When you choose to purchase a piano whether it’s for you child who is beginning piano lessons or a member of the family that is a seasoned piano player, you’ll enjoy your purchasing experience better if you have an understanding of piano pricing.

Piano prices are about the same as the pricing on any other item that you plan to purchase, a name brand piano is going to have a higher price than a piano that’s name is not as popular. As all pianos are made by only a few manufacturers the name on the piano is not really as important as some may think. A lesser known name piano can still be a quality made piano that produces music that is just a beautiful as a well known name piano.

The size is also a determining factor of piano prices, a baby grand piano can cost much more than an upright piano. Usually, the bigger the piano, the bigger the price of the piano. If it looks elegant and classy, it is probably going to have a higher price than a piano that is not as elegant.

The finish that is on a piano is also a determining factor in the price of a piano. The finish that is on a piano that was made this year will cost you more than the piano that has the best selling finish from last year. The finish that is on a piano is not going to  allow the piano to play any better or worse. Going with a piano that has the most wanted finish on it can cost your thousands of dollars more than going with a less popular finish.

You may be considering purchasing a used piano instead of a new piano. Choosing a used piano is certainly going to be less expensive that purchasing a piano that has never been owned by someone else. When purchasing a used piano, you only want to make sure that it is finely tuned so that it plays well and sounds great. The condition of the piano is more important than the age of the piano.

You will find that you can make a better deal purchasing your piano new or used if you don’t choose to shop for it during a peak time. Shop for your piano when the store is less crowded or better yet when no one else is in the store. Instead of shopping at mid morning or late afternoon, visit the piano store on your lunch break. Don’t piano shop during the Christmas holidays or at the start of the school year as salesman have a tendency to increase prices during these times.

When shopping for pianos, play the piano, each person has a different ear for music and each person may thing that a certain tone sounds better or worse to them. Find out how much tuning and repairs will cost for the piano that you purchase so you’ll know what to expect in the future.

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I have thought about purchasing a piano. Then I wasn’t sure if I preferred to pay less money for a used piano or more for a new one. I decided to check out a used instrument to pay less for it. When I started to look into buying a piano I was told there would be several things to ask about before purchasing it. I did not want to end up with one that may simply look good and then it have many issues with it. I started asking several questions before making my final purchase.

Find out why the owner is selling.
I asked this question to determine if there may be possible damage with the piano. For example, if they say that they are selling because it takes up too much space or that they are in need of money then I knew to beware that the seller probably didn’t spend much time and money on repairs and maintaining the used piano.

How often was the piano tuned?
A piano should be tuned at least twice a year to help maintain it. It is like a car that needs to have a regular tuneup and oil change to prevent other problems from happening. If the seller has not had it tuned then it is a good idea to keep looking elsewhere for a used piano.

Who performed maintenance on the piano?
The last thing I wanted was to get a piano that the seller’s neighbor worked on without having any idea what they were doing. I needed to know that a reputable professional technician tuned the piano. Whether the piano is in tune or not, I had to make sure that the person that has performed maintenance on the instrument was a certified technician. Then I asked the seller  if they had any paperwork for proof of what company tuned the piano.

Where was the piano stored?
This is very important to know before deciding to purchase the used piano. I wanted to avoid purchasing one that was kept in humid or cold areas such as the basement or garage. This also indicates that the piano has not been used in a long time.

Has the piano been moved around often?
In the process of moving a piano, it will need to be moved by professional piano movers that know how to maneuver the large instrument. Otherwise, it could have been damaged by hits and nicks against walls and corners. It could have even been dropped once or twice too. Typically the piano will need to be tuned again after it is moved.

How often has the piano been used?
If the seller used the piano often and simply purchased a new one then chances are this used piano is a good one and has been taken care of properly. However, if the seller has had it sitting in the house for looks only then it may need tuning among other types of uncertain repairs.

For anyone planning to purchase a used piano for the sake of showing it off then you may not need to worry about all of these questions. However, if you are like me and plan to sell it in the future then it will be difficult to sell if the buyer wants to use it for learning how to play the instrument.    

