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November 9 2020

Acrylic Pianos – Let’s Talk About Quality

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Acrylic pianos today are made by a variety of manufacturers, including Euro Pianos Naples who offer the beautiful “Aire” model which can be color customized in a variety of ways.

While acrylic pianos (also called transparent pianos, crystal pianos, lucid pianos, or clear pianos) are a fairlyrecent phenomenon, I was surprised to learn the U.S. patent for a transparent piano lid dates back to 1976. It was granted to the Libby-Owens-Ford Company, a glassmaker in Ohio. This lid, made of safety glass merged with a layer of special plastic, with a hinge, was invented for use by the Boston Pops Orchestra and the Toledo Symphony Orchestra, to lend better viewing to the audience at concerts. In other words the grand piano lid does not block the view of the orchestra.

Concert performers and entertainers today sometimes opt for acrylic grands for the same reason, to give an unfettered view of the piano workings to their audiences, and/or to provide the beautiful and dramatic theatrics which such an instrument creates. A perfect example is Bruno Mars playing the Bluthner Lucid Elegance grand on this video:

“Versace On The Floor”

But acrylic pianos have come into their own and are being purchased for homes, music rooms and entertainment venues. They fall into two general types: The best and the most expensive are transparent pianos, such as those made by Schimmel and Bluthner that run to six figures and carry the quality of the historic German piano builders under their lids. These models are decorator luxury instruments, highly customized and iconic. Schimmel’s transparent piano began to be produced in 1951 and was further perfected 30 years later by his son. Bluthner took over Lucid Pianos of Spain and streamlined the production of acrylic pianosto a new standard. Bluthner, established in 1853, is a premier performance piano builder.

The Lucid Pianos are based on models 166, 175, 186, 210 and 235 sharing the same highest performance materials and construction for the soundboard, plate pin block and action. Bluthner Plexiglas is purchased from the German company Evonik. Most modern day acrylic, like Evonik’s, will remain crystal clear with no distortions for the lifetime of the piano, regardless of the thickness or shape provided its cared for appropriately. Colorless acrylic is as transparent as the finest optical glass, its total light transmission is 92%. Lucid Idyllic Excellence is the only fully transparent piano. This piano features a patented technology – thesoundboard sits on a special metal inserts. (visible on this picture below)

Acrylic Pianos – Let’s Talk About Quality

Because top of the line luxury pianos are not affordable by all, a second choice has evolved, a piano with an acrylic lid,with decorative acrylic lyre, music stand and legs completing the design. High-quality interiors are still contained in the cases, but are better priced in the $50K range and don’t have all the innovative bells and whistles of the more famous brands. Euro Pianos’ Aire is such a model.

The Aire™ piano is built in Miami FL and uses American-made high-standard acrylic (second only to original German Evonik acrylic) which will not yellow with age or sunlight like other substitute plastics some use in place of real acrylic.

Aire™ piano is available in Black, White and the newly released Red finish with hardware options of brass or chrome. Invisible self playing systems, are a high-tech add on providing live performance quality with today’s wirless technology.

What Is Acrylic Anyway? Can We Talk About Quality?

Acrylic is a clear (unless it’s dyed) very high-grade form of plastic made primarily from petroleum. Plexiglas (Acrylite) is one of the big brand name manufacturers, as is Lucite (Perspex). High grade acrylic is a form of plastic that may be easily confused with non-acrylic plastics which yellow or discolor quickly and age poorly. But like anything else, there are superior and inferior acrylics, in terms of their ease of use and manufacturing process.

The best acrylic for transparency and longevity is German made acrylic followed closely by US made acrylic.

There are two basic versions of acrylics: cast and extruded. These are different products but both are considered acrylic with different uses.

Cast acrylic is usually regarded as a better quality than the extruded and is more resistant to some solvents. Extruded acrylic can behave differently depending on how it’s bent whereas it makes no difference in cast acrylic. Cast acrylic is more scratch resistant, but is harder to flame polish (the finishing process to remove saw marks, prep marks, etc.)

The most important point is that genuine acrylic plastic will always be more expensive than non-acrylic plastics. Non-acrylic plastics carry names such as Styrene, PETG, and Polycarbonate. These are NOT genuine acrylic and as such are not suitable for durability of clarity and resistance to scratching, etc. So, buyer beware. Check that the plastic used to manufacture the piano is a true acrylic before settling for a bargain price product.

The Knock-Off Trade In Transparent Pianos

The Amazon of China showcases a variety of discount priced “clear”, “crystal” and “acrylic” pianos. Some listings attempt to mislead purchasers by posting images of genuine top-notch acrylic pianos. If the price sounds too good to be true, ask yourself …

Will the hardware pit and tarnish?
What plastic are the clear parts made of?
Will it yellow and grow cloudy or will it remain crystal clear and beautiful?
How do I enforce the warranty?
Are there bubbles in the acrylic?
Are the visible screws and glue beautiful?
Are the piano legs and lid engineered for safety?
And how about the value of the piano as a musical instrument?
Is the piano built by a legitimately ranked and respected piano manufacturer?

Final Thoughts On Quality Acrylic Pianos

If you want the best – Bluthner Lucid line of pianos (100% made in Germany using only Evonik acrylic) offers exciting, fully transparent, semi-transparent and colored acrylic pianos which can be customized with LED lighting and self playing systems in all manner of color palettes and decorative hardware.

For the price minded consumer, Aire is an elegant acrylic piano built in Miami using 100% USA acrylic and real performance quality mechanics by the world’s largest piano manufacturers. Oftentimes these pianos can be delivered in less than 8 weeks.

Euro Pianos Naples recommends either one of these options. We are available to answer questions and consult with you on acrylic and transparent pianos, free of charge. Just give us a call, and we will be happy to accommodate you.

About Euro Pianos Naples

Euro Pianos Naples is a respected distributor of European luxury musical instruments. The company’s origin dates back to 1965. Euro Pianos represents world renowned brands such as Sauter, Schimmel, Fazioli, as well as its own acrylic instrument – The Aire. Apart from being a successful retailer, consultant, and entrepreneur organization, Euro Pianos is actively engaged in the artistic and community life of Naples, Florida as an organizer and supporter of musical events throughout the years.

A black piano with gold trim and a white top.

March 8 2020

How to Choose a Piano

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There is nothing more exhilarating than making the decision to purchase a new piano. That is not to say that purchases like a new dwelling or vehicle are not exciting and more fundamental to immediate needs, but a piano is in a class by itself.

Pianos have a life of their own. They embody the needs of people’s spiritual, artistic and creative souls so that makes their addition to a household, church, or public arena a splendid and momentous event. Because a fine instrument can thrive for generations, it is obvious that the choice of a piano needs to be given serious consideration.

Even if an inexpensive upright piano or keyboard has been contemplated for a child or an adult beginner, conventional wisdom has that you get what you pay for, and that the piano itself can be a deciding factor on whether the student enjoys and pursues the lessons. Buying the best pianos you can afford and keeping them tuned and in good repair is what any reputable teacher will assure you.

So, then, how does one go about choosing a piano?

Tips On Making Your Choice

1. Buyer beware!

There are many old “cheap” pianos being hawked on ebay, craig’s list, and at bargain piano stores. If the price of a piano seems too good to be true, it probably is. A piano that has suffered damages (like being dropped from the back of a truck or has been neglected for decades, left exposed to hot sun, or unprotected near the moisture of a lake or ocean,) may appear to be okay, but unless an expert examines it first, do not be fooled. Cheapest isn’t always the best piano to buy.

2. Educate Yourself!

With the advantages that the Internet provides, everyone today can begin to educate themselves without leaving their chair. Start by investigating Brand Names and Manufacturers. Unlike the old days where a classic Steinway once set the bar for elegance, today there is a Renaissance in pianos. European piano manufacturers like Fazioli, Bluethner, Sauter, and Petrof have exceeded expectations in performance, design, and distinction. No longer is the cookie-cutter brown baby grand in demand, but a whole new smorgasbord of colors, designs, woods, sizes and décor is available. In the long run, you will be able to make a much smarter choice of the best pianos to buy if you learn the basics: a classical piano versus a modern piano versus an art case piano. An upright versus a baby grand versus a concert grand. A player piano versus a digital piano versus a standard. You will find the adventure thrilling to see that a whole new world exists in the realm of pianos, and familiarizing yourself with it is not only fun, but it can serve you well in a final and wise choice.

3. Get out and about

Once you have an idea of what you might want, it is time to get out and visit some showrooms and talk to some experts. It is a chance to compare different models and makes. However, a truly good piano store will not try to sell you on the available floor inventory, but will listen to your needs, and attempt to help you find the instrument that is exactly right for you. In this day and age, new pianos ordered from the manufacturer can be attuned to your every desire right at the factory, and further adjusted when acclimatized in their new location. Each piano is unique, and you will likely want to request your preferences for sound, the quality of key touch, and the piano size that fits the room size—to say nothing of the designs, finishes, motifs, art and inlays that are offered in piano cases today. Don’t settle on a piano until you have found the experts that can help you. Piano sellers should be able to give you direction and objective information in your quest. Due to the nature of this product, the hard sell has no place in this industry.

