Tips on How to Buy the Right Piano

Buying a piano is not as easy as it seems, and with such a huge selection of pianos available, the task gets even more difficult. Below we share some consumer-savvy tips that will help you find the right piano that suits your style and budget. 

First, consider the reason why you are buying the piano. Do you want to learn to play just for fun, as a hobby, or you want to make a serious career out of it? If it is just for fun, you need not buy the most expensive pianos on the market (unless you have the money for it.) However, if you want to take piano playing very serious and perform for other people, then you can consider getting a professional or semi-pro piano.

Second, while buying a piano you need to consider your budget. An expensive piano will generally produce great sound, but you also need to think if you can afford it easily, or will it invite any financial trouble? Pianos can require you to invest a lot, so it's easy to spend a great deal of hard-earned. Thus, before you even go out piano shopping, decide on a budget and do not go beyond it.

Third, you also need to consider the space you have to accommodate your piano. If you have a huge living room and your budget is high, then you can go for an expensive piano. However, if you do not have enough space then you must opt for a smaller one. Remember, bigger pianos will produce louder sounds. If your room is small then the music might be too loud for you to bear. So keep in mind the available space in your home when you buy your piano.

Different Types of Pianos

Keyboards

Keyboards are light and portable, and they offer the ability to produce a wide range of cool sounds. It does not need much space and is relatively inexpensive. You can even play it with your headphones on and so you will not be disturbing anyone. However, the quality of sound produced will not be not as great as some pianos and it might not have all the 88 keys as is present in real pianos.

Digital Pianos

Digital pianos are known to be more comfortable than the common keyboard, thus making practice more enjoyable. These types of pianos generally have all the 88 keys. The keys on digital pianos are more weighted, so you will enjoy more freedom of expression while striking the keys. The down point is you will get what you pay for. So, the more you pay for the piano, the better will be your experience.

Acoustic Pianos

You need to be very careful while buying an acoustic piano. In some acoustic pianos, you might spend hours practicing, and still might not be able to produce good sound. On the other hand, some acoustic pianos are very comfortable to play and produce great sound. So, you need to play a lot of different pianos before you decide on one.

Upright Pianos

This piano produces amazing sound. It has all the 88 keys that are properly weighted thus allowing complete freedom of expression. If you want to practice for an audition, this piano will prove immensely helpful. However, this piano can be very expensive and can take lots of space in your room.

Grand Pianos

If you want to fill up your entire house with surround sound then you should get this piano. It has all 88 full weighted keys. You can easily sit for hours practicing on it. It will add to the beauty of the room and will produce beautiful sounds. It, however, is expensive to buy and expensive to move and can take up a lot of space in your room. Now that you know everything about pianos, you can easily get the best one for yourself.

Do not forget to test and try our a few different options at your local piano dealer before buying one. This will ultimately give you the best perspective as to which type of piano is ideal for you.

3 Samsonite Luggage Bags That Deliver Style & Efficiency

Samsonite International is a reputable luggage manufacturer that offers a wide spectrum of stylish luggage products, such as large suitcases, briefcases, small toiletry bags, and complete luggage sets. In addition to Samsonite brand luggage sets and travel accessories, the company also manufactures luggage brands like Lacoste, American Tourister, Hartmann Luggage, and Timberland.

Over the years the company has produced a vast collection of Samsonite luggage sets in wide varieties for specific functions and fashion preferences. Samsonite luggage is also available in a wide range of colors to choose from. Below is a description of the three of the best Samsonite luggage sets and travel bags that offer a high degree of both style and efficiency.

Samsonite Leather Business Cases Flapover Briefcase

This leather briefcase from Samsonite is stylish for all types of travelers and professionals. The Samsonite briefcase has a top carry handle and shiny leather surface that makes it attractive to any buyer interested in a quality bag.

As versatile piece of Samsonite luggage, it has a padded shoulder strap that can easily be removed or adjusted depending on the comfort of the user. The shoulder strap is very strong and can support a laptop of measurable weight. It has front pocket organization which is suitable for all the business needs of the user. The "Smart Pocket" easily slides over the upright handles to facilitate easy mobility. The interior is fully lined and can accommodate a 15.6 inch laptop.

