At Cooper Piano we are proud to serve our community as trusted Atlanta piano movers. When moving a piano there are certain things you will want assurance of before you trust someone to make the move.  Here are a few questions you’ll want answered before you hire a piano mover:

• Does the mover specialize in moving pianos? Finding a mover that specializes in piano moving is critical for the safety of the move. Moving a piano can be uniquely different than moving other furniture or household goods.
  
• Is the mover licensed, bonded, and insured? You’ll want to make sure that any mover you hire has the proper credentials and licensing. This will help to ensure both the piano being moved and the properties it is being moved to/from in case of any damage.  You can also contact your homeowner’s insurance company to inquire about purchasing an additional rider on the piano to protect your investment during the move.
• How will the piano be protected and secured during the move? The movers will need to ensure the lid is locked, any exposed moving parts are protected, the piano is properly wrapped and padded, and if water damage is a possibility the piano may also be wrapped in plastic.  Once the piano is on the moving truck the movers should be able to completely secure the piano, without damaging it, to ensure there will be no movement on board.
• Is the moving truck climate controlled? A piano should always be placed somewhere that isn’t susceptible to large shifts in temperature. Even small temperature changes can warp a piano.  Also, the movers shouldn’t place the piano near doors, windows, or heating ducts to protect from temperature shifts.  
• Does the piano moving company provide piano tuning once the move is complete? Any move will affect the piano’s sound and it will need to be tuned once it arrives at its final destination.  If the movers are part of a larger piano company they will likely be able to provide piano tuning once the move is complete. 

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Buying a piano requires a series of decisions made over several shopping sessions. Since you will probably only buy one piano in your life, you want to make sure you’re buying the right instrument for your home and your needs. As you make your decision, you must consider several factors such as tuning stability, the materials the piano was made with, the tone quality and the aesthetics of the instrument. Schimmel grand pianos meet all of these requirements and more. 

The Schimmel brand has a long history of crafting quality instruments to last through the generations. Their reputation is built upon years of craftsmanship dating back to the 1850s. By the mid 20th century, this German family had become known across Germany and Europe for their innovation and attention to detail and they began exporting their pianos to the United States. 

One example of Schimmel’s innovative piano craftsmanship is the precision engineering that goes into each piano through software developed by Schimmel. Their CAPE — Computer Assisted Piano Engineering — software ensures every part of the piano is built to maximize tone and sound and minimize materials, which absorb sound.

Schimmel pianos have also distinguished themselves from other top-tier brands by the materials they use for their pianos. For example, they use 300-year old mountain spruce for the piano soundboards and place significant emphasis on the selection and processing of this wood so that it lasts for generations. Likewise, the cast iron frame is made from the finest alloys and cast iron technology in order to withstand the 21 tons of string tension.

This kind of quality and attention placed on each and every Schimmel piano is what has made this brand rise above other name brands. And to top it all off, Schimmel is able to offer their pianos at prices below names like Steinway. 

As you start your piano selection process, make sure to include Schimmel pianos on your list. You will find the company’s superior craftsmanship and attention to detail have helped these pianos find a place in homes and concert halls around the world.

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Advancement in technology has led to the development of the digital piano. These kinds of pianos have more capabilities than the earlier models as well as the quality of the music produced are very high. The prices are very affordable and vary depending on the specifications of the piano. The many choices of piano is the markets offers the customers with a wide variety to choose the best product that meets their specifications and needs.

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Choosing your grand piano depends a lot on what kind of piano player you are and what musical tones you prefer. Each piano maker crafts a different product with different advantages for each variety of player. But even with differences and personal preferences, some piano brands stand out as exceptional products, no matter who sits behind the keyboard.

Customers routinely ask about the differences between a Steinway piano and a Schimmel piano. Both are quality instruments. Steinway has been making pianos in the United States since the late 1850s and the name Steinway has become synonymous with quality. It’s also a name connected to price and Steinways do cost more than other pianos of equal quality. With a Steinway purchase, you can feel confident in the quality of your piano and earn some bragging rights among your friends. 

A Schimmel piano is also a high quality, enduring instrument. The Schimmel tradition started in Germany and by the 1950s, the pianos had become the German standard. Pianists came to value the technique, tone and forms of the Schimmel brand. 

The Schimmel company continues to foster innovations in piano technology including the development of CAPE (Computer Assisted Piano Engineering) software. This software allows for precision adjustments to the piano’s sounding body resulting in superior sound and a lasting tonal quality and tuning stability.

Buying a piano represents a major investment. Most pianists buy just one piano in their entire life and so you want to choose the best piano you can buy. But just because something is expensive, doesn’t make it the best. Yes, a Steinway piano is a quality instrument. However, Schimmel pianos in many regards equal or surpass their American counterparts. Before you buy a big brand name, make sure you take the time to learn about other, high quality and lasting instruments, like the Schimmel brand.      

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There is no such thing as a free lunch. What does that have to do with piano buying? Everything! I can’t believe how many people go out in search of a wonderful musical instrument like a Yamaha Grand Piano and settle for shady deals, on shady pianos, sold in shady basements. It breaks my heart to think someone might not pick up how to play an amazing instrument simply because the instrument they are playing on isn’t so amazing.

