(Source: The Courier Mail)

Some people might consider destroying pianos as art, but we can assure you that we’re not part of them. And apparently, most aren’t either. The Arts Queensland-sponsored (Read: Tax-payer money) chainsawing has received backlash from a variety of music-loving people - from piano teachers to concert organisers.

After all, that’s AU$3000 of public money down the drain - all of which could have been channeled to more productive uses. Heck, there are tons of children from lower-income families who would have loved this particular piano.

Art? Probably. Worth it? No way. But if the artist, Rebecca Cunningham, used her own money, this would be a whole other story altogether.

[News via The Courier Mail]

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Few things inspire me more than reading about talented child musicians being discovered, and given the opportunity and means to develop their talent. A recent case of this was featured in the (British) press, where a seven-year-old was offered a place at the Chetham’s School of Music in Manchester - where musically-gifted children aged 8 to 18 are given not only general academic tuition, but also highly valuable specialist music tuition.

Knowing that talent is not going to waste in this undeniably materialistic world, where studies towards the highest paying careers are prioritized above all else, somehow makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside. Okay, not that way, but you know what I mean.

Of course, it is pitiful that not every talented musician gets such a chance, but when you think about it, this occurs in almost every field, whether in art, athletics or even academics. So, the only thing we can do is to ensure that enough opportunities are provided, whether in the form of scholarships to renowned music schools or competitions to showcase budding musicans.

Admittedly, this is easier said than done, but someone has to say it, right?

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(Source: WDMT 47)

It’s common knowledge that music reduces stress. But does playing music, or in this case, playing the piano, reduce stress as well?

For experienced piano players, I’d say yes. Like with any other trained practice, spending time doing something as leisurely as playing the piano is bound to reduce stress. But what about beginners? Won’t the stress from learning how to play a relatively complex instrument such as the piano outweigh the benefits from actually playing the instrument itself?

Well, apparently not if you blend the learning with socializing and breathing exercises - which is exactly what music centers such as the Milford Music Center do. They call such customized piano lessons: “stress-free piano lessons”, and each lesson involves a drum circle, improv. playing, a song of the day, and of course, breathing exercises.

So, the next time you think that learning the piano as an adult will add, rather than reduce stress, think again, and start looking around for some stress-free piano lessons.

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(Source: Bryce Jacobs.com)

While the title of this blog is GuPiano, it was originally intended to express the fact that the blog would be covering both guitars and pianos. But it seems GuPiano can now mean something more uhmm… profound given that a piano-like guitar has been invented.

A composition student at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music recently unveiled an electric guitar with a range approaching that of a piano, the BKJ. With 12 individually-tuned strings and two sets of pick-ups, the pitch of either set of six strings can be shifted, thus opening a piano-like range. The downside is, of course, the wider-than-usual neck, which could cause some difficulty for smaller and less agile musicians.

In any case, it looks like a pretty interesting instrument (which I really wouldn’t mind trying out). For more information about the BKJ, visit the inventor’s web site, Bryce Jacobs.com.

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