The briefcase is very popular and most business people prefer it for their business trips. As attractive addition to a large luggage set, this Flapover is also great for a regular or casual traveler since its weight of approximately 4.5 pounds is manageable. The lock at the side is an assurance that your goods are secure at all times. It is available in black color in most of the stores and buyers are entitled to a Warranty of 3 years. The retail price of the briefcase is estimated to be around $280.00.

Samsonite Wheeled Backpacks MVS Spinner Backpack

The MVS Spinner backpack from Samsonite is constructed using 600D rip stop polyester from Samsonite. It is majorly available in black color. It has a locking handle system with a mono tube push button that makes it easier to open and close the backpack. The top carry handle and shoulder straps are also padded. The shoulder straps also zip away easily, making it the perfect compliment to all types of luggage sets and collections.

This wheeled luggage option is integrated with four spinner wheels that can rotate up to 360 degrees. It has a large zip compartment designed with an organizer panel at the front side of the backpack. The pocket at the front of the bag is designed with a zip too for securing any stored items. There is a side pocket for water bottle. The pocket has a zip that facilitates securing of the water bottle in place.

Like most Samsonite luggage sets, the material used to make the bag is resistant to both water and dirt. The interior is fully lined and has a separate padded section designed for your laptop. The laptop compartment houses a laptop of maximum size 17 inches. It has a piggyback feature that allows the user to secure it on the handle of a separate main bag. It is easy to carry it around since it weighs approximately 6.4 lbs.

Samsonite Pixel Cube Spinner Zip (26") 

The Samsonite Pixel Cube Spinner luggage is constructed from high quality polycarbonate from Samsonite. This luggage bag is available in a range of colors such as wine red, anthracite, aubergine and champagne. It has an upright pull handle as well as side and top carry handles. Since it is a spinner bag, it has multi-directional wheels that are virtually silent and can roll up to 360 degrees. This ensures the user does not experience any weight in their hands since the spinner wheels roll easily.

The Samsonite Pixel Cube is designed with a combination lock from Travel Sentry that provides peace of mind on the security of the belongings. However, the lock can always be easily accessed by the TSA agents. It has interior multiple pockets that are fully featured with double cross straps that enhance organization. This makes it one of the best discount Samsonite luggage options for for any kind of traveler. It measures approximately 9.74 pounds which can easily be supported by the spinner wheels. The flexible shell of this piece of luggage makes it surprisingly strong. Its smaller dimensions make it a good travel bag since it can be moved around easily. It is of great value compared to other expensive brands. Furthermore, it has a limited Warranty of 10 years in most of the shops.

Kawai Digital Piano Review: CL26, ES7, & CE220 Models

Kawai pianos have become highly popular because of their intricate design, sensitive feel, and light keyboard structure. For 85 years, Kawai’s tradition and history of piano design and engineering has transformed into a dramatic range of digital pianos.

Many intricacies and features have been captured in Kawai pianos, and this includes the key weight, touch, real piano sound, and the face of the best of acoustic pianos. This assures both playing and listening pleasures without noise, maintenance and size restriction of an acoustic instrument.

There are many different models of Kawai digital pianos, such as Kawai CL26, Kawai CE220, Kawai ES7 among many other models. Below we review some of these models and the details to look-out for when investing in a quality piano.

Kawai CL26 Piano 

The Kawai CL26 piano is a popular selection in most showrooms, especially for starters who would wish to get a better taste of piano play. This is because the CL26 model is cost efficient and offers a quality tone and compact size.

It is among the cheapest digital pianos on the market that offers full springless design and grade-weighted hammers for a natural playing experience. The keys of CL26 piano are responsive and hoist the most nuanced touches, which is crucial for any kind of progress in your playing.

The CL26 model is very compact and will easily fit in the meager spaces. It also gives the sound of Kawai’s world popular EX concert grand piano, with 88 key piano sampling methods preserving the affluent harmonic character of the EX grand. Each key is carefully sampled to offer you the most in depth range of every key.

