The annual Steinway Society of Massachusetts Piano Competition attracts talented young artists ages 8 to 17 from all over New England. This year, one of the winners is Liam Chou, who is both a pianist and a violist and whose mother, Estelle Lin, is a gifted teacher.
In this video, Liam discusses what inspired him to start playing piano, shares his thoughts on the Steinway & Sons Spirio, and talks about what continues to inspire him as his piano journey continues.
For more information on the Steinway Society of Massachusetts Piano Competition visit steinwaysocietymass.org
by Stephen N. Reed
Piano lessons hold a storied image in American life. For generations, submitting to the expertise of one’s piano teacher, has been a cultural rite of passage for millions of young people.
Like everything else, piano lessons have increased, in some places dramatically. In this article, we will explore the range of piano lesson costs nationally and in the Greater Boston area. We will also address the value of such lessons for students, whether or not they make a career in music.
Nationally, the cost of piano lessons typically ranges between $15 and $50 for a 30-minute lesson. Lesson rates can vary depending on things like where you live and your teacher’s expertise.
According to M. Steinert & Sons piano consultant Patrick Elisha, piano lessons in the Greater Boston area typically range from $30-to $75 per 30-minute lesson. These piano teachers often have exceptional educational and performance credentials. Other factors also affect lesson costs including:
The benefits of working with a private music teacher are obvious: you get one-on-one professional guidance, a customized lesson plan, and a teacher to hold you accountable to your musical lessons and goals.
A qualified piano teacher will help their student in the process of learning how to open the door into and traverse the vast world of music. It is important to find a balance in what this mentor can provide, both in their pedagogical capacity and in their capabilities to accentuate the mostly solitary practice of learning how to play the piano.
Unlike other instruments which have the clear opportunity to engage in orchestral repertoire through local youth symphony orchestras, piano playing is like a “Swiss Army Knife” in terms of the varied mediums carried by the instrument.
Collaborative piano in its many forms should include but not limited to accompanying and chamber music should be an integral part of early learning. Quite often, the latter is only available at summer music festivals.
Consequentially, if the pedagogical method or venue can’t provide these opportunities, the teacher needs to inspire the artist and their family to engage in summer music festival programs, “extracurricular” ensemble learning, and performing.
Performing is as integral to the art of piano as practicing. Imagine a world where we prepare for an athletic event such as a basketball game, practicing each day with our team, only to realize that there never really is a game to look forward to. The “game” is the opportunity to perform, on a consistent, semi-annual, or quarterly basis with performances set up by the teacher or school associated.
A good piano teacher helps their students understand the mathematics around how music works. This is key to a developing artist’s voice and analytical capability. This more cerebral part of piano learning is both fun and a core tenet of a complete piano education.
Like any language or dialect all of these elements, from learning solo repertoire to understanding the world of collaboration with others, performing and music theory are needed in order to offer the learner the best opportunity in learning the art of piano.
The more complete the education, the more likely one is to continue and maintain this art in one’s life, allowing this craft to endure with their own children and families as time goes on.
“Anyone who makes a distinction between entertainment and education doesn’t know the first thing about either.” So said Canadian social philosopher Marshall McLuhan.
Like all good teachers, a gifted piano teacher knows how to challenge students while making learning fun. Without piano playing having an element of enjoyment to it, a student is not likely to stay with it for long.
Whatever the rate that a given piano teacher charges, if they are capable both technical mastery of playing the piano and finding fun and interesting ways to engage their students, then they are probably worth every dollar they charge.
For not only will they be opening up the world of music to their students but will be building up their sense of self-discipline, self-confidence, and intellectual curiosity as to how subject areas like mathematics and music intersect.
Piano playing is on the rise, as people turn to music making at home during different periods of the pandemic. Read more about that in piano teacher Elizabeth Reed’s following essay:
“How the Pandemic brought life back into our living rooms.”
by Stephen N. Reed
Essex pianos were introduced into the introductory and mid-level markets in 2001 by Steinway & Sons with a limited number of models. The Essex models are designed and engineered in New York and manufactured in China, allowing them to be considerably more affordable than its parent company’s handcrafted models.
For several years, the Essex brand kept a low profile in the piano market. Then, In 2006, Essex had a major relaunch of Essex including a new line comprising 35 grand and 31 vertical models and finishes.
That relaunch included the popular upright piano, the Essex EUP-123E, the largest upright in Essex’s line at 48.5 “ in height.
The EUP-123E has a greater versatility of sound than other Essex uprights and is known for its stately appearance. This review will examine the EUP-123E, its dimensions, materials, and other features, and will address its pros and cons for specific buyers.
Height: 48½”
Width: 59½” – 59¾”
Depth: 26½”
Net Weight: 561 lbs
Made in: China
PRICE: $9,500
At 48.5”, the EUP-123E is the tallest of the Essex uprights, balanced with well-proportioned, classically-styled straight legs.
