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 How much does a piano cost? Prices for pianos range from around $1,000 to more than $60,000, depending on the brand, size and the age of the piano. A quality digital piano starts around $1,000. Upright pianos start around $2,000 and grand pianos start around $5,000 for quality used pianos. New piano price ranges are slightly higher. When you consider economizing on a piano because a child is "just starting lessons," consider that making music on a quality instrument is one of the best ways to keep a young musician interested. By purchasing the best instrument possible within a comfortable price range, you are encouraging an individual to expect to continue playing and to strive for success. This can make all the difference in the world. Steinway Piano Galleries offers a monthly purchase plan to help you finance your purchase. In addition, we offer a rent to buy plan that is popular when buying for beginners. Under this plan, a piano is rented for a monthly fee. If the consumer decides to purchase the piano, the rental charges for a specified time may be applied to the purchase price. This way, you can protect your investment without purchasing a piano of lesser quality that your child will quickly outgrow. For more information Click here. How do I go about finding a quality used piano? When purchasing a used piano, consider that the materials in even the best older pianos are subject to wear, humidity changes and inconsistent service or neglect. Better modern pianos are improvements over the older counterparts in materials and design. While the cost of a new piano is generally a fair prediction of quality, the price of a used piano is dependent upon an individual's assessment of condition. Oftentimes the outside appearance of a piano does not reflect the condition of the interior mechanisms. For more information, click here for our Buyer's Guide. When choosing a used piano, note the following definitions provided by the Piano Technicians Guild, Inc. to categorize the level of repairs on a piano: "A used piano that has been disassembled, inspected, repaired as necessary with replacement of all worn or deteriorated parts, reassembled, tested and approved to at least the tolerances of a new piano of like manufacture is said to have been rebuilt. A used piano that has been put back in good condition by cleaning, repairing and adjusting for maximum performance with replacement parts where specifically indicated is said to have been reconditioned." A rebuilt piano should be purchased because of its merits, rather than an attempt to economize. What's the best size/type of piano for my needs? For starters, try our piano finder to find which type of piano is right for you! Click here Choosing a piano is oftentimes a difficult decision. By choosing a piano you are choosing a musical instrument, a fine piece of furniture, an object of emotional attachment and a monetary, musical, and educational investment. When properly cared for, the average lifespan of a piano is several decades, much longer than the average automobile. Size is an important consideration in choosing your instrument since, generally speaking, the larger the piano, the better the tone. In large part, the amount of space you have for the instrument will be an important factor in choosing the right size of instrument for you. Many people are surprised to find that they have more space than they had originally thought and are able to purchase a much larger piano. Steinway Piano Galleries can provide you with a paper pattern to place on the floor to measure the space. But size is not the only factor to consider. Your level of aspiration & the style of your home will also help to determine the type of piano for your needs. By purchasing the best instrument possible within a comfortable price range, you are encouraging an individual to expect to continue playing and to strive for success. This can make all the difference in the world. And since a piano is a fine piece of furniture in addition to a musical instrument, your décor and furniture will help to determine which type of elegant cabinet and finish will adapt to your home. Remember, a piano is an investment that will remain with you for many years, so consider purchasing the best piano that you can afford. But, ultimately, the only true way to determine the instrument that will meet your needs is to play the piano and listen to the sound of the tones that are produced by the instrument. So, complete our Find Your Piano questionnaire and bring it with you to one of our stores. Play the pianos and listen to the sound. Let our piano experts answer your questions. Then, listen to yourself and choose the instrument that you prefer. What's the best location in my house for my new piano? Your keyboard is much more than a piece of furniture and you should choose the location for your instrument carefully. A piano should NOT be placed on a non-insulated outside wall, nor near a heating or cooling source (including direct sunlight). Areas where extreme changes in temperature and humidity can occur should be avoided as well, such as a basement or an enclosed porch. Once inside your home, a grand piano requires an area twice its size to attach the pedals and legs. Be sure to allow room for this assembly when deciding on the piano's placement. If you have purchased an electronic keyboard, it should be positioned near an electrical outlet so it can be plugged-in directly. Extension cords are NOT recommended to connect your keyboard. For more information, click here. Should I move my piano myself? Unlike furniture, an acoustic piano is a heavy and carefully balanced instrument. Professional piano movers have the specialized skills, equipment and experience to move your heirloom and investment whether the move is between landings in your house or to a new home. Attempting to move a piano by yourself may easily result in a costly trip to the doctor for both you and your piano. Steinway Piano Galleries offers expert moving and delivery services for your piano. We understand the importance of your investment in a keyboard and are dedicated to safely installing your instrument in your home. Contact our Service Department for additional information about moving your piano. How do I maintain my piano? Every piano is created from many sensitive working parts. The tension of the strings that resonate such a beautiful sound place the infrastructure under enormous pressure. Improper or irregular maintenance can cause problems that will become progressively worse, causing your piano to develop an unpleasant tone and an unresponsive touch even if it sounds in tune. Like an automobile, your piano requires a routine service and maintenance program to maintain the sound. Three components of musical performance (pitch, tone, and touch) require periodic adjustment. A complete piano service includes tuning to return the piano to pitch, voicing to adjust the tone, and regulating to adjust the action and change the touch of the piano. Besides tuning your piano on a regular schedule, the best way to improve tuning stability is to reduce the changes in humidity that occur in most homes. Using an air conditioner in humid summer months and adding a humidifier to your central heating system will reduce the extremes of high and low humidity and improve tuning stability. However, room humidifiers and dehumidifiers and systems designed for installation inside of pianos will control humidity-related disorders even more completely. In addition, you should position your piano away from windows, outside doors, heating vents, fireplaces, and other sources of extreme or sudden humidity or temperature changes. In normal environments, changes in temperature are important only because of the changes in humidity that result. Humidity control will not only improve performance, but will also be a considerable factor in determining the useful life of your piano. The inside of your piano should only be cleaned by your qualified piano technician. Damage from insects and vermin is best controlled by authorizing your piano technician to vacuum the keyboard and other, less accessible areas of the piano. Modern pianos use felt that has been treated to be mothproof. As a result, moth damage in modern pianos is extremely rare. If a piano technician recommends treating a modern piano for moths, you may consider a second opinion. Historically, pianos have lasted as long as people, and often longer. Recent improvements in design and production methods should contribute to an even greater life expectancy if the piano is properly maintained. Contact our Service Department for additional information about maintaining your instrument or to schedule a house call. How do I clean my piano? Piano finishes are of equal or better quality than those of fine furniture and should be treated as such. You should avoid positioning your piano where it may be exposed to direct sunlight which might cause your finish to become dull. When dusting a piano, a soft cloth or lambswool duster is preferred. When cleaning the keys, you should use a small amount of mild dishwashing detergent and water. After completely wringing a damp cloth, clean (do not wash) the keys and dry thoroughly. Although usually unnecessary, many cabinet finishes can be cleaned in the same way. Consult your piano owner's manual for further guidance. Avoid the use of sprays and polishes on your piano. Many contain chemicals which are absorbed into the wood and make future repairs difficult. Even small amounts of mist from sprays can have a detrimental effect on the inside of a piano. Always consult your piano technician if you desire to clean the inside of your piano, or remove a small object that has fallen into the piano. While this may appear to be a simple task, care must be taken not to misalign or damage the many small parts inside the instrument. Contact our Service Department for additional information about maintaining your instrument or to schedule a house call. |
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