A Music Store that Loves Pianos - and Making Pianists

Posted on May 10, 2012 | Comments Off

I love a piano, I love a piano
I love to hear somebody play
Upon a piano, a grand piano
It simply carries me away
                      - Irving Berlin

There's something to be said for a musical instrument that has its own theme song. When it came to the charms of the piano, Irving Berlin clearly tapped into something universal in the human spirit. So if you've been thinking about adding more music to your household, stop into Houston Piano Company. We're a piano store that loves pianos, and we have a passion for helping others learn to play.

Pianos

At Houston Piano Company, we've been in the piano business since 1943. We're passionate about connecting experienced and aspiring musicians with the pianos they need to make great music. We offer an amazing selection of new and used pianos at affordable prices, as well as a host of other resources to meet all of your piano needs. We don't use gimmicks; we just know our store is the best one in town.

Buying a piano is a major decision. With so many brands, styles, and features to think about, you want to be sure you're getting the right instrument at the best price. It helps to have informed, friendly experts at hand who are willing and prepared to discuss with you which instrument will meet your needs, whether you're in the market for a traditional, quality upright; a high-tech instrument that's designed for learning, or a statement baby grand. We offer a host of new and famous brand pianos including Steinway, Yamaha, Bechstein, Brodmann, Mason & Hamlin, and many others. We also carry a variety of organs and player pianos.

Piano Lessons + Piano Classes

Lots of piano and music stores can connect you with private piano lessons, but how many of them have their own music school? At Houston Piano Company, we're so serious about the benefits of learning how to play an instrument - especially the piano - that we are committed to making it easier to do so. Whether you're seven or 70, the rewards of learning how to play the piano are innumerable, and the Houston Piano Company School of Music exists to expose as many people as possible to the joys of playing.

But we're not out to take business from dedicated music teachers and private instructors in Houston. Just the opposite - we're your allies in saving music education. We partner with music teachers in opening up as many avenues for piano classes and private lessons as possible. To that end, we've created a piano teacher locator directory for anyone looking for a qualified piano instructor in their own neighborhood. We invite music teachers to list their services for free and become eligible for teacher discounts and special offers.

Piano Rental

Planning an occasion or event? We offer quality rental pianos for just about any special event, whether your need is a small-scale upright or a concert grand. If you're thinking of adding a piano to your home but aren't quite ready to purchase one, with our rent-to-own program you can try out piano ownership for as little as $35 a month.

Piano Sale

Do you have a used piano to sell? We get lots inquiries from people asking whether or not we buy used pianos. Yes, we absolutely do! Call us today to discuss your used piano, and let us make you an offer.

Piano Movers

Moving a piano requires precise skills and equipment. Before you try to undertake this challenging task yourself, give us a call. We've partnered with some expert piano movers in the Houston area who'll apply their professional skills and experience to get your piano from point A to point B with a minimum amount of stress to you and your instrument.

We at Houston Piano Company love everything about the piano. And we'd love to help you learn to love it, too. So if you're in the Houston area and are in the market to purchase, rent, or sell a piano, or if you're looking for affordable piano lessons for beginners of all ages, intermediate or advanced pianists, give us a call or stop in today.

Houston Piano Company
1600 W. 13th Street
Houston TX, 77008
(832) 231-8810
Lessons: (832) 495-4150

Sharing our passion for pianos with the world, one note at a time

Posted on Aug 3, 2011 in News & Events, Piano Blog | Comments Off

Sometimes the right instrument is all you need to make good music sound great. At Houston Piano Company, we’re passionate about connecting experienced and aspiring musicians with the pianos they need to make great music. We offer an amazing selection of new and used pianos at affordable prices, as well as a host of other resources to meet all of your piano needs. We don’t use gimmicks; we just think our store is the best one in town. Here’s why:

Exceptional Variety

We sell and deliver the highest-quality in digital and acoustic pianos from all the best-known brands, from Yamaha to Steinway to Baldwin and more. We are also the exclusive Roland digital piano dealer for Houston, and our stunning display of player pianos will take your breath away! Don’t know how to play but want to learn? We offer year-round lessons for a variety of ages, and our facilities even include a recital hall where you can perform once you’ve developed your musical skills. Our store is truly a one-stop shop for both purchasing and playing this extraordinary instrument.

Learn about the various Houston Piano Makes & Models we offer.

