Buying a Piano-Where to Start

Perhaps you have recently found yourself wanting to learn to play the piano. Congratulations! Music is a wonderful art form that provides numerous benefits. If you need to purchase a piano, you might find yourself a little overwhelmed by the numerous piano stores and types of pianos. This article will help take the guesswork out of this important decision.

First, it is essential to understand that learning to play the piano is a lifelong process that requires daily, consistent practice. Therefore, since we will be spending so much time with our piano it is important to have one that we love. We want a piano to inspire us to go back to it again and again. Therefore, the most important thing to consider is our budget. We want to get the best piano we can afford. The size, shape and color do not matter if we don’t enjoy the sound and touch of our instrument.

Some might believe that a piano is a piano. This is not the case. Some pianos are old; some are new; some are made in factories; some are handmade. There are upright pianos and grand pianos. So, with all of these varieties, how does one decide what the best piano is? This becomes particularly challenging if one has never even played before.

I think the best way to sort through all of this information is to educate yourself as well as you can. While there are numerous articles on this subject, I recommend you start by visiting an authorized Steinway dealer. I say this because Steinway, according to the many concert pianists, technicians and my own experience makes the best pianos. Further, Steinway dealers enjoy explaining what makes their pianos the best.

Now, while not everyone will be able to afford a new Steinway, educating oneself on this piano will help one understand what compromises are the best to make if you have to, while still having a wonderful piano.

A piano dealer once told me there is only one way to tell he did his job: if during his follow up call, the person says, "I love my new piano." If he hears, "Well . . . it’s alright." He knows he could have done better. Finding a quality piano that will provide years of enjoyment rarely happens with luck. The best way to ensure success with this endeavor is to find out what makes a piano the best and then get as many of those qualities as you can afford.

.

 Jeffrey Pettijohn, a pianist, composer and teacher lives in Seattle, Washington and teaches on a Steinway and Sons designed Essex piano.