All Articles

German Piano Manufacturers and Their Position in the Global Ecosystem

The past three years have not been easy for anyone in the piano industry, and the German industry is no exception.

Apr 155 min read

Petrof: The Next Chapter

Petrof is one of the very few remaining family-owned and -operated piano manufacturers in the world.

Oct 10, 20237 min read

Adjusting the Piano & Adjusting Myself: How I Found Change at the Fazioli Factory

A tour of the Fazioli factory was an experience that had a significant impact on my broader understanding of pianos.

Jan 28, 20236 min read

An Insider’s History of Mason & Hamlin, Part 3: The Long Road Back (1989–2011)

As would be expected, a century later things can be done better, and at Mason & Hamlin they are.

Oct 6, 202219 min read

Buying a Used Steinway

As an aid to those buying a used Steinway, I have listed all models of Steinway pianos made in New York City since the firm’s inception.

Jun 23, 20226 min read

Selecting a Performance Piano For Concert Hall or Home

This article assumes that you have chosen a brand and model, and are now about to select a specific instrument from among several examples.

Jun 13, 202213 min read

Piano Maintenance in Institutions

Institutional pianos will require more frequent service by technicians with special skills, and greater attention to climate control.

Jun 13, 20224 min read

Buying Pianos For an Institution

Because pianos can last a very long time, any piano-buying decisions you make today can have consequences for a generation or more.

Jun 13, 202214 min read

An Insider’s History of Mason & Hamlin, Part 2: Decline and Collapse (1932–1989)

By Bruce Clark The Great Depression The golden age of Mason & Hamlin, and of pianos in general, ended with the Great Depression. Though...

Apr 15, 202218 min read

New York and Hamburg Steinways Harmonize

In 1984, Steinway & Sons began a project to reduce the many different manufacturing processes used at its factories in New York and Hamburg.

Apr 15, 202210 min read

Buying a High-End Piano

The best piano is the one that will deliver to you and your family the joy of music, now and over the long run.

Apr 13, 20226 min read

The Uncompromising World of High-End Pianos

Those who’ve found themselves in a showroom full of high-performance pianos know that the experience can be both impressive and unnerving.

Apr 13, 202210 min read

An Insider’s History of Mason & Hamlin - Part 1: The Boston Years (1854–1932)

By Bruce Clark Mason & Hamlin, as well as other deserving makes of fine pianos, are often overlooked today because of the strength of the...

Oct 15, 202115 min read

German Piano Makers Face the Music of Globalization

By selling out to China, are German piano families securing their firms' futures, or are they digging their industry's grave?

Jun 13, 201612 min read

The All-Steinway Program vs. The Diverse-Inventory Approach to Buying Pianos For an Institution

When an institution is ready to purchase a large number of new pianos, one major decision is to be made.

Mar 15, 201317 min read

Dealers Speak About Their High-End Brands

These dealers describe the musical and other qualities of the high-end brands they represent, service, or play.

Jun 15, 201010 min read

Technicians Speak About the High-End Pianos They Service

Our goal in this article is to inform the reader of the characteristics of the brands the writers most admire.

Jun 10, 201030 min read