Pianist magazine

Anyone else love using the magazine to help in your practice?
For me, it’s a great resource for sight reading, learning at least one of the pieces, great educational material. Also, love interviews as it guides me to their recitals in my local hometown.

I enjoy it, I've had a subscription now for a little over a year, came on board with issue 99. I just got notice about the latest digital edition today.

Really like the selection of pieces, and I usually try the easier ones for sight reading practice.

It's a nice magazine. I've struggled to try to buy the really old back issues back to issue #1. They are available for collectors (not from the publisher of course), but none that I've found come with the CDs. And the CDs were always a big feature of the magazine. Unfortunately, the online back issues only go back a few years, so no help there.

Where can I get it?

Check on their website for different subscription options, including iPad.

I ordered the digital subscription through pocketmags.com

I've been a subscriber for 4 or 5 years now, it's invaluable! If you're not sure which pieces to learn next, this magazine can help. Their grading is not very accurate - there are "beginner/intermediate" pieces that took me forever, and "intermediate" pieces span a huge range of difficulty levels - but the scores are usually very clear and precise, and you also get some nice arrangements thrown in together with the classical pieces. And the recordings and lessons are very useful, especially for teacher-less people like me.

Right now I'm really enjoying browsing through the older issues to find intermediate pieces that I could not learn at the time, but may be feasible now. I take screenshots and transfer them to forScore, and voilà!

New issue today... can't wait to download it

Aaaaaand here's another thing I've been completely unaware of. Thank you for this thread, and for the link! I just subscribed to their YouTube channel as well.

Did I mention that they held a 12-day competition on their social media channels during the holidays, and I won a £20 Amazon voucher?!?

Got myself 3 new piano books

Way to go!

Congratulations! What a cool way to fund one's piano score buying habit.

Pianist magazine is my secret weapon. I love it.

congrats! I am no way experienced enough to compose. But I like that winners in the past, their score and the audio are published in later issues. Definitely love the audio that is integrated in the digital version. Ha, I also do snap shot and load to forScore! Loving the new edition, and checking out a few scores with my teacher and see which ones he recommends I learn. It helps with selecting pieces for my lessons. I have asked Painist if they will load the older magazines onto digital...no definitive seaweed either way.

It is a great magazine. I have been a subscriber for a good number of years. I really like the interviews, the letters and the scores. It has introduced me to some composers I knew very little about.
I was really lucky to find many older issues in my local piano shop, all with CDs. I do scan some of the scores and load it into forScore. There is a complete list of scores on their website too.

I'm a subscriber for over three years and it introduced me to a lot of composers I never would have considered practicing. So much have been composed for the piano beside the evergreens. I also made a habit trying to sight-read the "beginner" pieces of each issue.

Each time a new issue is in the mailbox it refreshes the motivation to practice piano. Without a teacher that's pretty important.

One of Erica's favourite jobs is choosing the scores. And she does a very good job there. Lots of interesting, 'unknown' pieces which are a delight to play and learn.

I checked out the sample issue in iPad format. Interesting, but too oriented towards classical music for me. If it included even a few Great American Songbook/ Showtunes etc, I'd be much more inclined to subscribe.

I bet any magazine is happy to include them - around the year 2100, when their copyrights expired.

Also it should be noted, that those songs (derived from "sing") were composed for a different instrument: the voice.

I appreciate a pianist magazine focusing on music composed for solo piano, sonatinas and sonatas.

Actually, Pianist has published some of the finest intermediate-level arrangements of Great American Songbook works and other showtunes that I’ve ever seen. Those have been my very favorite scores from the magazine.

They don’t do a great one every single issue, but certainly every few issues they do.

For example, look at issue 105 for the Torme/Wells “Christmas Song”, or issue 103 for Gershwin’s “Someone to Watch Over Me” and Weill’s “September Song.” There are a lot of other great examples that I could cite.

What do you guys/gals in the US do for a subscription? Pretty pricy for a retired guy. There is one bookstore in a local town that carries it, but I only rarely get over there to buy one. Its $13.75 US off the rack. A subscription is about $80, which is about the same price. The digital version is the bargain I guess, at about $46. But the few times that I have subscribed to a digital magazine I have not enjoyed the experience...

Sam

Pianist is about the only paper reading I do, but I also have a digital subscription. The digital version is not bad in the Pocketmags app, and you have digital access to the score demonstration recordings.

Thank you for pointing this out to me. I'll take a look at those issues.

There are often discounts and sales on the digital subscription - I think they just had one. Otherwise it's pretty expensive, at €39.99.

Pianist has its own app, so it's not subject to Zinio's glitches, for instance. I download it on my iPad Pro 12.9" for the music and to my iPad mini to read the articles. The audio is embedded in the download, so you can also listen to the recordings offline, if needed. I listen while following the score and I never had problems. Resolution is very high, unlike International Piano, where scores are barely readable.

Here is a link to the complete score list across all issues. At the bottom of the blog post there is a link to a pdf file, which has a section for modern scores.

https://www.pianistmagazine.com/news/pianists-complete-list-of-scores/

I also want to speak up about the quality of Pianist Magazine's app. Love being able to click to jump to the score and hit the play button to have Chenyin Li play it for me.

I've done away with all my paper subscriptions. I found that I didn't read any of them. Never at hand when I have the time to read. Much better in a tablet for when I am on the go. I couldn't do it on a phone though. Too small a screen and I am flipping the page too much.

For Android, there is the PocketMag app and the Pianist app. I think it's the same for Apple. For whatever reason, the Pianist app works better for me than the PocketMag app. Sometimes, the PocketMag app doesn't work at all, just hangs

I also subscribe digitally and am very happy with it.

When I try to open the Pianist app it seems to want to route me to PocketMags. Anyone else having this experience?

I don't know if it helps much, but ExpressMag has it for $59 for the year: https://www.expressmag.com/en-us/magazines/product/description/pianist/680/

That's how I get my subscription.

Thanks Squidbot! That's a great price for the paper magazine. More than 25% off is always a good discount

Can anyone who subscribes to both Pianist magazine and International Piano magazine compare the two for us? I haven't ever seen an issue of the latter, but looking through info on the Internet and a sample table of contents, I thought it seemed less appropriate for beginners than Pianist magazine. Is this right?

I done this with guitar mags and have a library of them now. The few really old ones i have are cool. Ive gotten a few digital back issues of Pianist with plans for more. I really like it and Keyboard magazine.

Tyrone, I'd looked at International Piano, and the music and technique do seem geared for a bit more advanced audience. It also has a lot more "pianist fandom" type stuff, which I'm less interested in.

As an aside, I also got a subscription to Clavier's Piano Explorer for my son who absolutely loves it. It's what piqued his interest in composing (they have compositions by kids features in each issue.) https://pianoexplorer.net/

Now that you mention it, it did seem more like a fan mag, although this is perhaps only a difference of degree - Pianist magazine also has its fan sections and a famous pianist on the cover of every issue.


Interesting. It seems most of the piano magazines are no more - following the long, slow decline of pianos in general. Looking on eBay, I see that historically, there were a dozen different piano magazines. It seems like there are only these 3 left now.

You guys will be the death of me. I just subscribed to International Piano, too.

*shakes fist at TS*

Thanks Squidbot! Looks like I have to subscribe now!

Sam

Me? LOL. What was it that did it? When I said, "fan mag?"

No, when you mentioned it. Because I’d been blissfully unaware of its existence until then

You could redeem yourself by completely illegally copying and sending me any articles from past editions about Kissin or Pogorelich or Berezowky... *winning smile*

Sorry, no can do as I don't have any issues or I might be tempted to redeem myself. Squidbot's brief comparison above was enough to suggest to me that this mag might be put off for a time. But who knows. Maybe I will end up ordering it too at some point, although sinophilia has said in the thread above that the digital edition of International Piano is no good, and I'm almost entirely digital these days - just don't have the space for paper, especially of stuff I want to keep long-term.

International Piano does not include many scores, just one or a few related pieces, and they're usually contemporary. On one hand it's nice because you get unusual, copyrighted stuff, but they're almost all fairly advanced pieces. Also, there are no "lessons" and no teaching videos in it - just a single article on technique.

As I said, the image quality of scores was always very poor - but in the last issue it was much better, so they may have fixed that.

I like to receive both magazines, because they come out on alternate months! So at the end of each month I always have one or the other to download

I’m not too focused on the scores, they’re a nice bonus to me. Looks like I’ll mostly read PM for advice, technique etc and IP for news on who’s who, and more importantly, who’s playing what and where.

*clears throat* But I’m totally open for donations of fangirl-worthy past articles on certain personages!

I might help here...

I'm a long-time subscriber to both. They are quite different. Pianist Magazine is more of a "hands-on", with instructional articles, scores and a CD (for all levels). They also have articles about artists, etc. I have an (almost) complete collection since issue 1.
International Piano is more focused on articles about artists, competitions, CD reviews, etc., although they do usually include a few scores, but nothing like Pianist Magazine.
As a piano student, if you were to subscribe to only one, I would definitely recommend Pianist Magazine over International Piano. Both are excellent, just a different focus. I love them both.
Both are available as digital editions at considerable savings.
Too bad Piano Today and Sheet Music Magazine were unable to continue publication for financial reasons. They were real gems. Not to mention Jazz Player magazine and Jazz Improv magazine, both of which were excellent but went by the wayside, also for financial reasons (i.e. not enough subscribers!) Piano magazines need our support! Get them while you can. As a former journalist, I can tell you that print journalism is getting more challenging all the time.

I've seen back issues of Piano Today on eBay. Do you know anything about it? Does it contain enough learning material for a piano student that it might be worthwhile picking up some back issues?

Depends on your interest - Piano Today had a lot of scores and articles about composers, performers, etc. Of course on ebay, it's caveat emptor, always.
Sheet Music Magazine was amazing - I was very sad to see them go, but I was able to pick up some collections on ebay. It's almost all sheet music, mostly piano-vocal-guitar type, and a lot of music you probably won't find anywhere else - show tunes, original collections of the great songwriters, etc.
I have a couple hundred of them - I use them for sight reading and never get bored.

Interesting. Did Piano Today have articles on technique and learning piano, as Pianist magazine has?

Yes, they would have a few instructional articles each issue. A friend of mine used to write for them and do jazz-oriented instruction.
However, they were gone before the real explosion of online access that is available today with Pianist Magazine. If that's your interest, I'd say your money (and time) would be better spent picking up digital back-issues of Pianist Magazine. (Of course, dependent on what you can find in the used market. Piano Today had a lot of interesting material that you probably won't find anywhere else).
Anybody remember Keyboard Magazine? Back in the day, it was a good magazine, before print magazines became geared to people who couldn't read more than two paragraphs at a time!

