Under The Lid Piano Blog

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A person sitting at the top of a stage with a piano.

February 27 2019

What’s that Acrylic Grand Piano that Muse Uses?

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Before we investigate that acrylic piano, let’s look at Muse for a moment.

Muse. It’s no secret that this English rock band from Devon, debuting in 1999, soared to fame with their lead singer, Matt Bellamy, being the stand-out attraction. Bellamy is also their primary songwriter, and plays guitar and piano. His eccentricities on and offstage have captured the imaginations of rock fans.

Matt Bellamy’s complete vocal range covers approximately 3½ octaves. Known for singing in a high falsetto, even in popular songs like Plug In Baby, Time Is Running Out, and Knights of Cydonia. Throughout Muse’s career, his singing voice has deepened and matured, with improved low-end, sustain and vibrato.

It’s said that the unusually small size of his vocal cords explains how he manages to attain the high ranges that he does. Bellamy himself has stated that early on he was embarrassed about singing in the high ranges, and tried to sing lower. But that is no longer an issue with his successful use of vibrato, falsetto, and melismatic phrasing (a phrase of several notes sung to one word, like blues phraseology. Think Ella.).

Bellamy, a showman and serious musician, has habits that delight his fans. He reportedly uses an electric foot massager to dispel nervousness before a show, and to get rid of jet lag. He also allegedly warms up for a performance with a bubble bath and a banana.

In an interview with NME, he once said that when he leaves the stage, the first thing he drinks is red wine, claiming it’s the only alcoholic beverage that helps his voice and doesn’t dry his throat.

Known for his early fantastical and nostalgic lyrics, his increasingly apocalyptic and political lyrics added to his mystique. The beginnings of Muse, like so many other bands coming up in the 90’s, were strongly influenced by their predecessor, Radiohead. When Radiohead did an abrupt change in style in 2000, Muse readily filled their shoes with dystopian and anti-authoritarian rock but also grew into a multi-faceted and talented pop band, creating a potpourri of melodic grandeur and ear-deafening arena rock. Their recent move away from anti-government rhetoric back into Bellamy’s nostalgia and fantasy modes signifies the current need to defy negativity in the world, according to Muse.

With two Grammy Awards, five MTV Europe Music awards, eight NME awards and too many more to name, Muse has sold over 20 million albums worldwide.

Muse 2013 Stadium Tour, London, Emirates Stadium Matt Bellamy on piano

The piano was the first instrument Matt Bellamy played. Without tutor or lesson, he started at five, and tinkered with his left hand to do Ray Charles’ style boogie woogie, and practicing to do chords with the right hand. Most of Muses ‘songs have been written on piano by Bellamy.

“I find it easy to find interesting chords on the piano. Especially because on a lot of stuff we do, the guitar and bass are harmonizing,” he said. “Even a song like Stockholm Syndrome was written on piano.” He didn’t learn to sing while playing until the end of the Showbiz era. The band got more complex with piano-based tracks, such as Space Dementia, at this time.

So, what’s the acrylic grand piano that Muse uses? It’s not what you probably think.

Bellamy is known for using digital keyboard pianos onstage. During Muse’s Origin of Symmetry tour, Muse needed acoustic piano sounds as well as electronic/synth sounds, so he used a Korg SG Stage Piano or a Roland Juno 60 or a Yamaha P80. These instruments allowed the music to be routed to their own individual amplifiers.

On the Absolution tour, he used a podium-mounted Kawai MP9500 digital stage piano, which featured LED displays that could be synchronized to the onstage visuals and the MIDI output from the keyboard.

Bellamy has also used a Kawai MP-8 digital stage piano mounted in a white, custom-made upright piano case.

“A new black grand piano” was mentioned in the reviews of the 2007 Luxembourg concert at Rockhal, but in truth the outer case of the same Kawai MP-8 digital piano had once again been replaced, this time by a black grand piano shell with a transparent acrylic lid. Inside the wing of the piano are MIDI-controlled lights that reflect onto the lid. It is fun to note that this is not a real grand piano, but the same stage piano as used before, merely in a new case. Since then, the black grand piano case and white upright case have both been replaced by silver cases.

If you want to see a REAL acrylic acoustical piano, take a look at Euro Piano’s website where their Aire™ semi-transparent piano, and the Bluthner Lucid all-acrylic pianos will really rock your world.

A white piano sitting in front of a wall.

February 13 2019

Best White Upright Pianos in 2019

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What is it about white pianos that captivates the imaginations of homeowners and designers? In the old days, white wooden pianos got a bad reputation for yellowing, so people stuck to the tried and true conventional brown. But yellowing finishes were resolved decades ago by modern technology, and the used piano stores are stacked with brown relics today. Black was always the unchanging standard for stage and public concert grands, and remains so. But many people, especially those who live in warm climates with light decors or limited space, do not want a big black gorilla parked in their pastel or high tech living room.

