5 August 2018 Buying A Great Used Baby Grand Piano

Buying A Great Used Baby Grand Piano

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A well-made piano isn’t just designed for a few years of play; if taken care of, it can provide decades of enjoyment. And there are both economic and ethical reasons for buying a used baby grand piano is the right choice for your home. 

However, buying used means understanding how to sift through all of the information out there to find the right piano for you. Are there some brands more reliable than others? Do some brands hold their value better than others? Are some at more risk to falling apart? Where do you start?

Know Your Needs

Buying A Great Used Baby Grand PianoAre you at the point where you’ve decided to take up piano professionally? Or do you have a young child you wish to start lessons? If you’ve been playing for years, you might have some idea what piano you prefer. If you’re interested in having a classic piano in your home for your young kids to play, you have more flexibility. No matter where you are in your search process, pay particular mind to quality and durability. 

Have A Place In Mind

Baby grands are tricky to move. If you’re in your forever home and have the perfect spot for a piano, it’s probably the right time to buy. If you have a move planned in the foreseeable future, it might be best to wait until you have the perfect spot. You should also measure out doorways, stairways, and room space to ensure you have the proper space for the piano’s move. 

Know Your Budget

To get a high quality instrument, you’ll need to be willing to invest. Baby grands aren’t easy to move. If you buy from an individual, you will be responsible for moving it from where you purchase it to your home. A dealer often includes the process as a part of the fee. 

Know Your Brands

If you don’t have experience with pianos, it’s best to do a little studying up on brands before you shop. Select a piano with a quality brand to rely on its performance for years. You can genuinely rely on Baldwin, Chickering, and Kawai. If you want to step up, consider a Steinway or Bosendorfer.

Test The Piano

You can’t purchase a piano sight unseen. You have to sit at it, play it, listen to the music it makes. Not every piano sounds the same. And by playing every note, you can pick up on subtle problems that may turn into larger issues down the road. 

Ask Questions

A reputable seller will welcome all questions. So ask away. How old is the piano? What is its background? How well was it taken care of? What kind of maintenance has been performed? You can get a good feel for how well the piano will perform based on how open a person is about willing to discuss its past. 

Enjoy

Once you’ve made your final selection, enjoy the process. After the piano has had time to settle in, be sure to have a professional tuner out to adjust the sound and make sure your new instrument is well adjusted and at its peak performance level. 

Are you in the market for a used baby grand piano?

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30 July 2018 Digital Piano Accessories You Should Consider

Digital Piano Accessories You Should Consider

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Are you investing in a digital piano for your home? You may also wish to consider a few accessories to make your piano playing a little easier. 

A Stand

One of the reasons many people prefer digital pianos is because of their flexibility to move wherever you desire. You can set them up and take them down in a flash; it makes them a perfect instrument for smaller homes. But you can’t play your piano well if you try and set it up on a table. Having the perfect stand will help you play it in a way that’s convenient for you. Will you sit or stand while you play? Is your child growing, needing different heights over the next few years? Be sure to select a stand that offers flexibility for your changing needs. 

Digital Piano Accessories You Should ConsiderA Bench

For most pianists, they prefer to sit while practicing. Having a piano bench with adjustable heights gives you greater flexibility for where you play. Be sure the bench is strong enough to help you feel stable while you move throughout your practice routine. It should also support you so your shoulders or back don’t feel stressed while playing. 

Headphones

If you have a busy household, it can often be a challenge to find the time for practice. Digital pianos are a step ahead of their acoustic counterparts in that you can plug-in headphones and practice in “silence” at any time. It’s great for the pianist to focus in on their music, while the rest of your household can concentrate their attention on their own endeavors. 

Piano Pedal

While beginners might not practice using the pedals right away, they will quickly develop their ability and need the pedals for proper technique. Be sure the pedals won’t slide around on the floor once they are attached. You should also look for models that provide easy connection to whatever piano you choose. 

