From the category archives:

Pianos

It’s Baby Grand Piano Time!

by Erik Thiede on August 29, 2010

Playing the baby grand piano - photo by Ian Riley

The baby grand piano is the perfect option for those who wish to have the beauty of a concert piano without the size. Grand or concert pianos are the quintessential piano experience. These are the preferred instruments of concert pianists. They can be quite expensive and get to be pretty bulky in size.

Grand pianos have the strings placed horizontally. The strings extend from the keyboard which gives them a distinct sound. It is the construction that creates the rather hefty dimensions of the typical grand piano.

The different sizes of grand pianos are as follows:

•    Parlor:  4′5″ to 5′5″
•    Baby:  5′0″ to 6′5″
•    Medium: 5′6″ to 6′5″
•    Professional: 6′6″ to 8′0″
•    Concert: 8′9″ to 10′2″

The parlor grand piano is smaller than the baby grand, but it lacks the full tone and range of the latter. As a general rule of thumb the longer the instrument is the more dynamic it will sound.

From an investment standpoint the baby grand piano is the best value for the money. While it offers consistent tone and reliable action of larger grands, the price point is relatively reasonable across the board.

Baby grands are the shortest the grands can get before the harmonics change and distort. The strings are the key to the tone and the action is directly connected to the responsiveness of the keyboard. All grands are expertly designed to deliver the purest tone with the minimal amount of effort and the baby grands are no exception.

Baby grands are wider than they are long. They maintain the classic lines which make them highly sought out by collectors. They are a status symbol that let people know that you’ve made it.

When buying the instrument there are some things to keep in mind.

Be prepared to look at many different makes. The qualities should be fairly consistent, but the differences will be in the feel of the keyboard and the construction of the casing.

Think about how much you will be playing the instrument. Believe it or not many people buy a baby grand piano to simply be conversation pieces in their homes. The value of the instrument will be what purpose it will serve in your life. This will help determine how much you are willing to spend on one.

Yamaha’s model is the C1. The Kawai GM10 measures five feet in length. For those looking for something a little more substantial, the SteinwayModel S is available.

There is a baby grand piano for every budget and décor. Deciding what your needs are is the first crucial step in making an informed purchase. Do not hesitate to ask the technician about the quality of any instrument you are considering. Be open to suggestions and have fun with the process.

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Quality Music Comes From Quality Instruments

The theory that quality music comes from quality instruments is exemplified in the Haines Brothers Piano. There are those who will always favor one brand over another, but its hard to argue against that fact that the Haines has been a leading contender in the piano industry since the company started. There is an enormous gap between the Haines and the lessor known brands that puts the emphasis on the company name as the difference between quality and non-quality.

From a close inspection of the company’s grand piano and upright piano, we can easily discover why Haines is often referred to as the “official college piano.” In music institutions all across the nation, we can spot a Haines from across the room as it has become the staple of both student learning and play. But this brand isn’t exclusive to student learning alone…

Pianists Remain Devoted To The Haines Brothers Piano

The experience of playing a Haines just once is often enough to convert even the most dedicated pianists from another brand. Hundreds of well-known pianists remain devoted to the Haines Brothers Piano yet it’s unlikely that this article could adequately convince you that the Haines is everything it’s claimed to be. Therefore, here are a couple of resources that might:

For a piano so well revered, the music society felt compelled to publish books about it. One book, “The Artist’s Choice,” catalogs celebrated pianists who have not only played the Haines, but who have also proclaimed the Haines as the only instrument of choice. Another book, the “Golden Opinions,” is a catalog of letters that declare the same thing, sent from music institutions around the world.

Its Large-Scale Fandom

Since these testaments come from generations of experience and knowledge, it’s hard to deny the profound impact that Haines has had on the music community and the industry as of piano manufacture as well. The relationship between the brand and its quality of music is synonymous with the word, ‘outstanding, and very few competing brands get a fourth of its acclaim.

We strongly urge you to understand the entirety of Haines Bro.’s impact and experience the Haines effect for yourself. Only through the use of its quality instruments will you truly begin to appreciate the large-scale fandom that it has attract in the past, and continues to attract even today.

We’re continuously confronted with multiple opportunities and choices, but the Haines piano will prevail as if it were impervious to failure or improvement. The end result is nothing short of excellence among the great variance of alternatives because when it comes to pianos, one may forget a lesson, a song, or an event, but one can not forget the name Haines

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August Forster Piano

August 18, 2010

A History as Rich as the Sound

It’s rather uncommon to find a quality product without an accompanying rich history – a history that deepens the way we appreciate the things we use. The following is a great example of how history helps shape our admiration for the August Forster Piano. As you’ll [...]

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The Digital Piano – An Introduction

August 1, 2010

The digital piano becomes increasingly popular in today’s society for some pretty sound reasons. If you haven’t giving this sort a serious look, look again. You may be in for a pleasant surprise.
This type of keyboard is a different breed of the classical stringed piano in that it uses technology to [...]

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Estey Piano – Its Quality, Reputation, and Contribution to US History

July 19, 2010

A Preferred Standard

The Estey Piano Company is renowned for its grand pianos and for several good reasons. One of those reasons is because throughout its history, the Estey has always held a reputation of high esteem and prominence all over the world. Another reason is the collection of musicians it attracted. [...]

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The Hamilton Piano — An American Pride

July 8, 2010

An American Piano

When the subject of piano brands comes up in a conversation, often the very first described are foreign. This is an unfortunate beginning for a piano conversation because some of the most renowned pianos were manufactured right here in the United States. The Hamilton is one of those instruments [...]

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Yamaha Piano – the Beast from the East

July 7, 2010

Why Yamaha Pianos Lead the Pack

Over 100 years of innovation and tradition, is the motto of one of the most influential piano makers in the world today, Yamaha Piano. A leader in the industry, Yamaha crafts some of the finest digital and acoustical instruments anywhere. Yamaha surpasses its competition for dependable [...]

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All About Your Piano – Types, History, Buying Tips & More

July 5, 2010

The piano…. There’s nothing as beautiful or as fun to experience as playing this instrument. Just the word itself conjures up all sorts of images of luxury, success, and sophistication.
All of this may have you wondering if buying such a musical instrument is within your reach; well I’m here to tell you [...]

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Steinway Pianos Are King

June 27, 2010

Steinway pianos are the first name in modern pianos with classical style. Read here about the birth of a legend, its followers and the collection.
Steinway and Sons was founded in Manhattan circa 1853. The company is named after Henry Steinway and his sons Albert, Charles, Henry Jr., Theodore and [...]

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Piano Tuning – The Ins & Outs

May 24, 2010

Piano tuning means that tensions in the strings of the instrument are adjusted. This is what needs to happen to keep your instrument in tune. This service can be provided to you by a registered tuner or technician.
There are a few things to consider when looking into this matter. These [...]

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