Steinway pianos are recognised worldwide for their superfluous craftsmanship, a trait which has led to their name being associated with the highest of quality. If you are tempted to invest is this austere instrument, then you may want to find out about the features which make Steinway pianos the best for sound, tone, touch and appearance. To give you an insight into some of the characteristics which Steinway & Sons carefully craft into every one of their pianos, read on as their features are discussed in more detail below.

Diaphragmatic Soundboard

The diaphragmatic soundboard which was patented in 1936 is tapered in thickness, producing a sound that is extremely rich. It is the sound produced by these fine instruments which has led to their growing popularity with pianists across the world, and why they are typically used by famous pianists, composers and musicians everywhere.

Quality Craftsmanship

Steinway & Sons adhere to a strict philosophy that carefully crafted parts are the key to producing an instrument that is second to none in quality, sound and usability; this is why they take nearly a year to manufacture. If you want to try your hand at playing this truly remarkable instrument, then you should get in touch with the approved retailers, Coach House Pianos.

They have one of the largest collections of Steinway pianos, which makes them the perfect place to visit should you be looking to invest in a new piano. Get in touch with them today, or pop in and see them at their showroom to play on one of their Steinway pianos.

If you grew up playing a piano in your school orchestra it’s possible that you’ll have had dreams of sitting on stage, in front of thousands of admiring fans. If you’re fortunate enough to have continued these dreams and you’re currently rehearsing for a concert, or if you’re in charge of sourcing an instrument for an upcoming event, then you’ll no doubt want to ensure that you have the best instrument that money can buy. With this in mind, nothing is better or more beautifully crafted than the grand pianos from us here at Steinway Hall.

Here at Steinway Hall we provide seven varieties of grand pianos, all of which vary in length and design, and every single piano that has the Steinway name on it has been handcrafted over a three year period to ensure that when it’s under the spotlight on the stage, both its appearance and the sounds produced are refined to perfection.

The smallest of the grand pianos which we provide is the 155cm by 146.5cm baby grand, the S-155.  Although the baby grand may be considerably smaller than the others in the range, it still provides the same characteristics of remarkable craftsmanship, an excellent volume and sound, and technical perfection. Due to its small size and light weight (approximately 252kg) it’s the ideal grand piano for a small school stage.

At the opposite end of the spectrum is the largest grand piano we craft and supply; the D-274. This is the highest quality piano that has the privilege of bearing the historic Steinway name. Without fail it’ll deliver a rich sound from the beginning to the end of its life, and is extremely responsive to even the lightest of touches. At 274cm by 157cm, this piano wouldn’t look out of place on the largest concert stage.

For those who are looking for a grand piano somewhere in-between these two, we’ve got the A-188 model, which is the perfect combination of the two, with dimensions of 188cm by 147cm. Whichever size grand pianos you’re after, here at Steinway we’ll have the perfect handcrafted model available, simply get in touch today.

A piano is a lifetime investment and as such the right care and maintenance needs to be given to ensure that a high standard of performance is maintained. Here at Steinway we understand the musical enjoyment that a piano can offer a musician. Our many years of experience have equipped us with the knowledge of how to care for your piano. Properly caring for your piano maintains the high level of enjoyment that you receive from such a magnificent instrument. To prevent your elegant and prestigious piano from falling below standard, we have devised a small guide on how to care for, and maintain pianos.

Keys and Surface Care

Wiping down the keys or surface of your piano should not under any circumstances be implemented with furniture polish. This damages the surface of your piano and the repair costs can be considerable depending on the extent of the degradation caused. Forewarnings out of the way, to wipe down your piano you will need a dry cloth or a damp leather cloth. Gently wipe down the surface of the piano to remove any dust. Using your piano as a table stand for your drinks isn’t going to promote a healthy sheen to the high polish or stain finish of your piano, so make sure it’s not used like this in everyday life.

Maintenance

Key maintenance such as voicing and tuning should be carried out regularly and more importantly, by a fully trained and professional technician. The piano is a complex and intricate instrument that requires a high standard of knowledge and experience to fully maintain it. If you have recently bought a brand new piano, then you will need to have the piano tuned frequently throughout the first year until the tuning has steadied.

The high standard of quality and exceptional services that we provide for our customers here at Steinway is set to preserve a similar high standard of performance for pianos.  For more information on the care and maintenance services that we provide to all of our customers please feel free to get in touch with us today. We pride ourselves on delivering a knowledgeable and time honoured service to all.

Here at Steinway Hall, we’re proud of our reputation as the world’s finest piano makers – it’s a legacy that we’ve worked very hard to preserve over the years. We’re of the firm belief that nothing can beat the feel, elegance and privilege of owning your very own Steinway from new. Pianos have a way of exerting their influence over their owners, and soon you’ll find it difficult to imagine ever being without your new Steinway. However, many pianists choose to invest in used pianos for a number of reasons, and this can still bring many years of pleasure to owners. In many case, Steinway Hall pianos actually increase in value over time, so if you’re buying used you could be making a considerable purchase.

