Plenty of music companies and websites offer a wide range of piano accessories. But what are piano accessories anyway? Do you really need anything besides a piano in order to play the piano?
Well, no – you really don’t need much more than a piano. If you’re particularly good at writing your own music or playing by ear, you might not even need sheet music! For those of us whose musical abilities are a little less super-human, however, sheet music can help, as can several kinds of piano accessories.
Piano accessories are just that – accessories. They’re not necessary in order to play the instrument, but they’re designed in order to make your playing easier. These accessories include things like metronomes, bench cushions, or a piano lamp. None of these things are necessary, but they can all be very useful when you’re playing the piano. They can be especially useful when you’re teaching others how to play.
Some accessories are specifically designed for new piano students. A metronome is a great example of this type of piano accessory, designed to count out the beat for students who haven’t yet learned to keep it steady for themselves. Another good accessory for piano teachers is a pedal extension. This device attaches to the pedals on the bottom of the piano, and curves up to form two separate “pedals” about a foot off the ground. This is for very young (or very short) piano students, whose feet can’t reach the pedals.
Other accessories are designed for any pianist, whether a new student or an accomplished musician. These types of accessories simply make it easier to sit at the piano, or easier to play. A piano lamp is one of these types of piano accessories, making it possible to read the music more clearly. If you’ve never seen one, a piano lamp is much like a desk lamp with a very flexible range of motion. It can sit on the piano, either directly next to or behind the music stand, and shine a beam of light onto the music. There’s usually a “shield” on one side, preventing the light from shining into the eyes of the pianist.
Along with basic piano accessories, some of these music companies will also sell items that will keep your piano in good repair. You might be able to buy tuning supplies or piano wire from these companies (although you might not want to, unless you know how to tune your own piano.) You can also buy simple repair pieces, like new piano “feet” or wheels, or replacement piano benches.