Piano 101 · Encyclopedia

Piano 101: Brands, Masters and the Fundamentals of the Piano

An evergreen, professional introduction to the piano — from the world's top brands and the masters' choices to the role of the tuner and how a piano works.

The World's Top Piano Brands: From Steinway to Fazioli

From manufacturing philosophy and history to tonal character — the logic behind the world's great pianos.

Steinway & Sons: A Century-Old Legend and the Concert Hall Gold Standard

139 patents, more than 12,000 parts, nearly a year of work — the craft behind the name.

A Tour of European Piano Makers: Bösendorfer, Bechstein, Blüthner and Fazioli

From 1828 Vienna to 1981 Italy — four makers, four philosophies of tone.

Yamaha and Kawai: How Japanese Craft Set the Global Standard

From the first piano of 1900 to the carbon-fibre action — how Japan made 'reliable' a global language.

Steinway vs Yamaha vs Kawai: Positioning and Tone of the Big Three

They are not even in the same tier — understanding positioning beats arguing over which is best.

Which Pianos Do the Masters Choose? From Horowitz to Lang Lang

CD 503, CD 318 — behind these serial numbers lies an almost obsessive pursuit of condition.

Why a Great Piano Tuner Matters: What a Professional Really Does

A piano holds 18 to 20 tons of tension — the wrong hands cost far more than a sour note.

How Does a Piano Work? Inside the Action and Its 8,000 Parts

One keypress sets off a chain reaction performed by levers, hammers and a sounding board.

Grand vs Upright Piano: Structure, Tone and How to Choose

The obvious difference is shape — but what really decides feel and tone is hidden in the structure.

A Brief History of the Piano: From Cristofori's 1700 Invention

An invention that let an instrument play both 'soft' and 'loud' — and rewrote music history over three centuries.