want lessons?”

If the answer is yes, this is the best possible scenario for a child remaining interested in piano studies. The one thing you can not do is push too hard for a child to learn and practice every day. When this happens and the student is not willingly pursuing self control of consistent studies, negative results will occur. Generally, the most common warning sign of failing to practice is procrastinating and excuses as to why he/she doesn’t want to “play” now. When this occurrence shows regularly, this generally leads to the inevitable stopping of  lessons.

The next thing that I like to know is the age of the child. Many people can be fooled when a child is 4 or 5 years old, thinking that the age is too young, or the fingers aren’t long enough, or he/she is too short, or another of various possibilities. Before I offer any other suggestions, I also like to meet the child to form my own opinion. When meeting the child is possible, I am able to gauge by observing the child and see reactions to questions and interactions between him/her and the piano. If the child is  not available to meet, then I ask the parent to best describe what they see in their child and why music would be advantageous to pursue.

The age when a child should start varies on maturity, but some children have started as young as 3, while others start into their teens, and of course, in between. For what it is worth, the author of this article started at 4-1/2 years of age.

The nitty-gritty of this is simple. A child who has expressed interest in learning and, exhibits a willingness to pursue what he/she asked for, should start as early as possible; the younger the better. In this case the student is not concerned with work, school, cooking dinner, paying bills, interviews for jobs, or any other adult possibilities. Without the adult issues, the young student can soak up information like sponges that are excessively thirsty and hold on to the data far better than a person with other issues to occupy their thoughts.

A child who has learning issues may or may not be able to comprehend the intricacies of the study of piano, but should still be given the opportunity to learn. Studies have shown that music education has helped children with arithmetic and logic, and can possibly help with improvement in levels of self-confidence. This scenario has been shown to help students with varied learning disabilities.

In summary, your child should start as early as possible, and of course, as long as the price is reasonably within your affordable range.

For any further questions, please contact me through the website.

Harmoniously yours,

Rich Goldberg
Owner, RGPT

Yamaha C3 Grand Piano

How Often Should My Piano Be Serviced/Tuned?

Jan 20

Posted by bigpianoman in General Piano Questions & Answers | 1 Comment

A common question about servicing pianos is “how often should it be tuned”?

The most common answer is 2 times per year, or once every 6 months. This is acceptable for the private home, in temperate climates, and where no one is planning to be a concert pianist or performer. If you have aspirations of moving up in the world of music, you then need to commit to making sure your instrument is assessed regularly and services performed as needed.

There is more to taking care of a piano than “tuning”. One also needs to realize changes in the environment (which has been spoken of in the past by RGPT); use of the piano which leads to parts maintenance and/or replacement, and other adjustments needed to maintain the “playability” of the piano. The term “playability” simply refers to the way the piano performs when the pianist applies pressure to the keys by playing music, usage of pedals and the dynamics of expression. Eventually parts will need adjustment or replacement, hammers, strings, damper pads need adjustment or replacement and action parts may need replacement, adjustment, lubrication or a combination of several items.

It is for the basic reason presented that your piano should be under the care of a trained tuner/technician a minimum of 2 times per year. Those pianos with player systems (and especially with speakers) need service at least once every 4 months, or 3 times per year. After all, the investment is not only in the piano, but also substantially in the player system which will ALWAYS need maintenance to operate as designed. A piano is always affected by its’ environment and a player system is as well.

With the advent of computer players, pianos have been able to be utilized for more than simply playing, learning and entertainment. Since the investment in having a player system installed as a retrofit (after it is built and not in a factory) is substantial, it is wise to schedule regular visits by a trained professional to make sure the system works to full potential. If not, problems will develop and may be expensive to repair if not dealt with by normal maintenance.

Anyone with questions or concerns about piano care are always welcome to inquire through the website or by e-mail.

Wishing you a very happy and healthy prosperous 2011 and beyond!

Tags: care, maintenance, piano, players, regulating, tuning

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