Music Stands

Be sure to select a music stand that offers flexibility. With today’s technology, many play directly from a computer screen or a tablet. Be sure your screen is at proper height to avoid strain. You’ll find a wide variety of options, from music rests that attach to your piano stand, to tabletop options that allow for different heights. This may be something you adjust over time depending on your needs. 

Are you considering purchasing a digital piano? Stop by and we’ll help you select the right options for your needs. And have you playing your new digital piano in no time. 

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24 July 2018 What You Should Know Before Buying A Cheap Digital Piano

What You Should Know Before Buying A Cheap Digital Piano

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So your son or daughter wants to learn to play the piano. Yet as a parent, you’re skeptical about how long this latest “desire” will last. You have piles of unused or barely used items in the basement from things your child has wanted to try before. Is the piano any different?

Why not invest in a cheap digital piano instead? Ride it out for a while and see if this newest idea lasts. And only if it shows promise, then you’ll consider investing in something better. 

From the outside, that seems like the best course of action. Yet it’s setting your child up for failure before they ever begin. Here’s why. What You Should Know Before Buying A Cheap Digital Piano

An 88 Note Keyboard 

If you look at all modern pianos, they all have 52 white keys and 36 black keys for a total of 88 keys. While a beginner won’t play all the notes any time soon, you will be surprised at how quickly their lessons take them up and down the keyboard. When you purchase a piano with 88 keys, you’re giving your child room to grow. 

Ensure The Keyboard Is Proper Width

A keyboard is a keyboard, right? Nope. A lot of the electric pianos you’ll find in the big box store are made for price, not for quality. When you compare them to quality instruments, you’ll find the manufacturers don’t produce these cheap imitations up to standards. When keys are standard size, it plays like a real piano. If you learn on a piano that doesn’t have standard size keys, you’ll never learn the proper hand placement for playing a song. That means your skills won’t be transferable from piano to piano. And you’ll never enjoy all that comes from making music anywhere.  

They Should Also Have Weighted Action

If you’ve ever run your hands along the keys of a traditional piano, you might have noticed the spring action in the keys. This is from the connection between the key attached to a lever that causes a felt-covered hammer to strike strings inside the piano. Many cheap digital pianos bypass this feel, creating an organ-like feeling instead. If you don’t learn with the weighted action, it’s more difficult to transfer your skills through to other pianos. 

They focus on the wrong bells and whistles

If you’ve never played piano before, you might be tempted to purchase things for the “fun” factor. After all, being able to create sounds at the touch of a button sounds like a lot of fun. But if your goal is to learn how to play the piano, you’ll never use most of these sounds. You won’t use a piano to sound like a trombone. But you will quickly appreciate things like a built-in metronome. 

Are you thinking of purchasing a piano for your child? Avoid the cheap digital pianos and invest in one you’re child will love to play. It’s the only way to get them excited about the opportunity of making music. 

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14 July 2018 Is Digital Killing Acoustic Pianos?  

Is Digital Killing Acoustic Pianos?  

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It’s hard not to notice the change in piano playing around the country. 

Music programs are being pulled from elementary school in favor of STEM activities and sports. Data shows that the level of piano sales continues to fall since its all-time high around the turn of the century. 

But does that mean playing piano is a dying art?

You only have to turn on your radio to discover that isn’t the case. 

Forming a band is still high on a young person’s wish list. Kids at every age love picking up an instrument and discovering music. Is Digital Killing Acoustic Pianos?  

But now, for some, it might not be a traditional acoustic piano. They may be opting for digital instead. 

Traditional pianos tend to have a little more nostalgia built into them. People select them because they remember sitting around the piano at grandma’s house. Or they remember learning on one at home. 

Yet when they look at their current lifestyle, they no longer see a traditional piano fitting in. They have smaller spaces and don’t have the room. They have different activities all day long and need more flexibility in how they play. 

And that’s where digital pianos can excel. 

If you select a good digital piano, they will play and function just like their acoustic counterparts. But they have added details that can make them more functional in your busy lifestyle. 

Their size makes them more convenient to move and stow away when not in use. 

Use headphones for silent practice; different people can be in the same room doing different things. 

