About Pianos
Grand Pianos & Vertical Pianos
Should I buy a grand or a vertical piano?
A fine quality grand piano should certainly be considered if space and budget permit.
Because of the design, a grand piano has certain inherent advantages over the vertical configuration. The gravity-type action of a fine grand allows for faster repetition of notes and for better, more subtle control of expression and tone than that of a vertical action piano. The horizontal construction and the shape of the soundboard allow the tone to develop in an open manner. Musically, a fine grand is superior to a vertical piano. Aesthetically, it can be an elegant and dramatic addition to your home decor.
However, space and budget are often major considerations, and not all grands are created equal. A first class vertical piano is an excellent musical instrument, and will outperform and outlast a poorly made, inexpensive, small grand. Vertical pianos come in a variety of furniture styles and finishes that can enhance your home’s decor, and will take a fraction of the space of even a small grand.
Why are some pianos more expensive than others?
The simple answer is because high quality pianos are more expensive to manufacture than lesser quality instruments.
Selection of Materials. The finest materials – top grade spruce, wool felt, expensive hard rock maple veneers, and all the other components that go into the making of the piano – will affect the end result. The makers of more expensive instruments take great care in selecting and handling their materials consistent with the quality of that instrument.
Preparation of Materials. Proper seasoning of woods is time-consuming and costly. First, the wood must be air-dried for a period of time, and then placed in kilns to stabilize it to specific moisture contents. Through this process, better instrument manufacturers go to great lengths to ensure the quality and long life of their pianos.
Workmanship. There is no substitute for quality of workmanship. The more skilled the workers are, the better the piano. Mass produced pianos are less expensive than ‘hand-crafted’ instruments. For example, it takes approximately one year to create each Steinway & Sons grand piano.
Scale Design. A beautifully balanced scale is the result of the work of a master scale designer. Scales tend to evolve and be refined over a period of time. Manufacturers of the finest pianos constantly strive to find ways to make their scales’ designs even better.
Click here for a FREE Buyer's Guide & Grand Piano Floor Pattern!
Today's Player Pianos
The Player Pianos for the 21st century...amazing technologies create musical entertainment systems!
From the early 1900’s through the “roaring twenties” much of the success of the piano industry was due to the popularity of the player piano.
During that period over half of the pianos made in the United States were players. These old players were entirely mechanical with thousands of individual parts including bellows, pneumatic tubes, tracker bars, and all kinds of other mechanical devices. When the radio and phonograph came along in the mid-twenties, they replaced the player as the main source of home entertainment.
Today’s player pianos – verticals and grands – are marvels of technology for player and non-player alike. They offer features and performance that far exceed the player pianos of yesterday. The player unit does not affect the playability of the piano itself. So not only do you have a fine piano upon which to play, but also the amazing capabilities of the player piano. Using digital technology, today’s player has as a source a modern compact disc instead of the old paper piano rolls. The unit reads the information on the disc and activates the keys using advanced electronics. The result is a performance exactly as the performer originally played the piece, including dynamic expression and tempo.
With the touch of a button you can have world-class performances right in your living room with artists such as Arthur Rubinstein, Vladimir Horowitz, Peter Nero, Floyd Cramer and hundreds more. It’s like having the most famous and gifted pianists from the past and present performing just for you, live in your own home.
Some models go far beyond the standard player piano features to offer not only live acoustic piano concerts, but instrumental ensemble music as well. With modern playback features, they allow you to record and hear your own performances, which is particularly helpful for students.
We invite you to come in for a demonstration of today’s players. With their fine tone and touch, and stunning features and capabilities they offer an unparalled musical entertainment system for your home.
Click here for a FREE Buyer's Guide & Grand Piano Floor Pattern!
The Amazing Digital Piano
Visit Schmitt Music to experience today's amazing Digital Pianos!
While a technology-driven piano may not be the piano for everyone, it might just be the piano for you!
Electronic “piano-like” instruments were introduced well over forty years ago. These early digital pianos never achieved any great popularity because they only approximated a piano-like sound and touch, and had very limited applications.
Fast forward to this new age of digital electronics! Today's digital pianos are capable of producing amazingly authentic piano sound and have key actions that give the feel and repetition of an acoustic instrument. Thanks to the wonders of digital technology, the digital piano is also capable of realistically producing other musical instrument sounds, as well as those of the piano. The straight digital piano usually has the standard 88-note keyboard. Some lower-priced models, however, have “short” keyboards of only 76 notes. They often have two or three other voices in addition to the piano sound.
“Digital piano ensembles” are digital pianos that feature an extensive selection of instrumental voices, a large number of accompaniment rhythms, “play-along” chord patterns, and many sound effects too numerous to list. The “extras” that digital piano ensembles offer are seemingly limitless, making them the most versatile home instruments imaginable.
Other benefits of digital pianos include fantastic effects, multi-track record and playback, hook up to your TV for karaoke, or to your home computer (midi, Mac and PC compatible). And digital pianos never need tuning.
Digital or Acoustic? For some, the only choice is the traditional acoustic grand or vertical in fine furniture cabinetry with its true acoustic character. For others, a digital piano fits their needs perfectly, as it offers such versatility and is an instrument that entire families enjoy.
Come in to Schmitt Music and let us help you learn the differences so that you can make the right decision for your family.
