There is nothing quite like the amazing power of music.  Research shows that music affects emotions and social interactions.  Music education can help children with communication, attention, and behavioral problems, enabling them to express themselves creatively.  One of the most popular of musical instruments and the one many of us are first introduced to is the piano.  Sitting down to share the beauty of piano music enriches others and the world around them, and investing in an Atlanta piano rental can build a brighter future.

Can an Atlanta piano rental improve my life?

The answer is yes.  One thing that life has taught me is that creative people live more fulfilled lives when they are allowed to express themselves.  A piano in the house not only allows them to do that but studies have shown that music education can improve a child’s reading and cognitive skills, clearing their paths to a brighter and more successful future.  That is why buying a piano is a prudent choice, and piano rental option I can select the right size, style, and finish of the piano before I buy it.  If I like the look and feel of it in my home I have the option to make monthly installments that will allow me to keep it or I can return or exchange it.  It’s just that simple.

What other options are available for an Atlanta piano rental?  What if I can’t make a long term investment?

Life is not always predictable.  We may be here one day and somewhere else the next.  So what if I am not ready to buy a piano because I can’t take it with me everywhere?  Rental options are available.  If I can’t rent to buy I do not have to forego the joys of having a piano around.  With as little as twenty-five dollars a month I can rent a piano for as long as I need it.

Where can I go for more information about an Atlanta piano rental?

Cooper Music has been serving Atlanta for over a hundred years.  For answers to my questions I can go to their website at Cooper Music or I can contact them directly at 404-329-1663.

Whether I choose a rent to own or a rent to rent option an Atlanta piano rental is an investment in the future. 

Moving feels even more stressful when you have to move large, valuable and fragile items like pianos. The potential for disaster lurks around every corner, threatening the investment you have made. One wrong move, bump or accident could leave you without your valued instrument. So while hiring professional piano movers may seem like an unnecessary expense in an already expensive process, finding the best piano movers in Atlanta ultimately saves you money.

Transporting a piano is much different from moving anything else you own. Few other possessions you own have as many moving parts and delicate natures as your piano. Pianos are made from natural materials like wood, metal and cloth, all subject to damage from environmental factors like pollutants and weather. And that’s just when the pianos are sitting still. 
Piano moving requires some skill. The piano movers need to know how to prepare your piano for transport, how to maneuver it out of your home, have safe transport to your new residence and then artfully bring the piano into your new place. Some pianos require some disassembly such as removing the legs. Moving a piano could also require the use of specialized equipment to lift and lower your piano out of or into buildings. You may also need to store your piano for awhile, which requires climate controlled storage areas.

Professional piano movers come with the expertise necessary to protect your investment, expertise that standard moving companies do not have. They also have specialized insurance to protect you and your piano in case of accident. 

Don’t make your moving experience more stressful than it already is. Hire professional piano movers who know how to treat your precious investment to make sure it enhances your future home just as much as it did your current home.

You’ve always wanted a piano, why not consider used pianos first. New pianos could be cost-prohibitive for many households while used pianos can offer good value with less of a monetary investment. Maximizing this investment is as easy as having a Certified Piano Technician check out your used piano.

The Piano Technicians Guild has a couple of classifications: Registered Piano Technicians (RPT) and Associates. An RPT is what you are looking for when you’re looking for a professional to evaluate your piano.

RPT

Registered Piano Technicians have to go through three strenuous tests to earn their title.

·         Written tests—these exams focus on the candidate’s knowledge of piano design, repair techniques, and tuning theory.

·         “Hands-on”  tests—The first of these practical tests is to tune a piano by ear. The candidate must tune the piano within select standards, measured by highly sensitive electronic instruments. The other test is to actually assemble two types of ‘action,’ or the piano’s mechanical component for both a grand and vertical piano. In addition, the ‘regulation’ and all of the complex adjustments that make the piano function in total must also be completed.

Associates

Associates are Piano Technicians Guild members that have not yet completed the exams and can hold positions including piano retailers and refinishers.

With the amount of training an RPT has to complete, you can be confident that they can fully inspect your grand piano just like a good mechanic can fully inspect your car. An RPT’s suggestions will add cost to your used piano, but even with that, the total investment of used piano and RPT evaluation and repair will more than likely keep your cost down and will enable you to enjoy your used piano for years to come. 

There were many things that I took into consideration before deciding on what brand to choose from, and there were many! One of the things that really caught my eye,was of course, the price! I managed go to Cooper Piano and spend the day. I was amazed by the many different ones on display in their showroom.