Being digital means a player has fluidity and can move their songwriting skills online to play, mix, and share however they choose. 

Are you interested in a digital piano? The best place to start is by coming in and learning more about them. Sit down at a digital piano. Play it. Learn what sets them apart. We can show you the differences and help you make the right selection for your needs. 

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7 July 2018 A Piano Dealer Does More Than You Think

A Piano Dealer Does More Than You Think

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Are you ready to buy a piano? Are you debating between new and used? While you might be able to find some “deals” with a little searching, nothing feels the same as bringing a brand new one into your home. 

Don’t think of a piano dealer as someone who is merely the middleman between the manufacturer and you. Dealers do a lot more than pulling a piano out of a crate. A lot can happen between where the piano was put together and it’s final resting spot on the dealer’s floor. The dealer ensures it’s brought to full musicality before it makes its way to your home. A Piano Dealer Does More Than You Think

Tuning

Piano parts undergo a lot of stress after being stretched and pulled and placed together. That takes time to adjust. The strings have to stop stretching. The wood has to stop settling. The soundboard has to settle into its new position. That means all of the pieces can quickly cause the piano to fall out of tune. It’s typical for a piano to take up to two years to settle. And that means it can quickly fall out of tune. Dealers will tune it as soon as they set it up on the showroom floor. They also continue to tune it over time, until you make your selection and its moved into your home. 

Action

A piano has thousands of moving parts. And most of these parts are a part of the key assembly. Every time a key is pressed and the hammer is released to strike the strings, this performance is known as the action. This process can be stiff as the thousands of tiny parts are brought together for the first time on the manufacturer’s floor. It goes through a break-in period as it adjusts and stabilizes. And it continues as potential buyers consider it sitting on the showroom floor. Dealers monitor that and adjust as settling and environmental changes occur. 

Voicing

If you’ve ever played several pianos in succession and noticed that all sound distinctly different, that’s voicing. It’s the tonal quality a piano produces based on the parts used during production. It’s the hardness of the felt; the accuracy of the strings. It’s every part coming together to give the piano its unique personality. That can be adjusted as a piano continue to be broken in. It takes a little adjusting here and a little tweaking there to give it its unique, rich-sounding quality. 

Finishing

Of course, the outside has to look as good as the inside. Which is why a dealer will touch up and polish every inch of the piano to ensure it’s in top condition. A lot can happen in a crate as it makes its way hundreds, even thousands of miles from its origination point. And a dealer ensures it’s back up to its original condition. 

Are you ready to bring a new piano into your home? 

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17 June 2018 Where’s The Best Place To Buy A Piano Keyboard?

Where’s The Best Place To Buy A Piano Keyboard?

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People usually fall into playing the piano in one of two ways. 

1. Their parents sign them up when they’re small, encouraging them to try something new. 

2. It’s been a lifetime dream. At some point, a person has a little extra free time, and they make playing the piano a priority. 

No matter what brought you here today, you’re in a good place. Creating music is a lifelong skill that one can enjoy from 2 to 102. Where’s The Best Place To Buy A Piano Keyboard?

But before you can start practicing music and begin to put notes together to create a song, there are a few steps you have to do first. The first is to understand the differences in pianos. 

When most people think of the term “piano,” they think of the old piano sitting in their grandmother’s home, or they think of the inexpensive keyboard they see in the big box store around the holidays. 

In most cases, we don’t think about pianos because you rarely see them for sale where you shop. If you do, it’s sitting by itself as a “gift idea’ on the store shelves, in between the other items that supposedly make music. You know, the guitars and the karaoke machines. 

Maybe that’s why we lump the concept of pianos and keyboards together, when in fact they are two separate things. 

A piano can refer to many different types of instrument. A piano in its traditional sense is either upright or grand. It is built out of wood, plastic and strings. In order to produce sound, the key is pressed which triggers a hammer to hit a string, which in turn produces sound. 

A digital piano produces sound through replication. Instead of making music through the action of pressing the keys to trigger the hammer to connect with strings, the sound is recorded and installed into the digital piano. When you press a key, you hear the recorded sound. In most cases, the better the piano, the better the sound. 