Kawai ES7 Piano 

The Kawai ES7 piano is the model you would want for a classy event or formal occasion. Aside from the key surfaces and buttons, there is no plastic in sight. The ES7 model is the 2nd generation of Kawai’s Responsive Hammer (RH) action (however it does not employ triple sensors and detect release velocity.) The white and black key surfaces have the desired texture for meticulous piano players, and it is graded to feel fantastic and less fatiguing.

The beautiful sound generated from the ES7 surpasses most piano models in all eighty eight notes. What Kawai describes as “Progressive Harmonic Imaging” apparently refers to wide-ranging multisampling to capture contrary harmonic content at diverse velocities. The sounds of this model are rich, lovely and give 8 variants from very mellow to very bright. It is hard to detect any velocity layer transitions, hence has a very sophisticated cross-fading and interpolation. Besides, it is hard to hear the usual loop points when perilously listening to sustained notes.

Splitting is quite simple with the ES7 piano. Anything you perform when holding the split button has impact on the lower part including choosing sound categories, pressing a key to set the split point, or repeatedly striking button categories to step through its patches. Layering is achieved through holding the first sound button while striking a second.

Kawai CE220 Piano 

The Kawai CE220 piano boasts the AWA PROII wooden-key action, a feature that has been found on the various award-winning Kawai instruments. With CE220 model, Kawai has added to its famous feature many other upgrades as well as new features. This include Progressive harmonic Imaging sound tech with 88 key piano sampling, thus producing more comprehensive, clear and real piano sound.

As one of the most versatile painos on the market, the Kawai CE220 comes with a fitting USB device facility. This lets you record a song piece. You can then play the song on another instrument or load it into a computer for mailing to a teacher or friends or printing score. Another notable upgrade is 192 note polyphony, which is 100 more than its predecessor.

Another striking feature the CE220 model has is a dual mode, where two sounds can be played simultaneously, and a split mode where one sound plays on right side while another plays on the left side. A singular 4 hands mode produces two matching 44 note pianos on the keyboard- ideal for duets or lessons.

This Kawai piano also has a suitable balance slider on the slider to control the balance in split or dual mode, a built-in metronome with numerous time signature, two headphone jacks, 100 built-in rhythm, 29 classic piano songs stored internally with accompanying music book, and a MIDI, Line out, Line in jacks, and additional USB jack.

Lastly, Kawai’s designers offered the CE220 a gorgeous premium satin black finish with sliding key cover, sliding bench, and three pedals which provide the same functionally as world-class acoustic grand pianos.

Kawai's 5 Year Warranty on Digital Pianos

In conclusion, all the Kawai digital pianos are made to exacting standards of the present market. Each piano is the zenith of the global-class mechanical and electrical engineering, software design and eighty five years of experience in designing and manufacturing superlative acoustic pianos.

Although only select piano dealers offer Kawai  pianos, you can rest assure knowing that each Kawai digital piano comes with a 5 year guarantee, for the final peace of mind. Whether it is a full digital grand, small portable instrument, you are guaranteed that your investment is safe.

From Custom Tank Tops to T-Shirts, Neon is "In"

From custom tank tops to t-shirts, neon is "in." It's no doubt that more and more people of younger generations are sporting neon tank tops, caps, fanny packs, and much more.

If anybody takes a quick glance at the Spring runways of 2012, they will agree that there is a glowing and undeniable presence of neon. Reputable designers, such as Jason Wu, Rodarte, Peter Som and Nanette Lepore, featured different highlighter hues in the season designs.

This marked an undeniable neon comeback and advertising campaigns are greeting the trend. For example, Mert Alas and Marcus Piggot shot a neon campaign by Versace featuring Gisele Bundchen. Neon is definitely back with a new sense of variability.

Why Neon Is Back As The Pillar Of Fashion

Neon accents are seen in form of a single, blinding accessory against a neutral ensemble. The trend has then manifested itself in many personalized and different applications, from a neon-painted statement necklace to a pair of neon-bright high heels with jeans and a blazer. For the Met Costume Institute Gala of 2012, model Coco Rocha debuted hot-pink ombre hair.