As I entered the showroom and was approached by the staff, I knew that I made the right choice in the showrooms. As I played on the various brands, the sounds that reached my ears from the Steinway Piano that day as I tickled the ivories, really made my day!

The Value of Owning a Piano

I decided to purchase the Steinway Piano as I knew the value of my purchase would not depreciate. Furthermore, it is an incredibly beautiful piece of furniture. My children are now taking music lessons in school and they often spend hours taking turns learning how to play simple melodies on our grand piano at home.

Sunday afternoons are usually family time and after dinner we all head to the family room to watch movies or play some music on this beautiful instrument. I only wish that I had made my purchase sooner. Not only was this an incredible value, it has bonded us closer together.

Research into Piano Brands

It is important that you search into piano brands before you decide on which one to choose. Choose one that is reliable and has been in business for some time. Also make sure that the piano dealers with which you decide to make your purchase has excellent staff that would be able to answer any questions you may have.

Many stores offer some sort of payment plan for this type of purchase. Many people who make these types of large purchases often rely on a payment plan that suits their budget.

I know that I will enjoy many hours, lounging in the big chair in our family room, once the children become more accomplished pianists.  

Buying a digital piano is a delicate process.  The idea of spending all that money on an instrument, leads me to wonder: what if I buy the wrong kind?  That’s why it’s important to know a few things about a digital pianos, before actually making the big buy.  Let’s have a look at some of them.  I will also introduce you to the leader of the digital piano market: Yamaha and we will take a closer look at the Yamaha Digital piano.

Advantages of a Digital Piano

The obvious advantage of a digital piano is: portability.  This is especially desirable in small apartments, where a digital piano can be easily disassembled and stored away if not used.  If you have kids who are taking piano lessons, the digital piano is easier to maintain and comes with the option of a digital screen and headphones.  Most digital pianos also come with an electronic interface, allowing users to connect to a computer and take advantage of digital technology.  Lastly, they require virtually no piano tuning, as the sounds are stored inside the hardware.

Common Technical Terms

Some of the technical terms you need to know are:

·  Polyphony: This refers to the number of sounds the digital piano is capable of playing at the same time.  I would recommend the 64-note polyphony, which is good for nearly all types of music.

·   Speaker wattage: The ideal wattage for a standard sized room would be between 24 to 40 watts, split between 2 speakers.

·   Key mechanism:  Choose a digital piano with fairly weighted keys which help make the transition to a real piano easier.

The Yamaha Digital Piano

Yamaha’s history as a maker of superior quality digital pianos makes them a strong market leader.  The Yamaha digital piano closely resembles the sound of an acoustic piano and Yamaha’s wide range has different options for home pianos (CLP series), entry level (YDP) and portable pianos (the P series).  The most popular Yamaha Digital Piano is the YDP141, this instrument, as one reviewer put it, is “an excellent reflection of the piano”.  Another popular Yamaha Digital Piano is the P70. 

Cooper Music is an excellent place to buy a Yamaha Digital piano, with over a hundred years of experience in selling and renting pianos.  Bottom-line: stick with a reputable brand and you cannot go wrong.  

Music has been with me my whole life. It bloomed in my life from a young age, but it really took off to new heights the day I first plucked the keys of a Schimmel piano. The craft of their grand pianos has been perfected over the four generations of the company, passed down son to son, dating back to 1885 when Wilhelm Schimmel built his very first piano after an intensive training as a piano maker.

By the 1950’s, after major innovations to the piano and introduction new builds, the Schimmel Pianos became the most popular purchase in Germany and were being sold all around the world. With a history like that, it is no surprise to find that these instruments have the finest quality and tone. Today, this company is knows as one of the leading producers of incredibly engineered pianos. Their company motto is “Quality Will Prevail” and have their name of their products to back it up. Their pianos have the customer, the performer, in mind. The care put into each piece is phenomenal, and the sound is unmatched.

This is because hundreds of prototypes are tested for each new design, leaving nothing to chance. Perfection has taken on a new dimension in their line of work, has become a tangible goal that they have achieved in their craft. The research they put into the production of their pianos has gone above and beyond: they use the aid of state-of-the-art computer technology to test the balance of sound and the effects on the material they put into their pianos. The cast-iron frame of their pianos can withstand up to twenty-one tons of tension. Is that impressive or what? They have developed something more than just a piano- it has become a new dimension of music through their pianos.

Music has never been more alive than on the keys of a Schimmel, a trusted a name for many more generations to come.