The EUP-123E is designed by Steinway & Sons in collaboration with renowned furniture designer William Faber, featuring matching classic style legs with a grand-style leg top, a fold-back Toplid, brass hardware, and Ebony Polish and Sapele Mahogany Satin Finishes.
In an effort to address the needs of those buyers in the entry-level market, Steinway created Essex model like the 123E as a tribute to the idea that beautiful piano styles and finishes can and should be possible in every price range.
High-grade, straight-grained, quarter-sawn spruce is selected for its resonant qualities and high strength-to-mass ratio. The soundboard is solid and not laminated, which creates the best resonance and projection of sound.
In 1936, Steinway & Sons patented the diaphragmatic soundboard, which is thicker in the middle and gently tapered to the edges. The Essex soundboard is tapered from bass to treble resulting in a stronger, richer, fuller tone.
Like all Essex uprights, the EUP-123E has large backposts, giving a solid foundation for the resonating soundboard and tensioned vibrating strings. EUP-123E back post locations are staggered, placed where the string tension is greatest.
These sturdy backposts provide superb tone and maximum stability, ensuring the piano will last, tunings will be more stable, and piano tone will be enhanced for the years and decades to come.
A low tension string scale, designed by Steinway & Sons, gives a fuller, richer tone by allowing more of the lower partials to sing. It also has more sustain and has a more dynamic range than competitor uprights.
Materials play a role with the EUP 123E’s action touch, as well. All-wood action parts, solid spruce keys, and action geometry work together to move the hammers to the strings. A warm, resonant tone results.
If you decide to trade in your Essex piano for a new Boston or Steinway grand piano of double value at any time within five years, you will receive a trade-in credit equal to your original purchase.
At M. Steinert & Sons, we encourage our customers to try other brands first, then to come into our Boston or Newton showrooms to try models in our Steinway Family of Pianos: Steinway & Sons, Boston, or Essex.
In the meantime, learn more about how Essex pianos are infused by Steinway’s design, adding value to this entry-level line of pianos or learn more about the other features of the Essex EUP-123E.
by Stephen N. Reed
Digital pianos, first popularized in the 1980s, attempt to replicate the sound and feel of an acoustic piano. While great strides have been made towards that end, they still haven’t reached that lofty goal, and depending upon who you ask, never will. Yet, for many, the quality digital piano is a great alternative to the old, out of tune, used piano that many first-time buyers gravitate towards.
At M. Steinert & Sons, we have closely followed the digital piano market since the first ones were available. While we carry Roland digital pianos and have always been satisfied with their high quality, we acknowledge that some other top brands have quality models, as well.
Four of the most recommended digital brand pianos include:
All four are known for their quality of sound (usually sampled from their acoustic counterpart), and their realistic action, which makes it feel as close to an acoustic as possible. By the end of this article, you’ll understand better the top four digital piano brands and what we believe is the top digital piano.
Yamaha digital pianos are often known by their Clavinova brand name and use samples (recordings) from other Yamaha pianos as the basis for their sound. They have a wide range of quality and feature levels – and are grouped, priced, and marketed differently through a wide variety of e-commerce and retail channels.
Model numbers can change quite frequently – and it’s often a challenge to know which models are currently in the line-up. In general, the higher the number within a given series (ie P125 vs P45), means a higher price point and feature set within the series.
While not as well-known as Yamaha, Kawai digital pianos offer a variety of different quality/function options. They have 7 different piano action designs that appear across their many different models.
Like most, the higher the number within a series means higher feature/price, but some year-to-year changes will blur this
generality in Kawai’s line. Kawai digital pianos feature the sampled sound of Kawai acoustic pianos. Kawai instruments are generally sold through piano stores and major music retailers.
Casio, long known for their inexpensive portable keyboards, has been making digital pianos under the Celviano trade name since the 90s. They have recently gained broader distribution in the US and have sought to move upmarket from their low-end beginnings. Their newer trade name, Privia is sold in many mass merchant stores.
At Steinert, we’ve chosen to exclusively partner with Roland digital pianos. Roland has served the professional music community for almost 50 years – and while not as widely distributed or well known as Yamaha – Roland has earned its reputation for physical and musical quality as well as excellent durability.
Their focus on physical modeling sound technology has resulted in major advances used in various ways across their digital piano line and distinguishes Roland digital pianos from other digital pianos in the market. Since Roland doesn’t make acoustic pianos, they are free to select from any piano source they choose–and Steinway-based and inspired sounds are present in every Roland digital piano.
Today’s digital pianos have come a long way as compared to past generations of electric and digital pianos. This goes for each of the brands we’ve reviewed. The engineers at Yamaha, Kawai, Casio, and Roland are to be commended for their efforts towards making affordable instruments that have improved touch and tone.
Having said that, Roland has gone in a different direction than the other leading digital brands. Patrick Elisha, former piano consultant for M. Steinert & Sons, notes that Roland does not seek to be a hybrid of acoustic and digital solutions.
