Whether you’re a church needing several concert pianos, or a music school that needs workhorse pianos ready for daily playability, we have some tips for you.
Buying one piano can be difficult. Buying multiple pianos can be daunting. What should you look for? What’s most important? Luckily, we have a few tips for you.
Start with a plan
The first step is creating a plan. Where will each piano reside? How will they be played? Will you do better with an acoustic or a digital?
Digital may be a lower entry point, but they aren’t always the best choice. If portability is an issue, they can offer flexibility. But for overall playability, you’ll probably do better with acoustic.
An upright is designed to save space, and will be a great addition to a smaller room. If you are using it for concerts, a grand piano may be better to suit your needs. Size may be a consideration, but you’ll find concert pianos from 5’1” up to 9’ and bigger.
Create a budget
At this point of the buying process, it’s equally important to set up a clear and concise budget. Pianos come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, and you might be willing to go with a lower model in some areas in order to place a higher quality instrument where sound will be more important. Used pianos may be an option to help you stick with your budget while getting the highest quality piano as possible.
Consider maintenance
Before finalizing your purchase, you should also consider maintenance. Pianos need regular tuning, but depending on age, they may need more:
- Voicing
- Pitch regulation
- Key replacement
- Cleaning
- Lubrication
A piano dealer can give you a clearer picture of what to expect, and may help you find the right technician for the job. That way you’ll feel better about ensuring your piano investment will be a wise decision for many years to come.
Testing
Who will be playing the instruments? It might be a good idea to bring them along to help finalize the decision. Have them sit down and play them. Is this something they feel will suit your institution’s needs?
Pay attention to:
- How the piano looks – will it bring ambiance to the room it’s placed in?
- How it sounds – will the voice work in the room?
- How it feels – do the keys have a smooth surface and grip well?
- How it compares to others – are you making the best choice?
Investing in a piano isn’t something you’ll do regularly. It’s important to spend a little extra time getting what will suit your needs best.
How can we help you find the right piano for your institution?
