My Rental Experience with Steinway & Sons
My Rental Experience with Steinway & Sons
Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
Once upon a time, I rented a small piano in my small apartment in Lower East Side. I chose a studio-type upright from the Boston brand, which is owned by Steinway & Sons. I selected it because the sound quality is close to that of a grand piano.
At the time, I had no U.S. credit history, so I paid a cash deposit of about $900 and rented it for $97 per month.
Piano Showrooms on 58th Street
Most major piano showrooms are located around West 58th Street in Manhattan. Steinway’s showroom is now near Midtown, not far from Times Square. I looked and tried all upright piano on every stores on this street.
Types of Upright Pianos
There are four main types of upright pianos:
- Spinet Piano
- Console Piano
- Studio Piano (the type I rented)
- Professional Upright
The studio upright has a richer, more resonant sound. It’s a great choice if you want something closer to a grand piano but don’t have the space. So I chose one of studio pianos from Steinway & Sons.
Piano Moving Costs
Steinway works with professional piano movers who carefully handle transportation. My move cost about $300 plus tip. If your building doesn’t have an elevator, expect extra fees—often charged per staircase step!
Affordable Option: Piano Piano
If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly rental, I recommend Piano Piano. You can rent a Yamaha piano for around $155 per month, which is a great value.
Conclusion
That was my experience renting a piano in New York City. If your child wants to start learning piano, I highly recommend renting a real acoustic piano rather than a digital keyboard. A beautiful sound helps develop finger strength, train the ear, and boost motivation.
Playing on a real instrument brings joy—and makes practice more inspiring.
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