Do Pianos Get Better with Age?
Well, they don’t age like wine… but – now that I think about it – that may be a good analogy. To correctly age wine, you need to keep it between 50 and 60 degrees and at about 60 percent humidity. You need to store it on its side. You need to keep the bottles away from light and vibration. You also have to start with a fine wine. You’re not going to be able to transform a grocery store brand into Château Lafite Rothschild. If you do all of this, then you can mature it for decades and enjoy a really amazing wine.
On the other hand, if all you do is just put it in your pantry for decades – when you open it, you’re probably going to have a bottle that tastes like vinegar.
Just like wine, if you purchase a fine instrument – and then properly care for it – your piano can perform better for a limited amount of time. However, neglecting things like proper temperature and humidity and failing to provide regular maintenance can turn your piano into a “PSO” (piano shaped object) that is no longer enjoyable and – in some cases – no longer even playable.
Let’s look at how pianos age.
Black (Piano) Friday Sale!
Attention, Phoenix! Have you been considering a new or gently-used piano, digital piano or player piano for your special someone this Holiday Season? Well, if so, Riverton Piano Company is transforming Black Friday into Black PIANO Friday – for TWO DAYS ONLY – and you won’t want to miss these incredible deals! Our doors open at 10am on Friday, November 24 with wall-to-wall savings on every black piano in inventory! Several pianos will be one-of-a-kind deals… so come early for the best selection and some truly awe-inspiring discounts!
- NEW Pianos with 10-Year Warranty from $3995!
- NEW Digital Pianos from only $1199!
- NEW Digital GRAND Pianos from only $6399!
- NEW Baby Grand Pianos from $8499!
- NEW YAMAHA Player Pianos starting at $19,999!
- Up to $500 CASH BACK on all NEW Roland LX-Series Pianos!
- USED pianos from $899!
Better yet – purchase a Roland digital piano and – ON TOP of the Black Piano Friday discount – enjoy three FREE Months of online piano lessons with Pianote! Purchase a Roland HP, LX or GP Series digital piano and get a FREE membership to our celebrated “Roland Owner’s Club” – which helps you get the most out of your piano with training videos, music downloads, custom setups and so much more!
Looking to finance? Check out these incredible options!
- 18 Months 0% APR* on ALL Yamaha Pianos!
- 12 Months SAME AS CASH on ALL Roland Digital Pianos!
- Special LOW-INTEREST APR on ALL Acoustic Pianos!
That special someone in your life was born with a gift. Help her unlock it with a new piano, digital piano or player piano from Riverton Piano Company this Holiday Season! …but hurry. Black Piano Friday weekend ends at 6pm on Saturday, November 25. Don’t miss your chance to SAVE before the 2023 price increases go into effect!
Happy Holidays!
* – Subject to credit approval. Monthly payments of $55.56 per $1,000 borrowed for 18 months at 0% APR. On purchases of new and in-stock qualifying Yamaha pianos from November1, 2023, to January 2, 2024.
Yamaha “Red Envelope” Holiday Promotion 2023
This holiday season, give your loved ones something they’ll treasure for years to come: the gift of music.
Now through January 2, 2024, enjoy 0% APR for 18 months on select Yamaha pianos.*
We invite you to come in to see our entire selection. Virtual or private visits are also available.
Happy Holidays from Our Family to Yours!
They were born with a gift. Help them unlock it this Holiday Season.
PRESS HERE to Browse Yamaha Pianos
* Subject to credit approval.Monthly payments of $55.56 per $1,000 borrowed for 18 months at 0% APR. On purchases of new and in-stock qualifying Yamaha pianos from November1, 2023, to January 2, 2024.
Rare Pricing, Special Financing AND Rebates on Select Roland Pianos!
For the first time, Roland is offering a direct-to-consumer rebate on select model pianos. This rebate (ranging from $200 – $400 off the already historically low price) is available on any new Roland LX-Series digital pianos purchased between now and October 31, 2023. Pianos may be purchased online or in-store to qualify. Riverton will supply the rebate form at the point of purchase. Just send your rebate to Roland along with a cell phone photo of your serial number and Roland will send you a check in the mail!
See World-Renowned Swing Pianist, Judy Carmichael LIVE!
You’re invited to an unforgettable evening with internationally-acclaimed, Grammy-nominated swing pianist, vocalist, radio host, and author, JUDY CARMICHAEL, Continuing her world-wide promotional book tour with a series of live recitals and concerts in the Phoenix area, Judy will conduct an intimate recital, book/cd signing party and “meet and greet” event at Riverton Piano Company Peoria’s recital hall Thursday, September 7 (7pm) as part of Riverton’s “Piano Education Partnership” community outreach program.