“Rather, Roland seeks to be a maintenance-free, all-encompassing digital piano solution that does not rely on acoustic components to function,” says Patrick. “This, coupled with their mastery of acoustic engineering and piano modeling technology, creates an instrument that is reliably accurate, in both touch and tone, and caters to many playing styles.”
As a result, while the competition is comprised of some solid alternative brands, Roland offers more to the buyer who wants a reliable touch and tone, based on the engineering Roland has invested in modeling technology. For the piano student who wants to play a wide variety of musical genres, Roland offers a digital piano that is just as playable for jazz and contemporary pieces as classical.
For these reasons, a good argument can be made that Roland is the best of these top-of-the-line digital pianos.
Should you decide to buy a Roland digital piano from M. Steinert & Sons, you will have the potential to take advantage of the M. Steinert & Sons Lifetime Steinway Trade-Up policy, which gives you 100% of what you paid for your Roland towards a new Steinway & Sons piano, excluding taxes and delivery, towards another M. Steinert piano that has a higher cost.
This enables many buyers to see first if their interest in playing the piano sticks. If it does, many then purchase their ultimate piano.
As with shopping for an acoustic piano, the discerning digital piano customer will take in a good sampling of makes and models. At M. Steinert & Sons, we encourage people to compare different digital models, including our Roland series, before making a purchase. After all, a digital piano is a significant purchase, one you want to be satisfied with going forward.
We would welcome the opportunity to introduce you to our current Roland digital piano models at either of our two showroom locations in Boston and Newton. Please feel free to set up an appointment with one of our experienced piano consultants to listen to your piano needs and to show you some models to play.
While visiting our showrooms, take a look at our acoustic offerings, too, to compare with our digital offerings.
To learn more about the difference between digital and acoustic pianos, read this article:
Digital vs. acoustic pianos: Which is the best for me?
by Stephen N. Reed
Choosing a piano for one’s home or institution is an expensive proposition. But there is a difference between “expensive” and “costly.” An expensive piano may come at a price, but at least you are getting many years of great learning and playing on the keyboard.
But a piano purchase can become unfortunately costly and disappointing if you don’t have reliable sources for information. You could end up with an outright lemon of a piano or just something that is different once you get it home than what you thought you were getting. What could be more disappointing than that?
At M. Steinert & Sons, we have spent over 160 years helping tens of thousands of customers find the piano of their dreams. We do this by listening to each customer’s individual needs and aspirations and advising each and every customer to find the right piano to achieve their goals.
By the end of this article, you will begin to understand the key considerations towards finding the best piano for you. You will be a more informed buyer, ready to approach your nearest piano merchant confidently.
You’ll walk into a piano store knowing that, though many pianos look the same, they’re not. Understanding the differences between piano brands, models, and designs is key to a sound purchase of a piano that is well-suited for you.
The day of your piano delivery will be an exciting one. All the research and planning, all culminate in this one key moment when the piano becomes yours.
As a result, the last thing you want is to buy impulsively, not understanding of how wide a quality range of piano brands and models are out there. What about the pros and cons of buying used vs new?
For many, buying a piano is a huge purchase. Done right, buying a piano can bring years of music to your home.
However, done carelessly, buying a piano can become a source of stress, annoying you every time you see your purchase, sitting there, taking up space.
Any decent piano seller wants their customer to be truly satisfied with their purchase. However, this can only be achieved through careful consideration. Putting thought in ahead of time can greatly increase the odds that your piano purchase will be satisfying to you. Three key steps are involved:
In this previous article, we examined some of the essential aspects of buying a piano: one’s preferred size, color, touch, and tone. If you’re unsure about whether you have enough room to have a grand, piano templates are available to determine if you can accommodate one.
Of course, one’s budget needs to be examined in light of one’s preferences. This helps to narrow down possible pianos for you to try. If you find that the piano you resonate with the most goes beyond your budget, some dealers have financing options available.
Taking one’s time to sample a variety of makes and models of pianos with the help of a seasoned piano consultant is critically important. Such an expert helps you to further narrow down your choices to a few that meet your budget and other needs. Then you can zero in on the piano that was meant for you.
This is not just an individual buyer’s strategy but an institutional approach, as well. For example, many colleges and universities that become All-Steinway Schools secure the help of an Authorized Steinway Dealer in their search for a new grand piano for their music program.
Such schools can avail themselves of the Steinway Selection Process, which is available to both institutions and individuals.
After narrowing down their search, they visit the Steinway factory in Astoria, New York, where they try four brand new models, usually the Model D. After trying each one, the college’s committee decides upon the one Steinway grand piano that meets their needs.
There are several more angles to consider when choosing your piano. Frankly, this additional information is too detailed for a single article like this. The discerning piano buyer will want to learn more about the other dimensions of finding the right piano by consulting a piano merchant’s buyer’s guide.
A comprehensive buyer’s guide like M. Steinert’s can help you make a better-informed decision that fulfills your current and future needs–whether for education or entertainment. It covers everything from the types of pianos, the popular brands of pianos, technology-enhanced options and more.
