One of the first questions piano shoppers have to consider when they decide to buy a piano is “where should I put my piano?”.  Should it be upstairs or down?  Is it ok in a bedroom or should it be in a family room?  Can it sit against an outside wall or near a window?

These are all important questions and, interestingly enough, the answers to some of these questions have changed over the 300+ years people have been buying pianos.  So what’s the right answer?  Where is the best place to put your piano?

Can I Put My Piano Along an Exterior Wall?

You’ve probably heard that it’s not a good idea to place your piano along an outside wall.  This age-old tale really doesn’t apply much anymore. This tradition began before modern, well-insulated homes existed.  Many years ago, I bought an early 1900’s 4-square house. It had been vacant for many years before I bought it and was in dire need of renovation. When it came time to re do the electrical and walls, I found out there was NO insulation in most of the interior walls, and only newspaper in the exterior walls! Needless to say, a very poorly insulated house like that wouldn’t be ideal for a traditional acoustic piano – especially if I put it along the outside walls with only newspaper to protect it from the elements.  With modern building methods and codes, however, it’s perfectly safe to put your piano along an exterior wall.

 

Can I Put My Piano Next to a Vent?

The notion that you shouldn’t position your piano next to a vent or fireplace because of the extreme changes in temperature and humidity around them is actually valid.  Just like the interior/exterior wall situation, temperature stability is an important factor for the stability and longevity of your acoustic piano. Areas that experience extreme changes in temperature (like heating and AC vents or around fireplaces) should be avoided if possible.  If that particular location is your only option, however, plan to close the vent completely or redirect the airflow so it’s not blowing directly on your piano. This isn’t the best solution, but it’s better than nothing.  Unfortunately, it’s never a good idea to put your piano next to a fireplace unless you never use the fireplace.  There’s just no way to protect the instrument from the heat output.

 

Can I Put My Piano Next to a Window?

The simple answer is yes.  As long as you keep the piano out of direct sunlight – and you don’t feel any “hot” or “cold” spots on the instrument, you should be ok.  If you do feel “hot” or “cold” spots on your piano, try moving it back from the window a bit or try covering the window with shades, blinds or – in extreme cases – window tint. This is especially important if your windows get a lot of direct sunlight in the morning or afternoon (South-facing windows are the most dangerous as they get the most sunlight and can get very hot.  North-facing windows are the best option as they get the least sun.) In addition to making your piano “too hot,” sunlight can fade wood finishes over time.  This doesn’t affect the play-ability of your piano, but it can decrease the value of the piano and make it look less appealing.  Black and white polished finishes are the best choice for “near-window pianos” because they do not fade in the sun.  Check with your Riverton Piano Pro if you need more specific advice.

 

Can I Put My Piano in the Basement?

This is a more complicated question than it might seem at first.  While any underground space is often ideal in terms of temperature and humidity stability (as long as they are climate controlled), putting your piano in the basement may have an unintended drawback:  You don’t walk by it enough and, thus, you play it a lot less.  Pianos aren’t inexpensive.  Make sure you reserve a space for yours on the main level of your home where you will be encouraged to play it as often as possible.

 

How About in a Bedroom?

Again, as long as you are placing your piano in a climate-controlled part of your home – and you’ve found a space with stable temperature and humidity – then your piano will be fine in that space.  Bedrooms can be a good option because they encourage the player to play whenever (s)he is inspired to do so… but, again, it’s important that the space is not cramped, uncomfortable or cutoff from the rest of the house.  No piano player wants to feel like they have to practice in exile.  It’s better to put your piano in a comfortable family room that gets plenty of use.

 

How Much Space Do I Need?

We answered this question in a separate blog. Read How Much Room Do I Need for a Piano.

 

How Should I Orient My Piano?

Our piano movers often help new piano owners decide which way to position their piano within a given space.  Grand pianos project sound out from the soundboard both underneath the piano and in the direction the lid opens.  Ideally, position the piano so the lid opens to the largest part of the room.  This will sound better than putting the piano in a corner or with its curved edge against a wall.  Upright pianos should be placed along a wall with 4-6” of “breathing room” between the piano and the wall.  This allows for better airflow and projection.  In cases where sound bleed is a concern, consider placing the piano on a different, non-shared wall or consider a technology-infused piano like a hybrid or digital piano.

 

What About Hybrid or Digital Pianos?

What if you live in an apartment or condo and you’re concerned that your neighbor might not appreciate your piano as much as you do?  You could always consider placing the piano against an interior wall that you don’t share with anyone else or you could consider an alternative option.

In this case, a traditional “wood and strings” piano may not be the best choice for your situation.  You may want to consider a hybrid piano.  Hybrid pianos (Yamaha leads this market with its purpose-built Silent Pianos and AvantGrand Pianos that – unlike aftermarket retrofit kits – are designed to perform identically with and without headphones) are a cross between traditional acoustic pianos and modern digital technology.  Silent pianos, for example, are traditional pianos in every way with just a bit of technology thrown in. Engage the silent practice feature and you can practice anytime you want without interruption using a good set of headphones. You can record your performances, incorporate the latest musical apps and software, and enjoy digital features like extra sounds and a built-in metronome.  Other hybrid pianos – like Yamaha’s AvantGrand pianos – forego hammers and strings altogether in favor of a fully digital sound source that never needs to be tuned.  Built with high-definition magnetic induction sensing systems that translates keystrokes into sound, these pianos deliver lifelike grand piano performance in spaces where most acoustic grand pianos won’t fit. Designed to stay in tune regardless of climate, these pianos also incorporate the latest music apps and digital features like recording, extra sounds, built-in metronome and Bluetooth streaming.

Of course, digital pianos are also an excellent option – especially in places that are hard to reach or have limited space.  Need to go up or down a ton of stairs?  A digital piano might be your best choice.  Looking for a more affordable “entry-level” price point?  Digital pianos win again.  Read our Digital Piano Basics blog for more on these exciting instruments.

Whether you decide to explore a Yamaha Silent Piano, an AvantGrand piano or a good digital piano, We carry the top two brands: ROLAND and YAMAHA. Rolands computer modeling technology – and hybrid grand action – make them a joy to play, which is why so many top musicians and schools around the world use them every day.  Yamaha is probably the most trusted name in the piano industry, building the top selling and most recorded pianos in all the world! In fact, Time Magazine once listed Yamaha’s Clavinova digital piano as one of the world’s “Top 50 Most Influential Electronic Gadgets” – along with the Sony Walkman and the iPhone!

 

Thanks to advances in home building and the many choices (from traditional acoustic pianos to technology-rich digital pianos) modern homeowners have in selecting the perfect instrument for their home, church or school, the answer to the question “where should I put my piano?” is . . .  ANYWHERE!  …and – if you need a more individualized answer than that one – contact us and we’ll help you find the perfect place for your new “baby.”  We can bring out a template, offer advice and even show you what a piano might look like in your home using cutting-edge software from Yamaha or Roland!  You might even be surprised at how much more comfortable your home is with a piano in it!