Whenever I interview a new potential student I ask the student or parents what they have at home to practice on. Since I emphasize musicianship from the very earliest lessons I know that a student's success is going to be deeply affected by the pleasure he or she gets from the sounds being made and the responsiveness of the instrument. Ben has just provided me with a wonderful gift in this little book that I can hand to both parents and adult students to encourage their taking the time to find just the right fit and to understand what a good investment the right piano is.
"Why We Play" is an introspective and yet powerfully realistic look into our motivations for creating music at the piano, as well as gentle guidance for the beginner and even the seasoned professional as to which instrument might serve them best, from technical ease to textural and dynamic response. I remember just a few years back, I was shopping for a new piano, looking for that ephemeral, inexplicable "something" that would release my inner voice on the piano of my dreams. When the salesperson asked what exactly it was that I wanted in a piano, I said flippantly, "I just drive 'em. I don't know what goes on under the hood. I want something that drives like a Ferrari." And, consequently, every piano I wound up with behaved more like a car than a musical instrument. I mean, I've been playing for sixty years, but until I read Ben's priceless slim volume, I thought pianos were something like motor cars. A bit of oil and a tune-up, and I'd take the race.
"Why We Play" is a much needed and perfectly timed book. The process of making music starts with obtaining an instrument, then learning the necessary skills and choosing the repertoire and style. But the instrument comes first. Making the right choice when buying a piano will influence the next steps in learning or advancing and essentially enjoying the music-making process.
While there are many books about pianists and piano music, there are very few about the instrument itself. "Why We Play" offers a unique perspective on the process of selecting a piano in our era of smartphones and tablets. Ben Klinger offers you a different kind of GPS and a completely new direction of looking and listening to the piano and essentially finding your relationship with it.
The piano is capable of a vast variety of sounds and nuances, and is a direct expression, I believe, of the human soul. It expresses one's totality. 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.
Recently, a friend recommended this little gem to me; it's author, Ben Klinger, is actually an acquaintance, and I do see him from time to time. I had no idea he had published this little book.
So why am I telling you about it? It's so frustrating trying to teach students with inadequate instruments. This little book, actually, booklet would be a more apt description, takes the exact opposite approach from the Piano Book, and rather than talking technical issues, looks at the piano from a musical and emotional standpoint, and it's role in satisfying human needs and those of an interactive community. My sense is that parents who read through this will be more apt to actually invest the time and money necessary to provide their student with a good instrument.
The piano is indeed a wonderful gift for my soul. I am quieted and soothed when listening to my wife play her music. Playing piano is such an incredible art form and your book brings art into the process of purchasing the best piano for any individual. What a great book!
~ Gary German MD FAAP
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 loved your book! I found it very informative, entertaining and a wonderful guide to anyone thinking of buying a piano or for just learning to love your piano. For the very experienced, as you say it is a search for your soulmate; for the hobby player, it is what you want to make of your experience; for the novice, it is a formidable purchase fraught with many unknowns. You address all of these points very well and you place your comments in todays world of instant research and assumed knowledge. I found comments from pianists at the very beginning a great beginning that made you want to read on. The descriptive chapter on buying the right piano and the illustrative story was absolutely spot on. You make your point that it really is a love affair of the buyer and the piano very clear and time should be taken to make the choice and that for a beginner, it is a beginning of a journey.
It (Why We Play) has charm, profundity and great honesty as well. Your conviction about what music can bring us rings true throughout—I am sure it will be both helpful and inspirational to readers!
~ Robin McCabe,
Concert Pianist and Steinway Artist
Oh, another "Shopper's Guide" for prospective piano purchasers, NOT!! The very title of Ben Klinger's "Why We Play" book sets it apart from all (or, at least, most) "How to Buy a Piano' tutorials online or in print.
Ben starts with the very essence of the right motivation to have a piano in your life, or to give a gift of a piano to someone else, answering the question, "Why?!" He does it through the words of others: people of varied walks of life, ages, backgrounds, and temperaments. But all of them, in their own unique ways, say essentially the same thing: My piano makes my life so much richer and allows me to get in touch with my inner world of thoughts and emotions, not otherwise reachable or expressible.
Why We Play (the Piano) by Ben Klinger is an easy, quick (60 minute read) yet rich and insightful book about the process of buying a piano. Mr. Klinger has succeeded in writing a book that demonstrates that the process of buying a piano is a journey into the exploration of pianos, where variety of character and sound quality is parallel to the enormous diversity of personalities in the human race.
It is clear that for Mr. Klinger, buying a piano is not about buying a thing to own, it is about starting an adventure into a never-ending world of sound, that can be done at your own pace, and is always worth your time. His perception on purchasing a piano is not, "What is the piano worth?" Mr. Klinger challenges you to ask, "How much worth can you discover in the piano?"
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,
M.A. in Education, Lesley College
Far beyond its subtitle, “Why We Play” is a collection of inspiration, advice, and a keen roadmap that could apply to any major purchase of a musical instrument. A brief fifty-one pages, this book proves that amazing things come in small packages, and, at a mere $13.95, a real bargain. (ISBN 978-1475256574). And you can buy it from Amazon by first logging onto the WMEA website and then clicking on the Amazon icon.
Author Ben Klinger states his purpose for writing the book as a way “to reconnect people to the buying process in meaningful ways … returning to a simpler and more rewarding shopping experience.” Mr. Klinger has worked for years in the retail piano world and is also a player. This book is a result of thousands of customers, and their feedback, both successful and disappointing.
~ Kevin Paustian
Past President, WMEA (Washington Music Educators Association) More from Kevin Paustian
"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 of your loved ones, this is the book you need to read. It's a must!
~ Steven Lagerberg MD
Ben Klinger’s Why We Play is a delightful exploration of the process of piano buying. Balancing anecdotes from his own experiences as a musician and salesman and the experiences of others with practical advice for the shopper, Klinger encourages the reader to approach purchasing a piano from a new perspective. Rather than searching the internet for reviews and bargains, he tells us to use our own ears and find a piano that inspires us to play. This refreshing take on the subject is full of information—and a good dose of inspiration—useful to the first-time buyer, amateur pianist, or music professional.
~ Chelsea Bloomberg,
NCTM, SCMTA Vice President
and RCMFS Project Coordinator