Most fashion adherents point to the late ’80s and early ’90s as the most celebrated moment of neon. The graffiti harem pants and the spandex workout gear that was worn by Will Smith in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air strike back strong memories from the past. Neon tank tops and t-shirts are revived on beaches and at music festivals. In a self-reinventing industry that constantly references the past, neon’s historical fashion embrace gives insight to today’s application.

Neon's Rich History Before Fashion

In Greek, neon translates to “neos,” which means new. The word new’ seems appropriate, putting into consideration that the substance has been finding new identities approximately every 20 years. Discovered in 1898 by Sir William Ramsay and Morris W. Travers, who were two British chemists, neon continues to find fame.

After being included in the periodic table, neon’s use became popularized almost instantly. The element’s form of huge neon signs in the 1920s allowed New York’s Times Square to define the insomniac identity of the city. By the 1950s, custom billboards in Las Vegas served as invitations into a fantasy world known as Strip’.

Neon-like colors later re-emerged in the 1960s through silkscreen paintings of Andy Warhol, a pop-culture prophet. From this point on, dynamic hues became an important part of fashion, fine arts and advertising. And in the 1980s, the desire to dress up in resemblance to a glow-stick grew, and the answer was neon In. In the early 90s, plastic jellies, fluorescent, neoprene fabric and neon spandex dominated.

The Revival of Neon Apparel

Presently, neon is fully back and in a more subtle context. From Spring Break vacation groups to college fraternities and sororities, neon is in. This new bright trend is best enjoyed in not so big doses: think bold yellow belt, a neon-green clutch or a hot-pink nail polish.

From neon tank tops to custom-shirts, neon clothing has recently become all the rage. Neon tank tops add the craze to many situations are starting become very popular (especially pocket tank tops.) Even college basketball players are seen wearing bright neon colored tennis shoes. Love for neon definitely has no limits.

Neon colors are perfect for a wide range of clothing items, which include mini dresses, tights, leggings, fishnets, sports bras, leotards, socks, gloves, headbands and stockings. Some companies are even taking it to the next level by making neon clothing that glows under fluorescent lighting. Indeed, it can plausibly be argued that Neon still has great influence in today's fashion.

3 Luxury Luggage Sets That Make Travelling Stylish & Stress-free

There are a lot that luxury luggage sets bring to the table for frequent travelers. For one, they add style to travelling, but more importantly they help in making travelling more practical and streamlined. In essence, travelling with luxury luggage sets is that they allow travelers to be more organized and stress free during their venture.

Furthermore, luxury luggage sets also make it easier for travelers to distinguish their luggage in the baggage claim area. There are various options to choose from when it comes to luxury luggage sets at discount prices. The following are three of the most impressive examples.

Heys Crocodile – Embossed Softside Luggage Set 

Heys USA has a rich history of more than 25 years to draw upon when it comes to catering to high profile travelers. One of its most appreciated products is the Heys Crocodile – Embossed Softside Luggage. This luggage set consists of two large wheeled suitcases, one medium sized wheeled suitcase, and one duffel or carry – on bag.

There are essentially two reasons why this set is so liked by travelers. The first is its unique look which puts it at the forefront of fashion while also making it easier to spot in the baggage claim area. The other is the fact that this set consists of three different sizes of bags making it suitable for a nuclear family. Moreover, segregation of various belongings is also easy as items can be grouped on the basis of priority. More used items can be kept in the carry – on bag and the less used in the big suitcases.

Like all luxury luggage sets, this one has all the bells and whistles as well such as inline skate wheels and an internal push button handle system. Even though the look of this set will preclude rough handling by baggage personnel, it is made up of durable PVC which gives it the ability to handle rough use.

Bric’s Tuscan Luggage Set

Bric’s was established way back in 1952 in Italy. Bric’s is mainly known for creating luxury luggage with Tuscan leather and nylon. One of its bestselling products is known as Bric’s Tuscan Luggage Set. This set comprises one wheeled suitcase which can be large small or medium, one large wheeled carry – on bag which is also wheeled, one medium or large carry – on bag, and one small item akin to a large purse which the manufacturer dubs cosmetics tote.

