Favorites

Please Note: This page has Amazon.com affiliate links. It’s a simple way to support my Website without costing you anything.

Welcome

It’s finally here. I’ve wanted to do a page like this for a long time. I have Amazon and SheetMusicPlus affiliate links on my site, as well as on this page. However, many of the links below are without profit motive, shared because I am a customer and love the products. Please let me know if you find this page fun and helpful!

Favorites for Students

Acoustic Pianos and Electronic Keyboards

I recently updated my comprehensive article, Choose the Right Piano, with some instruments in the Electronic Keyboards section that I’ve recently discovered. The good news is that there are several excellent choices in the sweet spot of $1000 between Budget and Mid-Tier Keyboards.

I’m empathetic to sticker shock, but it’s important to remember that you have many more budget-friendly choices today than before the existence of these instruments. My first console upright was $850; you can get an instrument today, without the massive inflation adjustment, for roughly the same price!

Supplemental Music

I encourage students to venture into repertoire books even before they finish their method book series. If you’re in a level two book, you’re ready to start this journey. I really enjoy the selection of music books at Piano Pronto, authored by Jennifer Eklund and her composer’s community. I also recommend the sister site FM Sheet Music if you’re seeking arrangements of pop songs.

Muji and JetPens

I get so many compliments and questions about the many Japanese office supplies I use. While some of them are from the brick-and-mortar Japanese chain Muji in NYC, many of them come from the San Jose, California, online store JetPens. Perhaps it’s best NOT to visit this site or subscribe to their newsletter, because these products are quite addictive.

Favorites for Piano Parents

Practice Pie

It’s a concise book relating practice to making a pie. It’s quite fun and has great tips. If you want to purchase Practice Pie, you won’t be disappointed. If you’d rather just borrow a physical book, let me know. I’d be happy to buy a couple of copies of Practice Pie to put into a lending library for your use.

Loop Earplugs

I realize that this may seem a little tongue in cheek. If you need to put your child’s practice on silent, but have an acoustic piano, these Loop Earplugs work. They continually save my hearing (and sanity) in Starbucks, as well as during the sonic assault a.k.a. Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour when I saw it in the cinema.

My Favorite Things

Finally, here are my favorite things. It’s a great place to visit if you were (rightly) thinking I probably don’t need another music-themed mug, but don’t know what to get me if you like to gift at the holidays. I include some choices from NYC, since that’s where I visit on my way to visit my childhood home in upstate New York.