Piano Buying 101
Peruse any number of luxury real estate listings we've covered and you might notice that along with rain showerhead, granite countertops and Eames chairs, you might often find a grand piano anchoring the corner of a gracious living room. Owning a piano has always been a shorthand for expressing a certain standard of elegant living. But of course it's more than that, it can be an entertainer, a stress reliever and the heart of a home. Larry Fine, the author of The Piano Book ,recently released the latest edition of Acoustic & Digital Piano Buyer a twice-yearly publication devoted to the purchase of new, used, and restored acoustic pianos and digital pianos. The publication can be ordered in a print edition for $15.97 from the website or read there in its entirety. The publication contains a variety of articles, reviews and specifications designed to assist the buyer in making the big purchase. But just who is buying pianos these days? Luxist asked Mr. Fine a few questions of about choosing a piano.
1. I've noticed a few piano stores closing down recently. Has the economy affected the business?
Piano sales are in decline, as are most other "luxury" purchases. As home sales decline, so do home furnishings, and pianos often fit that category. However, this is good news for those who can afford to buy now. Piano manufacturers and dealers are discounting their instruments significantly in an effort to "weather the storm."
2. Do you hear of a lot of people buying a piano for looks, not for playing?
Most piano buyers either play or have children in lessons. A significant minority view it as an attractive piece of furniture that coveys a "cultured" image. For the art collectors, pianos come in many striking, beautiful, and unusual furniture styles that double as both musical instruments and works of art. Acoustic & Digital Piano Buyer contains a number of examples of the piano as art.
Many of the non-playing buyers purchase a piano with an electronic player-piano system installed. Far from grandma's old "pump player," these new systems not only play the piano, but also add the entire orchestra or band as accompaniment. You can even have a video of Billy Joel playing and singing in your living room while the piano plays his music. These systems, which can be retrofitted to existing pianos, use CDs, MP3s, iPods, etc. for their input. Some even come with an optional video screen. Acoustic & Digital Piano Buyer has a section on choosing an electronic player-piano system.
3. What basic questions should people ask themselves before considering buying a piano?
All acoustic-piano buyers will have to decide whether to buy a grand or an upright piano, what size of piano is right for their playing needs and for the space, how much money to allocate for the purchase, and whether to buy new or used. These subjects are covered in "Piano Buying Basics" and other articles in Acoustic & Digital Piano Buyer.
Some considerations may differ depending on whether the piano is being purchased for a new student or for the experienced player. Many shoppers buy an entry-level or mid-range piano for the beginning student with the idea that they will trade up to a better instrument if the student really takes to the piano. Since pianos have such a long life expectancy-50 years or more-they depreciate slowly, making a trade-in financially reasonable. Experienced players, on the other hand, are more likely to look for a permanent instrument. These players may have developed a sense of what they like in a piano's performance, and their search revolves around finding a piano with the right tone and touch. With over 30 manufacturers and 70 different brands, there's a perfect piano for each situation. The challenge is determining which piano is right for you!
4. What special considerations do people need to be aware of when planning to buy a piano for an apartment or condo?
Apartment and condo dwellers may be wary of buying a piano because of the noise factor. These buyers have more choices now than ever before. First, there are digital pianos-electronic pianos that sound and play much like an acoustic. Their volume is adjustable, and they can be played silently with headphones. There are also "hybrid" pianos-regular acoustic pianos with built-in digital components-that allow the piano to be switched from acoustic play to digital for those times when neighbors need to be considered. Finally, there are acoustic pianos with a piano "mute" installed. This is a strip of felt that can be lowered between the hammers and strings, reducing the piano's volume by about half-often enough to key the neighbors happy!
5. What are the advantages of a digital piano? Are more people buying digital pianos these days?
Digital pianos have many advantages when compared to regular, acoustic pianos, and a few disadvantages as well. In addition to the reduced volume and silent play mentioned above, digitals can emulate any instrument. This allows anyone with piano skills to use those same skills to sound like a harpsichord, violin, trumpet, or glockenspiel! Many digitals offer multi-track recording, can interface with computers to print out music, and have an array of features, accompaniments, and rhythms that can make almost any player, beginner or advanced, sound good. They also need next to no maintenance. There are two significant disadvantages to digital pianos. First, due primarily to technological obsolescence, digitals are likely to have a much shorter useful life than acoustic pianos-perhaps a decade or two. Second, while digitals often sound quite good, an experienced player, especially of classical music, would probably not be entirely satisfied, as digitals cannot yet duplicate the complete playing experience of a high-quality acoustic piano. Acoustic & Digital Piano Buyer has a large section of information about choosing a digital piano, including a rundown of all the brands, models, and features available.
6. Which pianos are the most popular?
Digital pianos outsell acoustics two to one in today's market. Being less expensive and more versatile makes them attractive to many shoppers, particularly those who are more "gadget" oriented. For those shopping for a vertical piano for the living room, a "console" piano in a decorative cabinet is very popular. Acoustic grands are the most desirable type of piano; however, being more expensive, they are not the biggest sellers. Still, small grands sell well.
7. What do you say to convince people that a piano is a worthwhile investment at a time when everyone seems more interested in logging in computer keyboard time rather than tickling the ivories?
Computers and computer gaming have certainly provided competition for the attention of today's youth. But playing the piano still has some unique value to contribute. As Brian Chung, Senior Vice-President of Kawai America, says in his article "The Prodigious Power of Piano Playing," in Acoustic & Digital Piano Buyer:
Ask employers what they look for when interviewing young job candidates for their top positions. Most are looking for a well-defined set of character traits. Specifically, they want people who know how to work hard, can focus well and avoid distractions, are responsible, will pay attention to details, are self-reliant and creative, and will persevere on a project from start to finish. Sound familiar?
You see my point. The skills Bobby learns by practicing the piano will be of immeasurable value to him not only in job interviews, but in every area of his life. People who have these skills are more likely to flourish in college, thrive in the work world, advance in their careers-and generally enjoy success in any field of endeavor.