Types Of Different Pianos

1. The Acoustic Grand Piano.

Everything from a “baby” grand to a “concert” grand ranging in sizes from under five feet to over nine feet. The “grand” connotes a comparison to the upright piano. With a faster touch and a larger sound, the grand piano is considered more powerful and responsive. There is horizontal action in the massive soundboard. There is also the design element, the beautiful shape of the case, and the tradition of historic majesty in the Grand Piano.

Fazioli Grand Piano

2. The Acoustic Upright or Vertical Piano

Uprights come in varying heights and has a vertical action which can be above or below the keyboard, and all require floor space of about five feet by two feet, thus are more appropriate for small rooms. The Studio piano is the largest, and some professional-quality uprights can have equal tone to some small grands. So you can’t buy by size alone.

Sauter Upright Piano

3. The Digital Piano

Digital piano also known as piano synthesizer, or weighted keyboard is an electronic
alternative to the traditional acoustic piano. Some digital pianos are also designed to look like an acoustic piano, both the upright or grand piano body style, a step up from the 88 key keyboard.

4. The Player Piano

The player piano conjures an image of perforated metal or paper rolls while the keys play themselves, but the current technology of encoded music on electronic disks have revolutionized player pianos. Even more exciting, the hardware/software can now be installed into acoustic and digital pianos thus converting them into Player pianos as well.

About Euro Pianos Naples

Euro Pianos Naples is a respected distributor of European luxury musical instruments. The company’s origin dates back to 1965. Euro Pianos represents world renowned brands such as Sauter, and it has recently become a manufacturer of its own acrylic instrument – The Aire. Apart from being a successful retailer, consultant, and entrepreneur organization, Euro Pianos is actively engaged in the artistic and community life of Naples, Florida as an organizer and supporter of musical events throughout the years.

November 14 2019

Crystal Pianos: Are They Really Made Out Of Crystals?

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First of all, we need to establish what we’re talking about. Do we really mean Crystal Pianos?

The only “real” crystal piano we know, a collaboration between Steinway and a British artist, Lauren Baker under the name of Goldfinch, is encrusted with a half million authentic Swarovski crystals, hand glued over a six-month period, commissioned by a wealthy client in the Middle East.

Goldfinch Swarovski crystal piano

The late celebrated pianist, Liberace, who collected pianos and preferred Baldwins, had a grand piano entirely studded with rhinestones (and an automobile too!) which was sometimes referred to as a crystal piano. He also had several covered with tiny mirrors.

Crystal Pianos: Are They Really Made Out Of Crystals?

But more often than not, when one hears “crystal piano,” it means the head-turner in the piano industry these days, a transparent piano, which is built with see-through plastic material. The transparent material allows an interesting view into the interior workings of the instrument and creates a lightweight buoyant aspect to an otherwise heavy piece of furniture. These acrylic pianos are called by different names: Crystal, Transparent, Lucite, Plexiglas, and the most generic, Acrylic. One famous piano builder uses the German spelling, calling it a Krystal piano.

The Heintzman Crystal Piano holds the title of the most expensive piano to date, at the cool price of $3.22 million, built to promote the Beijing Olympic Games. The nine foot long concert grand made completely of acrylic (and always referred to as crystal) made its debut during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games. This piano was sold to an anonymous bidder in an auction after the invigorating performance by world famous pianist, Lang Lang,

What Is Acrylic? Is It Plastic Or Plexiglas?

A Brief History of Plastics

Acrylic is a clear (unless it’s dyed) very high-grade form of plastic made primarily from petroleum. Plexiglas (Acrylite) is one of big brand name manufacturers, as is Lucite (Perspex). Although acrylic is a form of plastic, it should not be confused with imitation plastic products which quickly yellow and discolor. But like anything else, there are superior and inferior acrylics, in terms of their ease of use and manufacturing requirements.

There are two basic versions of acrylics: cast and extruded. Cast acrylic is produced by mixing the acrylic liquid in molds. Four acrylic plates between two glass plates where a chemical process in the mold creates a homogenous material with equivalent properties in all directions. In contrast, extruded acrylic is produced by continually pushing the acrylic mass through a form, while the chemical process takes place.

Cast acrylic is usually regarded as a better quality than the extruded, and in fact are two different materials. The cast acrylic is more resistant to some solvents. When laser cutting both, the cast acrylic creates no burrs. Extruded acrylic can behave differently depending on how it’s bent whereas it makes no difference in cast acrylic. Cast acrylic is more scratch resistant, but is harder to flame polish (the finishing process to remove saw marks, prep marks, etc.). Cast acrylic is produced in many thicknesses and colors, which are more limited for extruded acrylic.

Internal tensions in acrylics can cause cracks when cutting it. There is more tension in extruded acrylic.

Why Not Use Glass Instead?

There are myriad reasons for using acrylics instead of glass. Even Cinderella might prefer her ballroom slippers be acrylic because they are much stronger than glass, more impact resistant, safer and actually let more light in. Imagine a guest dropping his highball on your glass grand piano and shattering it? It won’t happen with acrylic. The material cleans up with just a mild soap and water swipe, and even scratches in acrylic can be easily buffed out. As a matter of fact, a slab of acrylic, about an inch thick, is bullet proof, that’s how strong it is. Acrylic, unlike glass, can be sawed, glued and designed into shapes and most importantly acrylic weighs 50% less than glass.

Why Is Acrylic Furniture Expensive?

Acrylic is manufactured in sheets before it’s cut, constructed and designed into furniture. The thicker the sheet, the more difficult the process is to maintain the crystal clarity that is desired for furniture, requiring additional costs. Since the product is primarily made from petroleum, its price is linked to volatile oil prices as well. Expensive acrylic can be thick and luxurious, crystal-like, seamless; cheap acrylic has a noticeably more plastic look and feel. But that’s not to say it can’t still do the trick and look great in the context of your interior. Acrylic furniture creates lightness in a room, giving an airy cheerful, sometimes even whimsical, aspect to decor.

On the piano builder’s part, and that of many furniture designers, the seasoned professional workers are accustomed to wood – so acrylic professionals who design and build acrylic command high salaries and are not always easy to find. A lot of fine pianos and furniture are fundamentally handmade, not machine tooled, thus also raising costs.

What Are The Best Acrylic Pianos On The Market?

Whenever you discuss “the best” in pianos, the conversation rightly refers to the quality of the mechanics and action under the lid – where all the knowhow of 300 years of piano building is manifest in varying degrees. Handmade European pianos are going to outscore machine-tooled pianos that deliberately keep costs down and attract a specific market. The buyer, his budget, and the sophistication of the buyer’s musical ear are the most important deciders when judging what piano would be best for any individual.

In the industry, where professional musicians, technicians, and critics flourish, “the best” means very different things to different people. The desired sound may be a clarity of tone, and/or warmth, richness, mellowness, purity with a short or long sustain, sonorous, or hard-edged, to mention only a few. Touch can differ by key response, key weight, stability, ruggedness. Are the cosmetics of the instrument as important as its musicality? All preferences are individual and different models and makers of pianos supply different sounds and touches, as well as differences in the design of the cases, the decorative values, the artfulness of designs. That’s just a long way of saying that “the best” is always a subjective call.

Generally speaking, higher quality and innovative designs increase the costs and the desirability of an instrument, so maybe the question should be: what are the best quality acrylic pianos on the market?

What Are The Best Quality Acrylic Pianos?

There are several high-end piano builders today making acrylic pianos.

BLUTHNER, a privately-owned family business, has been making pianos of the highest quality in Leipzig, Germany, since 1853 and today boasts the world’s most extensive selection of transparent “Lucid” grand pianos.

Bluthner’s Lucid iDyllic Excellence piano jumps to the top of the list. A fully transparent grand piano which appears to be floating, is the culmination of over 160 years of piano manufacturing and innovation by the Blüthner Pianoforte Fabrik. Many piano builders of acrylic grands used bulky wooden support beams and countless unsightly bolts. The Blüthner Pianoforte Factory has patented the process of securing the soundboard to truly create a fully transparent grand piano. This instrument’s translucency gives it the look of a fragile glass sculpture, while the durable acrylic ensures that it will continue to look pristine and unbreakable. Bluthner buys Plexiglas from Evonik, top rated in acrylics in Europe.

Bluthner’s Lucid Idyllic Excellence

SCHIMMEL began making pianos in Leipzig in 1885. Among European piano makers, Schimmel was a pioneer in the use of computer-aided design and manufacturing. The company has used its Computer Assisted Piano Engineering (CAPE) software to research, design, and implement virtually every aspect of making a piano. Schimmel maintains that the combination of CNC machinery and handwork leads to better results than hand-craftsmanship alone.

The Schimmel Grand K 213 Glas is another quality acrylic grand piano. Schimmel introduced the first transparent piano in 1951 and 30 years later, perfected the design. Now the K213 is one of their flagship models in the grand piano class.

Schimmel’s K213 Glas grand piano

KAWAI, a line of Japanese pianos, also makes a notable acrylic grand, the CR40 crystal piano. Kawai ‘s ultimate efforts to produce a world-class piano paid off and gave them brand name recognition on the list of high quality piano builders.