It’s an interesting aside that Marilyn Monroe had a white piano which was purchased at Christie’s in 1999 by Mariah Carey – and such stars may have stigmatized the color as show biz glitz. But serious designers like Adalene Keeler Smith, AMI Designs, and Sara Hopkins, and many others found that their modern clients needed the lighter touch and commissioned white instruments for beautiful results. It occurred to the piano makers that there was more than glamour to the white piano. Once they got the hint and began creating designer pianos in white, the rush was on. Today, some of the most attractive pianos on the market are white upright instruments which lend themselves to space saving, luxuriously modern settings, pulling together the 21^st Century visions of design and clean lines for timeless beauty.

Sauter Pure White Upright Piano

Sauter, a German piano firm, has six generations of family still in control of one of the most innovative and exciting companies of the European manufacturers, and was founded in 1819. They make grands and specialty uprights, and anyone looking for a unique piano or a luxury piano should not overlook their enormous styling,–aided by the internationally-renowned Peter Maly whose award -winning designs for Sauter pianos are remarkable.

Peter Maly, a famous German designer, has been at the top of his field since 1970, designing furniture, trade fair architecture, photo set designs and store concepts for major companies. Sauter Pianos has the only exclusive Maly piano designs in the world, and his characteristic concepts of combining purist design with functionality and timelessness have resulted in seven piano projects which are extraordinary. While much of his cubistic and modern lines are suitable for a contemporary room with sleek furniture and abstract art, the overall purity and simplicity of his work makes it timeless and appropriate for many other applications of interior design.

Sauter Pure White Upright Piano

Maly has devised the lids to open like “wings” on top, allowing more projection of the beautiful sound of these pianos. This modern classic fairly begs for a contemporary setting in its lines and lovely white color. However the surprising appurtenance of a natural maple keyboard cover exudes style with a touch of cultured earthiness to further diversify the decorative versatility, making this milky white beauty fit and complement almost any décor, not just modern interiors. Anyone looking for white pianos will be seeking the lightness and cheer that white adds to interior design.

Maly’s line of “Pure Pianos” perfectly exemplifies this. His Pure white piano (which is also available in black) with its opalescent satin finish has chromium plated metal accessories which are deliberately matte to retain the airy lightness of the design.

Some other recent Maly designs include the 48″ upright Vitrea, after the Latin word for glass, with a matt veneer of greenish glass covering the front panels of the upright cabinet, framed by thin chromium strips and the “wing” lid. Another is Rondo, an upright with elegant, soft rounded corners instead of straight lines, also with the “wing” lid design.

Sauter Concent White Upright Piano

Another upright in the Maly designs is the Concent Upright which carries the lines of the Pure White model, but with a lower price tag. The Pure White is constructed with high-end Concert Grand piano action, whereas the Concent model contains the standard Sauter action, but which is still considered superior to most other brands of uprights. The side panels have chrome plated feet that define the style, and are accented by the clean chrome handle on the keycover and piano bench compliments.

The very finest action, soundboard and pinblocks are used, and Sauter makes its own keys. All of Sauter’s pianos are fully tropicalized for humid climates.

Sauter pianos are high-quality instruments with a lush, full, singing tone, closer to an “American” sound than most other European pianos.

Schimmel White Upright Piano

Schimmel, another excellent, innovative piano maker also includes a concert grand piano action in their uprights. Among European piano manufacturers, Schimmel has been a pioneer in the use of computer-aided design and manufacturing. The Schimmel Model 116 made in Germany, is an elegant white upright that would enhance the décor of any modern setting. The high gloss finish and clean lines have made it one of Schimmel’s most highly awarded upright pianos. Schimmel is proud that it consistently integrates the construction concepts of its large Koncert Grand Piano K-280 into its smaller models, and where possible with identical components. Schimmel produces its own piano-cabinet components and its own keyboards, which it also supplies to other German piano makers.

Johannes Seiler Modern White Upright Piano

Seiler, after a long history of piano making, was ultimately acquired by Samick Pianos. But in 2013, a new Johnnnes Seiler line was introduced with its own scale design not shared by other Samick products, and carries the “Johannes Seiler” label on the fallboard. Produced entirely in an Indonesian facility, the Seiler Model 110 with its competitive pricing is another example of the sleek and beautiful light instruments on the market today which fit right into the needs of Port Royal homes and designer’s portfolios.

A woman in yellow and pink dress standing on top of a stool.