Each item in this set is made up of cotton flocked PVC with leather trimmings. The material has suede like feel which makes it look elegant and artistic. This set is suitable for an individual fashionista or even a small family out on a short trip.

Focusing on convenience, Bric’s has included sturdy wheels and telescoping handles on the larger items in this set such as the suitcase and the large carry – on bag to make this set easier to handle for one or two people. Another great benefit that this luggage set provides is that if the buyer chooses a medium or large suitcase then he gets a bag that boasts of a separate suiter and shoe pocket.

Lipault Parisian Luggage Set 

Lipault is one of the newer manufacturers of luxury luggage sets. It was set up in 2005 by François Lipovetsky, a well-known designer from France. This company is known for creating luggage suitable for the modern traveler with special focus being given comfort and ergonomics.

The Parisian Luggage Set offered by Lipault is extremely useful for the spry modern traveler who expects to change direction at the drop of a hat. Practicality seems to be a criterion for Lipault as each item in this set is collapsible and can be easily stored when not in use. Furthermore, this luggage set is also water resistant because it is made up of 420 denier nylon.

With multiple colors to choose from, this luggage set comprises a weekender with dual pockets, a small wheeled suitcase, a medium sized wheeled suitcase, and a large wheeled suitcase. Designed to offer maximum versatility, this set is ideal for people who are planning an active trip.

Samsung's OLED TV: A Big Hit for TV Sales in 2014

If you're TV guru, then the Samsung TV technology that's taking storm will definitely spark your interests. Samsung is redefining TV sales with its new OLED TV. In 2014, the Samsung OLED TV sales are expected to skyrocket. The question is - are you going to be one of the savvy consumers making a purchase?

About the Samsung OLED TV

Digital trend sites and technology news publishers have been raving about the Samsung OLED TV. Since the brand received exclusive rights to describe this new model as a bendable OLED TV, stores offering Samsung TV sales have been wanting to get their hands on this model ever since.

The new innovative allows for real bending (yes, flexible bending) of the Samsung TV via remote control. This is allow TV viewers to capture a better view angle. Additionally, Samsung's new OLED TV will also include advanced software capabilities allowing users to modify the image to best ensure that there's no distortion due to the bending.

Samsung's OLED TV is said to integrate plastic substrates in its body's design and a spacious back panel to better deform the display. This Samsung TV is said to offer much wider angles in contrast with current Samsung TV's on sale which are only slightly curved.

When to Expect This Samsung TV 

Samsung has already announced that it plans to unveil the OLED TV prototype early next year at the Consumer Electronic Show (CES) in Las Vegas. While specific details were uncertain about technical specifications and cost of this Samsung TV sale, its display size is anticipated to be huge.

Although Samsung has over the past been relatively successful in keeping its trade secrets hidden, a lot is already known about the Samsung OLED TV. It is possible that Samsung will only reveal the prototype in closed-door meetings.

The coming year for Samsung TV sales will primarily center on Smart TV technology - however the new OLED TV is said to redefine viewing and home entertainment.

Military Issue Boots Ideal for Winter Weather

Standard issue military boots are worn by military soldiers during combat. However today, more and more people are realizing that military boots are ideal of many situations, particularly during the winter.

In addition to military personnel, hunters, outdoorsmen, and other common civilians choose military-issue boots because of their protection, comfort, and adaptability to the changing environments. It's also important to note that these boots are also popular fashion wear, and they can be paired with dresses, leggings and denim. In the market today, there are different types of military issue boots that are suitable for the winter season.

Corcoran Military Combat Boots  

Today, Corcoran's military combat boots have grown to become one of the most respected brands in the market. From the older combat boot models to the newer types that were used by the military soldiers who served in Iraq, you can be assured of finding a high quality pair.

These military issue combat boots are made with the use of the high quality, fine materials that are available and they are coupled with the most recent technology to guarantee comfort as well as durability. Take note that there are specific line of military issue boots that feature field and desert boots as well as Marauder tactical boots for both the men and women. They have an excellent collection of winter boots that you can choose from.