Kawai CR40 Crystal grand piano

Of course, as mentioned before, quality usually denotes expensive. Indeed, Bluthner Schimmel and Kawai prices run in six figures.

EURO PIANOS NAPLES, based in Naples, Florida, designed an affordable quality acrylic baby grand piano (built in Miami using 100% US made acrylic) for clients desiring a more affordable transparent piano.

Bringing a new piano to the marketplace required a lot of research and development. Over months of intensive study, a team of specialists including among them an engineer and pianists, created the acrylic baby grand piano named “Aire.”

The standard 5’3″ wooden piano case can be ordered in polished ebony, white or red with beautiful acrylic legs, lid, lyre and music desk. The clear elements added to the case make the piano look as if it’s floating on air, thus the name designated for this little beauty. It has all the magical look of a European crystal piano priced in the mid to high six figures while being a budget-pleasing acrylic piano in the $50K range.

Aire™ Acrylic Baby Grand Piano in black trim

Why is there such a price difference between these pianos? The answer is that the quality of a grand piano handcrafted by the very best German piano builders will always be superior to (and more expensive) than the best consumer grade piano. For the normal home, concert-level performance quality is not a requirement.

Crystal pianos are often desired for their decorative value as well as being a fully usable musical instrument, designed for a lifetime of pleasure. And while the Aire™ is not using German acrylic for its components, it is using a very high quality, but less expensive American acrylic.

The Aire™ piano has a wooden rim, spruce soundboard and full-sized high-performance piano action. The acrylic components do not interfere with the sound or performance quality.

The Aire™ can be customized with the addition of a wireless PianoDisc player system that brings performances by top artists to your living room and extends the usefulness of the piano. Today’s high definition player systems are invisible, store hundreds of hours of music, have a full orchestra and voice accompaniment, and do not impact playability of a piano.

Aire™ Acrylic Baby Grand Piano in white trim

What About The “Other” Knock-Off Acrylic Grand Pianos?

It would be remiss to ignore the so-called crystal pianos advertised at ridiculously low prices on the internet. Like anything else, quality costs money, and let this serve as a warning: If it sounds too good to be true, it is.

No sooner had Euro Pianos designed and marketed their affordable Aire, when Chinese knockoffs began to appear online, undercutting the already vastly-reduced price of Aire’s crystal piano. How could they do this?

American acrylic (and of course, highly-rated European Evonik acrylic) is extremely resistant to yellowing or discoloration. If you look at the bubble canopies of World War II bomber planes made of Plexiglas, they are still clear after a half-century of sitting in the sun

Non-genuine acrylic yellows quickly. It also becomes brittle. Styrene, PETG, and Polycarbonate have their own suitable uses, but for acrylic pianos or furniture, they are NOT suitable. So, buyer beware.

Check that the plastic used in the piano is truly acrylic before accepting such a cheap price. Also consider the quality of the hardware and the quality of the actual piano. You don’t want pitted and rusted metal in a piano that doesn’t work. Do your research before you buy!

About Euro Pianos Naples

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, Fazioli, 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.

The Best High End Brands

Fazioli Baby Grand Piano - Tamo Burl Model

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.

A church with stained glass windows and pews

March 6 2018

Finding a Piano for Your Place of Worship

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Why does almost every house of worship include music? Music has the ability to speak to every part of man: his spirit, his mind, his emotions, his will, his body and his flesh.

Selecting a piano for your place of worship is very different from selecting a piano for your home. A piano is a major investment for a church, and involves many more elements than a private residence.

The size of your church and the seating design is the first consideration. Not just the weekly services, and the normal congregation. Will there be special events where extra seating and larger spaces need to resonate with music, like an Easter Oratorio or Handl’s Messiah service that might extend beyond ordinary seating. It pays to imagine what the needs for the future and growth of the congregation may be, since a piano isn’t something that is frequently purchased.

Be realistic. The youth room may not need a new piano, and a used one may do just fine. However, it is the attitude of most church officials that the worship center deserves the finest music for God’s glory the church can afford.

Pianos are manufactured in a variety of grades. There are “price point” pianos, which are inexpensive and for light duty. There are medium-grade pianos appropriate for classrooms, rehearsal rooms or a chapel. Artist-grade pianos, grands and concert grand pianos, are well made, have a refined touch and wonderful sound, and are the first choice for worship, professional concerts and rehearsals. There are grand pianos and uprights in every grade. Pianos vary widely in price. Determining the appropriate quality of piano you need is a crucial step.

For most church worship centers, a grand piano is the best choice. The longer in length, the better the instrument, depending on your budget. The advantage of a longer piano is that the strings are also longer, and that is what produces the great power and richness, allowing them to be easily heard clear to the back of a church. The workmanship that goes into grand pianos gives them the ability to retain harmonic balance, ensuring that close or spread octaves alike have the purity and brilliance to produce virtually beatless perfect fifths.

The size of the grand piano depends on the size of your sanctuary, how many instruments or vocalists will be playing with it and a variety of other environmental concerns. If at all possible, plan for a piano that is big enough to be heard without amplification. Mic’ing a piano often ruins its tone.

The Moorings Church in Naples, Florida

A black or polished ebony piano is standard on most worship platforms. Black is the least expensive color for most grands, it’s the most durable and it’s easily repaired if damaged. If your church has bright stage lighting, you may want to choose a satin finish. Glare from stage lighting can cause distractions or discomfort for some members of the congregation. If your stage lighting is subdued, a polished finish will work very well.

Whether you’re officially affiliated with your church’s piano selection committee or you are an independent congregation member who would like to donate an instrument, you should map out a plan to make sure the piano you select represents the best long-term investment for your congregation. Buy the best piano you can afford.

“For whatever reason, churches have bought into the mentality that it’s okay to spend several hundred thousands of dollars for a great organ, the best pews and a killer sound system, but the piano – their main worship instrument – is an afterthought!”

(Bob Dove – Chicken Soup for the Soul)

Consider how the sound of your worship instrument will edify those to whom it ministers. Its tone should be warm and pleasing, not overly brilliant or abrasive. As your primary worship instrument, your sanctuary piano should provide the highest level of music your congregation can afford.

Your next step should be to set up an appointment for a consultation with a reputable representative.

Dr. Marie Kavana delighting the congregation on their new Schimmel concert grand piano

Don’t waste your time phoning random piano stores and speaking to salesmen who might know a little but not nearly enough. Pianos are for sale all around us. A worship piano, however, will require a regular regime of care and maintenance that many piano sources simply cannot provide. Avoid selecting your piano from an online auction site, a private owner or a long-distance warehouse.

Buying a piano from a private owner might be financially advantageous IF you do not need safe delivery or a warranty and you fully understand its true condition. Having a technician check the piano may or may not be worth the cost. If you purchase a piano for your church from a neighbor, the newspaper or the Internet, you may save a little money but purchase many headaches. The money you save is money you’d gladly spend for the proper technical and delivery services that good pianos need. Ask your own pianist about past experiences, and you will likely get an earful.

So find a reputable consultant. It’s important to develop a relationship that extends beyond a single transaction. Don’t forget, you will want your piano safely and professionally moved, (more involved than one might guess), tuned, maintained, possibly repaired, and you will require someone who can be a professional resource in all areas of the piano business. Sit down and get to know who you are dealing with, ask for references. check out warranties, warranty tunings, technicians, movers, and what they can offer your church in the way of excellent quality and ongoing service.

The diligent effort to purchase a piano for God’s kingdom is an act of love, The reward is heard and felt every time the piano is played.

In Naples, Florida, some churches like Naples United Church of Christ, and Unity Church of Naples, did their homework and purchased high quality instruments. What was the impact on their music program after they acquired a new concert grand piano? Naples United Church does a lot of fine concerts. They have two Bechstein concert grands and work closely with the Naples Philharmonic. Their concept of service to the community has thrilled their congregation as they are leaders.

Moorings Presbyterian Church having only a small Steinway on stage, needed to rent a concert grand Fazioli for the big performances it undertakes. (Arts Naples Festival, their Hyacinth Concert Series.) They have begun the process of selecting an instrument to purchase, seeing the wisdom of not having to move pianos in and out during the year.

UPDATE:

Moorings Presbyterian Church is now a proud owner of the FAZIOLI F278 concert grand piano purchased from Euro Pianos.

Finding a Piano for Your Place of Worship

Having a good quality piano on stage in a church is an investment and a showcase for the best of musical programs, singers, and services.

About Euro Pianos Naples

Euro Pianos Naples is a respected distributor of European luxury musical instruments. The company’s origin dates back to 1965. Euro Pianos represents world renowned brands such as Sauter, and it has recently become a manufacturer of its own acrylic instrument – The Aire. Apart from being a successful retailer, consultant, and entrepreneur organization, Euro Pianos is actively engaged in the artistic and community life of Naples, Florida as an organizer and supporter of musical events throughout the years.

March 4 2018

Buying a Luxury Piano Online

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Euro Pianos Naples, a leader in the sales of the best and most beautiful European luxury pianos, with a history of successful traditional piano stores dating back to 1965, provides exclusive online services for designers and piano consumers searching for unique piano treasures.