Such a buyer’s guide can be very helpful in your selection, whether you buy a piano from the dealer who developed it or another.
Because we want you to succeed in your quest for the right piano for you, we offer M. Steinert’s buyer’s guide free of charge, regardless of whether you buy your piano from us.
Buying a piano should be an educational, interesting, and even fun experience. Learning from your own readings and having the guidance of a seasoned piano is the best way to have a positive experience.
Then the result will be a new addition to your home: a cherished musical instrument that can be in your family for generations.
Go to our main page to download the M. Steinert’s Buyer’s Guide.
by Stephen N. Reed, updated January 2023.
Buying a piano is an investment–an investment in the musical quality of the instrument, which, in turn, is protected by thoughtfully caring for the instrument and the high-quality materials used to make it. As strong as the woods are in a grand or upright, they are still susceptible to the elements, like high humidity in coastal regions like Boston.
As a result, determining the best place in your home for your new piano is an important consideration. After all, what could be worse than investing thousands of dollars in a beautiful instrument with exceptional musical value, only to see that value diminished more quickly than necessary over time?
At M. Steinert & Sons, we have been helping our customers not only buy the best piano for them but also always consider how they will be happy after any purchase. That includes thinking about things like the best placement for their new piano in the home or institution.
Piano placement is an important decision, perhaps an even more critical decision than regular maintenance. Why? Because once a piano is placed, it often remains in that position for years.
All the more reason to make that placement a good one.
By the end of this article, you will know where the best potential places are for piano placement, understanding why some places are best while others are not. You’ll also understand how piano placement affects the mechanical, structural, and aesthetic dimensions of your piano, even its longevity.
Understandably, your piano placement may be constrained by the space and structures in your home or institution. Having said that, there are some areas to avoid placing your piano.
While having a piano by a window may seem a pleasant placement, this may be one of the worst possible places for the overall well-being of a piano, whether a grand or an upright. The air around windows change with the conditions outside, both on a daily and seasonal basis.
Temperature and humidity rise and fall, and a piano placed near a window experiences all of those atmospheric changes. This causes your piano’s wooden action parts to shrink and swell. Additionally, your piano’s tuning will be affected, causing your piano to need tuning more often.
Another place to avoid for atmospheric temperature issues is an air vent. Obviously, in this case, the atmosphere affecting your instrument is from inside your home, not outside.
Whether with air vents or other areas affecting the interior environment (e.g. fireplaces, heaters, air conditioners), your piano will not respond well to a frequently changing environment. The fewer changes in temperature and less airflow, the better.
Think “climate-controlled” for your piano’s space.
Whether near a window or skylight, you risk more harm than you may suspect from allowing direct sunlight to hit it even a little while each day. Even that much sunlight, day after day, month after month can cause your piano’s beautiful finish to fade.
Wood finishes are particularly susceptible to fading in sunlight.
Proper placement safeguards your piano’s structural, mechanical, and aesthetic condition. One major advantage is to put the piano in the best place in an insulated room. Having good piano placement results in your piano having its best possible performance, sound, and longevity.
According to Total Piano Care, a home or building’s inner walls and climate-controlled conditions are paramount when considering piano placement. Grand pianos, when placed in a room are better secured and sound better when their straight edge is against an inner wall, distanced from sunlight, air vents, or windows. Uprights should be similarly placed.
Ideally, grand pianos should be placed in such a way as to allow the pianist to look into the room and not into a wall. The bass side of the piano should run parallel to the wall. This allows the bass to bounce against the wall to the wider room and the treble to project into the middle of the room.
If necessary, a grand piano can also be placed at a 45-degree angle towards a diagonal corner.
A few exceptions to the inner wall placement are possible for adequate piano placement. For example, the middle of the room can be used if exceptional acoustics are possible with high ceilings and hardwood floors, or materials that aid in sound amplification and continuation are in place.
Again, wherever the specific piano placement is, the main concern is airflow and atmospheric changes near the piano. This safeguards your investment and its musical quality from unnecessary deterioration and tuning instability.
A bit of good news: Mature piano brands like the Steinway Family brands, Yamaha, and Kawai are more resilient to environmental changes due to their careful materials selection, expertise, and experience via warranty claims over the years.
Homes are not always built with pianos in mind. As a result, a few inches may make the difference between placing your piano in your favorite room or another.
At M. Steinert & Company we know that it’s difficult to fully think about placing a piano until you have it in your home. That’s why we created piano templates that our piano consultants can bring to your home, if you’re in the greater Boston area, to ascertain the best piano placement and size.
Learn more in the articles below. Read how about floor patterns and how to determine what size piano will fit in your space. You’ll soon see why floor patterns can be so helpful.
Make an appointment to talk with one of our piano consultants at our Boston or Newton location. They can assist you as you decide on the right piano–and right piano placement–for you.
