​​Finding the Right Piano

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A piano should feel right in its surroundings.

Sometimes the right piano is already here.

Sometimes it needs to be found.

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At Runnymede Pianos, I can help you find an instrument that is right not only musically, but also aesthetically, practically and personally.

Whether you are choosing a first piano for your family, searching for a particular maker or model, or looking for something exceptional for a home, hotel or special setting, the search begins by understanding what matters to you.

 

More Than a Piano

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The character of a piano can be just as important as its sound.

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A beautifully proportioned period instrument may sit naturally within a traditional home or historic building. A contemporary interior might call for something altogether different — perhaps a clean-lined black or white piano, an unusual finish or an instrument with a particularly striking design.

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But appearance is only part of the decision.

Touch, tone, size, construction, condition and the way the piano will be used all matter.

The aim is not simply to find something beautiful.

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It is to find something that belongs.

 

Finding What Isn’t Already Here

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The right piano isn’t necessarily the one currently sitting in a showroom.

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Through established contacts and trusted specialists within the piano trade, my search can extend well beyond the instruments currently available through Runnymede Pianos.

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That might mean finding a particular Steinway, Bechstein or Blüthner, an unusual period instrument, a specific size or style of piano, or simply a really good upright within a sensible budget.

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Sometimes I know where to look immediately.

Sometimes finding the right instrument takes a little longer.

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Either way, the search is about finding the right piano, rather than simply selling the piano that happens to be available.

 

Chosen With Care.

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Finding a piano is only the beginning.

An attractive instrument can still conceal considerable wear, poor previous repairs or expensive problems, so any piano considered must make sense mechanically and musically as well as aesthetically.

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Maker, age, construction, condition, touch, tone, musical potential and suitability for its intended use all form part of my assessment.

My background in piano tuning, repairs and restoration means I can look beyond the casework and consider the instrument as a whole.

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Where appropriate, servicing, refurbishment or restoration can also be arranged before the piano reaches its new home.

 

From a First Piano to Something Exceptional

Piano Finding isn’t reserved for rare or expensive instruments.

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For somebody buying their first piano, having experienced guidance can be particularly valuable. A modest budget can still buy an excellent instrument if you know what to look for — and, equally importantly, what to avoid.

At the other end of the scale, I can search for particular makers, models, periods, finishes and more unusual instruments for clients who have something very specific in mind.

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Whatever the budget, the principle remains the same:

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Find the best piano for the person, the place and the purpose.

 

Looking for Something Particular?

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You may already know exactly what you want.

Or you may simply know that you’d like a piano and aren’t sure where to begin.

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Tell me what you have in mind — your budget, the room, who will be playing and anything that particularly matters to you — and we can begin from there.

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The right piano may be somewhere you haven’t thought to look yet.