The Truth About Boston and Essex Pianos
From the beginning, Boston pianos were advertised as completely “Designed by Steinway & Sons.” Many of the features Steinway emphasized turned out to be common on most similarly-priced pianos.
As one of the most – if not the most – expensive pianos made in America today (with uprights starting over $50,000 and baby grands starting at $87,000), Steinway & Sons pianos are simply not accessible to a majority of piano buyers. Making matters worse for Steinway is increased competition from high quality – yet more affordable – piano brands like Yamaha and Baldwin. This is why a company surrounded by romance and global esteem has seen such a catastrophic drop in piano sales from around 6000 pianos per year in the 1920s to an estimated 1000 or fewer pianos per year today. Faced with these sobering numbers, Steinway & Sons was forced to diversify their offerings and increase their appeal among piano shoppers. Thus, in 1991, Steinway introduced its first line of “mid-priced” pianos. Boston was born.
Roland’s Road to Piano Reality
In 2009, Roland changed the digital piano industry forever with the introduction of the V-Piano – Roland’s very first fully-modeled digital piano. At the time, nearly every other digital piano for the home or stage used a technology called “representative sampling” (often known as “Harmonic Imaging,” “Wave Synthesis” or “Advanced Wave Memory” – every piano manufacturer had a preferred name for it). Put simply, sampling technology utilized microphones to take short recordings of acoustic pianos (called “samples”) for playback in a digital piano. More expensive digital pianos featured 88-note samples (meaning the manufacturer took recordings from every note on the acoustic piano) where less expensive instruments would sample every 4-5 notes and use computers to pitch-shift the notes in-between. As the technology (and the required memory) improved, manufacturers added more samples to the mix in an effort to capture tonal changes within the piano as keys were played with more force, as the pedals were used and, as more notes blended together during the performance. It seemed sampling was the way of the future…
Can You Teach Yourself to Play the Piano?
One of the questions I often hear in the piano business is “Can I teach myself how to play the piano?” Whether you’re struggling to find room for piano lessons in your schedule or your budget, we have more – and better – options than ever for at-home learners. Is a self-directed, at-home piano lessons program right for you? Well, stick around and find out!
The Truth About Shopping By Price
You’re not alone. Who doesn’t want a great price on the piano of their dreams? …but – what some folks forget – is that “best piano” and “best price” might mean different things to different people. The first step in finding a piano is establishing exactly what “best piano” and “best price” mean to you. To some, the “best piano” may just be one that fits comfortably into their budget or space. To others, the “best piano” is the one that inspires them by its sound or touch. It’s important to realize that *none* of those criteria necessarily refer to a top quality instrument. If you’re used to a poor quality, out of tune piano, you might assume the “best piano” is the one that performs the way you expect – even if your expectations are based on poor instruments from your past. The term “best price” can mean a variety of things to people as well. Is the best price always the lowest one? …or is it a value judgement that represents a reasonable compromise between good quality and low price? How does after-the-sale support and service figure into the “best price” definition? Determining these things up front can make your piano search far easier and more fun because – unfortunately – there are internet companies, local retailers and large music stores who make a living offering low-quality instruments at low prices. …but do these transactions lead to satisfaction in the end?
Let Your Talent Bloom!
Spring is here and cacti aren’t the only things blooming in The Valley! Students all over Phoenix are discovering the magic of making music with Yamaha pianos. Why not join them?
THE most recognized piano brand in the World, Yamaha pianos are built with unparalleled craftsmanship and precision. With models to suit every price range (from Clavinova up to the famous S-Series), Yamaha has the perfect instrument for your budget. …and now – with Yamaha’s Spring Bloom Event – you can purchase a new, in-stock Yamaha piano and take advantage of INCREDIBLE financing offers like 0% APR for 18 months or 7.99% APR for 60 months with your approved credit!
There will never be a better time to select your new Yamaha piano. Stop by your nearest Riverton Piano Company for details on this rare offer.
We look forward to helping you grow your love of music this Spring!
*APR = Annual Percentage Rate. Subject to credit approval. Monthly payments of $ 55.56 per $1,000 borrowed for 18 months at 0% APR. On purchases of new and in stock qualifying Yamaha pianos from May 1, 2023 to July 4 , 2023.