Vivian Handis, piano teacher, piano expert and retired team member of M. Steinert & Sons contributed material for this article. Vivian is known to “not hold back” in her conviction that the piano makes a difference, and takes great pride in having served many hundreds of families and pianists at Steinert’s over the years.
This popular article has been updated for 2023.
Most of us know that in any professional or recreational endeavor, a better tool increases one’s chances for satisfaction and success.
A quality acoustic or digital piano, in essence, partners with the student and teacher to implement instruction, supports effective practice between lessons and awakens the artist within.
The instrument, hands down, makes a significant difference. Without a proper instrument, the learning process is compromised from Lesson One.
Ultimately, the best piano for a beginner is the best quality piano one can afford.
There are a number of best piano candidates and paths to choose from that lead to inspiration. Once understood, the following question is where the journey really begins.
Consider that a student typically meets with their teacher for a piano lesson (in a studio or school) once weekly, anywhere from 30-60 minutes. In most cases, the student will practice at home during the week between lessons. If the teacher travels to the student, regular instruction may rely exclusively on the piano in the home.
As a result of the current pandemic, remote piano lessons have become increasingly popular, making it even more challenging for teachers and students to create the ideal environment for piano study. Restated, without a proper instrument, the learning process is compromised from Lesson One.
Many well-intended parents (who may, or may not have ever played an instrument) seek out the finest and most compatible piano teacher for their child. They are willing to pay dearly for quality instruction, which IS worth every dollar of tuition.
Unfortunately, too many of these same parents do not think it is of equal importance to invest in the piano, or “tool” that is the best fit to implement the teacher’s instruction, support effective practice between lessons, awaken artistry, ignite inspiration … help actualize their child’s potential.
What is the outcome when a student cannot read music with accurate translation to the keyboard because they do not have the correct 88 key orientation? Do expression and musicality have a chance when a piano or keyboard cannot express a range of dynamics, sound a pleasing tone, or help develop a budding pianist’s technique and discerning ear?
Considering a child’s formative years … this is time we do not get back. What we may get back is the opportunity to begin again, as I experience with adult learners either coming back to piano, or fulfilling a lifelong dream of learning how to play.
An adult beginner can choose which piano path offers the best fit … a child, however, is completely dependent upon the instrument chosen by a parent or guardian. Children receive a beautiful and powerful message, unspoken, when the best piano a family can afford is invested in, on their behalf.
Whether it is a beginner’s first piano or an upgrade at any stage of a pianist’s development, the message is the same: Your music study is important and worthy. I/We value, respect, and support you and your hard work, as well as your teacher’s hard work. I/We believe in you.
There is no “one size fits all” when it comes to a first piano, but there are a number of paths for choosing a beginner’s best piano fit. First, a few minutes of homework will provide you with the best chance of success, inspiration, and enjoyment!
1-Think about the following criteria and which are important to YOU?
Addressing and thinking about these will clarify and simplify your piano decision.
2-Term of use: Is it a short-range or long-range piano plan?
Are you thinking “quick fix” or a potential heirloom?
3-Type: The Major Categories of pianos:
Do you know about these? Grand Acoustic / Upright Acoustic / Digital
4-Condition: New or used?
Contrary to myth, pianos don’t last forever – but sometimes used makes sense.
5-Your Environment and Space limitations:
Are you willing to tune and maintain an acoustic piano? Are there options for the location of the piano? What size and location combo is best?
6-Commitment and timing of ownership:
Will it make sense to rent, purchase, or finance?
7-Features:
Which of these statements might apply?: Touch and tone is the highest priority / Technology is a priority / Practicing with headphones a must
8-Assistance:
Know whether your teacher or a technician is able or willing to assist with the selection process.
9-Warranty:
What level of purchase security are you looking for? Sample warranty terms include Manufacturer’s New, a Certified-Used, or a 90-day warranty.
10-Case Design and Finish:
Will the piano be featured in the room, somewhat important, or ‘just there’.
11-Investment Range:
The realistic range of investment you might consider today with an eye towards musical growth.
See our article on what does a piano cost for more information on pricing and cost ranges.
Answers to the questions above may lead anywhere from the purchase of an entry-level Roland digital, to a quality acoustic rental at just over $100 per month, to a Steinway Spirio | r at well over $100,000. The range is truly that wide. Most importantly, if the piano fit is right, the goal of VALUE has been achieved, to provide the best quality affordable piano for a beginner’s success, inspiration, and enjoyment.
Offers flexibility for folks not ready to purchase or who prefer a step-by-step longer-range piano plan with a solid quality acoustic piano. Up to 12 months of rent can be applied toward purchase. Credit approval is required, with arranged automatic deduction payments. See rental page.
Offers lower purchase price. Never needs to be tuned. Receive 100% of your purchase price as trade value towards any piano of double value for up to 5 years. Roland currently offers desirable interest-free financing for 12 months. Scholarship or value certificate option with school or teacher affiliate on a new digital purchase.