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When people think of a great piano most will think of a Steinway piano. However, when purchasing your own great piano for your home; is Steinway the best option? Have you considered other high quality options such as Mason & Hamlin?
Throughout my career I’ve seen and heard a wide variety of pianos, all with good and less good aspects. While Steinway is the name that everyone knows it’s not necessarily the best piano for every situation. 

Sound
If you were to take a poll you might be surprised by the results; many pianists and amateurs alike prefer the sound of a Mason & Hamlin. They’re known to have a deep and lush tone, a powerful bass and a clearly articulating treble, often referred to as very American and very similar to a Steinway. Yet, it’s important to mention that having your piano voiced and regulated by a fabulous technician, followed by regular maintenance will improve the sound of any instrument, sometimes with near shocking results. Equally important to consider; a piano with a great name but without great care may never again sound as good as it once did, or it’s lesser-known counter parts.

Feel
The touch of the keys is another crucial factor when judging pianos. You want the keys to respond easily but with intention. The same way that maintenance improved sound it will also improve the feel of the piano. And, a piano that’s been ignored and fallen into disrepair may never feel the same as it once did, while the potential of a lesser known but better cared for piano will continue to grow.

A Brand You Can Trust
Just because Mason & Hamlin is the lesser known brand don’t be fooled! They are known for creating a quality piano on par with any other. There are reviews out there that will attest to the fact that both brands of piano, with appropriate maintenance, are to be trusted.

Investment Value
Since Steinway has the better name a well taken care of instrument will have a better resale value than a Mason & Hamlin in the same condition. However, you’ll also have to have paid a higher price originally. When all is said and done this is going to be your piano. When your children are practicing after school, or you and your loved ones are crowded around it for a special event, or you’re taking a moment to play your favorite piece you won’t be thinking about the numbers.

Steinway or Mason & Hamlin; you’re choice should come down to what you feel is important to yourself and your family.  Be honest with yourself about your priorities, make sure you’re not falling for the brand because of the name, or convincing yourself you can live with something you don’t really love because it’s a little bit cheaper. Sit at the piano, touch the keys, and purchase the one that feels right for you. Your piano will be bringing life and fun and music into your house for years to come, it’s an investment towards the happiness of your family; choose the piano that sounds and feels best and you can’t go wrong!

How did you and your family choose their piano? We’d love to hear about it in our comments section!  

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In order to have a piano to perform at its peak and keep a long life, it is necessary to have it tuned regularly.  An experienced piano tuner is what is needed as he is well versed in this job. Nowadays, the internet provides online listings of piano tuners and so getting one for the tuning job is quite easy. However, it is necessary that the tuner hired must be professionally trained, be certified and also possess an in-depth knowledge to tune any piano of any make. A good way to solve this hassle is to first make a shortlist of suitable tuners and then zero out on one who is best.

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When friends and acquaintances ask if it is best to rent a digital piano or to buy one, I would tell them that it is best to start with a rental first, especially if they are beginners. You need to learn to get used to the idea of playing a piano, thus, renting one is best, because if you do not like the piano, you can return it to the shop. Additionally, by renting one, it gives you plenty of time to save your money to buy an upright or a grand piano. 

When it comes to buying a piano, it can be a very expensive investment. The initial payment is not just to buy the piano, but you need to pay for transportation and moving, as well as, additional tuning and maintenance. As the piano owner, you need to make sure it runs smoothly and you need to find a technician that can do the maintenance work and tuning, at least, once a year. For this reason, I normally advise people to rent a digital piano because it does not require you to spend a lot of money. Below are some tips on how you can rent a piano.

What to look for

Whether you are renting or buying a piano, you should look for one that has full-size piano keys. If you find pianos with less than the standard full-size keys, it is considered a toy. Make sure it has an appropriate bench, thus, you should look for a bench that allows you to sit at a proper height. Consider your length or height when you are looking for the bench. Look for a piano that has a sustain pedal that plugs straight into your piano, or else, it will be difficult to proceed beyond the very basics of your lessons.