I just picked up the Great Piano Composers of the Classical Era issue for 99 cents

Pianist magazine is great. I'll pick one up from the newsstand every time I see a new issue. The pieces they feature every month is a good way to discover new repertoire to try out, and comes with a CD so you know how its supposed to sound. It helps me to decide if this piece is something I want to work on or now. I didn't get the digital subscription because I don't like practicing from an iPad.

bSharp, where did you find this?

Email ad that was sent to me. But it should be listed as 99 cents when searching for it. Try this link.

https://pocketmags.com/us/pianist-magazine/great-piano-composers-of-the-classical-era

That is a good deal for 0.99$.

On that site, you can also try a free sample. Signup takes 30 seconds and simply required email and password.

The zoom +/- feature at the bottom right of the screen is useful.

Thanks! Snagged it just now

Haha, I am loving the conversation here...#support these mags. Anyone who needs help contact pocketmags, as they are the publishers. I use the app on my iPad as part of my learning tools. I also have the international mag for pure reading, as commented by many above.

Sometimes pocketmags has the discount, and they will attach it to your app/account. Just remember to cancel the iPad app’s renewal though. I just paid a lovely low renewal price for both magazines. Their tech support was brilliant.

I am really hoping they will upload the earlier magazines, purely for the learning material and the scores/embedded music.

I don’t have any affiliation, but what to spread the joy as an adult learner.

I guess most of you aren't old enough to remember "Etude Magazine":

The Etude Magazine: 1883-1957

Etude Magazine was published by Theodore Presser Company between 1883 and 1957. It was a staple for music teachers throughout the country, providing articles related to music history, new developments in music, and practical teaching techniques, as well as musical scores from the classics and new pieces for beginning to advanced students. Begun as an aid for piano teachers, the magazine grew to include information and literature for vocal and instrumental enthusiasts as well. Not only is the series important to the musician, but it provides an insight into the culture itself, including the impact of the development of the car, radio, and television, and expands to world music and the influence of world wars on that culture.


Regards,

Etude PDFs can be found here:

https://digitalcommons.gardner-webb.edu/etude/

thank you for the link, looks like some very interesting reading.

I'll add my thanks for the Etude link, what a wealth of free information!

Oooh thanks for link to etude...

.

These really are invaluable for information. I have a few of the 1880's originals in my collection.

I have a number of Etude issues that belonged to my grandmother. They range in date from the early 1900's to about 1945. In one of them there is an announcement of a concert by Mrs. H. H. Beach. Mrs. Henry Harris Beach = Amy Beach. She went by Amy Beach in Europe, but as Mrs. H.H. Beach in the U.S.

Nice! How historical.



Wikipedia:

Does anyone else have trouble printing sheet music from the digital edition of Pianist magazine? I have a number of back issues in my digital library, but it's a hassle every time I want to print. Doesn't seem to matter whether I am using the Pocketmags app on my ipad, or online access via laptop browser. I can't get the whole page to show up. Maybe because it thinks everything is A4 rather than U.S. 8.5x11"? I don't want to put the iPad on my music desk; I like paper!

My work-around is to take a screenshot and chop off the edges, convert JPG to PDF, but this is tedious! Any other suggestions?

My local Barnes and Noble has the current issue only intermittently, so I took advantage of Squidbot's link and ordered a subscription to the paper copy (thanks neighbor!). Waiting for the first issue to arrive... but that doesn't help with printing from back issues. Help?!?

Something has changed recently. I sent them an email and facebook message saying it isn't working correctly a couple weeks ago. They said they were going fix it, I guess they haven't. It also has the limitation of only printing 2 pages at a time, and I don't recall it being limited to that before.

I use Chrome to print to PDF, and fiddle with the paper size and margin options so that it fits correctly.

Chrome! That's the ticket. I was using the Edge browser, and the options for controlling the print output were not as helpful. Thank you bSharp(C)yclist!

I'm still waiting for my first print issue too - its been a month, which is a lifetime in the digital age...

Sam

Checking the mailbox every day with hope! It is usually so full of wasted paper these days; it will be a treat when the mailbox holds music!

When I was a little kid, I'd be so thrilled to receive something in the mail. Today, of course, it's mostly junk.

The arrival of the latest issue of Pianist every two months is the only mail event that now sparks joy for me.

The magazine was entertaining and is worth the price. Unfortunately my CD that came with is currently unplayed and gathering dust. I was not able to find some pieces from the book on youtube so this is an issue if you have no CD player. My favourite part of the magazine was the tortoise. I was always talking about piano learning being slow like a tortoise and there was a very big article about it - with a very big Mr (or is it a Ms?) tortorise on the side! I found it very funny :0.

Why don't you just buy an inexpensive CD player?

Because I think Moo thinks it will put him back into the Stone Age.

I use Informed Delivery now from the post office and get emails with pictures of my postal mail before it arrives. If there is something good, I'll got to the box. It's kind of nice. I only go to the mailbox once every week or two

Love the magazine. I went digital but will most likely go hard copy so others at the studio have access. Interesting article on refurbished Steinways to say the least!

The magazine also uploads videos on YT that go along with current editions. Here are two recent ones:

Has anyone who ordered through Express Mag gotten their Feb/Mar issue? I still haven't and I got the Dec/Jan almost right away after ordering in November.

Also, I haven't gotten the "GREAT PIANO COMPOSERS OF THE CLASSICAL ERA" book that I ordered.

Just wondering if I should complain yet or not.

I liked the video with Chenyin Li

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8q6ARdeXow

I also subscribed to this magazine as a result of this thread - probably in January or so. I have yet to receive any issues.

No joy in Mudville yet either - but I have not yet lost hope...

Sam

OK, I think I'm going to complain, there's only a 60 day window from when it shows up on stands: "You can, any time, contact us to demand a missing issue. We shall do everything we can to offer you a quality service. Please, however note that the complaints for a missing issue must be made to us within the next 60 days of the date the magazine is released on newsstands. Express Mag will handle your complaint within the limits of available stocks."

I ordered from Express Mag on January 28; the confirming email says “subscriptions will begin within 4-6 weeks” which has now gone by. Just checked my mailbox ... 🙁 ... no 🎵

I'm guessing this is the standard spiel - most magazines are published monthly. But this one is published bi-monthly. So there is no way they can guarantee a start in 4-6 weeks when the magazine is only published every 8 weeks. I think for bi-monthlies, you have to give them up to 4 more weeks and for quarterlies, up to 8 more weeks, etc.

I’d be happy if they just mailed me whatever was the last issue that came out, but maybe they don’t have any in the warehouse...

Much to my surprise they PM'd me here on the message boards that they haven't received their issues yet and will send them asap.

I had a problem with a download and contacted them about it. At the same time I alerted them to your problem.

Colin, thank you for taking the trouble to do so! I too got a message here, similar to Squidbot’s. Awaiting no. 106....

I appreciate such attentiveness from vendors. In fact, I appreciate it so much that though I subscribe through the Pianist Mag app, I decided it would indeed be nice to have paper copies of the scores also, so I just subscribed to a year of the paper magazine through Express Magazines, entirely because of these messages and this vendor's responsiveness. Bravo, Express Magazines!

Ah that explains the mystery, thanks for pointing them here, I appreciate it!

Also, the extra book I ordered isn't published until spring, and I'll receive it then.

Hi all, hope you are enjoying the magazine! Our brand new issue is out today, in which both Lang Lang and Yevgeny Sudbin talk to us. We again have our ever-popular 40+ pages of sheet music, plenty of masterclasses, technique articles and covermount CD. You can pick up your copy here - http://bit.ly/pianist107

We'd absolutely love to know your thoughts on the new issue.

Yeah, I got the notification in the app. Thanks and welcome to PW! Great magazine!

Found the new issue in my mailbox yesterday and already enjoyed the interview with Lang Lang. I usually skip over the interview pages to the lessons and scores, but this time was different.

I'm still waiting for my Feb/Mar issue Thinking ExpressMag is not so express...

Still waiting for my first issue too. It's been two months since I subscribed. Not the fault of Pianist magazine, of course, but ExpressMag.

Sam

Hi Painist Magazine..soo cool you joined us on this forum page. Yup. Been reading it and book marking pieces with my teacher. Just did recital of Reicha [105] and teacher gave me a thumbs up. Working on Scriabin prelude op 2 no 2 now! I noticed extra three scores were tagged at the end of the Advance piece - happy to have more choices.

Sam - you ordered the paper version? It will take a bit to kick in with the distributor...I have the digital App version. Pocketmags are very responsive if you haven’t contacted them. Enjoy when you receive it!

I've just subscribed on seeing this thread - what a great magazine! Very easy to read on my iPad and the music prints beautifully from the web browser on my laptop.

Same here: waiting on my paper copy (hurry up, please, ExpressMag fulfillment!) since I subscribed at the end of January....

I usually receive my copy of Pianist between the 4th and 8th of the month here in the PNW, although one time it was late but they mailed me a replacement copy right away. So you should receive it soon.

Thanks, PianogrlNW; that’s encouraging!

Thank you for your welcome

This is great to hear! We really hope you are enjoying it.

Hi everyone! Fancy 30% off a Pianist digital subscription? Our treat. Enjoy. https://pocketmags.com/pianist-magazine

Thanks so much--just ordered!

It would be nice if I could find the print magazine in the airport here

https://www.pianistmagazine.com/blogs/7-steps-to-beating-the-drudgery-of-practising/

Nice blog from pianist magazine...I definitely start on challenging measures first, and with help of my teacher, problem areas are broken down where I am looping/repeating them many times until they feel natural. Dreaded metronome comes next with slowest bpm. Try something different if what you are doing isn’t working for you!

Subscribed to the print version at the end of January. Still waiting … but I have just received an encouraging email from ExpressMag: "You will receive #106 with the # 107 in the next days. Edition No. 106 arrived (exceptionally) very late at the same time as No. 107. They were sent to you on April 5th.They should reach you shortly." Yay! Although I also have a digital subscription, I really prefer print for reading music. And the less time I spend staring at a screen, the better!

That’s good news. I have a digital subscription and feel it is an excellent magazine. I’ve been debating whether or not I should get a subscription to the physical magazine as well.

I did get both as well. I haven't been able to compare though as I am also waiting for my physical magazine from Express.

Hi all. Thinking of taking advantage of the special offer for the digital version.

While been playing synth for decades, never really learnt to play piano properly at all, and am going back to the beginning with Faber.

I had a look at the sample mag and a lot of it was too advanced for me.

I had a look at some of their youtube vids and they were excellent for me.

Three questions really.