Picks: HP702, HP704 for child/teen/adult. HP704 offers outstanding value over time and is our best seller with state-of-the-art touch and tone, 10-year manufacturer’s warranty parts + labor, and piano essentials kit. A student will not outgrow this model quickly. Prices range from low $2K to mid $3K exclusive of tax and delivery.
This collection of pianos includes many options in new/used/rental return/trade-in/ and consignment upright and grand pianos. I advise folks if they are stretching their budget to afford a Steinway-designed Essex, it is a wonderful choice. With a Steinway-designed piano, they will benefit from longer sustain, a smooth key action, and a lively colorful tone.
If one can afford a Boston for a beginner, it is my consistent recommendation. Boston is the closest relative to Steinway and offers exceptional value at its price point. You may stay with your Boston for several years, or as I have experienced with many Boston owners, trade up to a larger Boston!
With Essex and Boston, you will receive 100% of your purchase price as trade towards any piano of double value for up to 5 years. Also, any piano, new or used, acoustic or digital, purchased from M.Steinert & Sons receives 100% of the original purchase price for the life of the original purchaser towards any new Steinway & Sons piano of greater value. All pianos come with a warranty: New, Certified, or Used.
Vivian worked with folks who chose a Steinway from the start for their child’s music journey, or as adults, are coming back to music (often after decades) to invest in themselves, and in the piano of their highest aspiration. If you are interested in exploring the full Steinway family please visit our pianos as well as the used piano listings. All pianos on our website include pictures, video, commentary and text.
Here are some of the favorite models for beginners. Costs below reflect 2023 pricing. Feel free to inquire regarding current promotions. Also, please ask if we have any rental returns or used inventory. Essex upright: EUP108 – $7,200 plus tax and delivery. Essex grand: EGP173 – $20,900 plus tax and delivery. Boston upright: UP120S PEII ebony polish – $9,800 plus tax and delivery.
Also, the Boston grand: GP156 PEII – $25,400 plus tax and delivery.
If you embrace these ideas and answer the questions above, we are confident that it will be well worth the self-discovery you will experience on your piano journey! We believe you will be delighted by how efficiently we can guide you to find your best fits, and by how generous we are with our time to do a “deep dive” into any and all models of interest.
And, if we do not have the right piano for you … we will still help! M. Steinert & Sons has adapted to historical events since 1860 and continues to create new opportunities for supporting pianists regardless of where they buy. As we celebrate 160 years, there has never been a better time to welcome a piano home. We look forward to serving you!
We introduced our new PIANO BUYERS GUIDE to help you learn about the amazing world of pianos.
by Brendan Murphy, President, M. Steinert & Sons
Our family is most definitely musical: piano is a family tradition. In fact, piano is the family business. For four generations, our family has been at the helm of M. Steinert & Sons, the oldest Steinway & Sons piano dealer in the world.
While piano is definitely in our blood, playing the piano has never been a prerequisite for successfully operating a nearly two-century-old piano retail operation. For over a century, my family has been piano lovers, admirers, listeners, appreciators, aficionados, experts… but not pianists. Until now!
At four, my son Colin told me he was going to be a rock star. He somehow knew, at that young age, the exact guitar he’d play on stage (a red Fender Stratocaster). He was an air guitarist/rock and roll fanatic, with loads of stage presence.
He asked for a guitar for his fourth birthday and Christmas the same year, but we hesitated. Guitar lessons are usually not recommended at four, as children’s hands are too small to really work the fretboard and too sensitive to depress the strings adequately.
We thought if we introduced guitar too early, Colin could end up frustrated by these limitations and give up on music. That would be tragic.
My wife and I believe music is vital. Learning to play an instrument and to read music is critically important to a child’s brain development. The positive effects are real and undisputed.
For business, I’ve consumed articles and papers about the effect of music on the brain for years, well before starting a family of my own.
One particularly powerful quote is, “Unlike language, music activates every subsystem of the brain, including the structures involved in motivation and emotion. This makes it especially effective in creating bonds between individuals and in a group, and can contribute to well-being throughout one’s lifespan.”
It was tough, but we eventually convinced our young rock star-wannabe that he was too young for guitar, at least for now. He accepted that he needed to start with piano. At age five, he attended a week-long “piano camp” for beginners at South Shore Conservatory (SSC).
Honestly, we weren’t sure how this would work out, concerned that piano lessons every day for a week would burn him out. Well, it turns out to be one of the best things we’ve done.
It all starts with the teacher. Maral Annaovezova at SSC is fabulous: the right mixture of kindness and “no-nonsense” required to get an energetic, soccer-playing boy to focus on the importance of practicing and playing. Maral is the reason Colin is not a guitar player–yet.
Colin’s piano journey has continued at SSC with three years of weekly private lessons with Maral. Nothing worthwhile is ever easy, but thanks to Maral, Colin continues to practice and progress in his musical journey.
During COVID-related restrictions, Colin took lessons over Zoom. Fun at first, it was just not the same. Colin became bored and less interested in the piano.
