Two questions raised during the piano shopping process are, “What piano size should I choose?” and “What type of finish should I select?” These concerns might have more to do with the surrounding setting than the pianists’ musical preferences. They are frequently more practical decisions for “living” with a piano than artistic questions.
Every minute, a piano is not being played; it is furniture. The aesthetic of the piano either complements or contrasts with the design of the space in which it is placed. Making the best home, office, studio, or school choice involves considering size, color, cabinet material, and type. The wrong setting for even the best piano can limit the musician’s creativity and the listener’s enjoyment.
Pianos have many size differences and appearances. The bigger the piano and the more ornate the case, the more impact it will have in the room. The cabinet also has an effect that cannot be ignored. With “art case pianos” ranging from millions of dollars, appearance has value. Size also has a significant value.
The Grand Piano
The concert grand piano is the instrument of choice for performers who play in concert halls, recital halls, and auditoriums. Because they range in length from seven to over nine feet, they have the potential to produce a volume of sound that fills large spaces. These pricey instruments also have a build quality guaranteeing the best parts and manufacturing a piano company can make.
These large pianos are of the highest production quality, so many professionals choose them for studios that can hardly accommodate them. Piano professors sometimes have two concert grands in small spaces with little room for anything else. Most piano enthusiasts find it good to get help calculating the right piano size for their preferred room.
Piano Sizes
To fit the 88-note keyboard, almost all grand pianos are roughly 60″ wide. The difference is found in the piano’s front-to-back depth. Baby grands are under 5 feet, home grands are between 5 and 6 feet, parlor grands are between 5 and 11 feet, conservatory grands are between 6 and 8 feet, semi-concert grands are between 6 and 11 feet, and full concert grands are between 8 and 9 1/2 feet.
Most upright pianos are typically 24 to 30 inches deep and slightly less than 60 inches wide. Their heights vary. Spinets (under 40″ and no longer produced), consoles (40″ to 44″), studios (45″–47″), and professional uprights (48″ and higher) are some of the other options. Non-professional uprights (60″ + from 1890-1930) are no longer manufactured nor recommended.
The Piano Finish
Nearly as many factors go into the piano’s finish or appearance as there are different furniture preferences, anyone who has seen a concert with piano music knows that most grand pianos are black (ebony). High-polished ebony is the most common grand piano finish in homes. Ebony is a neutral color, according to the interior designer’s point of view, and the high polish finish reflects the style and color of the room’s décor. The trend toward high-polish finishes has also been observed in the choice of uprights.
However, numerous wood finishes, both satin and polish, are appropriate for homes. A piano’s sound is unaffected by its finish. Some of the most striking piano designs use exotic woods worldwide. Even the acoustic piano is covered in colorful options and clear Plexiglas. Well-known painters have used their brushes to create unique works of art.
What piano size you choose will primarily depend on its use. Who is performing, and what kind of music is being played? Second, it will depend on whether it is used solo or in an ensemble. The third factor is the kind or size of the space that the piano will occupy. The decision regarding the finish and color is subjective to the owner’s likes and dislikes.