This new piano buyer’s guide focuses on matching the piano to the pianist. Author Ben Klinger draws on his extensive experience as a piano-industry veteran and professional pianist to point consumers to the right pianos for their personalities and needs in Why We Play: A Guide to Finding the Right Piano (ISBN 1475256574). While most guides to piano buying focus on rating specific brands, Klinger’s guide is different. Why We Play focuses on the buyers’ commitment to playing and helps them choose the right piano to foster consistent inspiration and practice. Klinger writes his guide during an age of widespread decline of piano playing. The author says that our loss of exposure to pianos has caused most buyers to underestimate the positive impact the piano itself will have on the playing experience. Why We Play offers advice on how to shop, whom to consult, what other factors to consider and how to keep the mind focused on the goal of the purchase: to inspire piano playing. Written in a casual but engaging tone, Why We Play is a buyer’s guide that focuses on the value of personally connecting to a specific piano during the buying process. It will interest prospective piano buyers and piano teachers who hope to make useful recommendations to their students. Beyond its tips and technical points, Klinger’s book will help readers understand the joy and pleasure of playing the piano and understand how these qualities can drive a more gratifying and successful buying experience. __________________________________________ BOOK REVIEWS “Direct, essential, informative, practical, and artistic piano-buying advice, all delivered in a compact, easy-to-read little book, sums up my impression of this fine work. If you wish to buy a quality instrument, the one that will forever change your life or the life of one your loved ones, this is the book you need to read. It’s a must!” – Steven Lagerberg MD “Ben Klinger, with an uncanny combination of people perception and piano knowledge, places the reins in the buyer’s hands with this delightfully inspired little book. With compassion, humor and a primary desire to find the fit between pianist and piano, he reminds us of why we love the instrument. His writing balances the sublime and the practical, illuminating human response to sound AND giving tips for interacting with salespeople. One leaves the pages infused with joy and empowered for the process of acquiring a piano.” – Deborah Dewey, pianist “Through powerful quotes, anecdotes and keen insight, Why We Play provides a reverent reminder of what it means to play the piano, the joy a piano can bring to a family, and how finding just the right piano can be an unforgettably wonderful experience. This book is itself an inspiration–a must-read for all piano seekers and enthusiasts!” – Liz Diamond, MA in Education, Lesley College “… I think you’ve written a wonderful volume that addresses the need to give the utmost thought and consideration to the purchase of something which can only bring manifold returns. It is perhaps the most worthwhile investment any person can make. My warmest congratulations on this book.” – Craig Sheppard, concert pianist and Steinway Artist
Editorial Reviews
Review
“Direct, essential, informative, practical, and artistic piano-buying advice, all delivered in a compact, easy-to-read little book, sums up my impression of this fine work. If you wish to buy a quality instrument, the one that will forever change your life or the life of one your loved ones, this is the book you need to read. It’s a must!” – Steven Lagerberg MD
“Through powerful quotes, anecdotes and keen insight, Why We Play provides a reverent reminder of what it means to play the piano, the joy a piano can bring to a family, and how finding just the right piano can be an unforgettably wonderful experience. This book is itself an inspiration–a must-read for all piano seekers and enthusiasts!” – Liz Diamond, MA in Education, Lesley College
“Ben Klinger, with an uncanny combination of people perception and piano knowledge, places the reins in the buyer’s hands with this delightfully inspired little book. With compassion, humor and a primary desire to find the fit between pianist and piano, he reminds us of why we love the instrument. His writing balances the sublime and the practical, illuminating human response to sound AND giving tips for interacting with salespeople. One leaves the pages infused with joy and empowered for the process of acquiring a piano.” – Deborah Dewey, pianist
“… I think you’ve written a wonderful volume that addresses the need to give the utmost thought and consideration to the purchase of something which can only bring manifold returns. It is perhaps the most worthwhile investment any person can make. My warmest congratulations on this book.” – Craig Sheppard, concert pianist and Steinway Artist
From the Back Cover
After forty years in the piano business, I’ve probably read almost every “how-to” book on selecting the right piano. Here, finally, someone has captured the essence of not only how to do it but why it’s so important to do it right.
For those who hunger for a template on how to choose the correct instrument, Ben points out that everyone already has everything they need to choose wisely. Your heart, your hands, and your ears will tell you if the piano you’re sitting at is the right one for you. If that’s not quite enough, Ben gives you wise counsel on stores, salespeople, and the Internet.
With so much conflicting information out there, it’s good to know that the simple basic guidelines offered here will serve you well as you begin a lifetime relationship with your piano.
Tom Austin President, Sherman Clay & Co.
About the Author
Ben Klinger’s passion for music led him to study at Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he graduated magna cum laude. There he studied with teachers who had performed with an extraordinary array of legendary musicians, such as: Charlie Parker, Stan Getz, Dexter Gordon, John Williams, Luciano Pavarotti, Henry Mancini, Mel Torme, Muddy Waters, Bonnie Raitt and many, many more. After graduating from Berklee, he went on to perform and teach professionally for several years before beginning a career in the piano retail industry in 1996. Piano retail expanded his understanding of how people are affected and influenced by sound. As years passed and technology increased, fewer and fewer people entered the piano-buying process with a reference point for the joy, power and value of learning to play. Why We Play was written to offer what he felt was missing in the modern piano-shopping experience: context. Why We Play is a guide for piano buyers that fills in the blanks between Make, Model, Price and Color with Inspiration, Reason and Motivation. In addition to offering practical advice, Why We Play provides a catalyst for understanding and inspiration, leading to a long-term, meaningful connection to music. Ben Klinger currently lives in the Seattle area with his wife and two sons, and is still very active in the piano business and artistic community.
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