There is no better time than now to purchase a piano, a time when music is so ripe in the world, where a piano player’s skill is universally valued. But what about the value of the piano?

A good deal on a piano is a ratio of the cost to what I need. If I find a piano that is just what I want with a price under my decided budget, that is a good deal. It’s a sort of equation that is personal, not universal, so it really depends on the individual in determining if a piano price is a good catch.

First comes the initial step of deciding what sort of piano is needed. If I am an accompanist and want a simple digital piano then I will not let a salesperson talk me into a grand piano, no matter how cheap he convinces me the piano price is if its not what I want. Yes, it may be a good deal for that sort of piano, but ultimately I am still spending over my originally allotted budget on a quality I don’t need. It might be a universally good deal, but not a good deal for me. To give a ballpark estimate, new piano prices start at around two thousand dollars and can go into the eighty thousands, sometimes more, depending on how professional of a player you are. Remember that it is an investment that lasts many generations.

Once I have decided on the type of piano I want I need to know what I am looking for when I go into the store. Listen to the sound. I will not get sold on anything but the piano itself, not the flashy sales words. The price is in the sound the keys give.

The age. New pianos are pricey, but used pianos are just as good if kept in good shape. Used piano prices can start at a thousand dollars for good quality and slowly moving up depending on the brand, the model, and other factors. I make sure the strings are in working order and press the pedals, get a feel of it. Used pianos can be found at many places where they sell new ones, personally sold by piano teachers, or even in unexpected places- don’t ignore the the piano in the thrift store window- it might be a gem just waiting to be played.  

Atlanta homeowners who are considering buying a piano often have a difficult choice ahead because there are so many beautiful, rich-sounding pianos available. One consideration may be between Steinway and Schimmel pianos and a little bit of education about both piano companies can go a long way in helping you determine which piano is right for you.

Steinway & Sons

Founded in 1853 by Henry Steinway in Manhattan, Steinway & Sons Piano Company is responsible for the creation of the modern piano. Every piano was crafted one at a time, which is a tradition that continues today and the skills used to create every piano passed down through each generation.

Steinway Pianos

The Steinway & Sons Company continues to produce grand pianos, including concert grands, music room grands, medium grands, baby grands, and reproductions of the Louis XV and Chippendale grand pianos.In addition, Steinway produces three types of upright pianos, including the traditional upright made in the same style as the original introduction in 1903, the Sheraton, modeled after 18^th century pianos and the Model 1098, which is a modern version of the upright piano.Steinway & Sons also produces a variety of limited edition pianos in the Hamburg and New York factories as well as art case pianos made from rare woods and materials that feature dramatic styling.

Schimmel

William Schimmel founded the Schimmel Piano Company in 1885 in Germany. His son Wilhelm took over the company in 1927 and the company remains in the family today, with Nikolaus Wilhelm assuming management of the company in 2003.

Schimmel Pianos

Schimmel Pianos offers a range of different types of pianos, including the Konzert line of grand pianos and uprights for professionals and the Classic line of grands and uprights for homes and businesses.The company also produces the Vogel by Schimmel line of upright and grand pianos with an eye towards technical details and sensitivity.The May Berlin Selected by Schimmel line of pianos is more affordable and geared towards families and those on a more limited budget.

Pricing and Models

For more information about pricing and various piano models, including the right piano for you, please contact us at Cooper Piano. We have been serving the Atlanta area for over 100 years and are available at 404-329-1027.  

The Gentleman
Blake Cooper, who is president of Cooper Music in Atlanta offered for my eyes living proof that southern gentlemen have not gone with the wind. A pianist since the age of ten, this soft-spoken family man even lives by a credo: Build a Better World Through Music Education. Given the fact that his company has been in business for 105 years, I decided to look into the merits of this credo and discovered the Mozart Effect. This theory holds that children who study music, most specifically  classical music rendered by piano, invariably make better grades than their peers and tend to achieve greater success in life. This sincere man was my first surprise for I got the impression he would never try to sell me anything but would help me buy whatever I wanted and there is a difference.

The Yamaha
My second surprise during this project was the astounding range and quality of Yamaha pianos. It came as a pleasant eye-opener to learn that prodigious musicians such as Paul McCartney, Elton John, Alicia Keys, and John Legend perform exclusively on Yamaha Grand Pianos. The pieces are extremely elegant, gleaming instruments that offer a classic sound capable of filling a music hall as well as a den or living room. Then there is the Classic Georgian Baby Grand Piano, a smaller but no less beautiful creation that is perfect for starter homes or beginning students.