Seek Advice

Of course, before you hand over such a substantial amount, you’ll need to be certain that the piano has been looked after properly. The first tip that we would offer is that you seek the opinion of a specialist. The prices charged for consultations vary quite considerably from expert to expert; so make sure you trust their skills and qualifications before taking their opinion into account.

While you may be able to assess the sound of a piano well, its inner mechanics are extremely complex, and the stresses they’re subjected to can be considerable. Only an experienced manufacturer or restoration specialist will be able to identify the tell tale signs of wear, which will allow you to anticipate the likelihood of future breakdown.

Take your Time

It may seem like just common sense, but this point is worth considering. There are countless dealers out there who would pressure you into a quick sale, but a piano could be a purchase that stays with you for a lifetime. Therefore, take the time to research the model and its history before making your decision. If time is of the essence, it’s worth making a deposit on the condition that an expert is given chance to examine the instrument on your behalf before the final purchase is made.

The final piece of advice from the team here at Steinway Hall would be for buyers to remember that pianos are more than just musical instruments; they are pieces of furniture, and perhaps above all, they are works of art. This means that you should consider the aesthetic qualities of your proposed purchase carefully, to ensure that it fits in with your home, hall or studio.

The best way to compose music is to experiment with different notes on the piano itself. By playing around, you can establish a melody which will form the basis for your composition. If you are unsure about how to approach writing music for pianos, then here at Steinway Pianos we have come up with a simple guide to help you get the most out of your piano. By composing your own music, you are more likely to understand the emotion behind the composition and as such your musical ability will enhance dramatically. To make sure that you get the best out of your pianos when composing music, get your piano serviced and tuned by a reliable professional.

How to Develop your Melodic Phrase

By playing around on your piano you can establish a melodic phrase relatively quickly. By having fun you will quickly generate a melody that appeals to your senses. To ensure that you get the best out of your piano, especially when producing your own musical compositions, it is advised that you check your piano is tuned properly. By checking that your piano is performing to a high standard, you can rest in the knowledge that striking a melody will be considerably easier.

Repeating your chorus

Developing a chorus from your melodic phrase is relatively simple once you have established the general direction of your piece. However, the trick is not to repeat the chorus more than twice in the same way. Usually, on the third chorus there should be an alteration in the amount of bass, the octave, flair or perhaps a slightly different rhythm. By embellishing the third chorus, you ensure the structure of the composition is more interesting and easier to listen to.

To make sure that your piano is performing at a standard that will encourage you to compose your own music, get in touch with us at Steinway Pianos today. We provide a professional service and advice on how to maintain the sound quality of pianos. Don’t become discourage by an ill performing piano; get in touch for a service that will ensure that your harmonies are perfect.

The difference between toning and tuning a piano is often mistaken or commonly misunderstood. At Steinway Hall we pride ourselves on providing a quality and informative service. Piano toning or voicing is a service which improves the sound quality of the piano. In comparison piano tuning is a service that corrects the piano’s pitch. Here at Steinway Hall we understand the importance of maintaining your piano to receive the full benefits of owning a piano.

Toning

Toning or voicing a piano is designed to improve the tonal quality of a piano and is usually needed as a result of felt hardening. Felt hardening occurs when the hammer makes contact with the felt. After a while the felt will be become compressed due to the impact and will harden. As a result the sound produced by the piano will be altered.

Piano Tuning

In comparison, piano tuning focuses upon the harmony produced by the piano. This involves a piano technician making intricate changes to the pitch of the piano, making sure that the strings vibrate at a certain frequency to produce the correct sound.

A piano should ideally be tuned four times a year, mainly because the core material in a piano, the wood, regularly adjusts depending on the weather it is exposed to. For instance, cold, hot, dry and wet weather will all affect the temperament of the piano’s wood, which may result in swelling.

The movement of the wood affects the tone of the sound produced. Regular maintenance and tuning of your piano ensures that the sound of your piano is not compromised and any serious repairs are avoided.

Steinway Hall’s highly skilled technicians can provide quality piano tuning and toning services. We maintain that our services will optimise the performance of your piano, producing a sound that is superior to other pianos, and which will make playing your piano even more of a joyous pastime.

Some of the greatest music ever composed was done so using a piano, including the music of Beethoven, Mozart, Chopin and Billy Joel – the latter famously played his music using an elegant piano lovingly handcrafted by Steinway. If you’re fortunate enough to be following in the footsteps of these greats and in particular, the footsteps of Joel, by playing a Steinway piano, then you’ll appreciate the smoothness of the keys and the sweet sounds from the strings. It is also likely that you’ll know the importance of having regular piano servicing.

Depending on how often your Steinway is used, will depend on how often you’ll need it to be serviced. For example, if you only use your Steinway on the odd occurrence, such as during a family gathering, it is likely that you’ll only need your piano serviced every five years or so. If you use your instrument on a regular basis and for hours at a time, then to ensure it continues to sound smooth as you play the c-minors and d-majors, it’s important to have it serviced annually.

Here at Steinway Hall, we are the only authorised Steinway technicians in the UK to carry out all piano servicing and string repairs; meaning that if your lower-end strings have snapped or keys need rebushing, our team can carry out the work, using only authentic and genuine Steinway parts, to ensure your beautiful piano remains 100% genuine.