1) Is there more for beginners in the actual magazine than I can find on their youtube channel (will still sub as I can go back when I get more advanced)

2) I have an ipad that I use at my piano, and a large monitor I use for my PC and synths (which includes an 88 note midi keyboard). Ideally I would like to access them via both ipad app and PC with one sub, is this possible please? If it's not, can I buy for PC and read on ipad via web page?

3) My ipads too small to read music from (or to be precise, my eyes are too bad) , I want the digital version as you get more with it. I read a post earlier in this thread dated March where someone was having problems printing out the sheet music. Has this been sorted?

Many many thanks

Ojustaboo
I started the subscription way before I could play. And now I select intermediate pieces for my lessons.
1. There are at least 2 beginner pieces, sometimes more.
2. Check their website. www.pianomagazine.com.
3. The printing is glitchy in the past. I use digital platform with forScore and it is worth upgrading to the large pro. I have all my music and magazines in one place.

It is a great magazine for reading all the wonderful material. I have seen new artists and they are now my favorite pianists.

It's a great mag. But I got the online subscription.
The user interface is abysmal. Darn near unusable, even on this 27" monitor.
Memo: Get the print version.

Printing is still an issue. I use Chrome and save to PDF, then merge and/or reorder pages if need be later.

The complete list of scores index can be found here, if you want to see what pieces have been featured.

https://www.pianistmagazine.com/news/pianists-complete-list-of-scores/

iPad subscription works great!

To answer your questions:

1. Yes, there’s a lot more in the magazine.

2. You can buy a subscription via the iPad app and then read the magazine both on the iPad and on your PC’s web browser. It’s the same login for both devices.

3. Printing music from the web browser works absolutely fine for me. I’m using Firefox on Windows 10. The printed music looks very good indeed.

Hope that’s of some help to you.

Many thanks all, have just purchased it.

Have you tried using a different browser? Printing works absolutely fine for me with Firefox.

Firefox shows the same behavior. Can you print more than 2 pages at a time? I prefer Chrome's Save to PDF option, as I can remove the headers/footers/margins. Firefox doesn't seem to have the same PDF preview option.

I finally called expressmag today to complain about not getting any print issues. I subscribed back in January. Same story, magazines were late, should get it in the next few days...

Sam

I keep hearing that from them... we'll see. I'm pretty close to asking for my money back.

My print issue finally arrivedin the mail yesterday!

I have hope - if only the mail can make it to rural Georgia, USA.

Had some friends come out to visit me from Atlanta recently. they started out on multi-lane interstate highways, then a 4 lane parkway, the two lane pavement, then a single lane gravel road. Their city car couldn't handle the last 1/2 mile, so they parked and walked. Only to find a note on my door - "Sorry we missed you, gone camping for the weekend to get away from it all!"

Sam

FInally got my print version, so expressmag delivered. Issue 107. What I discovered? Reinecke arranged Corelli for piano - there is a Sarabande in the sheet music section. A search at imslp revealed the entire Corelli/Reinecke album of 24 pieces.

Sam

Having been a subscriber ever since I started playing, I find that the scores in some issues don't do much for me, while other issues are chock-full of pieces that I really want to play (many of which I have played). So far issue 107 hasn't caught my fancy, but issue 103 was solid gold.

No. 107 has finally arrived in today's mail, here in the Pacific Northwest! Yay! No sign yet of No. 106, the issue promised when I subscribed via ExpressMag waaay back in January, but I'm happy to hold the magazine in my hands. I hope I am the last one and everybody else has received their issues.

I guess it was time for the PNW to get theirs, mine arrived today as well!

Not only PNW. I got my issue in Washington DC today also from Express Mag.

I had almost abandoned all hope of getting the magazine but saw it had made it to the PNW and lo and behold it was sitting in my mailbox when I got home. Just issue 107. Express mags had said the two issues were mailed seperately so hoping 106 arrives soon. First time subscribing-looks like a great mag.

So happy for the new PNW subscribers. Happy reading and playing.
I always try to use the beginner pieces as sight reading, and chose one intermediate as part of my 1 of 2 pieces, the advance piece I just use it to listen and follow the score!

Perhaps it was alphabetical: the Washingtons came near the end of the queue.

Another update: Issue 106 arrived in my mailbox today...I am enjoying this magazine, wish I had known of it years ago.

Hi all,

It's great to read all of your comments. If you have any questions, respond directly to this post and we will help you out!

www.pianistmagazine.com

No. 106 arrived too, and now Satie’s “Le Piccadilly” is on my Saturday morning soundtrack! Ah.....

😬 so happy to hear this..it was my feeling when I first found the magazine. I still get excited when a new edition is out. So great to see new readers, I am glad I shared.

Yes, I got 106 too, after I got 107. Expressmag seems to be working now...

Sam

I got 106, in addition to 107, even though I ordered the magazine from ExpressMag only 6 weeks ago.

I ordered the app version from pocketmags and have printed out several of the beginner level pieces to learn. I love how it is interactive with included audio that you can just press and play. I determine which pieces I’d like to learn after listening to the recordings which I find very helpful and enjoyable, although I found an inconsistency with one piece compared with the recording. It wasn’t a big deal though. I also like how they tell you what to watch out for and give you tips on how to play certain parts. And they give a little background on the composer and the song. Only gripe is that they’re not a monthly!

The magazine gets me to play songs I wouldn’t have chosen for myself and therefore broadens my repertoire, which is great. All in all, a great publication and well worth the money, especially when they have sales, it’s a no brainer. Thumbs up and highly recommend.

🤣 I have 2 wishes: monthly and pre 55 issues are digitized- I love many of the modern pieces.

Ok, if we’re talking about wishes, then I have another one. I’d like them to publish a “Play Beginner” special edition, in the tradition of their “Play Intermediate” special edition.

...because I can’t handle the intermediate pieces yet lol.

Pianist magazine recently joined this thread, so I hope they will make your second wish come true soon.

Won’t be long before you can tackle the intermediate. Some of the intermediates aren’t too hard.

Lucky for you, there MAY be a Play Beginner in the pipeline...

Our next issue is now available to pre-order! It includes an interview with the legendary Menahem Pressler -> http://bit.ly/Pianist108

I purchased Pianist Magazine through Pocketmags when they had a sale back in March. Found the info here ( unfortunately can’t remember who posted it) but thank you! It was an early birthday gift and I’m really enjoying the magazine but usually read it on my iPad and can’t get any of the recordings to work. Those that connect to YouTube will run, but I can’t hear the audio. The others look like they’re running, but again, I can’t hear any audio. The volume is turned on with my iPad and turned up loudly enough to hear. I can hear other recordings from other websites like YouTube or Netflix, Amazon movies/tv etc. Any ideas or tips/tricks so I can hear the audio versions of the scores? I can hear the Pianist scores on my computer, but use my iPad more than computer so would like to figure out what I’m doing wrong and fix it for iPad.

Thanks for any help anyone can give!

Kathy

That's odd, Kathy. Are you accessing the digital subscription using the "PocketMags Digital Newstand" app or the separate, dedicated "Pianist Magazine" app?

I just tried the Pianist Magazine app with the issue #108 June-July 2019 on my iPad Pro. I'm on Pachelbel Fugue in C, P.144, I hit the "Play Track" in the upper left of the page, and out comes the audio of a piano playing the score. This isn't working for you? If you're in the PocketMags Digital Newstand app, can you download the separate Pianist Magazine app and try with that instead? See if Pachelbel Fugue in C, P.144 makes any sound for you in the Pianist Magazine app.

If you already are using the Pianist Magazine app, there there must be some sort of configuration problem either in your iPad's IOS settings or in the Pianist Magazine app itself. (I'm assuming it isn't iPad hardware issues - that you've tried iTunes or some other music on your iPad and that does work for you.) I'm less familiar with how to solve problems with IOS, but one thing quick to try is to delete the Pianist Magazine app entirely and then re-download and re-install it from the App Store.

I agree with Tyrone. Try the Pianist App. I have no issues using the Pianist App. I found the pocketmags app didn't work as well for me. If that's not the issue, then sorry, I have no idea.

I spoke too soon. *Sigh*

In issue #107, in the Pianist App, I would be on the page of a certain song, and when I press play, it would play that particular song.

In issue #108, I would be on the page of a certain song (first beginner song), and when I press play, it would play a completely different song! I could fix it by opening the dialogue box (top right corner) and searching through the list of songs in the issue, and finding the song I had intended to play, but that’s just a little annoying.

Then on the page of the second beginner song, when I press play, nothing happens. Didn’t bother checking the remaining songs.

Is something wrong with issue #108 or the Pianist App? Maybe I should re-install.

Yes, something is wrong with this issue, I’m having the same problem.

You're right, WeakLeftHand. And I was wrong about Pachelbel. All of the pieces I tried in #108 (up through the Schumann flower to me piece), have either played the wrong music, or are linked to something other than music. Pachelbel plays music, but not the right music.

Thanks for confirming, John and Tyrone. I wonder how to get in touch with Pianist Magazine to let them know?

This page has their contact info (click the appropriate "contact us" link). Are you going to jot them a quick note?

I could, but if you would like to, I will defer to you, as you are more technologically advanced than I am lol!

Yup, I noticed 108 is creating a glitch. I can play the score when I hit the top right music note icon, drop down list , and then hit the piece. Weird glitch. Never seen this one before and I have been a long time digital subscriber.

Thanks guys! My issue seems to be different as I can’t get any music to play, wrong song or otherwise. It was also doing this with the previous issue. I was using the Pocketmags app so have added the Pianist app and am updating the iOS on my iPad. I’ll keep you posted!

Thanks again for your help, Kathy

OK. I submitted bug reports both to the Web Help contact and the Online Editor.

You can test it with Issues #106 and #107 in the Pianist Magazine app and it should work for you. It works for me. As you see above, Issue #108 is broken though.

Thanks Tyrone!

Thanks Tyrone! I have tested it with issue #107 in Pianist app and still no sound. Getting ready to restart my iPad. Not sure why it doesn’t work since others like you are using iPads with no problems.

Thanks, Kathy

Unfortunately turning iPad off didn’t turn the sound on. Past my bedtime so will try more tomorrow. At least I can read the articles and print out the scores to play! Thanks again to those trying to help.

Kathy

So, we installed the Pianist app on my husband’s iPad and it plays the scores without any problems. Mine, still no sound. We’re going to try comparing how his is set up and mimicking the set up with mine. If that doesn’t work, I’m going to take it to a Mac store to see if they can figure it out.

I bought my iPad in August of 2014 so it’s not quite 5 years old, but wondering if it’s too old to handle the Pianist score playing technology. I guess worst case, I spring for a new iPad, but in the meantime will probably borrow my husband’s iPad or listen on my computer. We’re closing on a house Monday and moving this summer so now not the best time to buy a new iPad, especially since I was considering going with the iPad Pro when this one finally conks out.