Online purchases of luxury and designer goods have become mainstream. Rare coins, luxury leathers, Swiss watches and expensive art are available on Amazon.com as well as many other e-commerce venues. High-end retailers with virtual showrooms are flourishing across the web. In our own 2016 sales, we found clients increasingly ordering online, and expressing their appreciation for the ease and convenience.

The benefits of buying a piano online are many. The variety of models and brands, sizes and designs of luxury pianos are myriad – choices you would never find in a bricks and mortar store. Designer pianos are elegant, precision instruments which cannot be inventoried in a warehouse or stored like coffee cans. By offering the customer expert consultation from an established and experienced company like Euro Pianos and the diversity of magnificent merchandise, online buying is not only the wave of the future, but for designer pianos, is the only sensible and forward thinking way to find a piano to buy today.

Are there risks involved in buying a piano online?

Absolutely not, with one caveat. You must work with an experienced and reputable retailer like Euro Pianos Naples. You are assured of receiving a new, fully warranted instrument designed and built specifically for you, with your input in consultation in collaboration with our experts and the European piano makers.

Risk comes at times from buying used pianos or mass-produced inferior brands, but designer pianos make online purchases the best place to buy a piano.

Euro Pianos specializes in new vertical and grand pianos for sale. We open up a whole new world to our clients offering tips on exactly the right design elements for our clients always striving first and foremost to stay within budget. The website boutique is organized into categories. You may be after a particular style: Classic, Designer, Exotic Wood, Transparent, Art Deco, Modern, Upright, or even a piano for Yachts. Euro Pianos Naples has it covered! Every piano we sell is customizable in some way – colors, rare wood inlay, a surprising new piano shape, gems, LED lights, paintings, graphics and inscriptions. The list of variables is as long as your imagination. Never before in the history of music has there been such an incredible selection of pianos as objets des arts. Take for example the transparent pianos for sale on our website. They are able to be personalized any way you choose.

Bluthner Lucid Piano

Everyone knows the prices on grand pianos are higher than those of upright pianos. The experts at Euro Pianos Naples source European designer Uprights that feature a Grand Piano Sound and Feel. Take a look at the “Pure” model, created by award winning designer, Peter Maly as an example.

So, the question is no longer “how much does a piano cost?” but rather “will the piano I choose represent my sophisticated taste, will it not just take up space in my home, but also enhance and complement my decor?”

Sauter Pure Upright Piano

How does one go about buying a piano online at Euro Pianos?

The process is to call or email stating your wishes. With your choice(s) in mind, we will send you information and photos. We will begin a conversation with you or your designer. When a purchase decision is reached, a 50% deposit is made whereupon the piano is ordered. Manufacture can take up to nine months or more. When your piano is ready to leave the factory, the balance is due. Our services include freight and duty to bring your piano to North America, white glove, insured delivery to your home, professional setup by our expert technicians (we have a national network). We will work hand in hand with your architect or designer.

Piano Buyer.com’s Opinion

About Euro Pianos Naples

Euro Piano Naples, a world-renowned distributor of European designer pianos, has company origins dating back to 1965. Its innovative online boutique, caters to designers and consumers seeking the best, and offers the zenith of luxury instruments, including its own newly designed acrylic piano, The Aire. Based in Naples, Florida, Euro Pianos Naples is a community leader actively engaged in artistic and commercial affairs, sponsoring a series of grand piano concerts featuring world class pianists.

A baby playing with a toy piano on the floor

March 4 2018

Choosing a Piano for Your Child

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Perhaps your child has expressed an interest in learning to play the piano, or you may be a parent who believes that a musical education in piano is a lifetime benefit and thus desire to give your offspring that gift. Whatever your reasons, when it comes time to buy that first piano for a beginner, there is a mine field of errors that can be made if you are not educated.

COST

Many parents or older beginners have no idea how expensive pianos are or what constitutes an optimal beginner piano. Cheaper is not necessarily better. A rag tag piano collecting dust at the back of the Used Piano store can be exorbitant to maintain if it won’t stay in tune. Salespeople may try to convince you to buy a brand new “starter piano” that looks lovely but is so poorly made on the inside with poor quality materials that will only lead to frustration. Pianos are complex. Repair and maintenance costs quickly mount over and above the cheap ticket price. Remember that there are over 10,000 moving parts in an acoustical piano, and poorly made upright and grand pianos are just repairs waiting to happen.

To submit a beginner to a wretched piano is a waste of your money and the child’s time. It would be like trying to teach a beginner to drive a car with engine parts missing. Such pianos will discourage any learner from enjoying the results of their practice. It is a myth that the beginner won’t recognize the difference. The quality of the music and progress quickly becomes part of the joy and pride of a pianist at any stage of their lessons. The quality of the music is a direct result of the relationship between the pianos and the person who strikes the keys. It is a dance from the very beginning, and a sure fire way to discourage success is to provide an inferior “toy” that produces no magic when it’s touched.

There is much to know about buying pianos, and parents certainly do not want to buy a top rated professional concert grand for their child, just to make sure it’s a good piano. They likely already have a hefty investment in music school or piano lessons. The truth is there are many moderately priced new or pre-owned pianos which are made with good materials by good craftsmen. It pays to find expert advice and not just to head willy nilly for the bargain basement.

QUALITY

If you read through the articles on this blog, you can glean a lot of information about manufacturers of good, reputable pianos at different prices. You can get a sense of the aesthetics by going through the photos on our website. Euro Pianos Naples is dedicated to being a source of informative and unbiased consultation on pianos that are worth your time and money and appropriate for your unique purpose and stage of life.

There are statistics on the internet confirming 80% of students beginning piano lessons on a new piano continue with lessons. Beginning lessons on a used piano reduces the chances your child will continue to play piano to 20%. This only makes sense. A quality instrument is going to give your child the very best chance at success and joy in learning. In addition, a quality instrument is likely to enhance your home by being a beautiful piece of furniture as well. Today’s families (whether they play piano or not) can opt to enjoy an acoustic piano with a modern wireless player piano system (run by an ipad or other electronic device) with recorded music of every genre, making the piano more than just an instrument for the beginner, but a musical source of entertainment and pleasure for the whole family, as well as providing music for your child to aspire to.

A new student overjoyed with her white Schimmel upright purchased from Euro Pianos Naples.

If you are inclined to buy an upright, either as a starter or due to a lack of space, there are many, many fine brands with state-of-the-art instruments that will last your family a lifetime and provide your child with the inspiration and limitless possibilities they need to really enjoy playing the piano.

We believe that inside every student there’s the potential for great art. If that “reality” is properly presented to a child, their chances of commitment and investment in music, indeed their love of music is almost certainly guaranteed.

Children are not only the future of the world, but they are the embodiment of what art represents, the spirit of man, and we urge everyone to support their dreams and talents with the best piano you can afford.

ABOUT EURO PIANOS NAPLES

A yellow and black sign with the words " caution buyer beware ".

February 27 2018

What You Need To Know Before Buying A Baby Grand Piano

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What Makes A Piano A Baby Grand?

Grand pianos, the three-legged “horizontally-sitting” stringed instruments were developed 300 years ago, an offshoot of the harpsichord and pianoforte. Originally, in sizes ranging from 6 to 8 feet, they were used in salons and house concerts. In time, larger concert halls and venues required more powerful sound, so the concert grand evolved into 9 and 10-foot pianos for professional solo and orchestral needs.

However, the increasing popularity of the piano in private homes, resulted in the need for a smaller grand piano. Upright pianos were being used because they didn’t take up a lot of floor space, but many people preferred the look of the three-legged design, if it was only smaller.

So how do you downsize a grand piano to a “baby” grand?

The 88-key keyboard had evolved (acoustic pianos with less keys were produced until the 1900’s) and become the standard piano width. More innovation would come with actions and stringing inside the case but the keyboard width itself could not be made smaller and still satisfy the wide musical scope of pianists.

So, in order to downsize the grand piano, it would have to be the string length and the tail of the piano that could be altered, not the width.

This new diminutive model – the baby grand – features a smaller soundboard and shorter strings – everything else remains the same. Since tonal quality of a piano is directly affected by the size of the soundboard and strings, manufacturers fight to create the best sound output for every square inch of the baby grand.

High-end piano manufacturers have been very successful at perfecting the sound of baby grand pianos. As an example, the maker of the Fazioli F156 baby grand, one of the finest pianos made, says that a critical factor in the sound of its pianos is the scientific selection of its woods, such as the “resonant spruce” obtained from the Val di Fiemme (where Stradivari reportedly sought woods for his violins.). Similarly, three different types of wood are used for the bridge caps, chosen for the most efficient transmission of tonal energy for a particular register. An incredible level of detail goes into their design and construction. Faziolis include very fine voicing — even perfect tuning of the duplex scales. The idea of all this detailed work is to make a baby grand, constructed with as much care, sound like Fazioli’s magnificent grand pianos, but suitable for a smaller environment than the concert hall.

In today’s piano world a variety of baby grand piano choices are available, including rare woods, acrylic components, metal components and customized colors and shapes. The globalization and development of piano production in Asia by many manufacturers brought pricing down dramatically, while the use of computer-controlled machinery continues to increase the quality and affordability of entry level models.

What Are The Dimensions Of A Baby Grand And How Small Can It Be?