February 5 2019

Acrylic Piano in Kylie Jenner’s House – Architectural Digest

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Kylie Jenner dressed in yellow, balances on a hassock next to a white lacquer acrylic grand piano on the cover of Architectural Digest March 2019. Photography Credit: Douglas Friedman

Kylie Jenner’s home, a serene and colorful oasis (she loves pink and lots of it) with “equal parts sparkle and sumptuousness” is glamorous but totally inviting.”

Martyn Bullard’s fun, flirty and elegant design is absolutely perfect for the successful young woman and new mother Kylie is.

Mayer Rus writes: The Old/New Hollywood living room; the gold-leafed ceiling of the dining room; vintage lucite furniture by Charles Hollis Jones; and reflective wall coverings galore. On the plush side of the equation, Bullard deployed carpets of Patagonian shearling, alpaca, and silk; snow leopard–patterned velvet on the vintage Milo Baughman barstools in the lounge; and fur bedcovers. “The look is glamorous but totally inviting. “Kylie loves to have people over, and there’s nothing so precious that you can’t stand, jump, or dance on it.” Bullard explains of the decorative mix.”

A sampling of Jenner’s art collection and her acrylic grand piano, the AIRE™ (made in Miami by Euro Pianos Naples) are featured in this article.

Photography Credit: Douglas Friedman

The article continues: “Sly nods to Kylie Cosmetics, Jenner’s blockbuster business, abound. In the dining room, for example, the leather upholstery on the chairs was custom-dyed to match colors from Kylie’s lipstick collection, ranging from cerise to pale pink to deep garnet. In the living room, seemingly liquescent brass consoles riff on the drip patterns of the makeup line’s signature packaging. “I have a lot of Kylie Cosmetics, awards, and my magazine covers around the house that inspire me on a daily basis. I am very proud of what I’ve accomplished,” Jenner notes.”

And so she should be. For all her accomplishments, Kylie remains remarkably down to earth. Shortly after it arrived, Kylie, revealing her excitement, posted the AIRE™ piano with the caption “I’m Gonna Learn”!

Mayer Rus writes: “Halfway through the project, Jenner learned that she was going to have a baby with rapper Travis Scott (given name Jacques Bermon Webster II), which necessitated a retrofit for a nursery and playroom. “Stormi has definitely taken over the house with her toys,” Jenner says, laughing. And not just any old binkies and baubles. Chez Kylie, it’s all about the bling – a Fendi baby stroller and a Lamborghini child’s car are among the many high-end playthings.”

So, how does it feel to have created a glamorous piano for Kylie Jenner? Wonderful, absolutely wonderful. We love the thought of our piano helping to make her elegant house a home.

And if Kylie isn’t able to master the piano, she’ll just add an iPad controlled player system to fill her home with music!

Kylie Jenner’s white piano on the cover of Architectural Digest is also available in black and in fire engine red.

Euro Pianos has championed designer and custom pianos in North America since 1965 and been operating out of Naples, Florida since 2001. The company specializes in the design and acquisition of custom luxury pianos. Kylie Jenner’s AIRE™ piano designed by Sunny Reuter made its debut in 2017 at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair. (white AIRE) (black & white AIRE)

The origins of acrylic pianos

Acrylic pianos exude luxury. They are marvelously adaptable design elements.

The first company to build an acrylic piano was Bluthner in Germany. The PH piano, designed in 1931 by Poul Henningsen remains an iconic and sought after piano today. In the decades following, several piano manufacturers would build acrylic pianos from time to time.

Fast forward to 2016, when Bluthner begins producing a fleet of transparent Lucid Pianos with German Evonik acrylic – guaranteed never to yellow. Simultaneously, Euro Pianos Naples develops its affordable transparent AIRE™ baby grand piano in Miami, USA, the only acrylic piano design marketed and made in the USA.

A living room with a white couch and a table

November 10 2018

Baby Grand Piano Prices

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Buying a baby grand piano is not too different from shopping for an automobile. It’s a big ticket item, not an everyday purchase, and requires some thought. Indeed, there are many things to consider. Many would say that the intended use of the piano should dictate how much money you want to invest, but this is not always the wisest advice.

Buying a grand piano for a child’s piano lessons, or an adult amateur’s pleasure can be no less important than an instrument for a professional pianist – if you consider the piano as a serious asset, and not a disposable commodity or item for consumption. There is research showing the children tend to stick to music if they learn on a quality piano rather than junk. Any new pianist is going to find inspiration and excitement if the instrument responds to their touch and gives them sublime sound performance. You really do get what you pay for, so perhaps the piano itself should be the focus of the decision, rather than the pianist.

High End Brand Names and Art Cases

Branding is important because a company’s brand normally becomes known by the quality of its product-proven, publicly, over time. That is not to say that a new unknown product could not have equal quality, but it’s just not as well known yet. So people often rely on brand name recognition in their decision.