Blackhawk Military Issue Boots

These brand as founded in 1993 by Mike Noell who was a Navy Seal. He came up with this zing tactical gear line because of the first hand experience that he had with the failure of equipment while on a military assignment in northern Iraq.

Notably, these military boots are made utilizing the finest materials hence they guarantee performance, durability as well as comfort in any kind of condition or climate. The military boots are made with Cordura as well as full grain cow leather and high abrasion suede.

These boots have a fantastic selection suitable for the winter collection and they come in different sizes and styles suitable for hunters, outdoor wear and the military. Both men and women alike can find an excellent pair of Blackhawk military boots. It is vital to point out that the Blackhawk military boots are specialized for different kinds of climates that include extreme cold weather, desert, jungle and hot weather. Also note that there are those that are geared for different kinds of maneuvers like jump boots, tanker boots and jump boots.

As much as military issue boots are mainly designed to be used by soldiers in combat environments, there are more men and women who are finding these boots useful daily wear because of their comfort and durability. In the past, the military issue boots were made strictly from leather, but today there are other durable materials such as cordura fabrics and suede that are used in making these boots.

While shopping for military issue boots, you will realize that there is a wide variety to choose from. Many military supply stores, such as MilitaryUniformSupply.com offer massive selections of military issue boots for sale.

It is vital to remember that the cheaper military boots that are modified for civilian wear could be of a slightly lower quality as compared to those standard issue boots made specially for combat. So, do not hesitate to look through the extensive collection of military issue boots that are suitable for the winter season.

Shop Discount Luggage Sets at Clearance Prices This Holiday Season

Opting to shop for clearance luggage sets as holiday gifts for travel lovers allows you to get more value for your money (while ensuring your luggage gift is still a name brand of luggage.) Rather than having to purchase various sizes of luggage individually, you can easily find an attractive luggage set at a discount price.

Many large department stores and online luggage stores offer end-of-year or holiday sales on exceptional-quality, name brand luggage sets. Most of these are highly recognized name brands, which are geared at clearing away old stock and as such creating space for newer products. During such times, you are able to get some great bargains on products that will last you for a long period.

These clearance luggage sets comes in a plethora of designs and styles in addition to the colors and sizes. A set might be made up of three, four or even up to five pieces of luggage that might be comprised of sizes such as those of cosmetic bags to large 30-inch suitcases. You can check a large array of these designs and styles through luggage retailers on the internet, which include soft and hard cover luggage sets, business cases, duffel bags, rolling backpacks and much more.

Even when you are buying through clearance luggage sets or other discount arrangements, your choice of luggage largely depends on your needs, personal tastes and your budget. By purchasing clearance luggage sets, you will be able to have a wider choice of top brands; that is assuming that they are also on sale. If you and family or business associates love to travel more often, it might, be a good idea for you to buy quality luggage since rugged construction gives you confidence of longevity and thus better service.

Other than price, there are other factors, which you need to consider when you are choosing luggage to buy in local and online stores both. These factors include interior and exterior pockets, quality construction, and additional features like roll-wheels, adjustable straps, and expandable zippers among many others. Attractive appearances for luggage might be an awesome plus in the entire case but this should not be seen as a proper makeup or excuse for poor workmanship. You just have to make sure that the product is at its best when you are making your purchase.

You can come across a wide range of clearance luggage sets on the Internet today. For instance, Lexington Luggage store is one of the best online luggage stores where you are able to find discount luggage sets at clearance prices. You just need to make sure that you are doing your searches in the right manner. The good thing is that these sets allow you to make your purchase and still save a good amount of money in the process.

If you are searching for clearance luggage sets on the internet today, there are certain top brands, which you cannot choose to overlook. They include Diane Von Furstenberg, Pierre Cardin, American Flyer, A.Saks, Korchmar, and Samsonite.

When you choose discount luggage sets at clearance prices, you are sure that you will save a good amount of money on every luggage purchase that you make. Millions of people across the globe today are settling for this option and they are finding it rewarding.