So – you’ve decided to buy a baby grand. A certain amount of planning will help in your decisions and choices. How much room do you need?

When measuring your available space, remember that 3 feet of it is needed for the stool or bench. What’s left will dictate the appropriate length of the piano itself. Every baby grand piano is approximately 5’ (back to the 88-key keyboard) in width. A schematic of your room is often helpful.

What You Need To Know Before Buying A Baby Grand Piano

Baby Grand Piano Length

A baby grand piano is usually between 4’11” to 5’9” long, depending on the manufacturer and the model. The length is measured from the front of the piano keys to the very end of the backside or tail. See image below.

The shorter the piano, the shorter the strings and the smaller the soundboard. Every “petite” baby grand piano (under 5 feet) simply must be associated with a loss of tonal quality. A good rule of thumb is that the longer the piano, the better the piano will sound.

Baby Grand Piano Width

There are slight variations in baby grand piano widths from brand to brand, usually between 2 to 3 inches as a result of rim thickness or cast-iron plate design. The width of a grand piano is the same as the width of an upright piano (+/- 2 or 3 inches). So, while a vertical or upright piano may seem more compact, in reality its placement is limited to a wall (because the back of a vertical piano is sometimes not always pretty), and a baby grand can be placed with the front, tail or side into the room.

Tuck a baby grand into a cozy niche, just as you might an upright piano.

Placement & Positioning of a Piano

When planning your room, there are several things to consider when placing a baby grand piano. Try to avoid direct sunlight because UV rays can fade the wood finish. If you have windows treated with a protectant film, this is not a concern.

Pianos prefer a stable humidity level – 45% is ideal. Significant humidity fluctuations caused either by excessive air conditioning or heat from a furnace or fireplace will cause wood to expand and contract. Changes in humidity will result in a piano requiring more tuning, prolonged extra dry air may cause soundboard cracks, while extra humidity might cause strings and other metal to tarnish and keys to stick.

So, what do you do if your placement options are limited and your humidity fluctuates? There are remedies. You can have your piano technician install a Piano Life Saver System which is a humidifier and dehumidifier all in one.

Now that you’ve worked out the space the baby grand piano will occupy – how will you position it? Keys to the wall or keys into the room? Tail in or tail out? The good news is that there is no right or wrong. The one exception might be that if you have the piano lid opening directly into the wall, you will restrict the “sound bloom” of the piano. Otherwise – anything goes. A baby grand piano looks and sounds beautiful from many different angles. When the piano is delivered, ask the movers to try several different positions to see what you like best.

Lid open to the Wall – Not Recommended

Lid open away from Wall - Right

What Is The Weight Of A Baby Grand Piano?

Just as piano dimensions can vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, so do the weights of baby grands vary. Petite baby grands are closer to 600 pounds while larger baby grands will weigh approximately 700 pounds. You don’t have to worry about that much weight damaging or leaving marks on your floors. That’s easily avoided by using caster cups. Caster cups distribute the weight of the piano and act as a cushion to protect your floors. We, at Euro Pianos Naples, make it a point to include these caster cups with the purchase of every piano.

Don’t Save On Piano Moving Costs

Pianos are composed of a myriad of complex internal mechanisms, and while the heavy weight of the instrument might suggest an indestructible piece of furniture, it is anything but. It is an expensive and delicate keepsake that requires special care. A piano, ANY piano, should only be moved by professional piano movers and NOT by standard house movers if you want to avoid damage.

What do professional piano movers know that the DIY or house movers don’t? There is a body of knowledge and specialized equipment required to properly move a piano. It has to be wrapped properly, tilted without damaging the lyre and legs and secured to a piano moving board also knows as a skid board. Many specialized piano moving companies have special equipment, dollies and mechanized trollies to insure safety.

The cost to repair the inner and/or outer damage to the piano case caused by non-professional movers can be substantial. Always ask for a piano mover’s insurance certificate that specifically covers and names you and your piano. Every move is different, and a professional mover can anticipate the challenges of your particular location. Don’t ever think there isn’t an answer to problems of delivery, however. Want to see how complicated piano moves can be? Watch this video of a professional mover’s challenge.

Fazioli M Liminal delivery by Euro Pianos

How Much Does A Baby Grand Piano Cost?

Prices for new baby grand pianos range anywhere between $10,000 to $120,000. Variances in the quality of pianos and the corresponding differences in materials, engineering, design and workmanship translate into pricing differences between manufacturers. The old adage “You get what you pay for” is definitely true when it comes to a product as complex as a baby grand piano.

You might compare shopping for a baby grand piano to shopping for an automobile. Brands make an enormous difference. If you purchase a Rolls Royce you expect a very high quality in craftsmanship, materials, design and exclusivity as well as a memorable VIP shopping experience. On the other hand if you purchase a Suzuki, you are purchasing a fully functional car with a different quality level at a very different price point. The same can be said for baby grand pianos.

Mass-produced baby grand pianos come from factories that churn out 20,000 to 50,000 pianos annually – they typically cost between $10,000 – $20,000. There’s a limit to what can be expected from a factory that ships out 50,000 pianos annually. A baby grand piano from one of these factories will have the same shape and the same number of keys as the high-end manufacturer, but there the similarities end.

A high-end baby grand piano like Fazioli, Bluthner, or Bosendorfer takes up to 2 years to produce going through hundreds of hours of meticulous piano regulation, assembly and quality control not unlike the finest Swiss watches. It’s the little things, often unseen, that count the most. Such quality piano-building has to increase the price of the piano as well as its value.

What else might affect the price of baby grand pianos? Think of the typical black finish as the “base” model. While a black baby grand piano is quite elegant, not everyone wants a black piano. Some prefer to customize their homes, creating an interior style, furnishings, colors and themes. A modern light color design might not fit with a basic black piano. In that case, they could customize a piano to enhance this decor. These days a variety of manufacturers offer many colors, exotic finishes, some involving hi tech components like carbon fiber and acrylic which are leading to new designs and piano shapes. Acrylic is super popular right now and Euro Pianos Naples offers the Aire™ acrylic baby grand piano available in black and white finishes. Notice how a black piano with acrylic is no longer “heavy” looking.

Adding upgrades—such as a state of the art of player systems which transforms the baby grand piano into a versatile entertainment center or adding a transparent piano bar will affect the price as well.

7 Things To Consider When Buying A Baby Grand.

1. Size

Baby grand pianos vary in size – try to purchase the largest (longest) baby grand you can afford or have room for. You will not be sorry. Avoid purchasing a grand piano less than 5’. Don’t forget to leave 3’ room for the bench.

2. The Interior

Thousands of parts inhabit a baby grand piano, and most people don’t know many of them. Buyers should be made aware of the important parts, their quality, and what their purpose is.

The Plate sometimes called the Harp or Cast Iron Frame holds over 18 tons of string tension in place. Two popular manufacturing methods are sandcasting (the more time consuming method preferred by the better manufacturers as it enhances the tone) or quick molding vacuum casting commonly used in mass produced baby grand pianos.

The Soundboard is a large, thin wooden board that sits under the plate and strings, and its purpose is to transform the string energy into audible sounds. Quarter sawn spruce grown in high altitudes (slow growing densely grained wood) is used in the higher end pianos. The edges are tapered to increase flexibility which results in greater sound dynamics. Spruce ribs reinforce the soundboard. Designing the placement of the ribs and installing the soundboard is a very delicate process. Some manufacturers go to great lengths to ensure this “heart” of the piano is perfect. This of course greatly adds to the expense of the piano. Engineered, laminated soundboards are increasingly popular in consumer grade mass produced pianos.

The Strings attach to hitch pins at the tail of the piano and to tuning pins on the pinblock. More than 200 strings serve the 88 keys. There are treble strings (with three strings per key), bass strings (a single string per key) and mid-range strings (usually 2 strings per key). High-end piano manufacturers spend a great deal of effort engineering their pianos to ensure a barely noticeable tonal transition between the treble, mid and bass string sections. Bass strings are typically a steel wire wound with copper. High-end baby grand pianos may feature hand wound bass strings to improve sound quality, otherwise most bass strings today are machine wound.

The Action is the mechanical assembly which translates the depression of a piano key into a hammer motion that strikes the strings. The Action is one of the most complex areas of the piano consisting of thousands of moving parts. Hammers, hammer shanks, springs, felts, back checks, bushings, keybeds (a frame on which the action sits) and the better that each component is individually the better they will work together providing consistently even play. Some manufacturers use carbon fiber to minimize wear and tear on piano actions. I’ve heard that Renner actions are the best? Renner manufactures actions for a variety of piano makers in different price ranges. Does Steinway use a Renner actions? Steinway New York build their own actions in house. As such, Steinway New York replacement parts are available only through Steinway at premium prices. Steinway in Hamburg (as well as Fazioli arguably makers of the finest pianos) use Renner actions. Fazioli even goes a step further – they spend additional time meticulously disassembling, testing and reassembling the Renner action. Your baby grand action should be regulated by a technician as part of ongoing piano maintenance. Regulation is in addition to tuning.