When it comes to pianos, a product that has evolved in quality, both aesthetically and technically, over the past 300 years, there are many big brands to choose from, the most famous and best being European piano makers like Bluthner, Bosendorfer, Schimmel, and more. Baby grands from these builders will be state of the art, incredible instruments with the highest prices, reflecting the design, engineering, handmade components, top-quality materials and the two years or more that each piano requires for its assembly, going through hundreds of hours of meticulous piano regulation and quality control.

The prices on high end baby grand pianos start at around $85,000 and can go up to $200,000, depending on the brand, and whether the instrument is new or used. While that sounds like a high price, this is like buying a Rolls Royce that, if properly maintained, will outlive many owners in perfect beauty and performance. High end pianos are an asset to cherish and use with complete confidence.

Consumer Grade Baby Grand Piano Prices

Mass-production piano factories can manufacture out as many as 50,000 baby grand pianos annually. By assembly-line mechanized manufacturing, the piano pricing is kept inexpensive by using woods that have not been as meticulously sourced or dried for as long, inferior action parts rather than higher grade hard wood parts, and simple, unembellished piano cases.

Entry level baby grand pianos typically cost between $10,000 – $20,000. Although adequate, there’s a limit to the nuances than can be expected from such a piano musically. A baby grand piano from one of these factories will have the same shape and the same number of keys as the high-end builders, but there the similarities end.

Everything You Ever Needed to Know

The In-Betweens - The Mid Range

There are respectable piano manufacturers who make baby grands that use modern mass production CNC machinery and technology to reduce costs and enhance productivity. Often such companies will build some high-end luxury models, but focus their business on more moderately-priced instruments, the middle of the market pricing. The Asian brands like Yamaha, Kawai and Hailun typify these sellers. Even the New York division of Steinway mass produces pianos at lower prices to stay competitive.

The In Betweens pricing can run from $20,000 up to $85,000 for a baby grand. These instruments are perfectly serviceable and will provide decades of enjoyment.

Hailun Baby Grand Piano

What Makes The Price Variance So Wide In Each Category?

There are thousands of parts in a baby grand piano. The plate, the pinblock, the strings, the action, the soundboard, the case itself holding the mechanics. Each and every component ranges in quality from the best to the cheapest, so the choices in the compilation of parts by each manufacturer will directly influence the price of the finished product.

Likewise, the methods of assembly vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, and even vary from model to model within one company. Pricing will usually be reflected by the quality of both components and labor dedicated to the piano. The variances can be widely different.

It helps to have expert knowledge of pianos, and brands, when purchasing a baby grand. It helps to know what manufacturers to trust, what components are the most important, and what designs can best be found among the choices.

Euro Pianos Naples, in the piano business since 1965, offers free consultancy to customers seeking the baby grand that fits their lifestyle, décor and budget. A phone call appointment is available on request, and we would be happy to answer your questions and assist you in finding your perfect baby grand.

A close up of the bottom part of an acrylic piano.

October 31 2018

How To Clean Acrylic Pianos

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Since the renaissance in the piano industry of designer pianos, more and more modern homes are showcasing beautiful acrylic pianos (sometimes called “glass pianos,” “transparent pianos” or “crystal pianos”). All pianos require “under the lid” maintenance (regular tuning for tone, touch and pitch) but one might wonder what kind of cleaning care is used on the outside case of an acrylic piano?

The Plexiglas or acrylic cases of these pianos are beautifully crystal clear, no matter what shape or thickness the acrylic takes. Dirt can barely adhere to it, and the surface, unlike wood, repels water. For fingerprints and smudges, or any small spills, a premium micro-fiber cloth with mild soapy water is all you’ll need.

Do NOT use ammonia-based or chemical cleaners like Windex as they can cloud the acrylic!
Do NOT use paper towels or rough cloths, which can scratch.
Do NOT rub into the acrylic, or apply undue pressure, but merely blot the surface with a wet, lint free anti-static cloth.

The dry cloth can be used to buff and polish the acrylic surface which will reduce future stains.

What To Do When The Acrylic Has Scratches?

House and Garden gives cleaning advice.

Normal small wear and tear scratches that might occur on acrylic can be cured with special cleansers or acrylic polishes. Euro Pianos Naples sends a kit of Novus products along with each of our acrylic piano sales. Novus offers a Youtube video of how they are used. The kit includes a cloth, an acrylic cleanser, a repair polish for small scratches and a repair polish for deeper scratches. This is an excellent way for our clients to maintain the luster of their acrylic piano without having to pay for costly repairs.