We knew it was screen time burnout, and not the curriculum or the piano lessons. We’d seen it with his Zoom calls at school, and experienced it ourselves at work.
In 2020, Colin made the decision to “pause” his lessons. We wouldn’t let him quit, but we also knew the negative effects of constant screen time and were ok with this pause. We didn’t know how we’d get him to restart.
Colin thought he was done with piano, on his way to his coveted red Fender Strat. Thank goodness for Maral and South Shore Conservatory! Maral texted me asking if Colin was ready to start lessons again, alternating in-person and on Zoom.
Her personal reach-out was just the motivation for Colin. “Maral asked if I wanted to play piano again? Tell her, yes, I’ll do it.” This is the power of a good piano teacher, and the importance of supporting local community music schools.
If South Shore Conservatory hadn’t figured out how to get lessons going again in person (at least partially), Colin would probably not have restarted his lessons.
Since restarting lessons, being a pianist has become part of Colin’s identity. He recently met “an older kid” and quickly connected by saying “Oh, I play piano too!” Having this as his own thing has done a lot for his confidence.
On top of the physiological benefits of learning and playing piano, he has learned accountability, resilience and determination. He feels a sense of accomplishment when he finishes a recital or competition. He’s a soccer-playing, swimming, sailing piano player… and future rock star.
Learn more about South Shore Conservatory at https://sscmusic.org/ or find South Shore Conservatory on Facebook or Instagram.
by Stephen N. Reed
Over the years, piano teachers, parents, and piano students themselves have sensed a number of emotional and mental health benefits to piano playing. However, in recent years more evidence about specific health benefits from piano playing has emerged, buttressing these subjective beliefs.
The piano has always been seen as a means of creative and emotional expression, along with the joy of performing for audiences large and small. Now, in an age where wellness has become a priority for many more people, the tangible health benefits for piano students make it an increasingly more relevant exercise for young and old alike.
In this article, we will trace these mental, emotional, and physical health benefits. By the end of the article, you will know how piano playing has value-added benefits that can undergird one’s wellness regimen.
Perhaps more than any other musical instrument, the piano builds up the player’s cognitive abilities, strengthening the parts of the brain that are used in math and reasoning. According to one study, just three years of piano instruction has a positive impact on a child’s cognitive development.
In addition, regular piano playing provides a workout for a brain’s working memory.
Other good habits like focus, perseverance, and diligence are improved by playing the piano. Research shows that piano playing boosts creativity, too. Even accepting constructive criticism from one’s piano teacher can help a young person to become a more secure individual.
Additionally, split concentration, also called divided attention, is an integral part of playing the piano, which helps a pianist’s concentration skills. A piano student uses both hands, reads music, listens to the notes being played, and presses the pedals. That’s real multi-tasking, especially for young piano students.
One study conducted indicates that children who play an instrument for 20-30 minutes each day benefit from their multitasking skills in education and personal lives.
Music-making also has a calming effect on the mind. Research shows that time spent at the keyboard improves mental health: piano players frequently experience less loneliness, anxiety, loneliness, and depression than their non-musical peers.
A 2013 study published by the National Library of Medicine discovered that playing piano treats depression and alleviates stress.
Expressing one’s emotions through a powerful instrument can offer a young person a much-needed release from the stresses of school, difficult peer relationships, and other growing pains.
The sense of accomplishment that attends a young person playing a challenging piano piece is obviously one source of a healthy self-esteem. Parents have long grasped this, instinctively giving praise and encouragement to their piano playing children, serving as their first “audience.”
You might not believe it at first, but sitting down to play the piano is actually quite a workout. Fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination are sharpened. Playing the piano also makes your hands and arm muscles much stronger than the average person.
Recent research suggests that older piano players can benefit from increased levels of Human Growth Hormone, which can slow some of the effects of aging.
Another study asserts that having music in one’s life on a regular basis has also been proven to reduce anxiety, relieve stress, and even manage pain.
Playing the piano can improve your overall aural awareness, as well. Playing the piano trains students to recognize tones, intervals, and chords as well as helping them to develop a sense of pitch.
Patrick Elisha of the M. Steinert Education Department has played the piano and other instruments for many years. Recently he reflected on the wellness benefits he has experienced in playing the piano.
“Piano playing is an exercise demanding an open and occupied mind alike,” notes Patrick. “The very entropy that we seek to escape from in our lives is replaced with this incredibly complex choreography of the body, mind, and soul, a purifying and singularly-focused process.”
Patrick goes on to say that the health and well-being of any human being require both stability and the mercurial nature of the unknown, the latter of which helps one to be imaginative while heavily relying on the stable training needed to effectively express music through the piano.
In short, like a good piano itself, piano practicing develops the stability and knowledge to allow one to be both grounded yet creative. One has to know the fundamentals of piano playing before one can improvise well.
“This ballet of sorts stops time, if one is willing,” says Patrick. “With the right investment in time itself as well as the instrument being used for the journey, it can inspire and awaken the creative and curious elements inside us, all through the universal language of music-making.”