Professional Expertise

We don’t mean to brag, but our piano experts are the best in the business. Our store is owned and operated by Steve and Sue Merrill, the third owners since 1943. Steve grew up in Houston and has managed three different piano companies since 1974. Several members of our staff have two, three and even four decades of experience working with pianos. When you visit Houston Piano Company, you can take comfort in knowing that our company didn’t spring up overnight. We have the enthusiasm and know-how that comes with decades of experience in the business, and we’re ready, willing and able to put that knowledge to work for you.

Read about the history and experience of Houston Piano Company.

Service to All of Houston

Our phenomenal, retro-fitted warehouse showroom is centrally-located in Houston’s beautiful Heights, but no matter where you live in the city, we’re committed to making your piano shopping experience a pleasant one. Whether you’re from Sugarland or Katy, Cypress or Missouri City, when it comes to pianos, we’ve got you covered. But don’t just take our word for it. Call or visit us today and find out for yourself!

Find out more about the areas our Houston piano store serves.

Buying a used piano in Houston

Posted on May 18, 2012 in Piano Blog | 0 comments

So, you have a child that is just started learning to play piano and are in need of a ‘good, inexpensive used piano’.  You begin by perusing the Greensheet and various websites like Craigslist looking in earnest for a great deal.  It is very important that you consider some vital points before you purchase something that may end up biting you back and discouraging your child from playing instead of encouraging them to excel in their lessons… And isn’t the end goal supposed to be your child playing the piano?

Used pianos in Houston, including ever-popular used Steinway pianos, are plentiful and easy to locate. How do you spot the ‘good, inexpensive used piano’ from all the junk out there? That is more difficult than you might imagine. Sometimes the most expensive piano you will ever buy is the free or ‘cheap, good one. Only a qualified piano professional can differentiate the good deals from the bad.

Most used pianos out there for sale are quite old and worn out well beyond their playable years. There are over 6,000 moving parts in the keyboard action alone. These are traditionally made from wood which can degrade over time from climatic changes. Wood swells in the summer during periods of high humidity and then contracts during the more dry seasons of fall, winter and spring. This wreaks havoc where the parts are pieced together with small nickel plated pins. Parts will either get extremely loose or just the opposite – so tight that the action will hardly move. Can you imagine how discouraging this would be for any pianist, especially a budding beginner? Older pianos will often require major action repairs with many part replacements. The cost for doing such repairs can run into the hundreds, yea, even as much as a couple thousand dollars.

Hammer heads and damper felts will most likely need to be replaced. As the felt ages it degrades. If played a lot, deep string cuts occur. Hammers also get very hard resulting in the piano sounding as bright as an old saloon piano from the old T.V. westerns.  You simply cannot play with any expression on such a piano. No matter how softly you attempt to play, the hammers are so hard the tone will be ridiculously bright. On a good piano, there will be tremendous variations of tone controlled by the will and fingers of the pianist. When played softly, the piano should sing sweetly with a mellow tone and when played forcefully the piano should leap to life with power and brilliance.

Tuning stability may be a thing of the past in an older piano. As they age, most will begin to have loose tuning pins which cannot grip and hold the pitch. Why? Because a very important part of the piano that you cannot even see has outlived its usefulness. This vital part is called the pin block, which is laminates of hardwood glued together. Holes are drilled for the size of the tuning pins which are supposed to bite into the wood and not slip. Over time, the holes begin to widen and there is nothing for the pin to grip. A piano that can’t hold tune is useless as an instrument, a waste of money, and worse… it is no fun to play which discourages your child to play.

Something else to consider: There are many pianos for sell in Houston that have been damaged by hurricane Ike, and other floods that have occurred over the last three decades. These are to be avoided at all cost. Incredible amounts of force from string tension (about 40,000 lbs.) are exerted. When water soaks into a piano, the wood warps, glue joints break apart, the sound board loses its crown… You get the picture – it isn’t pretty. You can’t unwarp wood. There is also the dangerous mold, which is potentially hazardous to your health.

Though this article may be somewhat more on the technical side, if you are buying a used piano for kids or yourself the key message is this: Sometimes the most expensive piano you will ever buy is the free or ‘cheap good’ one. At Houston Piano Company, we are very picky about our used pianos. We offer certified pre-owned pianos that include 10 year parts warranties, something unheard of in the industry. All pianos we sell include a full trade-up option, which allows you to upgrade to a grand piano later down the road. Because of this policy, we don’t sell pianos that we don’t want back. In other words, you are very safe with your investment at the Houston Piano Company. For more information, please call me on my direct line at (832) 277-3755.

Dave Smith
Piano Consultant
(832) 277-3755