Obviously if the acrylic is badly damaged, it would need professional assessment. A deep scratch, gouge or chip cannot simply filled, stained and buffed like wood. More often than not the acrylic piece will need replacement. Euro Pianos Naples however works with top level artisans in Miami who have had success in repairing just such damage.

Why Does Some Acrylic Yellow With Age?

Some acrylic is prone to yellowing. What was once crystal clear fades to a brownish yellow color and the piano loses its transparency. There is no way to stop yellowing. Either your acrylic will or it won’t. The only way to 100% safeguard your piano against yellowing is to insist on quality acrylic made in Germany or the USA. Yes, there is a significant price difference, but the old adage holds true – you get what you pay for.

The Bottom Line On Owning An Acrylic Piano

Acrylic pianos are easy to clean. It takes just the quick swipe of a cloth to keep your piano looking like new. Acrylic pianos are timeless and suitable for every décor. Unlike traditional piano cases, acrylic pianos don’t “crowd” a room, adding instead an airy lightness and elegance.

The fact that acrylic pianos fall into the line of luxury items means that the components under the lid are likely to be a higher quality and more stable than poorly made instruments, so the pitch holds longer and requires less upkeep. Acrylic pianos are quite simply stunningly beautiful objets d’art in addition to being fully functional pianos. We believe that makes acrylic pianos the wunderkind of today’s piano world

Take a look at the Aire™ TM Baby Grand.

August 6 2018

Red Piano – The Meaning Behind It

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Euro Pianos Naples is about to roll out the red carpet for its latest design, the brand new red polish Aire™ baby grand!

Sitting on crystal clear acrylic legs with a fully transparent lyre and lid, this Aire™ baby grand is RED HOT news in the piano world. Whether you think Scarlet red or Cherry red or Fire Engine Red, or best of all Ferrari red (!), the human eye has been attracted to, drawn to, seducedby the color RED since the beginning of time.

This little beauty can be ordered in 5’2” or 4’8” lengths to fit the most cozy nook of a living room, recreation room, music room, as well as being an eye catching addition to any commercial venue from a hotel lobby to a cocktail lounge. It comes with brass hardware as purchased, but Chrome can be special ordered, as well as the optional attachments of a wireless PianoDisc self playing piano system and an acrylic wraparound apron thatcreates a piano bar.

A customacrylic bench or stool accompanies the RED Aire, this newest darling of Euro Pianos Naples’ product line.

Just what is it about RED that makes heads turn, stops traffic, and excites the human heart? Even Valentine’s Day, the celebration of Love, is famously red.

Which made me think of the shape of Euro Pianos’ logo (above) which is only a heartbeat away from being a Valentine, which figures since this company is known for customer service, quality products and yes, well, unadulterated love of our clients and red carpet treatment!

The Enormous Historical Symbolism of the color RED

There are myriad reasons why RED resonates with most of us. First of all, it is the very first color we see as infants (besides black and white). The impact of that alone causes subtle physical and unconscious psychological reactions during one’s lifetime that cannot be underestimated. Tests have proven that the color can stimulate energy, increase the blood pressure, respiration, heart and pulse rate. And that’s not all. Depending on the cultural aspects added to the physiological elements, you can add that Red increasesenthusiasm, confidence and provides a sense of protection from fears and anxiety in some cases. And ultimate joy in others.

All around the globe, Red plays out its importance in symbolism and tradition. The color is representative of beauty in many cultures and language: the red dot on the forehead in India and surrounding countries symbolizes the third eye, and is considered the sixth chakra,the seat of “concealed wisdom.”

Islamic, Hindu and Chinese brides traditionally wear red.

In Japan, some of the statues of deities in the Shinto and Buddhist traditions wear red clothing or have skin painted red.

According to Japanese folk belief, red is the color for expelling demons and illness.

In China, red is associated with good fortune and luck. Red is worn to celebrate Chinese New Year, and red envelopes with “luck money” are given to unmarried children for obvious reasons.

According to an ancient Chinese myth, a monster called Nian, (a fearsome man-eating beast with the head of a lion and the body of a bull) hated noise, fire and the color red.

This accounts for the tradition of using red in their fire crackers, home decorations and clothing as protection and luck.

Feng shui recommends painting the front door of a home red to invite prosperity to the residents.

Greek Easter eggs are famously dyed red.

There is a Greek saying –“touch red”– when two people say the same thing at the same time. It refers to the folklore that if these two later disagree, they can easily reconcile by touching something red to dispel any argument.

The national icons of England, phone booths, double decker buses and pillar boxes (for mai)l are proudly painted bright red.

Ancient Aztecs made red dye from cochineal beetles and they considered the dye more valuable than gold. It followed that the Spanish introduced the crimson Cochineal red to Europe in the 1500’s.

