Welcome to Robert M. Sides Family Music Centers piano department.

Whether you’re looking for a traditional piano or the latest innovations in digital pianos or player systems, we have the keyboard that’s right for you. Since 1937, we’ve offered exceptional selection, service, product education, rental programs and overall value that has earned us the reputation we have today.

For over 300 years, the piano has served as one of the most fundamental musical instruments. It is ideally suited as both a solo or accompaniment instrument and teaches harmony, rhythm, bass and treble clef. As such, pianos provide a strong foundation for any other musical instrument you might play in the future.

Selecting the right piano should be a pleasant, educational and rewarding experience. A quality piano is a long-term investment. Therefore, an investment in educating yourself now about pianos and what’s important to you in selecting a piano will pay dividends and provide value for years to come.

Over the years we’ve found that there are three important considerations when choosing a piano.


Touch:
How does the piano feel/respond when I play it?

Tone:
How does the piano sound when I play it?

Appearance:
How does the piano look in my home/school/house of worship?



Our main priority is to help you determine the level of importance placed on each of these components. Oftentimes it is helpful to provide some brief technical information and facts about pianos, enabling our clients to educate themselves about what goes into determining the touch, tone and appearance of a piano. With so many variables (brand, size, finish and price range to name a few) to consider, it’s important to determine early on what you prefer with respect to these three components. 

Why are some pianos more expensive than others?

The simple answer is that some pianos are made to a standard, while some are made to a price point. While there is nothing inherently wrong with either method, it is important to ensure you are comparing “apples to apples” when comparing the variables between pianos.

Selection of Materials: The finest materials- top grand wood, matching finish veneers, wool felt and other components- all build a foundation that becomes the end result. Manufacturers of more expensive instruments take great care in selecting materials consistent with the overall quality of that level of instrument.

Preparation of Materials: Proper seasoning of woods is time-consuming and costly. The wood must be air-dried for a period of time before being placed in kilns to achieve a specific moisture content. The stability and proper function of the wood components in a piano can only be assured after proper preparation.

Workmanship: While no piano can be made without some amount of “hands on” labor, there are both mass-produced and hand-crafted pianos today. Some factories produce over 200 pianos per day, while each Steinway & Sons grand piano takes about one year to complete from start to finish.