What is duplex scale? A duplex scale adds sympathetic vibrations to the speaking length of the string. Duplex scale is not a must. Some manufacturers incorporate them even adding tunable duplex scales to further purify the tone and some manufacturers like Bosendofer (a Tier One piano) do not use duplex scale at all in their design. Our advice is not to overthink this feature.

3. The Exterior

The exterior of a piano is not only about the cosmetics, parts of the exterior also affect the sound.

The Rim of the piano are the pieces of wood bent to surround and hold the interior mechanisms. In most cases the thickness (more layers are better) and the type of wood (how long it has been seasoned, if naturally or kiln dried) is a good indicator of the quality of the piano. On expensive pianos you may find rims with up to 18 laminations or layers of maple and mahogany.

Number of Pedals. Three pedals are the standard. Sustain pedal on the right which lifts all the dampers, Sostenuto in the middle which selects the specific note(s) a pianist wishes to individually sustain, and the Soft pedal on the left which decreases the power of the entire piano by lifting all hammers closer to the strings. Very basic baby grand pianos may have a middle pedal that is not a true Sostenuto (they cheat by lifting the dampers in the bass section). Unless you are a professional pianist you’ll be using only the right and left pedals. Pedals are made of solid brass or in some consumer grade pianos they are brass plated. If you’re installing a player system on your piano, make sure your installer leaves the right and left pedals functional. Some installers may cut corners.

Adjustable Lid Prop(s) has the purpose of giving the option of having the piano fully open or somewhat open. Having multiple adjusting levels is a plus because it gives you control over the sound output and the look.

The Fallboard is the piece that falls forward to cover the keyboard when it’s not in use. Most modern pianos will have a slow-closing fallboard to prevent it from dropping too quickly.

The Casters at the bottom of the piano legs allow your piano to be rolled (if you have the appropriate flooring to do such a thing). Most baby grand pianos will have single wheel brass casters. Expensive baby grand pianos may have double wheel solid brass casters.

4. The Difference Between Piano Brands

There are dozens of brands in the piano manufacturing industry today producing everything from baby grand pianos to concert grand pianos, some among these concentrate on producing the most exclusive and highest quality pianos while the purpose of others is to produce a more affordable baby grand piano.

If you’re buying one of the iconic brands like Fazioli, Bosendorfer, Bluthner, Sauter or Steinway you know that you will receive a very high level of quality albeit at a premium price tag.

The quality of economy pianos has improved dramatically since the introduction of computer numerical control (CNC) machinery manufacturing. Many European and American companies have implemented a strict level of quality control as well as incorporated their designs to produce a quality entry level instrument. With the strong demand for affordable ($10,000 – $20,000) pianos, these companies have introduced lower priced lines of pianos to successfully compete on the market. Cost cutting is usually achieved by using less expensive materials, less intensive quality control and regulation in the final stages. Keep in mind, if you are buying an Essex (an entry level brand designed by Steinway) you are not buying a Steinway.

5. Warranty

By law, piano warranties are either full or limited. If you had a 10 year full warranty, it would remain in effect for the entire ten years, regardless of piano ownership, whereas limited warranties cover only the original purchaser. If you plan on selling or trading up within a few years, a full warranty offers protection to the new owner, increasing the piano’s value to them, and may justify a little higher selling price or trade-in value.

The length of warranties is usually five to fifteen years, and their length has nothing to do with the quality of the instrument. Warranties are often marketing tools, and can be used just to bolster sales. The owner has the responsibility to annually tune, regulate and check the piano.

6. New Versus Used

When you decide to purchase a baby grand piano, you may be considering a used baby grand vs a new one. You might be lucky to find a pre-owned baby grand piano (5 – 10 years old) from a top-quality manufacturer, well maintained not having been too heavily used (because that can sometimes add wear and tear) and save a little bit of money over buying a new baby grand piano. Unfortunately, that may be a rare find. You’ll most likely be buying remotely – hopefully from a trustworthy seller. It is imperative to have an independent piano professional who will inspect and report on the piano. Make sure to get the serial number (age) as well as the model number (specifications & where it was built). Those two things will provide you with details about the origin of the piano.

Most of the used piano market is comprised of pianos that are 50+ years old and cheaper for a reason. Besides the exterior or case of the piano which may have nicks, scratches, or discoloration, your most important factor is what is the condition of the piano inside. A soundboard crown that is gradually flattening over time may increasingly be less capable of producing its original sound dynamic. Discolored and tarnished strings (maybe even rusted) may rattle and even break. A pinblock which is responsible for holding the tune of the piano may no longer be capable of retaining the tension necessary to keep the piano in tune having been repeatedly had each pin turned and twisted during tunings. Ask yourself – are you planning on using the piano for musical purposes or is it simply decorative. Are you willing to sink money into the higher maintenance fees required by an older piano?

If your answer is no, you’re better off buying a new warrantied piano and sleeping well from the get go.

What about rebuilt pianos? Do not expect a properly rebuilt piano to be cheap. There are very few shops or technicians capable of doing this type of work well. When you take an old piano and completely gut it, you are in effect (re) building the piano. Some parts will of course remain such as the rim and the plate of the piano and these will just be refinished. Everything else will be rebuilt or replaced. If you find a rebuilt Steinway or Mason & Hamlin, are you really buying a Steinway or is it just a pretty cabinet carrying the Steinway logo with a subpar piano parts and workmanship. Some dealers take advantage of the name but it is up to you to research to confirm that the rebuilder is qualified and using top notch parts and materials.

7. Player Systems

Today’s player piano systems offer an entire entertainment center invisibly housed under your baby grand with sophisticated electronics that provide state-of-the-art sound, and extensive libraries of music controlled by the user.

The addition of a player piano system won’t affect the use of your piano in its normal capacity at all. But now you can be entertaining, dining, or sitting quietly and listening to the greatest artists playing the musical selections of your choice as vividly as if the artists were performing them right at your own piano. The technology today is incredible and you will get more use out of your piano.

All electronic components are under the piano, they control the keyboard and the pedals. Your piano is playing itself, creating a sound-experience which can be described as the musical equivalent of “high definition,” enchanting every listener.

The player system is operated using a device of your choice be it iPhone, iPad, Android or via a front mounted control box. The latest models of PianoDisc or QRS PianoMation can also be controlled through Alexa.

Repertoire includes numerous award-winning artists, Grammy winners, Top 10 chart artists and winners of international piano competitions.

A player system can be added to a new or existing piano. To ensure proper installation and operation of this fairly complex system, we recommend using only certified PianoDisc or QRS technicians. Euro Pianos Naples provides PianoDisc installations and upgrades in South Florida.

Is A Digital Baby Grand Piano As Good An Acoustic Baby Grand Piano?

Simply put no. But there are certain features in a digital baby grand that you might find appealing.

Sound

What do you think sounds better an orchestra or a recording of an orchestra? To reproduce the sound of a piano, it must be recorded using a very high-quality microphone to an audio source, then reading the audio file onto a high-quality device after which the sound is reproduced through the speaker system (probably the weakest link in the chain). Digital pianos only produce previously recorded sounds, while an acoustic piano allows you to create an array of tonal nuances. There is no comparison between the sound of an acoustic baby grand piano to that of a digital grand piano.

Nuances Of Touch

The action on a baby grand piano as you read above is a complex mechanism consisting of thousands of moving parts that transform energy to the string when you press a key. The more expensive digital baby grand piano will try to mimic the weight distribution of an acoustic piano key, but advanced pianists will still notice the limitations of the action.

Pedals

Acoustic baby grands come with three or four pedals. Some digital baby grands have only one pedal. If pedaling is important to your playing, make sure to purchase a digital baby grand piano with 3 pedals.

Add-Ons And Perks

What the digital piano may lack in terms of sound, they make it up with some additional features.

Instruments besides the piano. With the digital piano, you can produce the sound of almost any instrument, ranging from a saxophone to a choir and everything in between. You can compose with the different instruments, choosing what best suits you. A drum beat track, for example, could transform your keyboard into a small ensemble.

Recording: Your digital baby grand has a port that connects to your computer. This connection allows you to record and store your own music and playing as a digital file. This is a very useful tool, especially for budding songwriters, who can manipulate their recordings with software. Acoustic pianos can be outfitted with a recording strip that would do just the same.

Volume control: The digital piano comes with a volume knob and a headphone output, allowing you to practice anywhere without disturbing others. This is the single biggest advantage to purchasing a digital grand piano.

Staying in Tune: Because there are no strings, digital pianos do not require tuning. If you are in a climate where you are unable to stabilize the humidity (we are talking about drastic humidity changes), you should consider a digital piano. Beachfront restaurants or cruise ships come to mind.

Exterior Case: Design options are very limited for digital baby grand pianos. Unlike acoustic pianos which are available in rare woods, acrylic, inlays, metal and the like.

Size: Acoustic pianos make use of every possible inch of length to improve sound (longer strings, larger soundboard area) whereas digital pianos employ acoustic systems. That is why digital pianos can be as short as 2 feet. Any additional length is for decorative purposes only.

Price

Digital baby grands can cost as low as $3,000 and go up to $25,000.00 depending upon the size and features you choose.

