Piano Buying Tips from Steinway & Sons

Here are some tips about buying a piano that I’ve found to be true in my career that you could consider using as part of your piano buyer’s guide.

The three keys to succeeding at the piano are: a good teacher, committed parents and a good instrument. As soon as you remove one or two of these elements, the chances of succeeding go down drastically.

When buying your first piano, invest in as good of a piano as you can afford because the people who benefit the most from a high-quality instrument are those who are learning to play. The better the piano sounds and plays, the more the learner will want to practice and fall in love with playing resulting in a much higher chance that they will become a lifelong player. A concert pianist has already spent 10,000 hours playing on good pianos and will make anything sound great.

Despite generous trade-up policies offered by some retailers, the truth is that most people only buy one acoustic piano in their lifetime. For this reason, it is important to buy as good of a piano as you can, so that you have an instrument to grow into over time rather than grow out of.

The old adage that the bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of a low price is forgotten definitely applies when shopping for a piano!

When considering an acoustic piano purchase, it is important to remember that this is an instrument that will likely be in your family for the next 50-60 years, so it is important to choose wisely and not let price be your only consideration. Take the long-term view.

Traditional acoustic pianos have historically given students a higher chance of success in learning to play when compared to digital pianos and keyboards. Acoustic pianos also have a much longer lifespan, much better value retention, and are generally more aesthetically pleasing. Most importantly, acoustic pianos are the real thing, while digital pianos are a simulation.

When considering a piano purchase, prioritize quality over quantity. A quality upright is a better choice than lesser-quality grand piano for the same money.

Unlike many other musical instruments, pianos do not get better with age and vintage pianos are not desirable. Only consider a pre-owned piano if a new one isn’t a financial possibility. When considering pre-owned pianos, condition is more important than age.

Choosing a piano is not nearly as daunting as it seems. The piano that makes you linger and not want to stop playing is the right piano for you.

Lastly, don’t be afraid to take advantage of financing options in order to stretch for the right piano. There is no such thing as getting too much piano, whereas not getting enough piano is a definite possibility. Most families end up spending significantly more on piano lessons than they do on the piano they purchase, so you don’t want to risk the greater investment in lessons by not buying enough of a piano.

I hope this helps and look forward to hearing your thoughts!