I hope that you and your family are safe, and that you will be able to return to your beautiful piano. It must have been heartbreaking for you to leave, for so many reasons. ❤️

@@laurads7385 Thank you for your comment, Laura. Yes, leaving everything behind, not knowing if you’ll ever go back is a feeling I thought I would only read about in novels and history books. But here we are, history repeating. But we are facing it with a grin and a finger salute in the face of a huge army of disposable cowards. But we’ll win, the truth will win, the light will overcome darkness. Thank you for standing with us! 💛💙

💛💙

A concert is a major instrument. Tried one at my dealer recently. I hope you get reunited soon. Long live Ukraine.

@@jacquesracine9571 Back home now. It’s all one piece, thank the Good Lord and our army 🙏 Thank you for your support!

Wonder how a kawai nv10s would compare to acoustic upright

@@CyrusandAurelius My only opinion since I haven’t played it would be that the sound is still coming out of speakers versus resonating from an actual soundboard.

Hi, I had and loved my CA98. When I got it I was in 7th heaven…literally! I’m retired but In 2020 came into some extra money. L-o-n-g story short, I researched, tried and researched and ordered a Kawai GL-30. Fairly expensive in the US - with tax and all it is closer to $30k than $20k. As the Kawai CA98 changed my music life, the Kawai GL30 changed it dramatically. So magnificent that my wife even began taking instruction. Sad to say, with materials and shipping, the cost has gone up again. I kept changing my budget but, in the new piano realm, for me, the Kawai GL30 beat everything else. After rearranging furniture we could fit a 5’5” . Anything larger would be pushing. Our LR/DR has a gradually vaulted ceiling so the sound is magnificent. For us the extra $$ for the GX1 couldn’t be justified. In a bigger differently designed home it may make a difference. I agree with Josh, get the best piano you can afford! And then add a little. You won’t regret it. BTW, since taking delivery in September (2021) my playing has improved by a tear or two.

I had the ca79 and then upgraded to the k500 as well! After researching a lot about the Kawai grand touch key mechanisms I was sure that I would never need an acoustic however as you mentioned it’s literally night and day difference . How do you find the k500? :)

@@CyrusandAurelius Yes I would love to know this too (CA97 owner)

A lot of pianos that cost a fraction of a Steinway are actually better than a modern (post-1988) NY Steinway. ;) But that is a rabbit hole discussion that just ends up with people upset at each other. For the most part, modern Estonia, Petrof (specifically 1996-2000; the new ones cost more than a S&S), Charles Walter, Boston, upper-midrange Kawai or Yamaha...any of those will do just as fine if not better than a modern NY S&S for 99% of us. :)

A good instrument is affordable to a middle class person, especially if you peruse the used market. It's just not super easy, and it's also a big purchase.

@@seancregomusic Can you explain that in more details?

@@seancregomusic I love Petrof pianos, I have one, how the key feel is very different from other pianos. I played on a tail one once and the sound is so sweet and smooth. They are simply different. I completely agree on what you say about Kawai or Yamaha. Kawai pianos have a nice key response and a great sound. It feels so easy to play anything in those. I liked a lot an Upright Yahama from the silent series. Expensive, but the sound was pretty good. I find those very useful to practice your inner voicing without making a sound

@@ThePianoTester not enough time or space in a YT comments section, unfortunately. But, keep in mind that when it comes to pianos, you get what you pay for; you are not paying just for brand recognition for the name on the fallboard--EXCEPT for S&S (NY). [Hamburg S&S are extreme top-end; those are very different instruments.]

@@LuluBodhi Thanks for the encouragement!

YPD 164 is quite decent for an intermediate piano player. The keys are so heavy tho, I was confused by it in the first weeks. I got used to it eventually and it has a great ,, concert like sound‘‘. So if your looking for a rather cheap digital piano( 1000-2000$), this one’s pretty good. Only downside…. When I’m playing on a real piano I tend to play too loud because the keys feel way light. 😅

@@KSM2026 thanks for your input!

@Level 1 Noob Pianist It does not need to be portable. Novus is out of my price range but I have read about the CA series before. Thanks for your feedback!

What's your budget?

@@jules153 $2-$3k for a digital. If I spent anymore I would rather buy a new house first so I could fit in a nice Grand. 😆

Concerto No.2 in G minor

I’ve heard good things about dampp chasers, but I haven’t found definitive proof as to whether or not they make a difference. If you’re able to regulate humidity and temperature in the room that the piano is in, then what extra advantage does a dampp chaser provide?

@@pierrecohenmusic None, to my understanding. Damp-chaser is just an easier alternative to whole-room treatment.

@@pierrecohenmusic according to my experience, 10 years of trying to have two big humidifiers compete with the heating system at home, and another 20 years with damp chaser, the damp chaser is a much better alternative. It holds the tuning much longer and almost zero issues with action/regulation. Plus, I've spoken with some of the best technicians in my State. And they didn't need to sell me anything. 2 of them I trust 100%.

@@matsu820 if you live in Massachusetts, it's a life saver. 20 years experience having a damp chaser, versus 10 years having big humidifiers in the room. Damp chaser wins hands down in every aspect.

@@pierrecohenmusic plus, in MA, sometimes with 15% humidity, good luck trying to compete with the heating system. Unless you're very wealthy and build an entire room control system in your house.

On the other hand, deem yourself "just a beginner" and you could hinder your own growth.

Haha the guy that I mentioned in this video was truly a beginner - he just worked extremely hard and progressed quickly. A topic for another video - quality instruction is even more important than upgrading your instrument. I owe everything to my teachers

It makes a huge difference. Before I bought my piano, I hunted practice time in any acoustic piano I could find. Part of the learning process comes from what the instrument allows you to do. I gave my piano the first maintenance it received. I bought it used. I wasn’t aware there were things that weren’t working out as supposed. Day and night difference.

@@josantonioalcantara I have a similar story, but with my teacher’s grand piano instead. When I first started lessons with her, I didn’t enjoy playing during lessons because it sounded weird and the keys felt strange (I would hit the right keys but second guess myself because they sounded wrong). Over the holidays, she got the piano tuned and when I came back it was a completely different experience. I now look forward to that piano every lesson because of how satisfying it is to play and can’t believe how it used to sound. Tuning really can make a big difference.

Those simple beginner songs do sound a lot better on a nice sounding piano. Helps to stay motivated, because it doesn't take long to realize that a cheap digital is not easy to play with smooth dynamics. I've been there. Then again, everything sounds better on a quality accoustic piano.