The Catholic Church symbolizes feast days of martyrs with red, and red amulets were worn for centuries in many cultures to prolong life.

According to one source, when Dante spoke of the Seraphim – the first of the nine choirs of Angels who “glowed” with a “pure orange vermilion”– the painters, illuminators, and glassmen knew the color as red. So, it could be said that pure red is the color of divine love, the Holy Spirit, courage, self-sacrifice, martyrdom, and all the warm impulses that belong to the great-hearted everywhere.

Other Diverse Meanings and Uses of the Color Red

Civilized and uncivilized peoples of this world have never failed to give meanings and uses to the color Red. Our prehistoric ancestors saw red as the color of fire and blood – energy and primal life forces – and most of red’s symbolism today arises from its powerful associations in the past.

Whether, like the Valentine, it represents love and seduction, or joy and protection, it has also been the color of extremes, like anger, danger and warnings.

Almost every national flag in the world carries some red, including our own:

In various flags, red representspower, revolution, vibrancy and war (symbolic of bloodshed). Other meanings include courage and domination, while it can also be viewed as an alert of danger. The red in the flag of the United States symbolizes valor and bravery.

The Essence of Red in Nature

We can hardly celebrate the incredible Red without turning to the source, Mother Nature. After all, the longest wavelength of light is red, and red is the highest arc of the natural rainbow.

Color has a huge impact on our emotions, our perceptions, and our spiritual and physical well being. And is it any wonder when you consider the beauty that it provides us on this planet?

People Who Hold Pianos Close to their Hearts

You may be, like us, one of those people that can’t imagine living without music and a piano. That’s how we feel too, and why it gives us such pleasure to continue to design and create pianos that have “heart” as their essence. It is in that spirit that we explore and create.

We celebrate Red and hope you’ll join us. There are few joys greater than to engage with a fine piano and good music. And it is hard to resist the iconic symbolism and visual pleasure of RED. We’ve joined them together to create this iconic new design.

The Red Aire™ baby grand piano could be just the instrument to change the feng shui of your home décor, and offer new and exciting adventures into the world of art, beauty and music. Look for the Red Aire™ piano,in a limited edition, in the late fall of 2018. It won’t disappoint.

View Red Aire™ Piano

A white piano with the words " aire in the news !" above it.

June 20 2018

The “Aire” Acrylic Baby Grand Piano Making a Media Splash!

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Once in awhile a product comes along that just creates an immediate Buzzzzz. There’s no way to predict the reception when you take a risk and do something new – something that no-one has done before. That’s what happened when Sunny Reuter decided there needed to be a baby grand on the market that could satisfy the tastes and modernity of 21^stcentury designers and customers – a baby grand with all the magic of transparent pianos and traditional shape of a grand piano.

Designed and built exclusively by Euro Pianos Naples, the new transparent baby grand, the Aire, was a huge hit at the 2018 ICFF designer show in New York City this Spring, producing lots of questions and orders. Crowds gathered around the Aire™ for mini-concerts performed on the eye-catching instrument which had snagged the intense interest of Rock Star Pianist Konstantin Soukhovetski, celebrated international pianist and composer. He couldn’t wait to negotiate a contract for continued access to the baby grand.

As a result, Mr. Soukhovetski will be in residence at Southampton Inn this summer for his new one man show, titled In His Shoes. “Claude’s at the Southampton Inn” is introducing their first ever piano cabaret on Thursday evenings and Konstantin will be performing on… you guessed it… The Aire!

So, it wasn’t surprising to see the online media community also sitting up and taking notice. Where there’s celebrity, there’s usually music and news travels fast!

The trendy and beautiful lifestyle magazine La Vie featured The Aire™ in their March 2018 “C’est La Vie Entertainer” issue honoring the tradition of gathering with family and friends to listen to or play music. As La Vieput it, “Music is magical and has the power to stir our thoughts, make us feel, bring people together and evoke precious memories.” We concur.

And in addition, we find it mighty satisfying that a high-end lifestyle venue sees the unique and beautiful styling of the Aire™ and ranks it among a grouping of other luxury items that we found charming and appealing to the modern consumer.

Aire™ Black trim acrylic piano at the VIE magazine

The Aire, being a luxury baby grand with an acrylic lid, legs and lyre is frequently thought of as an art acquisition, due to its graceful lines and dramatic light-reflecting qualities that make it both compelling and unusual. The transparency of the legs give the instrument the illusion of levitating. For this reason, it has enthralled decorators and customers alike.

The Arts section of the online May 2018 issue of Vogue Magazine featured the art work of Kylie Jenner, the famous offspring of the 1976 Summer Olympics decathlon winner, Caitlyn Jenner and Kris Jenner; she is also half sister to the Kardashian girls, all of them starting in reality television in 2001, Keeping Up with the Kardashians. Kylie has been in the news with a new baby girl, Stormi, and a new product line of “Lip Kits” which are selling fast.