Thanks again to all for your suggestions!

Kathy

Before you take it to the Mac store, you might back up your iPad to the iCloud, and then restore it to factory settings, and restore the iPad from iCloud. In fact, if I were you, after restoring factory settings but before restoring from iCloud, I would try to install only the Pianist Magazine app and see if it works properly on your iPad with factory settings.


Before I upgraded myself to an iPad Pro a week ago, my last iPad was over 5 years old, already was not getting new iOS updates (Apple stops updating iOS on older iPads/iPhones after a few years), but the Pianist Magazine app was working fine. As I said, as long as you are able to play music out of your iPad, I really think this app should work if you restore it to factory settings.

Thanks Tyrone! I’m going to a local symphony concert this evening, but will definitely try your suggestions this weekend. My iPad is still getting new iOS updates and plays music just fine from other sources, so agree with you that it should work.

OT: How are you liking the iPad Pro? Did you get it for the ability to handle music scores? Even if for another reason, have you tried it with music scores? And if so, how do you like it?

Thanks, Kathy

Enjoy your concert.

Yours is definitely not as old as my previous one then, so as long as there isn't a hardware issue with the audio, it should work. Especially when restored to a pristine, factory settings-only, state.


I was seriously considering getting a GVIDO for scores. However, I needed a replacement for my iPad anyways - not only was my old one no longer getting IOS updates and apps were no longer functioning that needed newer releases of IOS, but it also has a cracked screen that small pieces of glass fall out of occasionally. So, as mentioned in the link above, I'm in a period of testing to see if the iPad Pro will be suitable for scores using forScore, and if so, I will get a second one, have a pair of 3-D hinges printed, and have made my own highly functional GVIDO If not, then I will use this iPad Pro for my day-to-day and buy a GVIDO anyways. But maybe not right away. I have a big screen monitor above my piano and have been reading scores off my monitor.

I have tried forScore. It's a bit clunky and I am only figuring it out now. In particular, I haven't yet gotten the method of transferring scores to it working, so for my testing, I spent another $10 or so and bought all of the scores the forScore company offered as an "add-on" for the app.

With these, I then tested playing from those scores, using the forScore app. So far, it's worked well. However, I don't have a pedal for page turning. I need to research a bit to see which pedal is one that I can rest my foot on it and doesn't turn the page unless I stomp. Many pedals are not that way and are too sensitive. A pedal that was too sensitive would not work for me. It's also possible I might be able to program one of the other two pedals on my N1X for page turning. Will be investigating this before I buy a page-turning pedal.

No need to print 3-D hinges. ForScores’ Cue app connects 2 iPads nicely. Worth checking out.

I've just bought myself an iPad pro - mainly for my business, but it has the benefit that it also works with forScore (and I bought some blue tooth play turner pedals also https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B06XPV2GYW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1 ) I also spent some time figuring out how to best use Piano Marvel with it and ended up buying two crucial accessories.

1. A Usb Hub https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07GPC9HMF/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

This lets me charge the iPad at the same time providing usb A socket for Usb cable from piano and a usb A socket for ...

2. A usb to headphone (and as it happens microphone) sockets https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B016CU2PEU/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Which connects the output from piano marvel back into my Piano's Line in.

Regarding forScore.

I still prefer paper, but it will be a lot easier when I go visit my daughter to have all my scores with me in one package. The size of the screen is good and I can definitely see and play from it easily, and with the page turner near my left foot its a doddle to change page. I tend to memorise pieces, so I normally only need the music occasionally, only for pieces that are starting to slip through my fingers.

I also added the Mutopia music add ons. So far I started to use it for Chopin Nocturne Op9 No2, only to find a weird natural sign were I didn't expect it - it appeared to be a D natural. I checked the Mutopia web site and on there it showed it as an E natural (in a chord containing both). E natural was correct and was only a repetition of a natural already designated in the measure - so wasn't actually in the paper score (ABRSM Signature Series) that I was using. I raised a support request with forScore and got a sloping shoulder response that the PDF framework they were using wasn't too accurate and a work around was to use my notation pen to put a white blob over it.

One thing I discovered though is there is a free FTP Manager app which allows me to connect ssh into my desktop (linux) and I can suck PDFs from there and load them into forScore. I create much of my music in Musescore anyway to load into Piano Marvel, so its a dead easy to make a PDF from it, which I can load in. Did that with Bach's Adagio BWV 974 for instance.

Oh yes, I'm about to try out the Cue app to connect my new iPad Pro with my old iPad and see if that works. If it works, then I will get another iPad.

The 3-D hinge is a physical form factor thing. Like the GVIDO, I'd like the two pages to be physically connected to each other for convenience - like a book! So the 3-D hinge is not a Cue replacement - it is only a physical embodiment tweak.

I got this message back from the online editor yesterday about issue #108:

FWIW, I downloaded issue 108 on the Pianist Magazine app on my iPad Pro last night and it played the recordings without difficulty.

Can you try the Turk Allegramente in B flat and press the play and see what happens for you?

I re-downloaded the issue this morning on the Pianist Magazine app and it is still broken.

Nothing happens when I click on the "Play Track" arrow in the upper left hand corner of the page, but the tune plays perfectly when selected from the pulldown menu of recorded music produced by clicking on the eighth note symbol when in the "browsing" mode (small versions of four or so pages shown at the bottom of the page that allow you to swipe back and forth through the issue).

OK. So it is working for you because you are using the alternate way of playing the tracks. But it does seem like the normal way of clicking on the "Play Track" button in the upper left is indeed also broken for you.

Hi all,

We're so sorry that you are having problems with issue 108. This shouldn't be happening! Rest assured, we are in contact with both the design team and the PocketMags team right now. The bug should be fixed very shortly.

Once again, big apologies for any inconvenience caused. We hope you are enjoying the rest of the magazine

The issue has now been solved! Please delete and redownload your issue to get it working again.

I re-downloaded and it appears to work now. Thanks for the quick response!

I actually prefer that method of accessing the recordings, so to me it's not an "alternate way." But that's what I got last night.

Has anyone received the hard copy of issue 108? Still hasn't arrived for me.

Yes, received issue #108 over a week ago by mail in Chicago (where the mail is generally slow). Menahem Pressler is the featured pianist.

I'm in Oregon and still waiting. I'll have to call Express Mags

I received Pianist no. 108 in western Washington state a week or so ago. Good luck!

Thanks for reminding me! I live in the UK, received mine a while ago, but somehow haven't opened it yet.

Just got it today! Boy takes a long time from first availability to now. Pushing a month and a half.

I love it! I use their YouTube channel A LOT!

Kinda expected, no? If your address isn’t local , even Barnes and Noble, book store, runs ‘late’.

I prefer digital version, and the new one is out this Friday..excited.

Hi all,

If you live outside of the UK, you can now get 30% OFF your Pianist subscription. Pretty good, eh? Just click the link to get your discount - www.pianistm.ag/rowoffer

And issue 109 is out! Happy Friday!

Happy Friday! Yesss...I love Jean-Baptist Duvernoy’s op 176 no 4 piece! I will present this piece to my teacher after he signs off Bach Invention 9!

And in this issue, they take a whole page to teach you how to print! I wonder if this is a new functionality or I was just clueless all along. Anyway, I'm grateful for the instructions. Now I don't have to take a screen shot and send each screen shot to the printer.

Except it prints in A4...we'll see how that will work out for those of us across the pond!

All printers have setting for US, UK, and other domiciles! We just got a new printer and was nicely surprised by all the paper size options even though most of them we don’t use.

Oh boy. I think I look forward to each Pianist magazine as much as my cats look forward to their monthly KitNip box subscription!

🤣🤣🤣 I know that feeling. Then again, I have the digital subscription, and hence the wait is really non-existence. Grateful.

Finally decided to go through the ‘lessons scores’ as part of my daily practice: great for sight reading too.

So nice to hear all of your lovely comments about the latest issue! For those of you based in the UK... we have a little gift for you.
You can now receive 6 issues for just £19.99 if you subscribe today. 6 issues normally costs £33, so make sure you take advantage! 👉🏽👉🏽 www.pianistm.ag/UKoffer

Thank you for the offer Pianist Magazine. I have bought the occasional issue and have ordered the current issue with the subscription. Looking forward to it coming through the letterbox!

Great to hear! Let us know if you enjoy it

I’ve got to say I’m sorry for mentioning ExpressMag. I won’t be renewing my print subscription through them again. Issues have taken forever to come, up to 2 months late. I completely missed an issue and by the time I realized it wouldn’t come, it was too late to get it filled. Because it takes so long to get the issues and there is a window based on publication date where you can request missing issues that is very close to the time you typically get an issue I missed the window. Also, I paid for the supplemental book which I never received. Customer service has been difficult to work with as they aren’t native English speakers and it’s been difficult to understand what they are trying to tell me.

Anyway, as I let people know about the service here, I hope you haven’t had problems and I’m sorry if you did. I’m at my renewal time and debating if I continue to get the paper edition and order directly from the publisher at a premium or just get the digital version.

Sorry to hear about your problems Chrispy. I've gotten all my issues, but I'm also not so demanding on time since I do have a digital subscription too on my iPad Pro, so I treat the paper issue via ExpressMag as a bonus.

That really sucks, what's happened to you. I'd be really frustrated.

FWIW, I think the digital version is da bomb. The colours are beautiful, the app works well, and it's very interactive. You get it instantly as the issue is released. Videos and music tracks are accessed via a tap of your finger. I'm truly very happy with the digital version. The only downside is that you will have to print the music to play them on the piano - at least that's what I do. I don't like to play off the iPad. But that's a compromise I'm willing to take.

Echo sentiment, which is why I went for the digital. I can upload a score to Forscore and scribble on it to my content, and play the accompanying music when ever and wherever I want to practice away from the piano. My teacher can also look through the scores Nd confirm the next one for me to tackle. My iPad Pro has become my walking library of all things music/piano.

Actually, that's great news and thanks for the information WeakLeftHand. One of my major deciding factors in going digital is if I'd be able to print the music. In fact as I was reading replies, I was going to ask, but you proactively answered I like having paper scores for ease of marking and bringing to lessons.

Also, sorry for the horrible run on sentence in my earlier post, I hope the reorder window comment made sense. I was tapping it out on my phone and didn't realize how hard it was to read Anyway, the reorder window is a real problem since the issues take so long to be delivered after publication, there's a high likelihood you'll miss an issue and not be able to get it replaced.

Thanks to everyone here for weighing in on Pianist. I downloaded a free sample and was very impressed. Now I'm a digital subscriber. I really love the multimedia features and the skill levels on the scores.