So often people get ahead of themselves when they are looking into a piano. The price is the only thing that comes into consideration and they don’t take the time to get informed. Information is free in the music world. At every opportunity when people come into my store looking to understand what they need I am thrilled to hear that there are new people looking to take up music in a serious way. I gladly share information, unfortunately the price always comes into it.  They decide the internet is the place to go to make the purchase. What is crazy is when people show up to pick up their great buy from Craigslist or some other online grab site and find themselves getting ripped off! People demanding money and not delivering any product let alone the Yamaha Grand Piano they promised in the ad.  

To see people looking to get their hands on a quality Yamaha Grand Piano and instead finding themselves the proud owner of a used grand piano that half the keys are missing and sounds like a child’s Fischer-price piano breaks my heart. Thankfully for everyone involved I got so tired of seeing people getting ripped off and discouraged by under the counter deals on musical equipment. I resolved that my store "Cooper’s Music" would match any price of the bargain basement deals. 

There is a reason why musicians open music stores, they love the music. I never want anybody to turn from playing piano because of dangerous and shady back alley deals. If you are looking to get your hands on great music equipment without putting yourself or your investment at risk come and check out What’s new at Cooper Piano and mention my price match choice. Get educated and get your hands on a great instrument so you can get started making some great music!

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Avoid being a victim to CraigsList fraud, and armed robberies for Yamaha piano prices! It is so easy to post an ad on CraigsList, for they do not require any real form of verification. You have no idea who you are meeting, their credentials (if they have any), or what kind of situation you are putting yourself into. Is saving a buck really worth your life and your safety? Ebay is a little better, but still you don’t really know what you’re getting. So many piano buyers have posted their reviews about buying a used piano from ebay; and not one of them is in a playable condition.

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Finding the perfect grand piano for your home should be a fun, rewarding experience.  By all accounts, you should search through a nice selection, make your choice, and wait for the piano to be delivered so that you can begin to enjoy the beautiful look and sound that it will add to your home.

Unfortunately, searching through all the grand pianos for sale can also be a dangerous prospect.  How so?  Because there are nefarious people out there who love to use large tickets items in order to take advantage of trusting individuals.

If you’ve watched TV in the past several years or paid attention to news on the internet from CNN or even Yahoo News, you’ve probably come across a number of stories where unsuspecting consumers have been lured into dangerous situations under false pretenses.

Craigslist, Ebay, and other such online systems are a very popular way of doing this.  The fact is, anyone can pretend to be anyone on the internet.  I could say that I’m a space traveler who has a rare 1938 buffalo nickel found on the moon, but that doesn’t make it true.  Point is, you don’t know who the people on the other end of that internet connection are or if they even have a piano for sale in the first place.

Even if the person is on the up and up, there are other concerns.  Perhaps the area where they’re located is in a bad neighborhood.  Grand pianos for sale are high ticket items.  Do you really want to carry that kind of cash with you, to a place you’ve never been?  You could get mugged, accosted, or worse.

You also need to consider the quality of what you’re purchasing.  The piano may appear to be clean and in good working order, but chances are, you’re aren’t an expert.  Later down the road, you could realize that you’ve purchased a lemon, and a very expensive one at that.

So what is your best way to combat these unscrupulous sales?  It’s quite simple, actually.  All you need to do is search out a reputable seller like Cooper Music, who will stand by their product and not make you drive to an unsafe neighborhood or have someone waiting to jump you when you walk in the door. 

Remember: Even when it comes to grand pianos for sale, safety should trump all other concerns.  

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Whether you’re a seasoned piano enthusiast, a novice trying to hone your piano playing skills, or a parent wanting to get your child interested in music, the idea that purchasing a piano may not be safe has probably never crossed your mind.  But safety should be high on your priority list when it comes to a piano for sale.

It is very likely that you’ve purchased an item or two from local sellers on websites such as eBay or Craigslist.  Those transactions have gone very smoothly, so why not the same when it comes to a piano for sale?  For two reasons, actually:

1.  A piano is an expensive item.  While trying to take advantage of a buyer for a measly fifty bucks can still happen, the likelihood is much lower.  But given that even a used piano can run into the thousands, this can equal a huge score for a criminal.

2.  It is possible that you have been overly cautious in the past by meeting a seller at a secure location, such as a coffee shop.  That’s a smart thing to do, especially if you are purchasing something somewhat expensive.  However, since a piano is a large, heavy item, lugging it around town is simply not an option, which means you will have no choice but to travel to the seller’s location.

Right about now, you might be saying to yourself, "I’ll take a friend with me, just to be safe."  While this might seem like a good idea, it is very likely that these criminals have prepared for that, and may have back-up "associates" with them just in case you bring one or two others with you.  The only result you’ll get from bringing a friend or two is putting them in danger as well, instead of only yourself.

There is a very simple solution to all this, of course.  Rather than search online for a deal that may be too good to be true, all you need to do is look for a piano sale at a reputable store where you don’t have to worry about your safety.  Cooper Music, for example, is a place where piano enthusiasts and excited parents can safely visit and look through a wide variety of selections in order to find the perfect piano.

Purchasing a piano can be a wonderful experience.  But it’s definitely not worth your safety.    

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