The 20-year-old collector has recently shown off her art online. Among the Tracy Emin light installations of neon art, and the butterfly Damien Hirst prints, Ms. Jenner included her own white Aire™ piano in front of two beautiful red and blue prints. Vogue playfully notes that the piano in acrylic is a nod to her famous sisters, Khloé and Kim, who chose acrylic cribs for their recent babies.

Read the Article

Aire™ Acrylic Piano featured in Vogue Magazine

On the international front, celebrities are all the rage in France, and the online fan zine, Fan2.Fr also got wind of Kylie Jenner’s home décor and art exhibitions online. We did our best to translate their very French take on the new acrylic piano: Perhaps our best is lacking?

“Very private since the announcement (non-official) of her pregnancy, Kylie Jenner certainly passes a lot of time at home. Far from the spolights, the young woman has found a new passion!

Kylie Jenner, pregnant and bare on Instagram & Snapchat, once teased the sensibilities of admirers! Even if she has become much more discreet than she was before on social networks, Queen Kylie continues to share a few moments of her daily life with her fans. On Snapchat, the young woman has unveiled the elements of art decor of her house and took the opportunity to announce to all the world her new passion: the piano!

“For the moment,” she said, “it has certainly not been played very much, but things will change: “I’m gonna learn.” That was the caption accompanying her photograph. Pending Kylie’s first concert, and while we’re waiting, she wants us to know she’s grateful for her baby.

Should we be surprised?”

The “Aire” Acrylic Baby Grand Piano Making a Media Splash!

While some might think of celebrity “fans” being youngsters, London’s Daily Mail newspaper is the 2^ndlargest selling tabloid in the UK with a median age of 58, according to a 2014 survey. So, the interest in what is new, exciting and beautiful is not restricted to the young.

Of course, the online Daily Mail may appeal to a computerized generation, and given that Kylie Jenner has 109 million (yes, we said MILLION) followers on Instagram, perhaps some of them might be young. And enthusiastic. Here’s another peek at the world interest in the art and furnishings of Ms. Jenner, and the esteem for the Euro Pianos Aire™ baby grand.

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In keeping with our celebratory mood, we thought we’d mention that this Aire™ baby grand can be ordered with a “piano bar” built onto it, and acrylic bar stools to match, for a sophisticated take on the gathering place for family and friends to make music and memories.

A black and brown table with two drawers

May 8 2018

Petrof Pianos

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Five generations of the Petrof family owned and managed the piano factory founded in 1864 by Antonin Petrof in Hradec Králové, an historic town near Prague, in the present Czech Republic. Their fine reputation came from keeping up with technology and they did well at international exhibitions. The Czechs have longstanding respect for their vibrant musical-instrument industry, which also includes makers of brass, woodwind, and stringed instruments.

In 1947, when all businesses in the Czech Republic were nationalized by the state, the Petrof family was forced out of the business. Since the fall of the Soviet Union and the liberation of Eastern Europe, some factories have been spun off as private businesses, including Petrof, which is once again owned and controlled by the Petrof family. Currently Petrof manufactures 5,000 vertical pianos and 900 grands annually.

Petrof recently introduced a series of six new grand piano models, ranging from 5′ 2″ to 9′ 2″ in length. Most component parts are produced by Petrof or other Czech factories, including the hardware, plates, and cabinetry. Soundboards are of solid Bohemian spruce, grand rims are of laminated beech and birch, pinblocks are of compressed beech, plates are cast in wet sand, and hammers are from Renner or Abel. These pianos also boast several interesting features: The soundboard is custom-tapered and asymmetrically crowned for optimal resonance; the treble bridge is capped with genuine ebony for better transmission of treble tone; front and rear duplexes are tuned for tonal color; pianos are single-strung for tuning stability; an adjustable bolt has been added from the plate to the wooden cross block for additional tuning stability; and a decorative veneer has been added to the inner rim. The earlier series of Petrof grandswith model numbers containing roman numerals will coexist with the new models as long as supplies last.

Petrofs are known for their warm, rich, singing tone, full of color. The pianos are solidly built and workmanship is good. After careful preparation, the pianos can sound and feel quite beautiful and hold their own against other European brands. Wages in the Czech Republic have risen in recent years, and with it the price of Petrof pianos, but the company has placed a greater emphasis on quality control and enhanced features in the new models in order to meet the higher expectations that come with higher prices.

Actions in Petrof pianos are standard Detoa on the smaller verticals, Renner on the larger grand pianos and larger verticals, and either Renner parts on a Petrof action frame or Petrof Original Actions made by Detoa on mid-size instruments.