You’re welcome Chrispy and LCantoni!

I love the graded scores too. I’m a beginner and there are usually 2 beginner scores each issue, and I learn to play most of them. It keeps my music repertoire broader than if I had chosen songs myself, which is a very good thing. I think the scores are chosen well.

Can’t wait to be able to play intermediate scores though!

I just ordered two back issues of Pianist magazine on my iPad using the app. Looks great!

Hey Chrispy. Thanks so much for your feedback. I am going to pass your comments on to our subscriptions team and see if we can improve the service for you. Like many others have commented, we would definitely recommend the digital subscription! Do let us know if you have any questions.

Hello; just installed the application and love it. But how do you upload a score to ForScore?
Thanks

I take screenshots of the magazine on my iPad and then import them into ForScore using the app's Darkroom feature.

Works well; many thanks, sinophilia!

@Pianist magazine - I have a question about the digital subscription. I downloaded the iPad app and browsed the free sample. It's wonderful, and I want to subscribe. But I did not see a way to print scores directly from your app. Am I missing something about the app, or is it not possible to print from within it?

Looking through this thread, those who talk about printing the scores do so from a desktop computer and a browser. What isn't clear to me is whether computer access to the digital issues purchased through a subscription via iTunes is included, or is it necessary to buy the subscription through pocketmag (slightly more expensive than purchasing through iTunes) to be able to access the issues with iPad and computer.

studiocentrale, if you have AirPrint set up you can print out screenshots directly from your iPad - so not from the Pianist app, but from your photos. Easiest way if you have a wireless printer.

I have a pocketmags account and that's what I used to print out scores from my computer, but on the last issue of the magazine there are instructions on how to print pages out of it.

@sinophilia - thanks for the tip, I'll try that

Hi @studiocentrale - here's how you can print your scores off:

1. Launch the Pianist app on your tablet device, tap the options button then 'Login/Register'.
2. Register or log in with your Pocketmags account.
3. Visit the website www.pocketmags.com.
4. Login with your Pocketmags account.
5. Select an issue of Pianist from 'My issues' and click 'Read Now'.
6. Click on the printer logo on the right of the reader window.
7. Choose a page to print and follow the on-screen instructions.

Hope this helps!

Also, if any of you are piano teachers and want to spread the word about your piano lessons, then head over and sign up to our teacher directory for free -> https://www.pianistmagazine.com/dealers/teachers-and-exam-boards

Thank you @Pianist Magazine. I will subscribe via pocketmag.

I have one other question. Is there bundle pricing available for purchasing multiple back issues? There is a reference to bundle pricing in the app, but I don't actually see bundle pricing options in either the app or on the pocketmag website. I'd like to get the complete series of Graham Fitch's masterclass, which is over 40 back issues. Bundle pricing would really help 🙂

I'd be interested in this too.

I'm soooo tempted. Is there still a coupon code for people outside the UK, @Pianist Magazine?

You're looking for the print or digital issues?

I generally prefer print, but with the issues people have been having, probably digital.

@Pianist magazine...are you a forum sponsor? If not, you should strongly consider it. We love your magazine over here, and you might get more subscribers as a sponsor. Moreover, this forum is expensive to run, with limited resources; the magazine might really help keep it up and running. Symbiotic relationship!

Great idea...and I wonder if the piano makers, acoustic or DP, are contributing too! They should! As should Piano Marvel...‼️

I think Hanon and Bach should chip in too, all the free references they get

Dear customer,
My name is Martin, I am writing on behalf of Expressmag. Through this message we would like to express our apologies for the inconveniences caused. As the official distributor of over 650 magazines in the US and Canada, ensuring customer satisfaction is our main goal. To help resolve this issue, you can contact me at your convenience, 1-800-363-1310 ext. 506. or by email at expressmag@expressmag.com. I will be able to access your client account and provide you with some answers.

Thank you

Great question! Unfortunately, we don't currently offer bundle pricing. However, we are in the process of creating a brand-new big series of piano lessons, and we will offer them all for one price. So, whilst we don't currently offer it now, we are hoping to in the future!

Yes we do

Yes, we do still have a digital offer on for those outside of the UK. You can find it here - https://pocketmags.com/offer/warners-group/pia20sale

This is a great idea, and we would definitely like to know more. Would you be able to supply us with an email of someone we can contact about this?

Frank Baxter owns and manages the site.

The main page lists his contact info as:
webmaster@pianoworld.com
Phone: 207 793-2524
Or send a private message to Piano World

He states email is preferred.
Thank you - we appreciate this!!!

There is also information on advertising here:

https://pianoworld.com/advertising/

Hi Pianist magazine, at what level will this "brand-new big series of piano lessons" be targeted?

On another note, I've always wanted a publication of scores just for beginners, like you already have for intermediate and advanced players. Any chance one might be in the works?

Thanks.

Thanks! I finally subscribed

Has somebody tried to convert the digital magazine into pdf?
Is it possible?

Two ways I know of:
1. If you have Forscore: use screen shot and upload to app. From the app you can share it as PDF
2, print from website and scan to PDF

I only convert to Forscore for those scores I am learning in my lessons.

thanks for the reply.
I will try it

the reason I ask is because I want to read it on my computer offline.
However, it is win7/64 and it is not supported.

Isn't the app available on android? Because if so, there are android emulators that will run on Windows 7 (for a while longer at least - Windows 7 goes "End of Life" in 3.5 months).

android emulator is really a good idea!
thanks.

which emulator do you recommend?

The best android emulator IMO is the BlueStacks one that I linked in my post above.

ok thanks.

I try to print some pages from free sample issue from website using firefox.
however, it seems to be limited to only 2 pages to print at one time.

is there some setting that I miss?
or this limitation is deliberate?

These new lessons will be suitable for all levels!

Additionally, we are aiming to release a Play Beginners digitial special before the end of the year.

Pianist Magazine, I just started my Pocketmags digital subscription (from 108), and really enjoy it.

I also tried Amazon subscription with Kindle Paperwhite - bad reading experience, but not your fault, just poor device choice.

I especially love that, in addition to Pocketmags Newsstand app, Pocketmags offers 2 browser based online viewer options, at least on PC:
- Interactive Tablet Edition is probably good for a tablet, but does not work on devices with screen less than 7";
- plain HTML5 edition mimics the print layout and works on any screen, from Galaxy to 17" 2-in-1 laptop.

Unfortunately, the Piano Techniques Digital Special is available online only in Interactive Tablet Edition, and I find it very annoying, because I have not only to scroll inside pages, but have to locate frames nested inside some pages, that need to be scrolled as well. As a result, instead of concentrating on what I read I have to search where to scroll.

Please make sure that Play Beginners is available in both formats in Pocketmags onine, and if possible - ask them to add the plain HTML5 edition for Piano Technique as well.

Another issue is that Pocketmags app on Windows 10 requires Microsoft account sign in during start up. Not sure if Pocketmags has solution for this, but this looks just ridiculous, and I use only online viewers on Pocketmags web site.

And I am really curious - why not offer these specials as print editions as well?

Thanks.

Hi VladK,

These are all great points. I believe that Piano Techniques is only available in that format because it was produced a good few years ago now. It may simply be that PocketMags did not have the tools to have both formats back then. Luckily, they do now, so we're sure Play Beginners will be available in both formats.

RE your comment about the Microsoft sign in, the best thing for you to do would be to get in touch with PocketMags directly about this. https://pocketmags.com/help-and-faqs

And finally - "Why not offer these specials as print editions as well?" We would love to give our readers that option, but for now we want to keep our paper costs down.

Morning everyone,

We are currently having a sheet music sale... all scores just 99p! The offer ends tonight at midnight, so get yourself over to https://www.pianistmagazine.com/music-store/ before it ends

Also - you can now pre-order issue 110! The gorgeous Isata Kanneh-Mason appears on the cover. Pre-order your copy here - https://www.pianistmagazine.com/store/back-issues/pianist/pianist-110-oct19-issue-142-1

Pianist -

Is this code still valid, and for how long? I'd like to subscribe, but I just bought issue 109. Do I need to wait until the next issue is available? I don't want my subscription to start with the issue I already paid for.

Thank you!

Thank you, Pianist!

This code is very much still valid, yes. https://pocketmags.com/offer/warners-group/pia20sale Our new issue is out this Friday - so, your first issue will be 110 Hope this helps.

Thanks for being so responsive to our questions and concerns, Pianist! I really enjoyed my first issue!

Friday! Yeah. 🤸🏻‍♂️

I’m late to this conversation, but what is the recommended way to get the print edition? Unfortunately, I hate reading from a screen, which is why I rarely come to the Forums, so digital is out for me. Is the final decision that ExpressMag’s discount is worth the hassle? Should I just subscribe directly from the Pianist magazine website?

You are very welcome! Glad you are enjoying the magazine.

Hi NancyM333, what part of the world are you based in?

I’m in the United States--Roswell, Georgia.

And I am in Missouri, with a similar situation and question.

We'd, of course, prefer if you bought directly from our website as we can keep track of your order for you.

See our above reply

Hi all,

Issue 110 of Pianist is now out worldwide! British rising classical star Isata Kanneh-Mason features on the cover. Her brother, Sheku, played the cello at Prince Harry & Meghan Markle's Royal Wedding last year. Also inside, we put a special focus on women composers. Plus, we have 5 masterclasses, part 2 of our new series Playing By Ear, 13 scores to learn, and tonnes more.

Get your copy here -> http://bit.ly/110pianist

Thoroughly enjoying the new issue!

Just a friendly fyi - it's British Columbia, not British Colombia (“Music makes for better grades”), and the University of British Columbia

Love the new issue! Fanny Mendelssohn's piece is just lovely, perfect for an intermediate player.

Good spot! That must have slipped through the net.

So glad you are liking the new issue.

Thanks, Pianist Magazine! I will check it out.

We have just released a brand-new digital special called Play Beginner! This might be just up your street... https://pktmags.com/playbeginner

For any beginner pianists out there, we have just released our new digital special, Play Beginner! You can download you copy here - https://pktmags.com/playbeginner
We are also having a huge back issue sale... all back issues are now £2.99 Make the most of it -> https://pocketmags.com/pianist-magazine

Any questions, let us know.

Happy playing!

I just got it. Thanks. Lots of interesting pieces.

A letter in the Reader's Letters section in the new issue 110 took me to the Catcerto.

(gratuitous cat video follows )

Do you know for how long the sale will last? I am still figuring out what issues to get.

And for some reason, Play Beginner is available only in regular HTML5 view (a set of relatively low resolution JPEG, actually), not as Interactive Tablet Edition.

And one more question: do you have plans to release digital versions of issues before #55?

