How's the practicing going? One of the hardest things to do when starting to play the piano is to get away from the C hand position. It feels comfortable and easy playing in the centre of the keyboard. But there are lots of other notes to explore. If you're ready for it, take a look at Piano Lesson Six and take your adventure to a whole new level.

Pic by M. McIntyre

When it was originally manufactured, my piano came with a 10-year guarantee. It wasn't simply a handshake, though -- it was actually printed on the inside of the lid, as you can see in this picture.

If you're thinking about buying a piano, make sure you get a written guarantee just in case anything goes wrong. Pianos are an investment, after all, and it's always better to be safe than sorry. Although it doesn't need to be written ON the piano itself.

Photo by M. McIntyre

It's September. Time to start thinking about going back to school, preparing for winter, and saying goodbye to summer. So maybe it's also a good time to remember a piano virtuoso born on this day who died prematurely -- while performing a piano concerto.

Simon Barere was born in Odessa, Russia on September 1, 1896. He emigrated to the United States in 1939 following a series of successful tours, including a debut at Carnegie Hall. His performances of Liszt's music in particular are thought to be among the best ever made.

Yes, you can, if you're playing swing piano music. The word "swing" applies to how the music is played, with rhythms resembling triplets. You can find a definition of swing on the piano site, or go to my Sibelius page to see a piano piece I've written in the swing style.

Photo by Jon Pallbo: PDI from Wikimedia Commons