Petrof has also invented and patented a version of its new grand action that uses tiny opposing magnets to allow for the removal of the usual lead counterweights in the keys and, according to the company, significantly alter the action’s dynamic properties. The new action also furthers the European Union’s stated environmental goal of phasing out the use of lead in pianos. The action is adjusted in the factory for a standard touchweight and is serviced in exactly the same way as a standard action. The Magnetic Accelerated Action, as it is known, is a special-order option on the grands. Petrof also offers as an option the Magnetic Balanced Action, which allows the player to quickly and easily change the touchweight in the range of ±4–5 grams simply by turning a knob.

Warranty: 10 years, parts and labor, to original purchaser, from the manufacturer.

A piano is sitting on the ground with its lid open.

May 8 2018

Schulze Pollmann Pianos

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Two German piano builders who had both relocated to Italy, Albert Schulze and Paul Pollmann, met and merged in 1928. Pollmann managed the combined firms until 1942, and was followed by his son Hans, who had earlier in his career managed the Schimmel company. The Schulze Pollmann factory is currently located near San Marino, a tiny city-state entirely surrounded by Italy.

When you think of pianos built in Italy, you usually think of Fazioli, but this is the other excellent Ialian piano with all the secrets of Italian builders.

In North America, they offer the Masterpiece (grands) and Studio (verticals). The Masterpiece Seriespianos, available only by special order, are made entirely in Italy and San Marino, and contain Delignit pinblocks, Renner actions and hammers from Germany, and Ciresa solid red-spruce soundboards from the Val di Fiemme, in Italy. The company uses both sophisticated technology and handwork in its manufacturing. All soundboards have finger-jointed construction to optimize stability and prevent cracking. Many of the cabinets have beautiful designs and inlays. Schulze Pollmann grands are very nicely crafted and arrive at the dealer in good condition, needing only solid preparation to sound their best.

The Studio series is partially made in Asia and finished off, including deluxe cabinetwork, in San Marino. We have not included them in the high quality rating here, although the uprights are well built and have a warm, colorful sound with a good amount of sustain. The treble is not nearly as brittle sounding as in some other European uprights. Schulze Pollmann grands are likewise very nicely crafted and arrive at the dealer in good condition, needing only solid preparation to sound their best.

In 2005, Italian auto manufacturer Ferrari Motor Car selected Schulze Pollmann as a partner in the launch of its new Ferrari 612 Scaglietti series of automobiles. For the occasion, Schulze Pollmann crafted a limited-edition version of its 6′ 7″ model 197/G5 grand piano, still available, with a case that sports Ferrari’s racing red and a cast-iron plate in Ferrari gray carbon, the same color as the Scaglietti’s engine. The car and the piano have been exhibited together in cities around the world.

Warranty: 10 years, parts and labor.

May 8 2018

August Forster Pianos

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Friedrich August Försterfounded his factory in 1859 in Löbau, Germany. The family owned business became whole again after the privatization and reunification of East Germany, and is now managed by a fifth generation family member, Annekatrin Förster

Förster makes about 120 grand pianos each year in four sizes, and 150 verticals in three sizes, using a lot of hand labor. The pianos are very well built structurally, and the cabinets are elegant. The tone of their grand pianos has a unique bass: dark, deep, yet clear. The treble is often bright, and is considered a bit thin to some American tastes — it is a less complex sound that emphasizes clarity. This, however, can be somewhat modified after delivery.

Strings are individually single-strung. Soundboards are made of solid mountain-grown spruce, rims and pinblocks of beech, and bridges of hardrock maple. The actions are made by Renner with Renner hammers. The Renner actions are very responsive and arrive in exacting regulation. A sostenuto pedal is standard on all grand piano models.

The instruments are comfortably at home with classical or jazz. The 6′ 4″ model is often said to have an especially good scale. The concert-quality 7′ 2″ and 9′ 1″ models are well balanced tonally, and over the years have been endorsed by many famous artists.

The new 53″ model 134K anniversary upright, intended for pianists who don’t have space for a grand, has such grand-piano–like features as a full sostenuto; a large, adjustable music desk; and black keys of real ebony.

August Forster 134K Upright Piano

The quality of materials and workmanship of the Förster grands is largely true of the verticals as well. The cabinet of the vertical is of exceptional width, with extra-thick side panels of solid-core stock. Counter bridges are used on the outside of the soundboard to increase its mass. The verticals have a full set of agraffes, and all the hardware and handmade wood parts are of elegant quality. The actions are built by Renner. The verticals possess the same warm, rich, deep bass tone as the grands. August Forster uprights are some of the best upright pianos on the market.

Warranty: 5 years, parts and labor, to original purchaser.