When people refer to an instrument like a keyboard, it can take on one of two applications. The cheap instruments you usually find in your favorite big box store around the holidays is often referred to as a keyboard. And other than looking like a keyboard, it does little to act like one. These instruments rarely have weighted keys to imitate true piano playing skills. This is vital to becoming a good piano player. They also have poor sound quality, something a player can pick up on fairly quickly. 

If you can’t produce the sound you’re looking for, why play at all?

This is why most keyboard players give up. 

If you want to learn to play the real thing, the best place to start is by investing in real equipment. That means purchasing a real piano. Acoustic or digital is fine. What matters most is the quality. 

And if you have questions, we’re here to help. 

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9 June 2018 Choosing A Keyboard That Plays Like A Piano  

Choosing A Keyboard That Plays Like A Piano  

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As an adult, you’re ready to take up a new hobby. 

You’ve recently downsized and have little interest in buying a full-size piano. Who has room for a grand in your newly remodeled condo?

Yet you have the time to do what you want to do. And you’ve finally made it a priority to learn to play the piano. 

Today’s keyboards can be just as powerful and soulful as traditional pianos. IF you know what to look for. Choosing A Keyboard That Plays Like A Piano  

Even though keyboards are largely a personal preference, there are a few things that you should look for and never compromise on when you’re making your final selection. 

Action

It all starts with the action. If you’ve ever pressed a key on the piano and produced a sound, that’s the action in play. Action comes from the connection made when the piano key is pressed, causing the hammer inside the piano to connect with the strings. On a traditional piano, this process is weighted to make the connection feel a certain way. 

Keyboards come in many sizes and price levels. What separates out the good from the bad is action. Low quality keyboards won’t imitate this action process. The keys are flimsy and don’t have much of a feeling when you press them down. If you have a desire to learn to play the piano, you should make sure your keyboard imitates the real thing as closely as possible. 

Keys

It’s also important that you have the proper amount of keys. 

An acoustic piano has 88 keys. And while it’s only a rare song that uses all of these 88 keys, it’s still important to have access to them as you advance in your playing skills. 

Most piano music can be played with the middle 60 keys. If you’re a beginner, it will be some time before you expand beyond these 60 keys. 

But keep in mind that in many cases, the number of keys often is in direct correlation to the action of the piano. When pianos are built smaller, they tend to be lower in price. When a manufacturer shrinks the size of the keyboard, it spends less time making it sound like a high quality instrument. You can often tell how effective a keyboard will be at making music simply by counting the keys. 

Whether you are looking for acoustic or digital, want a grand piano to make an impact in your home, or want a keyboard to save space, we can help you find the right piano for your needs. 

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10 May 2018 Choosing A Piano Like A Pro

Choosing A Piano Like A Pro

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How do professional piano players select a new piano? They look for a variety of things. 

Acoustic or Digital

Pros know exactly what they want. And in many cases, they select both acoustic and digital depending on their needs. Acoustic pianos are more traditional, operating with metal strings and hammers that hit the strings each time a note is played. Digital pianos offer modern technology that makes it easy to record and play from anywhere in the world. 

Sound Production

Choosing A Piano Like A ProPros know the most important part of a piano is the sound produced. And every piano – even pianos made by the same manufacturer – will have a different sound. It’s important to play every note and hear every sound before making your final selection. 

Key Texture

Playing the piano is a personal experience. You have to connect with each key to be able to play. How do they feel? How do you connect? Do they stick? Do they feel off base? If it lacks the right cushion, you might hurt the joints in your fingers as you play. 

The Final Location

Even the same piano will sound different in different spaces. A grand piano will sound different in a concert hall as compared to a closed off room. Selecting the right piano often means selecting the right piano for the room. 

Warranty

It’s important to select a piano from a reputable dealer. A warranty gives you the guarantee that your piano will operate at it’s best quality for a select amount of time. 

