5 Tips To Remember When Buying a Piano

Congratulations on your decision to buy a piano! Whether you or your children are starting to take lessons, you are revisiting an old passion, or it's time for an upgrade, you might consider these tips to ensure you buy the best instrument for your needs.

1. Beware of What May Be Too Good To Be True

You might find books, tableware, or your dining table on Craigslist; that's usually not a great place to find your piano unless you will only use it for decorative purposes and don't mind adding in the price to move it. Unfortunately, this is not the instrument on which you should learn to play. These so-called bargain pianos are often listed for sale because they are worthless as instruments and a hassle to discard. Most people need to pay a moving company to haul them to a dumping site. When you buy such a piano, it becomes a costly problem if you decide to repair or discard it.

2. Set a Realistic Budget

Walking into a piano store and immediately asking for the price of a piano that catches your eye is not an ideal piano-buying strategy. If you are purchasing your first piano, do some basic research to ensure you understand what goes into a piano's price. Then, have a general budget in mind to give you a starting point for exploring instruments. Once you know the available options in your broad price range, consider what is available slightly above and below that range. As a rule-of-thumb, you want to purchase the best instrument possible within your budget or slightly above it, but you must first create a realistic budget based on your research.

3. Choose an Appropriate Size

Various factors determine the best size piano to purchase. Don't base your selection on fear of choosing a piano that is too large or too small without considering other factors, including:

Available physical space in a room

You may have a flexible budget, but your available space will factor into your final decision. For example, you may find that a 54 inch high upright is a better choice in your room than a 6 foot grand piano if you find a powerful upright.

Room acoustics

If your piano goes into a heavily carpeted room with lots of upholstered furniture, a tiny spinet's sound could get lost. Find the largest-sized instrument that you can accommodate and know that its voicing may need some adjustment to counter the sound-absorbing surfaces once it is in place. On the other hand, a concert grand piano may overwhelm a small, sparingly furnished room with hard floors.

How you will use the piano

If you are new to playing the piano, choose an instrument to suit your current ability and help you grow. For example, a solid upright with a light action is a better first-piano choice for a young beginner than a nine-foot grand piano. However, if you are an advanced or professional player, you will not get as much satisfaction from playing an upright as you would playing a grand piano. When you cannot afford or accommodate a larger instrument, choose the best option that meets your current needs and strive for a better choice down the road.

4. Consult With Your Teacher or Technician

Working with a reputable dealer can ensure that the piano you purchase will not turn out to be a lemon; however, it's a good idea to involve your teacher in the selection process if you are actively taking lessons. Teachers know the unique challenges you must overcome and help guide you toward the instrument that will enhance your learning.

Whereas a piano teacher can advise about a piano's expressive qualities, a trusted technician will have an excellent sense of the quality of a piano's parts and artisanship. This input may be beneficial if you consider a restored Steinway piano from an unfamiliar source. Piano technicians can also translate your preferences when a rebuilder is customizing a piano for you.

5. Overlooking Value

Price and quality do not always go hand-in-hand. Various factors go into pricing pianos, including:

• Labor costs

• Overhead costs

• Quality of parts

• Marketing costs

• Availability

Buyers should take the time to research their options and consider what contributes to a piano's price. Understanding pricing is especially relevant when considering restored Steinway pianos, with prices set by the restorer.

Contact us today at info@cantabileharrisonpianos.com to learn more about our process and our extensive collection of restored Steinway pianos.