Different people get different wellness aspects out of their piano playing. Some may need a creative or emotional release, a deep break from the stresses of work and life in general. Others may want to develop multitasking skills and better concentration.
Whichever of these wellness areas you wish to work on, the piano gives you the opportunity to improve yourself while enjoying the challenge and fun of making music.
Come into one of M. Steinert & Sons’ showrooms and start trying some of the pianos for yourself. One of our seasoned piano consultants will be glad to learn about your needs and interests to help you find the right piano for you.
Until then, enjoy a few more columns to learn about some of Steinway’s most inspiring piano models and the kind of piano that is best for young piano students:
By Stephen N. Reed
One of the most common desires expressed by piano shoppers, especially those making a purchase for their child, is to buy the cheapest possible piano that still does the job. Those are the two main considerations: cost and general performance by the instrument.
After all, the future is unknown. Will the child stick with piano lessons for the long haul or give up after a while?
At M. Steinert & Sons, we identify with any parent’s need to find the best piano for their needs. Spending hard-earned money on a large musical instrument deserves focused attention.
But focus is also needed to find an affordable piano that will give one’s child every chance of success at the keyboard. No parent wants to go to the trouble of purchasing a piano without their child wanting to play it.
However, that unintentionally happens frequently. A child who feels that their family piano is not worth their hours of practicing can often give up too easily.
Then the family is stuck with a rather large and heavy piece of wooden furniture that collects dust in the corner of a room–or a digital piano that is given away to a relative.
In this article, we will track the thoughts of one of our customers, Chris of Arlington, Massachusetts, whose daughter is about to begin piano lessons. As a result, Chris is beginning to explore what kind of piano to purchase for her.
Balancing that with Chris’s present budget and space in his home will be a key factor in his upcoming purchase of their family’s first piano.
Before getting into the options available for beginners, we spoke with Chris at length about what was behind his interest in supporting his daughter’s upcoming lessons.
He explained that his father was quite a piano player, though he played by ear, not by sight-reading. Chris hopes that this daughter may have inherited some of his father’s abilities at the piano.
In addition to Chris having a piano in his home growing up, he has become a musician himself, playing both the mandolin and the guitar in a local music group.
He’s bought top instruments for both of those efforts, so he’s aware of the benefit of having a quality musical instrument, especially for the ongoing motivation of a young beginner.
However, he still wants to be careful with this first piano, as he waits to see if his daughter “takes” to her piano lessons or not.
Chris has a second-story townhouse, reached by a narrow staircase. As a result, a grand for his daughter’s first piano might be a tall order, both in terms of space and in hauling it up that staircase.
That leads us to recommend options in upright piano models like Essex, a Steinway-designed, less expensive brand, as well as digital pianos like Roland. Roland makes a credible case that a good, digital piano can serve well as a first piano.
Chris is committed to read some articles on our M. Steinert & Sons website to learn more about pianos in his price range. Then he can start to know some actual options.
We suggested that one way for Chris to slice the Gordian Knot on price/quality would be to rent a quality piano for a number of months.
That way, Chris can wait to see if his daughter seriously takes to playing the piano, while giving her every opportunity to succeed with a quality upright piano that Chris doesn’t have to buy.
Chris would be putting a “toe in the water of acoustic pianos” without having to make a huge investment yet. That could wait for their second piano some time hence.
Giving his daughter an acoustic piano to play will give her a better idea of the pianos yet to come in her life, as opposed to the still good but much different experience of playing a digital piano.
Simply put, one shouldn’t expect to replicate the acoustic piano experience through a digital model.
Chris found this renting idea to be an interesting one and said he’d keep it in mind as he did his reading and research. To allow for the possibility of purchasing the piano he is renting, Chris will want to look into a rent-to-own arrangement.
Chris echoes the concerns raised frequently by parents wanting to do right by their promising child while still making a wise choice for a piano.
Until enough time has passed to determine the seriousness of the young student’s genuine interest, a parent has every right to wait and see.
Nevertheless, a parent like Chris also wants to give his daughter every chance to enjoy playing the piano as a lifelong pursuit. That begins with one’s very first piano and whether the young student feels empowered to play it.
In short, Chris realizes that he can’t just give his child anything to play. His choice needs to be one that his daughter looks forward to playing.
True, a beginner need not have the most expensive of pianos. However, getting the cheapest piano can backfire, too. Young students can be surprisingly sensitive to the pianos they play. If the piano given to them is not inviting and seems more like a temporary arrangement, so, too, can their interest in playing music become temporary.
Finding just the right piano for you–that is what has set M. Steinert apart since 1860. Each of our tens of thousands of customers has known that their concerns and needs were heard by our experienced piano consultants.
If you are considering a piano purchase for a young person in your family or simply to enhance your home with live music, come visit one of our two showrooms in South Boston and Newton.
Meantime, start your own research with these articles to learn more about what could be your very first piano!