The Brand

For some pros, brand is everything. But most pros also know that there are many reputable piano manufacturers out there, and selecting the right one often means looking at reputation. You want a company that has stood the test of time and offers quality in everything it produces. 

The Extras

This is where decision time can be fun. A pro knows the extras are what sets different pianos apart. The pros know that when they want something specific, they focus in on getting the best they can. 

What’s your specifics? What are you looking for in a piano? Come in with your questions, and we’ll help you find the right piano for your needs. 

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30 April 2018 Purchasing The Right Piano Bench For You  

Purchasing The Right Piano Bench For You  

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When you start playing the piano for the first time, lessons are important. A good instructor will help you understand all aspects of making music, from learning the notes to discovering rhythms. 

But as you continue, you’ll quickly discover something else that is equally as important: piano posture and ergonomics. 

If you practice 30 to 60 minutes per day, you may not feel the effects of sitting incorrectly … right away. But as you progress, especially if your goal is to become very good at the piano, sitting incorrectly can impact everything from the way you feel to the way you play. Purchasing The Right Piano Bench For You  

It’s common for professionals to play 5 hours or more a day. 

And once injuries and bad habits set in, it can be difficult to correct the problem down the road. 

This is where comfortable, height-adjustable piano benches help. 

In general, you will find piano benches come in three levels:

1. Adjustable and foldable – they are inexpensive and allow you to set up and play comfortably anywhere you choose.

2. Portable but sturdier – these are often used with professional arranger or on stage. 

3. Static – benches designed for in home use, to be kept with the piano. These are your bulkiest, yet most elegant piano benches on the market. 

And in most cases, you’ll find the most popular styles to be:

  • Adjustable piano bench
  • Duet or double piano bench
  • Bench with storage
  • Piano stool
  • Keyboard throne

When evaluating any piano bench, be sure to evaluate the quality of the seat and the build of the overall product. Height and structure are important depending on the player. For younger students, be sure to get adjustable height for when they grow. 

They are available in many colors and styles. You can find them made from fabric to leather and everything in between. You can find them with storage options and without. 

Ultimately, it depends on your personality and your needs. 

What do you prefer in a piano bench?

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18 April 2018 Good Used Pianos Near Me and Other Fallacies

Good Used Pianos Near Me and Other Fallacies

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I saw an ad online the other day. It started out with: Wanted, good, used piano.

And I’m willing to bet she didn’t have any trouble finding one. Many people are trying to sell or give away old pianos that have been tucked away into the corners of their homes for years. 

Therein lies the problem. 

When you find someone willing to give away a piano or sell it to you very cheap, chances are it’s not a piano that’s been well taken care of. There are a lot of pianos out there that are in very poor condition.  Good Used Pianos Near Me and Other Fallacies

The problem is most people looking for pianos don’t have the knowledge or experience to understand the differences. Until it’s too late and you have one in poor working condition in your home. 

To find a solid piano, consider this:

Stay Away From Overused

When someone advertises a “great deal” or is willing to give it away if you pick it up, it’s a sign to stay away. These are the overused and neglected pianos. They are usually old uprights that are decades old and have very little life left in them without a major renovation. 

Set A Budget

Yes, to get a quality instrument that will allow you to create beautiful music, you’ll have to spend money. You’ll have two options: to lease or to buy. Leasing from a reputable dealer means you can try before you buy. It gives you a chance to get a higher quality instrument without investing in a piano until you’re ready to finalize your plans. 

Where To Buy

When purchasing a high-quality piano, you have two choices: from an individual or from a reputable dealer. With an individual, you get what you see. Depending on their business model, they have a low inventory and will only be able to sell you what they have in stock. With a dealer, it’s important to trust them to help you make a wise choice based on your needs. Find someone who has your best interest at heart. 

Consider The Future

For many new players, as they mature and grow in experience, they have the desire to upgrade to a better piano. If you buy today, will you be able to trade up to a new piano later? Will the piano be worth anything in five years? Ten? 

A reputable piano dealer can answer all of these questions and more. Are you ready to purchase a used piano today?

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