I was so happy that Pianist Magazine finally released a Play Beginner special edition. I purchased it and am now super bummed that it is not interactive and contains no music tracks like the regular issues.

Sorry but this was not what I was expecting. I find the music tracks useful so this Play Beginner special edition isn’t particularly useful for me. I’m rather disappointed.

Well, I have purchased the Play Beginner special, and there are music tracks attached to each piece. Click on the little blank box top left hand corner of each piece and there they are... or have I misunderstood? They start playing automatically when the box is clicked. 😀

In the "Pianist" app (iPad), when I bring up a usual issue and turn to a score, for example the Anton Diabelli "No. 1 from First Lessons Op 125," in the upper left corner is a "PLAY TRACK" with a circled triangle that when I click on it, the music plays. However, there is a printing defect in the "Play Beginner" issue. In that app, when I go to the Alexander BORODIN "From Polovtsian Dance No 17 (arrangement)," for example, there is no "PLAY TRACK" with a circled triangle in the upper left corner.

However, when I tap on where that circled triangle would have been in that upper left corner, the music for the piece does play as if that circled triangle were actually there.

I think Pianist Magazine can probably fix the printing of its digital edition for the "Play Beginner" issue issue and fix this, but until then WeakLeftHand, you can work around this issue by tapping around the left corner of the the score, as if there were a hidden control there, until the music starts to play. It works for me.

BTW, for such digital edition problems, you might also email their team. I've done this before when I found a problem in an digital edition issue, and they were able to immediately fix it for everyone.

Hi WeakLeftHand, we're sorry about this!

Those who have replied to you are absolutely right - you can still play the audio by clicking the white space in the top left corner of each score. There was a small glitch when this special was uploaded, but our team are already working on it.

Thank you for pointing it out.

Thanks everyone for letting me know how to access the music track! That’s fantastic and I’m no longer disappointed. I can’t wait to get home and play with it.

FYI - Looks like there is an October sale. Back order issues $2.99 from Pocketmags.

Excellent...thanks bSharp!! My subscription just started with #109. Does anyone have any specific issues from the last year or two to recommend? I'm going to get #96 for 'Bring Him Home' (Les Mis is my favorite) and #104 for the left-hand focus.

I don't have anything specific to recommend. I know you can find what issue past scores were in via the link below, if that is of interest to anyone.

https://azure.wgp-cdn.co.uk/app-pianist/posts/COMPLETE109.pdf

Hi JB, we love both of those issues. We'd also recommend 109 and 110 as they include a masterclass on Playing by Ear! https://pocketmags.com/pianist-magazine

Any of you got a composition up your sleeve? Enter it into our Pianist Composing Competition for your chance to win a Kawai piano! There's only just over a month left to enter. More infor here -> https://www.pianistmagazine.com/competition-uploads/pianist-composing-competition-2020/

Just 1 day left for you to make the most of our back issues offer! You can now download any back issue for just £2.99 (usual price is £6.99) https://pocketmags.com/pianist-magazine
You can also subscribe to Pianist Magazine and get 25% off https://pocketmags.com/pianist-magazine

There are no discounts on the special issues, right?

Is there any way to find out what sheet music is in previous issues? If I download it can I then print the music out? I started getting the paper copy of your magazine last spring and I love it. I have found music to play that I was not familiar with and really enjoy playing . It is also nice to have the cd so I can listen to it.

You want this index of all the Pianist Magazine scores since the beginning, as of issue 109.

Is this sale just for the UK store? I just opened the Pocketmags app in the US and it is showing back issues at their normal $6.99 price.

Go to the Pocketmags WEBSITE on your computer via your web browser (not the iOS app), and on their website, just switch over to the US store. I just bought all the back issues I didn't already have going back to #55 for $2.99 USD each. Then you can go into the iOS app on your device to download.

It just doesn't seem like there is any way from the Pocketmags website to get any of the special issues.

Great! Thank you Tyrone!

Thank you for the back issue sale!

I ran into the following problem purchasing back issues, these back issues were not listed on the pocketmags web site:

106, 101, 96, 91, 86, 81, 76, 71, 66, 61, 56

Pianist magazine - any ideas why these back issues are unavailable through pocketmags? The show as available in your iOS app although at the regular price. I had hoped to get a complete set of back issues.

Perhaps you did something wrong. All those issues were on the Pocketmags website for me today. Why don't you change your browser to something else - Firefox or Chrome. Something different and try again. For example, I bought 71, 66, 61, and 56 today.

Thanks for the suggestion Tyrone - it was indeed a browser problem. I now have all the back issues.

Glad that your issue has been sorted! Let us know if you have any more questions.

LAST CHANCE to complete your set of Pianist back issues for just £2.99! https://pocketmags.com/pianist-magazine/issues

Each 🙄

How do you get them for 2.99?

By going here:https://pocketmags.com/us/pianist-magazine/issues

But if you haven't already done it, it appears to be too late. The price on that page has gone back to 6.99 each.

Thanks. Eh. Too bad. Looks like some great back issues!

My feeling on all these things is if it happened once, it has a chance of happening again. This time the sale was for a month and already announced here back on October 1st. You just have to keep your eye out.

Thanks Tyrone. You certainly gave us enough heads up. I should pay better attention. 🤔

I live in upstate New York. Has anyone in the USA received the current issue of the magazine in paper form yet? I know it comes from the UK but I thought it would arrive by now. I know you get the digital issue a lot sooner but I just don’t like reading or playing from a tablet or computer. Everyday I go to my mailbox
Hoping it will be there. I really like the magazine and have found pieces to play from it.
Judy

Hi Zillybug,

Sorry that you are having to wait for your issue! Did you order the magazine directly through our website or via Express Mags?

Hi all,

You can now pre-order our new issue 112!

Our cover star is the wonderful Lola Astanova. This issue also comes with our annual Piano Buyers Guide. Pre-order here before its general release on 29 November -> https://pianistm.ag/issue111

I. Think it was through your website.

Thanks for letting us know. The best thing for you to do would be to email our Pianist subscriptions team using the contact form here -> https://www.pianistmagazine.com/contact/6facd218-6f99-43f0-91fa-c867a8e5b6e6/

They will be able to help you with your problem.

Any more questions, do let us know

I couldn't resist marking this occasion on the official Lola Fan Club homage thread. 🥂 😃

Thank you. I will do that.

It's Black Friday week, so we're offering you not one but TWO awesome deals on Pianist...

Prefer to go digital? Get yourself 30% off a digital subscription here -> http://pocketmags.com/magazine-offers/warners-group/pianov19
Prefer a physical copy of the magazine? Get yourself 25% off a print subscription here -> https://pianistm.ag/25OFFBF

Can you sign up for another year with these offers before your current year expires?

Yes, indeed you can.

I have a print subscription which includes the latest issue. I can’t see an option for starting a digital sub at the next issue. Would that be possible?
Thanks

I get an empty page when I use the digital subscription link above. Is the link correct?

I see 45% off here.

Even better, thank you!!

Yes, I'm glad I waited a few days. I just bought it now when you said you got a blank page and I went to investigate since I was planning on buying tomorrow... because after all, tomorrow is Black Friday.

But I decided I'd better do it now in case anything else changes

Well I hope you had better luck than I did while purchasing! I had put it in my cart, and then got distracted for a few minutes doing something else, and received an email offering an extra 5% off (e.g. only about a buck or so) if I went back to my cart and completed the sale. So I went back to my cart and also I saw that I had 280 points (e.g. $2.80 worth) that I could apply as well. So I did that, and tried to pay via Paypal, and got a website error. Went to look at my orders and my subscription status, and the purchase wasn't there. Went to look at my points, and they were all gone, referencing an order page that comes up blank.

THEN, I go over to Paypal, and the payment WAS applied to my PayPal account, but not in the amount reflecting the additional (albeit tiny) discounts. So I don't have my extended subscription, my points, or my money!

What else could possibly go wrong....

E-mail customer support! I would be surprised if they don't sort you out by tomorrow.

Please ignore my query above.

That is the right link, I believe the original expired and we then bumped it up to 45%. We hope you all enjoyed your Thanksgiving for those who celebrated!

We're so sorry that this happened! We definitely recommend emailing the support team over at PocketMags, who will be able to deal with this for you.

Hi Sundew. How long does your subscription last?

Happy Friday everyone! Our new issue 111 is OUT NOW. We are very proud to have Ms Lola Astanova featured on the cover; a wonderful pianist with a refreshingly progressive view on the industry. Plenty of festive sheet music and masterclasses inside of course. We hope you enjoy!

Print - https://pianistm.ag/issue111
Digital - https://pocketmags.com/pianist-magazine

Hi, unfortunately I seem to have got confused, easily done these days lol. I signed up for the yearly digital subscription last night, receiving access to the latest digital version, only for the print version to be popped through my letter box this morning. I believe this is my last print issue due on my previous sub. I would have liked to start my digital sub from the next issue. Would that be possible?

Many thanks

You know, Pianist Magazine is great - I am a subscriber.

But this thread is pretty blatant about selling subscriptions. Does Pianist Magazine buy advertising here? Do they contribute money to keep this site going?

Just asking...

Sam

You should contact pocketmags customer support and ask them to fix.

My current digital subscription ends Jan 2020. Is it possible to renew using the 40% off now?

They said yes for me. I did.

I tapped a few times but could not open Graham’s video more than once. I did not see it all the way. Is there any way to see it

I just signed up for the Print edition, Black Friday special. Can't wait for it to start arriving.

Are you watching it in the app or on Youtube?

It works now. Thanks

It would be great if they'd do some paid advertising here on PW, especially since they're not restricting their input to this thread. They've popped up in several other threads in the last day or so.

Today I looked in on a thread I've been involved in. They wrote a blatant advertisement that had nothing to do with the topic, or anything any member had written. To make matters worse, when I clicked on the link, not only did I see a price list for subscriptions, but a magazine cover with a pianist in a tight red dress and sexy pose - it was just a total turn-off. To me, advertising without even reading a thread and truly contributing, is disrespectful to the members and the site.

Yes, they got it all straightened out by this morning . So it's all good now.

Good news!

Keystring
I agree about the blatant advertising that is going on, but the cover of the pianist in the red PJs is the magazine current issue. In addition, it was already posted to the same thread by a Lola fan club member (president?) which could have prompted the advertising.

Yes, and I know about Lola as well. It was just that combination coming when and as it did, that created that personal reaction in yours truly.

Hey! That's me!

Moved

Is there a 45% off the print edition?

You can get a year of the print edition for £44.62, which I assume is 25% off (?) for Black Friday, directly from the publisher, Pianist Magazine.

Or you can get the print edition at $53.10 USD/year in the US (or $63.90 CAD/year in Canada) from ExpressMag which I assume bulk buys from the publisher and then tranships from US/Canada. This takes longer than shipments from the publisher.

