Do You Have To Be Rich to Own an Upright Piano?

It may sound like a silly question, but it is a very interesting one. Apparently, people assume that  Upright pianos are really expensive and only rich people can afford them. Every time we start talking about pianos, the first thing that they ask us is: “how much does it cost?” This is not surprising at all as there are many luxury goods and pianos that have a luxury appeal.

Rich people owning pianos, uprights or grands, is like seeing a Kia in the parking lot at the country club. Almost nobody who has little money for their monthly living expenses wants to think about buying an upright piano, and that’s not because it would be used as a coat rack. A large percentage of people with average incomes, don’t have the extra savings to comfortably accommodate the purchase of a new piano. That’s why many pianos under $3,000 are sold at department stores, or through ads in newspapers and on TV infomercials.

For most, owning an upright piano is not an option financially. Is this true? Is there hope for the poor pianist who longs for that pure piano sound and touch, and who can’t abide by digital keyboards?

First of all, let’s set the record straight: An upright piano IS NOT a “poor man’s” piano. An upright piano is what it is: A musical instrument unto itself.

Pianos are living, breathing things; they require regular care and attention to stay in top playing condition. Like any other complex mechanism, pianos need periodic servicing by a professional technician to keep them tuned and working properly.

Do people buy Upright pianos as furniture?

Do people buy upright pianos as furniture? Absolutely! But, like fine furniture, pianos (especially grands) also come with a hefty price tag. If you want to own a top-quality instrument and have it tuned regularly, expect to pay thousands of dollars for a solid grand piano; probably at least $15k or more. Wealthy people seem to buy expensive things to show off, while ordinary folks buy to have something nice.

Is buying a piano a statement of wealth?

Some piano owners love their instruments and they play them regularly, others like to impress visitors with the grand piano in the living room, but never touch its keys.

Does anyone really need a $30,000 Bosendorfer?

Pianos serve as status symbols of one sort or another. That’s not necessarily bad, since people who buy expensive pianos probably love to play them. That’s not to say that all piano buyers are wealthy people, or that they can afford it. Wealthy people do have an advantage because they have the means to buy whatever they want without worrying about how much it costs. They simply buy what makes them happy, whether it be a Ferrari or a Fazioli.

Pianos are not inexpensive, but neither are they out of reach of ordinary people. They are special musical instruments that require a lifetime commitment to learn how to play well. You can’t just buy one and then hope for it to magically turn you into an accomplished pianist overnight. Just as with most other things in life, you’ll get out of it what you put into it.

So, are they available for the average person to buy? Yes! You can find a good upright piano under $1,000 that will play well. A small number of lower-priced quality grands are also available these days.

Luxury Apartment

If you have a lot of money, your home will be large enough for the piano that you can afford. Grand pianos and some uprights can take up a lot of space. Do you have room for one in your luxury apartment? If not, there’s the upright option; an upright piano is more compact than a grand, but still needs living space around it. An apartment dweller will probably want to go with the more manageable (and economical) upright piano and enjoy playing it in a small space.

A luxury apartment with a small elevator may become too crowded with a 9.5-foot tall upright piano in it. If an upright piano is in the way, you will have to move it out of the way in order to make room for other things in your luxury apartment.

Affordability & Logistics

Can you afford an upright piano? A top-quality upright, built with the finest materials by expert craftsmen will run $4k to $10k at dealerships.

Moving is not cheap if you have an upright piano. You will need to hire an expensive removal company or try to move it yourself (at your own risk). Hiring a removal company to move your upright piano may cost more than what you assume.

An upright piano is made up of different parts, which makes it difficult to dismantle and rebuild the instrument in another location. You may want to consider having a grand piano moved instead if space is an issue for you, although this option will likely elicit an even higher fee from movers.

How much would it cost to move an upright piano? Moving is not cheap, even if you don’t have a grand piano in your luxury apartment. If you do choose to move your upright with movers, you can expect that they will charge per hour and by the weight of the piano.

People with little money do not necessarily think about buying pianos like these, especially if they live in small homes or apartments.

For these individuals, pianos like these would be impractical.

Don’t worry if you’re not rich

There are many levels in the world of pianos; there is no one correct level for everyone. There are great values in used grand pianos and quality upright pianos in every price range. If you’re poor or can’t make much money, search for a good piano when your income is at its highest, and you’re already saving for the future.

You’ll have a much better chance of being able to afford one then, than worrying about where or how you can find the money for piano lessons when you make little income. Many people never take piano lessons because they think they can’t afford them; don’t let this be you.

Start saving for piano lessons before you think about buying a new grand or upright piano.

The best time to start thinking about pianos is when you’re poor because then you won’t be thinking about the “price” of things that are very expensive in the first place! A good quality used grand piano starts at around $10k and above. A good upright piano starts around $3k and up. If you can afford an upright piano, buy it; most people learn on an upright because they’re cheaper, but the grand has a more luxurious feel to it with better depth of sound.

Conclusion

To conclude, you don’t need to be rich in order to own an upright piano. If you’re poor and live in a small apartment, go ahead and buy an upright; they’re cheaper than grands and much more compact!