The resale value of a digital piano is much less than that of an acoustic piano. Think of reselling a digital piano like reselling a computer. Because the technology changes so rapidly even the best-selling models will become obsolete. And then there’s the question of repairs if something fails. Will you be able to find a replacement circuit board 5 or 10 years down the road? Therefore, the acoustic piano is costlier but a much better investment in the long-run.

Baby Grand Pianos We Really Like

F156 – by FAZIOLI

This baby grand piano may look like a traditional typical baby grand piano but it is anything but. There is so much going on under the hood that results in stellar sound quality, lightning fast action, exterior and interior design on this piano is just beautiful. Less than 150 Fazioli pianos are produced annually making this a truly hand crafted instrument. If this is your selection – you are guaranteed to be a member of a very exclusive club. And, if money is no object, know that Fazioli also builds outstanding designer pianos.

Hive Elegance – By Bluethner

Besides their line of traditional looking pianos, Bluthner also produces an ever-expanding line of acrylic baby grand pianos. The Hive elegance is available in black, white or red as a baby grand and in larger sizes.

Aire™ Acrylic Baby Grand – by Euro Pianos

This is a baby grand piano we designed in response to our clients seeking an affordable transparent grand piano. The Aire™ is available with white or black trim and your choice of chrome or brass hardware.

A woman playing the piano in front of a window.

February 23 2018

What is the Best Piano For Beginners?

Sunny R Under The Lid Piano Blog how to series

They say it’s never too late to learn. But for an adult who is interested in learning piano and doesn’t get a start as a child, it may look like a daunting challenge. Where to begin? There is much to know about pianos and music, and one might be correct to think it’s difficult. A lot of the difficulty depends on the intentions and desires of the beginner. Any endeavor that requires dedication and focus, such as making music, brings its own rewards. We believe the entire process involved is a noble and humbling effort. The more passion one has for the process, the more successful one will be.

Children who start piano lessons at a young age have an easier time of it because they have no preconceived ideas of it being difficult or complicated and the young brain of a child is much more adept at quick learning. Adults may have heard stories or read accounts of others’ learning curves and fear that learning to play the piano is beyond them. All of us have watched extraordinary professionals and thought, “Wow, I could never do that!” And it may be true that we can’t all master the piano like a concert pianist, but that’s not to say we can’t enjoy playing the piano and do it well. Myriad people, from ages five to eighty-five have learned piano and have reaped immeasurable pleasures from doing so.

7 Benefits of Playing Piano

There is no other instrument that accomplishes the level of solo musicality that a piano does.

The piano provides both melody and harmony, thus does not need any accompaniment. In fact, usually the piano is the accompaniment to other instruments. Most sonatas for cello, violin, clarinet etc. are written with the piano as the accompaniment.
A piano makes a coherent tuneful sound right from the very beginning. Depress a key and you have a lovely note! Other instruments may take many months of study before a pleasant sound is produced (this is especially true of brass and string instruments as many a parent will attest!)
Mastering the piano requires a unique co-ordination which together with regular practice cultivates cognitive skills. You really do have to multi-task which builds useful mental skills!
Playing the piano often leads to performance opportunities whether for family and friends or at teacher recitals or even proper concerts. Learning to focus on sharing music rather than on our own fears and insecurities develops confidence and presentation skills necessary in life.
People play piano to relax. Surprisingly many physicians, politicians, lawyers and actors play piano to decompress after a difficult day.
For younger children – studying the piano aids in understanding math. Time signatures specify how many beats there are in bar. Notes each have a value (some are fractions). Learning to navigate a piece of music (often with the aid of a good teacher) is empowering and educational.
Seniors who suffer from Alzheimers or Dementia often find it hard to communicate. Music can be a wonderful gateway. That is why pianists in a senior’s residence are so popular. The residents are engaged and joyful when the piano begins to play.

To elaborate on that a bit:

Playing piano can be many things to different people. It can fulfill a creative urge. It can enhance social life and entertain or comfort others. It can be a serious profession for teachers and those playing in piano bars, places of worship and in acclaimed concert halls. It can be a hobby, an obsession, a pastime, or a way of growing cognitively, physically and emotionally.

Yes, there have been studies that learning to make music changes the brain and in children actually boosts their academic performance. One who has studied this is Glenn Schellenberg, a psychologist at the University of Toronto who conducts research on the effect of music and musical instruction, as well as being a music conductor. He suggests that spending money and time on music lessons and practice is a solid investment in mental fitness.

For all of music’s beauty, power and capacity to move us, researchers have concluded that music is just a mood drug if it is consumed only passively. If you want music to sharpen your senses, boost your ability to focus and perhaps even improve your memory, the latest word from science is you’ll need to play an instrument yourself!

Schellenberg’s research also addresses how children who take music lessons differ from other children. Children not exposed to music lessons tend to have a lower IQ than children that are taking music lessons. The music lessons themselves then cause further improvements in IQ.

So, it’s not a far stretch to believe that anyone wishing to better themselves will benefit from music lessons, even adults who did not have an opportunity to take piano lessons as a child. The point is: It’s never too late to learn.

What Kind Of Piano Should A Beginner Buy?

The best piano for beginners is realistically the very best piano you can afford. Do not make learning the piano impossible or needlessly difficult by not providing a proper or even a good piano, something that lets the beginner understand how notes should sound during the learning process.

Many beginners feel they don’t deserve a good piano until their playing improves. How can it improve without a good piano? It’s a classic chicken and egg situation. Do not let that determine your choice – purchase the best piano you can comfortably afford and go forward from there. We have included studio, consoles and baby grands to accommodate everything from the affordable to the high-end best. MSRP prices are often discounted by dealers, and these are based on most simple (usually black) cases available. Other color and wood options and customizations can affect prices.

The Top 10 Best Pianos for Beginners

Here are the top ten pianos we recommend for beginners.

Pearl River EU122 MSRP $6,695

This award-winning piano is a 48” upright, suitable for all level of players. Made by the largest piano builder in the world, with over 4,000 employees and extraordinary quality control, the Pearl River pianos have been redesigned recently by Swiss expert, Lothar Thomma.

We especially like it because it has a feature normally found in much more expensive models. The treble section where the most tension exists, has been given greater strength by back posts which provide an even, pleasant tone across the piano. In addition the bridge is notched by hand, the felt used on the hammerheads is premium German, and the complex construction of the spruce keybed can withstand heavy use.

Hailun HU5-P MSRP $12.466

This 50” studio upright piano is powerful but well balanced. Larger than a standard 48”, it is not overpowering like some 52” instruments. Played quietly, the tone is felt-soft, but with more vigor, it quickly converts to a bolder sound, making it very responsive with a colorful tone. German Wurzen felt is the secret to good sound. With relaxed keys, touch is still firm.

The well-made Hailun parts give the added benefit of stability of action and tuning. It carries an exclusive PAS Keyboard Stability System. A laminated maple pin block, bass agraffes, and wet sand cast plate and all wood European action parts provide a lot of control for the pianist. A nice touch on this model is the slow-close fallboard and classic lines of the design.

Ritmüller UH-121RA MSRP $9,995

The 48” Ritmuller UH-121RA is one of the uprights that benefited from an affiliation with the Pearl River Group and re-engineering from Swiss expert Lothar Thomma. The range of upgrades added quality components including plate modification for new scales, new string lengths, and double wheel metal casters to name only a few.

Ritmuller which originated in Germany now under the parent Pearl River, competes in the Asian market, against Yamaha and Kawai. In the lower end models, they outperform them. In the higher end models, they are competitive at a much lower price, and challenges them in musicality and sustaining tone. Ritmuller UH121 was singled out by the definitive “Pianobuyer.com” as their favorite piano in this category.

Charles R. Walter 1520 MSRP $17,500 - $19,000 (dependent on cabinet)

The Walter 1520 consoles are not called studio pianos but in fact carry the same size action as their professional studio pianos with the same long strings, and long keys. At under 43” it is a smaller piano but with the added inducement of beautifully styled furniture cases in many designs such as Queen Anne, French or Italian Provincial, Traditional, and more. Furniture cabinetry sometimes becomes a major factor in choosing an instrument that will reside in a living room or parlor of the home.

The 1520 has a pleasing tone, and excellent tuning stability with warranted reliable parts.

Sauter Pure MSRP $39,900

For the truly high-end upright that excels in performance as well as design, we must mention the Sauter Pure Basic 48” upright. Designed by Peter Maly, a famous German designer exclusively for the high-end Sauter piano brand, the Pure has the clean lines and Bauhaus simplicity to compliment any décor–an art piece in its own right. More importantly, the Sauter components within are representative of one of the finest German piano builders in history, founded in 1819.

Sauter pianos are especially known for their lush, full, singing tone, and for the variety of finishes and styles in which they are available.

Ritmüller GH-148R MSRP $16,495

This 4’10” baby grand is another product falling under the Pearl River umbrella that was re-engineered by Thomma, resulting in an instrument with warm-toned bass and middle sections, and slightly bright top end tones, and a nice even touch. It’s an ideal choice for a grand piano at a moderate price. It has the same action and sostenuto and feel comparable to the performance of a larger grand for a higher price.