That is the price (£44.62) that I paid for my subscription directly from Pianist Magazine.

I think they are generally just answering their customers' queries. This thread is called Pianist magazine, after all!

A bit of an unnecessary comment this! Does it matter what the pianist is wearing? Lola is a pianist who is making waves in the industry with her online presence. Pianist Magazine are just highlighting that, and rightly so. If seeing a woman wear what she wants to wear, whilst simultaneously being successful is a turn off for you, that's your own problem.

I think it is worth asking this question. If the forum allows this for Pianist Magazine the forum will find it difficult to say no to any other business wanting to do the same. The rules should be applied fairly consistently and fairly.

Gosh, I started this thread to share the great experience I have by being a subscriber to this wonderful magazine.

It is a shame, it has become another thread where people are not adding positivity to the thread.

I believe it is great that the magazine does respond to people’s queries and concerns of oversea subscribers. As a woman, I don’t care what other people wear and it is the 21st century and Yuja Wang has set the tone that women can be themselves and not be restricted by dogmatic old fashion views of men.

There are loads of ‘companies’ reps here who comment, like Kawai James, and I have not seen any ads by them either. So if this is an issue, please I ask the admins of the WHOLE platform to set rules, and not have vigilantes.

Grateful for those who have added positive contributions to this thread.

Not adding positively? Where do you get that? Pianist Magazine is a business. Piano World is a business. If the magazine is responding to customer questions here, then they are doing business here, and making money here, and should be supporting this site. Are you supporting this site? It doesn't run for free...

Sam

Sam

I am aware of this financing issue of this site. Again, the people who need to speak up do not appear to be doing that and do not appear to want to address their financing model. Again, hijacking threads to make a point has turned me away from this platform more than I want to.
Appreciate what you do.

Graciously accepts title of vigilante.

Bows, acknowledges applause. Waves goodbye and walks off the stage.

Well said. However, that said, although I've also found myself writing dozens of posts on this forum defending a woman's right to choose what she wears and still be respected for what she does, I've very recently had an epiphany that not every thread should be a defense of Astanova (thank you KevinM! ). So perhaps if anyone else would like to respond to keystring & elliep1996 on this issue, you might consider taking it to the official Lola Astanova war zone thread where combatants are declared and wear appropriate colors in accordance with the Geneva Convention.

I'm not wanting to be confused with those making comments about what a woman wears.

I was just thinking if I was a paid advertiser and I saw the post from Pianist Magazine in this thread advertising their latest edition I might consider cancelling my paid advertising and joining in the fun.

Exactly. When Pianist Magazine stepped outside the "Pianist magazine" thread and inserted advertisements into other threads, they stepped over a line, imo. Even if they did buy some advertising space on PW, I still wouldn't want advertisements inserted into threads.

Alright but please, don't let them run away now! It's so great that they are here responding to questions and addressing problems. Obviously PianoWorld is a great place for them to be and find subscribers, but the fact is that the magazine is good, otherwise nobody would even consider buying it - regardless of who's on the cover.

For me personally, subscribing is probably the single best thing that I did for my practice. Actually there are not many other magazines like that out there, so it's not like there's a lot of competition! International Piano, to which I'm also subscribed, is different and has much less music to learn in it. Pianist is an incredible resource especially for someone who is self-teaching like myself.

They should probably avoid posting in other threads, though. But it's not like people doesn't know the magazine exists. They even come here proposing discounts and offers. I just realised the other day that my subscription had automatically renewed, and the price I paid was the Black Friday heavily discounted one

Please don’t chase them away. They do try to help. Love the back issue specials that pop up now and then too.

I'm not trying to chase them away - I am a subscriber too. But surely it wouldn't break them if they bought an advertisement and supported this site, which they are clearly using to sell subscriptions and communicate with their customers.

Sam

+1!!!

Looks like they've been removed according to their profile, which is a real shame considering how useful they have been!!

Pianoperformance still has a profile, last online yesterday morning and has no banned designation
Were you perhaps looking for an account for Pianist Magazine? There was never one that included the word ‘magazine’

There was for Pianist Magazine. As a result of the complaints, they have been banned from PW.

Very annoyed, but c'est la vie. Sometimes life gives you peaches, and other times prunes.

That seems unexpectedly harsh. I was expecting them to be told not to do the equivalent of advertising on the forum not be banned.

Pianist Magazine has not participated in any recent thread re the magazine. I don’t see any posts under this screen name.
All posts have been done under the account for piano performance, which is not banned.

Take a look at this link for example. Note the word "banned" on the left panel.

Quite strange

Although I find it unfortunate and sad, it's not at all strange. There was a lively discussion in this thread about how wrong Piano Magazine was. A number of people gave their strong opinions about their behavior. It's possible some member took the opportunity to click the "Report" button and report the miscreants to the moderators. Presto. Banned. Action / reaction.

b
What is ‘strange’ is that piano performance started this thread and initially supplied the magazine information. That account is active.

Excellent job, whoever it was that reported them! They just posted a single message about Lola Astanova on their latest issue and somebody had them banned? That was completely unnecessary!

Pianoperformance is just a member of this forum who opened this thread - it has nothing to do with Pianist magazine.

Pianist Magazine has been posting to this thread. I can't understand why you would ban them. I'm going to reach out to Pianist Magazine and ask them to create a forum on their site ...

I don't think that when a person is banned, that this is marked in their profile. The "banned" appears in the section where you put your location. If you click on the word "banned" it brings you to a location map, and you see he's from a place called "Banning". I'm thinking that it was put there as a joke, by the owner of the profile. If so, it's a good one.

Look at their profile page. It says the member has been banned at the top.

http://forum.pianoworld.com/ubbthreads.php/users/100386.html

No joke; there is a header at the top of the profile
‘This member account has been banned’

Oh, great! Thanks to those who made that happen. Can you hear the sarcasm in my writing?

They posted once in a while with a discount code, and they answered subscribers' questions and helped with issues.

I found their presence useful.

I will go offline to swear some more and kick some stuff now.

It was E. Palmer. Reach out to her. Tell her they still have their supporters here among members. Though obviously no one in charge of the ban-hammer.

EDIT: URL link for sending msgs.

I feel sort of sorry since I may have been the one that invited her here in the first place. Alas.

Oh I see now.

I don't know why they were banned, but I doubt it had anything to do with Lola whoever.

Here's some text from the Piano Forum:


People have been banned before for promoting their teaching method or website or selling something in the forums. Why should they be banned and Pianist Magazine allowed to continue? I bet if they contacted Mr. Piano World and were upfront about what they wanted to do, something could be worked out.

Sam

+1

+1

I don't get why they were banned. The Pianist Magazine account contributed both customer support and a little advertising, not unlike Kawai James. I thought it was really useful having them here.

Someone here reported Pianist.

I guess no-one ever reported KJ. Probably people are not so trigger-happy in the digital forum, even though one can easily see how KJ generated a lot of interest (and sales) in Kawai digitals, which far outstrip other brands in the forum.

Can we start a petition to get them unbanned? If so, I just signed: WeakLeftHand.

Kinda lame. They could have advertised but still did they need to be banned? They were of service to our group.

Is it possible that elliep1996 is the same person as ellie palmer, the name associated with the Pianist Magazine account? If so, creating another profile to get around being banned is not very cool.

Which raises the question of corporate accounts (email, FaceBook, etc.) and personal accounts. I think there is a difference.

I wrote my personal reaction at the time, how I felt, at that moment, and there are is no such thing as "wrong" feelings. Feelings also do not constitute "problems" - they just are.My first reaction was that in a thread on a different topic, a post was placed that did not join in the discussion of the topic at all, but simply advertised the magazine. I then clicked on the link and saw that cover; it was the combination of those two things, with the former mattering more. That said, I run a business, and the impression of potential customers do interest me and since they were still here - no idea they would get banned; who could have predicted that? - Since I assumed they were here, the might have also been interested in the reaction.

I have no reason to be "turned on" or "turned off". It is also not a matter of choice of clothing, but choice of picture and pose by a publication which I understand is there to teach and guide people learning to play the piano, women as well as men. Here I do have some thoughts. The great violinist Ida Handel, for example, frankly stated that because she refused to bare skin, If you know the immense artistry of Handel, then this may bother you as much as it bothered me. I am not so naive as to think that the performance world is fair, and that musicians may not feel they need some kind of shtick to get ahead: Liberace had his furs and jewels, Tiny Tim his tremolo falsetto - but at times it still bothers me. I would want the audience to hear my artistry, not look for something else, and that may be an unspoken worry among some of the female persuasion - dunno - usually there is silence. But that was MY reaction, at THAT moment.

I don't want to switch this into the usual debate, but I also don't like being attached for a reaction I had, as it being a "problem". Thank you in advance for your understanding.

I think it is a crying shame. They have been very helpful.

Sad to see Pianist Magazine go. . .

Tyrone Slothrop

Very sad to see them go P.S I am not Ellie Palmer! lol

Although technically KJ does the same thing that got Pianist Magazine banned. KJ makes new posts announcing new Kawai products - and Kawai is not a sponsor of the PW forum either. (All this is said not to get KJ banned but to express my disappointment at Pianist Magazine's banning.)

But as you say. Banning here is somewhat arbitrary. It is just dependent on if someone reports someone else and asks for a banning. KJ is well liked. I guess enough people dislike Lola that when Pianist Magazine posted about Lola, that was Straw. Back. Camel. Perhaps if the cover photo of the 111th issue of the magazine had instead been András Schiff, or a Kawai digital piano, or András Schiff with a Kawai digital piano, all this banning might have not happened at all.

You have really got to be kidding. This is not because KJ is liked or because Lols was in the magazine
Read KJs posts: if someone has problems with ANY component, ANY brand of digital piano, he is there to help. Want a recommendation for a new DP, he doesn't just recommend his own brand.

However you believe PM helped by answering subscription questions, this is not the same. They made a lot of money by signing up new members—- and not paying for advertising. Did they offer any other advice? Highlight any other magazine? No. They could have assigned an office worker to do what they did

FYI:There is a very well respected member here who was not allowed to basically advertise inside of a forum post.


PW is a business and they have an advertising policy. PM violated it and it does not appear they were willing to compromise with a small ad. I obviously do not know that was offered to them, but that would likely have been done.
I will not participate further in this thread. I find this discussion very sad

Just for clarity I did not report Pianist Magazine and never wanted to see them banned. Just have them to be more circumspect in what they write.

I did feel that this post http://forum.pianoworld.com/ubbthreads.php/topics/2916463/re-pianist-magazine.html#Post2916463 did step over the line and there were a couple of others in the same style. I may be wrong but I've never seen Kawai James do something like that. KJ announces and provides links to new products released by Kawai and I think that is quite a different thing, it is useful information about their products.