Consider several brands of pianos

I would advise you to visit as many musical instrument or piano stores when you are shopping for a digital piano. Most shops that sell pianos do rent their pianos, as well. It is best that you rent from a reputable piano store than from an individual. Always choose one that has an audio recorder, so you can record your practices, because it is more beneficial. With so many brands that produce good quality digital pianos, you need to make time to play a few of them. If you know any piano technicians, ask him or her to accompany you. 

Takes a few things into consideration

Even though renting a piano is a lot more affordable than buying one, it is imperative that you consider a few things such as your budget and space. Only rent a digital piano that you can afford and always make sure that the piano you can afford is in a good condition and that it produces high-quality sounds. Do not be shy to ask the shop owner about the rental prices and ask as many questions as you can about the pianos. Measure the space you have allocated for the piano and provide the measurement to the shop owner as well.

Do you think it is better to rent an upright piano or a digital piano?

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One of the many ways to find an affordable piano is through flea markets and even on Craigslist, although you need to take some precautions when it comes to buying from a private seller through online means or a flea market. Some of the pitfalls of private sellers is that the piano has the potential of being in disrepair and might be marked up too much for its actual price. But, there are ways you can make sure you don’t pay too much for a broken piano.

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If you are planning to send your kids for piano lessons, there is absolutely no point in picking up an old piano from an auction or borrowing your neighbor’s upright piano. You might end up paying a high maintenance fee especially if the upright is an ancient piano. Have you ever considered buying a digital piano, such as a Celviano? If you have not considered it, maybe you should think about buying one for your kids. Digital pianos are sleek and shiny, and they can look stunning from across the room.

You have a choice of buying a Celviano or Clavinova digital piano, although they are from different brands, they do have the same objective, and that is to provide quality entertainment to you and your family. Most digital pianos have a 16-track multi-recorder, memory card slots, 250 tones, and 180 rhythms. As I had stated above, there are many brands that carry digital pianos but the most outstanding ones are from Casio and Yamaha, which are the Celviano and Clavinova series respectively. This blog post will tell you a few things you need to know about these models and series.

Casio AP-6

This digital piano features a built-in 250 tones with full accompaniment. In addition, it has 180 rhythms and advanced features such as, a built-in SD card storage, registration memory to recall splits, rhythms, and layers instantly, 16-track recorder, and n LCD display. Besides the dual headphone outputs, the AP-6 comes with a powerful 30W speaker system on each side. These allow it to deliver amazing sounds throughout your entire home. With its advanced technology and sound, which include the 129 notes of polyphony, duet mode, audio outputs, and USB MIDI, it would definitely make a perfect musical instrument for your home.

Casio AP-620

This new traditional design has new stereo sounds that are akin to grand pianos. It consists of an enhanced Ivory Touch keyboard that utilize advanced tri-sensor spring-less 88 note scaled action. This means every detail and nuance of your performances are captured. The new 4-layer stereo delivers an expressive and natural piano experience for you and your kids. Similar to AP-6, the AP-620 has 250 built-in tones, duet mode, ¼” audio outputs, USB MIDI, 120 polyphony notes, and 30W side speakers.

Yamaha Clavinova CVP 500

This series is said to be a lot better than the CVP 400. You can only find five 5-level CFIIIS piano samples in this model along with Super Articulation 2 voices. The audio recorder records in .wav file and the CVP 500 is the most advanced Clavinova CVP by Yamaha, to date. This digital piano has 128 polyphony notes with additional new sounds as well. It has a USB audio recorder, which includes the MIC/LINE IN input. A 16-track sequencer is included as well. There is 1.4MB data capacity, which can be used to record each one of your practices or songs. Included is a colored-LCD display.

Yamaha Clavinova CLP-320

The Clavinova by Yamaha comes in a following range of series – 300, 400, and 500. The CLP-320 is one of the best in the 300 series, which was marketed in various cities in Europe, Asia, Brazil, Oceania, and Canada. This model is a huge improvement on the earlier CLP 220. It consists of 128 notes of polyphony tunes, damper with the half-pedal effect, and 3-level AWM dynamic stereo system. I was definitely impressed with the sound, although I know people might not share the same view. 

Would you consider buying a digital piano for your home?

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