Our technicians here at Steinway Hall, offer a one day servicing package – which includes the cleaning of the interior of your piano, servicing the pedal mechanism (if required) and adjusting the toning – through to a seven day service, which is ideal if your piano hasn’t been serviced for over five years.

During the piano servicing, if you inform us that the strings are in need of replacing, then we’ll be able to look at these and carry out the necessary work. If it is the lower-end strings which have broken, this may take longer to repair, as the strings need to be specially made to order.

Investing into the master craftsmanship of a fine instrument as a Steinway, is an exciting and significant moment for any musician. Following the careful and intricate procedure leading to the completion of your Steinway, it is vital that you keep your piano in good condition. With regular piano servicing, you’ll be able to ensure that it continues to produce stunning music and vibrant sound, which you and those around you can enjoy for years into the future.

Your Steinway relies on each and every one of its thousands of parts working seamlessly together to generate its rich, satisfying sound. If just one of these parts begins to work out of sync with the others, then the tone and quality of music may soon be diminished. To account for this, frequent maintenance is essential to the well-being of your piano, to ensure it continues to function to its best possible ability.

There are three main steps which attribute to maintaining the overall condition of your piano; tuning, voicing and regulation.
Tuning

Ensuring that your piano remains in tune is vital in maintaining the correct pitch within the music which you generate. Your piano may naturally begin to grow out of tune due to atmospheric variations, and will depend on where you store it and how much sunlight it is exposed to. Within normal conditions, a piano typically needs tuning twice a year by a trained technician to guarantee the best results.
Voicing

This includes the adjustment of tone and sound within your piano, through softening or hardening the hammers. Whether you prefer bright or mellow sounds, all pianos will at some time require a brighter tone, and thus need to be voiced. Through voicing your Steinway every two to three years, you’ll be able to maintain a balanced and uniformed tone throughout the keyboard.
Regulation

Depending on how you play your piano, it will require regulation to re-establish the evenness which it originally held. This process affects the touch of the piano, and once it has been regulated you will find that you are able to play it in your usual style, whilst continuing to gain the exceptional sound which it is able to produce at its best.

To ensure the best possible care is taken, and the most beautiful sound is generated from your Steinway, our piano servicing technicians are second to none. To find out more, complete our online contact form to get in touch.

When listening to some of the great musicians stroke the ivory keys on their pianos, the sounds created can be mesmerising. Getting the piano in your home or school to produce similarly soft and beautiful sounds that are pitch perfect every time can be a difficult task, especially if the pitch on your Steinway has slipped below the recommend level. One way to prevent this is by having regular piano tuning by highly skilled and experienced technicians, such as us here at Steinway Hall.

If when playing a rendition of Brahm’s Lullaby the pitch on your piano sounds like it may be slipping below the recommended level or the keys are slightly out of tune, you may be fretting that there is a fault with the instrument. However, in the majority of cases this isn’t true.

Instead the more common cause is due to the wood expanding as it absorbs the moisture in the air, which results in the strings also expanding and not hitting the soundboard correctly.

Fortunately, piano tuning is a minor repair which our Steinway approved technicians can carry out using specialist equipment and our years of knowledge and experience, to ensure that your beloved instrument hits the right notes next time you sit down in-front of the keys.

In order to ensure that next time you rehearse for an important recital, the C minor key produces the right note, instead of a C flat, it is important that you invest in regular tuning. Here at Steinway, we would recommend, for those instruments which are played on a regular basis, tuning roughly four times throughout the year.

Due to our great love of pianos, we understand the importance of all pianos emitting a soulful sound as the keys are worked skilfully, which is why we offer a competitive rate for our pitch raising and piano tuning services for any piano model. If you would like to have your piano pitch perfect, why not give our friendly team a call?

Purchasing a top of the range piano is not something to be taken lightly, and to ensure that it remains in the best possible condition and consistently provides you with beautiful sounding music means you should prepare fully before you buy. At Steinway, our pianos are very delicate instruments that need to be taken care of and respected throughout their lifetime. There are a number of ways that you can make certain this happens even before you buy the instrument.

Location

Finding the ideal location for your piano to stand is vitally important. Preferably, you piano should stand against the inside wall of a room, away from any outside doors, radiators and windows. As the surface of our pianos here at Steinway are sensitive to extensive amounts of sunlight, we fully recommend choosing a room where it will be in no way affected by direct sunlight so that it maintains its impressive appearance for a number of years to come. You can also invest in special supports that will protect the feet of your piano along with the floor of the room you feel it is most suited to.

Transport

Due to their extremely delicate nature, comprehensive transport plans should be put in place beforehand to make sure that your new piano gets to its final destination safely. Using a specialist transportation vehicle will give you the peace of mind that, on its journey, your new piano will always be safe and secure.

Insurance

As pianos are such valuable musical instruments, you should make sure that you get adequate insurance coverage should the worst happen. You should treat a piano like anything else covered by insurance in order to protect your financial asset at all times.

Pianos can bring years of enjoyment for every single member of the family; however you need to make sure that everything is in place before you purchase a piano from our quality collection here at Steinway.