I'd happy to say I'd like to see Pianist Magazine back.

I am not disagree with what else you said (that I'm not quoting here), but you are at least 50% wrong on the above that I have quoted. It is true that KJ helps on any pianos while Pianist magazine didn't help on non-Pianist Magazine issues. However, the latter is not that uncommon - Josh Mills for example does this in the Piano Marvel thread, although to my knowledge he has never suggested anyone should buy Piano Marvel, so his is purely customer support.

Those of us that buy pianos sometimes need customer support. KJ sometimes will jump in and help with that.

Those of us that bought Pianist Magazine sometimes need customer support. Pianist Magazine would usually jump in and help with that in this thread.

So yes, PM helping by answering subscription questions was analogous - the same for a different product. They also helped with technical issues with their product. For example, videos that didn't want to play, etc. This may seem different to you, but that's because Piano Magazine is fundamentally a different product than a piano, either digital or acoustic. It's needs regarding support are different.

Personally, I never thought you reported Pianist Magazine. I suspect it was some member who was really annoyed and I never sense that level of annoyance from your posts I still hold to my theory it was Lola that did it but the evidence is weakly circumstantial and it could have just as easily been someone annoyed at the post you just linked Or maybe it wasn't someone annoyed at all and just a boyscout.

I think banning them for advertising is a bit gratuitous. How many times have people around here praised Henle to the skies - repeatedly - and not got banned for promoting a specific publisher? Not to mention the insane level of promotion J. S. Bach gets for free here (yes, silly remark of course, but change to Einaudi to get a living composer, who could in principle advertise). On the Digital pianos forum products are being advertised over and over ad infinitum; nobody ever gets banned for that. Nor should anyone be banned for that.

Well, we are bombarded with ads from all sides nowadays, so I can understand a certain level of suspicion when somebody has to sell something, but sometimes people sell things we actually are interested in, things we really want or even need! I'm actually grateful for some buying suggestions I get on Facebook or Amazon, etc. I use AdBlock everywhere but not on PianoWorld, because I like all things that have to do with pianos, even piano-related ads. So I didn't mind Pianist Magazine's posts at all. I don't stand people who advertise videos such as "learn piano in 5 minutes", "get my secret tips" and other clickbait, but I like serious teachers.

I think Pianist should pay PW to place ads on this Website and be allowed back to the forums for support issues. They would certainly gain even more subscribers.

Someone promoting or praising a product they are not connected with is completely different from someone connected with the product praising the product. A random poster saying how much they like piano X is utterly different from a dealer saying how great piano X is if they sell piano X.

I don't disagree completely, but on an internet forum no one knows who is connected to what, and to my knowledge Pianist magazine have not heaped praise on their own product here in PW (admittedly, I have not followed this thread closely, so I may be unaware of important parts).

I think what KJ does is advertising, inadvertently. If you make PM pay for advertising, then you need to make Kawai pay as well.

But we really need a Yamaha James instead.

Obviously I get no vote and the website/forum is commercial so this explains why I get no vote , but I think it would be better getting a Yamaha James than to make KJ pay for advertising.

I really do not agree that KawaiJames should be classed as advertising. At least not from any of the posts I've seen of his (maybe I've missed some of late?). They're generally made in response to people asking specific questions about Kawai products.

http://forum.pianoworld.com/ubbthreads.php/topics/2916463/re-pianist-magazine.html#Post2916463

That on the other hand, seems far more like an advert. That said, I'm not sure I really have a problem with that post either as long as it's a one off and they don't bump that thread or plaster it into other threads every few week each and every time there's a sale. If the thread was bumped because of the christmas sale and the easter monday sale and... bit much and understandable why a forum would start to think hang on you should be paying for adverts and do so via the same advertising spots everyone else has to use

Which I'm sure they'd never do, certainly not unsolicited... http://forum.pianoworld.com/ubbthre...ke-for-me-to-play-piano.html#Post2917551 http://forum.pianoworld.com/ubbthre...-piano-learning-journey.html#Post2903971 http://forum.pianoworld.com/ubbthreads.php/topics/2903965/re-2010-kawai-rx2-blak.html#Post2903965

Now if people think KawaiJames has also gone down the route of direct advertising, I'd like to see some relevant posts. Considering how much he posts and takes part in discussions on here in very on-topic ways, I just do not see it as the same thing. He posts under his own name and imo the Kawai part is useful to realise he's affiliated with the product and allow people to take bias into account.

and yes, I agree a YamahaJames would be a welcomed addition if it's someone willing to interact with the forum and not just post notes about each of their sales.

The links you posted are product announcements with a comment. KJ posts product announcements with minimal to no comments. But in both cases they are product annoucements being posted.

(Although I am an expert at digging up past posts, I don't want to post 50 links to KJ's past product announcements as examples since this is going down a bad road and I don't want to have KJ banned. Regardless of whether or not any of his behavior can be classed as advertising or marketing, he does a real service on the digital forum and is a valued member of the community.)

They sound more like sale announcements and special offers to me.

Or do pianist magazine have multiple models of magazine? I could understand a post announcing their new Jazz focussed pianist magazine, as in a new product line. But not announcements of new issues or sales of those issues. I do get the similarity you're trying to suggest, but, imho magazines and pianos feel different as far as product lines go.

Perhaps I'm drawing an arbitrary line? But issues of a magazine do not imo qualify as new products and need an announcement and sales/special offers imo are far closer to advertising.

The product of a magazine are the individual issues if those can be sold separately, which Pianist Magazine does do, and does a lot of. Understandably since sometimes pianists only want certain issues. There is also the product of an annual subscription. There is the product of various digital issues, and an annual digital subscription. These are all separate products.

That pianos are more expensive and one usually only buys one of them (except for a few people here!) doesn't make it less of a product or more of a product than Pianist Magazine products.

I don’t know who KJ is, but discussing him in this thread might bring him to someone’s attention...

Quite right. If we continue, we may want to be more abstract about people unless we really think they are abusers.

But this is maybe talked out. Further discussion is unlikely to get Piano Magazine unbanned nor to make anyone feel better about the banning (that is anyone who feels badly about Piano Magazine being banned).

Technically the product is each issue sure, but, I have never felt that way about magazines or news papers. To me, the announcement of a new product for those is when they branch out into a different line that runs alongside their main magazine. So you get a magazine focusing on classical and they start up a jazz line or a blues line etc that's worthy of a new product announcement.

Is it an arbitrary line I'm drawing? Yes and I think it comes down to frequency.

With a magazine you know a new edition is coming out every month (or weekly etc). With piano products you have a rough idea that new lines are released annually, but it's not a certainty. Products can be released soon/later, more might be released one year than the next. If new piano models shipped on a regular monthly schedule, I'd feel the same way about their announcements too, that they shouldn't be posted about on here.

I certainly wouldn't consider posts about sales appropriate from a company, be they Kawai, Yamaha or Pianist magazine either. At least not unless a regular forum member was asking about anyone knowing about upcoming sales (and only then as long as the account wasn't a astroturfing).

I think we both view magazines differently, if you're seeing each issue as a entirely new product worthy of announcement (I do not), so I'm not sure we're going to see eye to eye on whether their posts should be classed as advertising. But, I also don't think it matters, it's not up to either of us

All that said, I'd prefer rather than bans, we saw accounts moved to forced moderation and any post deemed advertising deleted before it sees the light of day. If the account owners then learn where the lines are and act in good faith, restore them to regular posting. If they continue to try to post ads, warn and then ban, since there's only so much time you can waste moderating.

Both work for the respective company, and have their product in their forum name. So when an post/announcement is made, it's advertising. The best advertising isn't a direct announcement, but a bag of Jedi mind tricks to steer your thinking in a certain direction. It doesn't really matter though. Just make sure you buy the baby Yoda doll this Christmas.

I did reach out to Ellie and she mentioned that she reached back out to PW to see what could be done. Let's see what happens.

Say it ain't so! Certainly baby Yoda isn't advertising! I've already ordered one for my piano desk (btw, preorders being taken by Disney on Amazon.com! )




Good news! I hope this is resolved. I've appreciated their presence on the thread.

Sure, any announcement of a product IS an advertisement if the person announcing it has any affiliation directly back to the company.

A lot of this comes down to how posts come across though. Whether you believe they're been made in good faith to add value to a community or trying to just plug their product again and again without paying for advertising spots. Looking back over several pages of account posts PM and KJ imho give off very different vibes in that regard.

Posts made in good faith can actually bring a forum great benefit which in turn brings more users and advertising revenue. So there's a business decision to be made on where to draw the exact line for, "no those kind of posts must be done via our paid advertising spots".

Ultimately it's up to the forum owner to decide what they feel crosses their line on advertising. I do hope they at least have a discussion with PM so that they can contribute to this forum in the future without overstepping that line again. Maybe PM were posting in good faith and just became a little overly enthusiastic and in turn came across in the wrong way? Hopefully they get it sorted out.

Just my 2 cents worth... I do not mind PM posting in this thread which is is fact about PM. And anyone wanting to know about them, about new issues or whatever, can come here. I can just ignore the thread if I don't want to see it.
There is a whole long thread dedicated to Faber for example, but it is not advertising, even it is 'something you can buy'. I we choose to discuss a product, whoever makes that product should be allowed to answer/advice.

What I DO mind is posts like this: http://forum.pianoworld.com/ubbthre...-piano-learning-journey.html#Post2903971
It's blatant advertising, It offers no advice, It's utterly OT, and I resent it. Does not mean I want them banned, just relegated to where they belong.

He should be classed as a humanoid.

BBC Music Magazine $54.99 >> $33.99 digital
https://pocketmags.com/us/bbc-music-magazine

Pianist Magazine $35.99 >> $24.99 digital
https://pocketmags.com/us/pianist-magazine

Pianist Magazine $77.94 >> $59 hardcopy
https://www.expressmag.com/en-us/magazines/product/description/pianist/680/

Play Beethoven Pianist Issue $4.99 >> $2.99 digital
https://pocketmags.com/us/magazine-offers/warners-group/playbeethoven40off

Just one warning. For those of us who already have quite a few numbers of Pianist Magazine, the Beethoven pieces in this issue are not new ones, but pieces that have been published in previous editions. That goes for all special editions of Pianist magazine.
(With the caveat that I don't have all numbers of PM, and there might be one or two pieces in a special edition that are unique.)

This magazine is available on Readly. So if you have that service you can pick an issue and read away on your tablet/iPad/ pc whatever.
I've always preferred International Piano Magazine but sadly it is not available in my newsagent and if you want a single issue you have to order by phone!