Hailun HG178 MSRP $30,024

The 5 ft. 10 in. Hailun HG 178 grand is known for its dynamic action and rich tone. It has a cast iron plate and solid spruce board, and boasts a slow-close lid that has been nicknamed “the finger saver.” Hailun has spent years improving their products. By investing in computer-controlled machinery for precision keys, keybeds, and more, they have achieved an unusually high level of precision, with the pianos showing intelligent design and quality control.

The founder, Chen Hailun, in an entrepreneur in the Western style and is deeply involved in every aspect of the company, thus earning the respect of both American and European dealers.

Kawai GX-2BLAK MSRP $45,495

The GX-2BLAK grand piano from Kawai is 5’11” was the winner of the 2017 coveted “Product Excellence Award” from Music Inc. Magazine with its exquisite clarity of tone. This piano was upgraded from an RX model to replicate the sound quality of 6’ and 7’ grand pianos. Kawai features an advanced Millennium III Action providing a dynamic range between thundering fortissimos to delicate pianissimos. In addition, the keys of the GX-2BLAK are longer and their mahogany hammers are the preferred wood for a lighter, faster keystroke and release.

A more complex sound was achieved by laminating the bridge, so the vibrating string frequencies travel through various optimized hardwood layers of the bridge to the solid spruce soundboard. It has great sustain – the sound hanging in air after release – comparable to much more expensive instruments.

The Aire™ Piano MSRP $49,995

There’s nothing that says beginners might not prefer a highly- fashionable designer piano. The 5’3” Aire™ baby grand acrylic piano is just such an instrument, the only American made acrylic piano, and offered at an affordable price. A glossy wooden case creatively fused to acrylic legs, lid and lyre transforms a behemoth in the room into airy art that seems to levitate.

Manufactured in Miami, Florida by Euro Pianos Naples, the Aire™ is the hot new piano featured on the March 2019 cover of Architectural Digest. It has also been featured in the New York Times, Australian Vogue, and other major publications. Its high-quality non-yellowing acrylic and performance quality sound make it a favorite in modern homes as well as professional venues.

Fazioli F156 MSRP $120,000

In knowledgeable piano circles, when people discuss “the best piano,” there is one brand that will always come up. Fazioli, an Italian piano builder and a relative newcomer (since 1981) to the industry, simply makes magnificent instruments. When money is no object, and you want the best that money can buy, the 5’2’ Fazioli F156 baby grand is probably your best choice.

The smallest model of their collection, this baby grand has remarkably powerful and clear sound. Handmade by artisans, each component of the Fazioli is crafted with no detail ignored. Fazioli refuses any industrial approach to piano building, and pursues the objective of uncompromised quality. When you don’t know how to drive, but nothing will do but a Ferrari, the Fazioli is the piano choice for you.

Other Things To Consider

Learning to play piano is an exciting and beneficial addition to your life. It takes time and patience, commitment and enthusiasm to see it through, but anyone who’s done so can tell you what a wonderful adventure it is. So, if you have considered all that, here’s what’s left:

Budget

Nobody can truly judge what the best beginner piano is for you. Each situation is unique depending on the available time, goals, and passion of the person learning not to mention the finances. It’s obvious that most beginners are not going to go out and buy a high-end luxury piano before they even know how to play. But there are lower priced excellent instruments that can be used to assure performance value without having to mortgage the farm to pay for it.

We cannot stress enough that the quality of the instrument is directly related to the success of students, in studies done over the years. A good piano will produce good results, and a student needs encouragement. So, we reiterate, buy the best you can afford.

Piano location

Depending on how much space is available in your home, the type of piano you buy may be dictated by floor space. A small upright piano might be just the thing for your apartment or modest living room. People who have the luxury of a dedicated “music room” (or basement) or have large living quarters, tend to buy a baby grand. It pays to plan ahead and measure the available space before shopping for your instrument.

Difference Between A Piano And A Keyboard

Beginners sometimes think that they should start with a keyboard because it’s small, cheap and gives you the wiggle room to change your mind. (Hardly the commitment needed to learn piano). So, just what is a keyboard?

According to Wikipedia, a keyboard is basically a portable set of white and black piano-style keys which the player presses, thus connecting switches which trigger electronic circuits to generate sound. Most keyboards use a keyboard matrix circuit to reduce the amount of wiring necessary. Electronic keyboards often use unweighted keys to save costs and reduce the weight of the instrument.

In today’s market, advances have been made, placing the keyboards on stands with legs, and installing them in empty piano cases for stage events. Digital pianos evolved which typically have weighted or semi-weighted keys, trying to replicate the feel of an acoustic piano.

Electronic keyboards should have 88 keys in order to be full size. Anything less is confusing when you find yourself at a regular piano (which you undoubtedly will at some point). It is also important to have a “touch sensitive” keyboard – so that you can play a note loudly or softly which is necessary as you learn to play the “dynamics” in music. As you progress, an acoustic piano will be necessary.

A keyboard might be just the thing for someone who travels a lot and wants to practice when they are on the road, for example, or they may wish to practice at home with headphones so not to disturb others.

With that being said, the difference between keyboards and acoustical pianos is enormous. We strongly believe that the acoustic piano is superior to the digital, because it produces music created by the individual touch on keys hitting hammers on real strings. The vibrations of those strings create harmonic overtones that sound simultaneously, creating a beautifully full and rich sound.

Acoustic pianos offer a range and tone, and a keyboard-touch response that the best digital piano is hard put to match. All students should have the chance to practice, at the very least, on an acoustic model to understand the performance values between well-made and mass-produced pianos, much less electronic keyboards.

Self -Playing Piano Player Systems – Do You Need One?

Player piano systems have evolved from the old 1920’s punched paper rolls in Grandma’s upright to elaborate and sophisticated electronic devices that offer many options today. They are installed unseen in the piano, and can be operated with iPad, iPhone, iPod or other electronic devices. PianoDisc, one of the leading brands in the market, seamlessly integrates with your home audio or video systems, so you can watch performers in amazing high definition video format. Entire music repertoires are available in every genre, all your favorites at the touch of your finger.

There’s no doubt that listening to professionals can enhance the learning of the beginner, so one could say that having this system installed in your piano as a tool for nuance and method might very well work. It might not be a needed tool, but in addition to the exposure to piano music, the entertainment value for family and friends makes the device a great addition to the family piano. A trained player piano technician can install these easy to operate systems.

Finding A Teacher And Taking Lessons

There are many ways to learn piano. A competent piano teacher who comes to the house and spends an hour with you on the family upright is a model that still works. There are many excellent teachers available, as well as professional pianists who competently teach piano in their off time.

The costs for such private tutoring is usually commensurate with the abilities and reputation of the teacher. It helps to do your research, and ask around, “who do you know that gives piano lessons for beginners?” Colleges, universities, libraries, as well as any neighbors or friends who play are a good starting point. The internet will undoubtedly have a list of teachers in your location. Just ask for references and you should have no problem.

Through the magic of the internet, you can now buy beginner’s piano lessons online (Check Out Amazon’s Best Sellers), or even avail yourself of free lessons, but to seriously pursue beginner’s piano, we would encourage you to find a real, live teacher. There is no substitute for hands-on learning and discussion. Someone needs to hear your playing to correct your errors in real time, and to see you in order to correct a beginner’s piano hand position – a very important foundational aspect when learning piano.

Most pianists are nervous to play in front of others, so it helps to have someone to play for in person right from the get go. It is hard to learn physical activities from the page. Driving a car, playing golf or learning piano are activities that naturally call for tutorage. In order to develop good practice habits, it also helps to have assignments and goals set by a professional who knows the steps to learning properly and moving forward. Besides – it never hurts to have your teacher right there to praise your progress!

Having said that, there are many, many amateur pianists enjoying their music who have never had a formal lesson. Some people just have the ability and discipline to dig in and learn on their own. It might be more difficult, but that is the way they are wired and how they learn best. To this, we can only say the best of luck and may you succeed. Some people can play by ear. Trained people read from the sheet music. Your own individuality will dictate a lot of the learning process. Find a teacher that suits your personality, learning style and goals.

What needs to be learned, you might ask? There is much to learn, including: Sight reading, Notes, Intervals, Chords, Theory, Ear Training, Scales, Arpeggios, Rhythm, Articulation, Technique, Interpretive skills and Compositions. Does that sound like a lot? It’s not more than any person learns in doing something really well–including building a home, playing world class bridge, or competing in any sport. The details coming together is what makes the success so sweet.

Music is a world with its own language, and you will be learning to fit into that world. With practice, you can graduate from Chopsticks to Chopin if you have determination and focus. You may want to compose music or play lullabies for your baby. You may wish to jam with your friends Friday nights or lead your church Worship Team on Sundays. Every person has their own goals, their own dream. The main thing to remember is that it’s a journey, a process. So. make sure you enjoy it. If you are always expecting quick, perfect results, you will rob yourself of the joys of learning piano.

About Euro Pianos Naples

Euro Pianos Naples is a respected distributor of European luxury musical instruments. The company’s origin dates back to 1965. Euro Pianos represents world renowned brands such as Sauter, and it has recently become a manufacturer of its own acrylic instrument – The Aire. Apart from being a successful retailer, consultant, and entrepreneur organization, Euro Pianos is actively engaged in the artistic and community life of Naples, Florida as an organizer and supporter of musical events throughout the years.