Whether you are looking for a used acoustic grand piano or a brand new digital keyboard, buying a piano is a big decision. Fortunately, we have a number of options here in the Washington D.C. area.
I’ve listed some local options below, followed by some general information on what to look for when buying a piano. Of course, if you are looking for piano lessons in Washington D.C. or piano lessons in Alexandria, VA, please get in touch!
Where To Buy a Piano In Washington D.C.
Orpheus Music
Orpheus Music, one the region’s leading piano businesses, offers new pianos, used pianos, piano repairs, and more. They are members of the Piano Technicians Guild, and they are official representatives for the Schimmel brand (although they sell everything). They are an appointment-only business. More info:
Phone: (703) 534-0200
Address: 6224C Old Dominion Drive, McLean, VA22101
Steinway Piano Gallery
Steinway’s showrooms are the best place to buy a new or certified used Steinway piano – you’ll be able to try out any make and model of Steinway, and you can ask the experts on hand anything you need to know. Steinways remain the world’s leading piano brand for a reason.
Phone: (703) 388-2482
Address: 1961 Chain Bridge Rd.
The Piano Company
Family owned and operated for three decades, The Piano Company is a great place to look for new or used digital and acoustic pianos. They also offer maintenance, tuning, and restoration services, and they carry hard-to-find hybrid models as well. Stop by if you’re undecided on what to buy – you’ll be able to try out numerous keyboards.
Phone: (703) 771-8119
Address: 206 East Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia 20176
Do You Need To Buy a Grand Piano?
If you have space in your home for a grand piano, it’s certainly worth considering. Grand pianos are beautiful, have a sound that’s far superior to upright pianos, and elevate your home. The good news is that you can get a good (used) grand piano fairly inexpensively – if you aren’t in a rush to buy, keep your eyes on Craigslist and local piano dealership websites. If someone is moving and has to get rid of their piano, they will often sell it for much less than it’s worth. Also, contact and piano technicians in your area – they can help you find a deal on a cheap grand piano.
Upright pianos can be wonderful instruments too, though. If you have limited floorspace or need to spend less than $1.5K on a piano, you may need to get an upright piano. Spinets, the smallest model, will usually be the cheapest, followed by console pianos and studio pianos. For a great value, look around for a Yamaha upright piano – for the higher end of the upright market, look for Steinways and Schimmels.
How Much Does The Brand Matter?
Higher end pianos, like Bluthner, Bosendorfer, and Steinway, are certainly far nicer than a Kawaii for instance, but you don’t have to spend money on the best brand to get a fantastic value. Take Baldwin and Mason & Hamlin pianos, for instance. They are wonderful instruments, and Baldwins can be found in concert halls across the United States (same with Mason & Hamlin), they just don’t have branding power of a Steinway – therefore, you can find a very reasonably priced Baldwin.
Consider Yamaha pianos as well. They may be the best value on the market, because they have a beautiful sound, great touch, excellent look, and are trusted by recording artists around the world. You can get a Yamaha for much less than a Steinway, and it’s a great value.
Are Acoustic Pianos Better Than Digital Pianos?
That depends. Do you need to be able to practice late at night or early in the morning? Are you very tight on budget? If so, digital pianos come in all shapes, sizes, and price points, and they won’t necessarily inhibit your progress at the piano.
Casio makes an excellent line of cheap electronic pianos, and the Yamaha Clavinova brand is still the gold standard for affordable, high quality digital pianos. The Yamaha Avant Grand series is an incredible digital hybrid instrument that is worth a test – the full size version is $15,000, but it might be the most technologically advanced digital hybrid piano in the world.
The important thing is that your digital piano has weighted keys, 88 keys, a pedal, and has a sound that you don’t hate.
How Many Pianos Should You Try Before You Decide On One?
This depends on your goals – if you aren’t exactly bargain hunting, and if you are trying to find the perfect piano that you can use often and pass on to future generations, you should visit as many piano showrooms as possible. Test Steinways, Bosendorfers, Petrofs, Bluthners, Baldwins, and everything else. If you don’t play, you’ll want to take a pianist friend with you – you should never buy a piano unless you are sure that it’s as nice as the salesperson says. If you are buying a used piano, you may want to bring a technician with you as well.
If you are looking for great deals, you may not be able to delay – once you have a good idea of the piano market, if you find a great deal, you’ll need to move quickly or the piano will be gone before you know it.
Get In Touch For Piano Lessons At MEA Piano Studio
If you’re ready to give your children the gift of music, why not contact MEA Piano Studio about a free trial package? I specialize in pre-college piano lessons, and my classes and private lessons are fun, engaging, and will give your child a solid foundation in music. I’d be happy to speak with you – get in touch for piano lessons in Fairfax, VA.
