What is a Self-Playing Piano?

Also known as player pianos or Pianolas, older style self-playing pianos uses a pneumatic or electro-mechanical mechanism to play pre-programmed music on your piano using perforated paper or metallic rolls. The keys would move up and down as if the piano were playing by itself.

Modern self-playing pianos have come a long way since then. Today’s player pianos are controlled by your iPad, iPod, DVD player, other mp3 players, Android devices or your laptop, so you can enjoy beautiful piano music from your piano while you relax and listen.

Instead of listening to recorded music, you’ll be hearing the real thing playing on your piano right in your own home. You can also control the volume from your own speakers.

Self-playing pianos can also act as teaching tools, because they’re perfect for when you need piano accompaniment.

Types of Self-Playing Piano

There are a few types of self-playing pianos, but they all use the same basic technology.

The Silent Drive is incorporated into the piano so you can see and hear it play your choice of piano music at the touch of a button, using wireless technology and your choice of controller. There are hundreds of pieces of music in many styles to choose from, with more being added all the time.

You can still play your piano as you normally would, but now it’s twice as useful because it’s a unique home entertainment system as well. You can even have the new technology installed into your existing piano.

Alex. Steinbach IQ Pianos

At The Pianoforte, we have a range of beautifully crafted Alex. Steinbach self-playing pianos using Silent Drive technology from PianoDisc^TM  in traditional acoustic grand pianos and upright pianos.

Some of the music pieces that can be played have extra backing vocals and orchestral arrangements included, and they play through concealed speakers underneath the piano.

Yamaha Disklavier

We also stock Yamaha upright and grand pianos that use the Disklavier self-playing technology. Just like Silent Drive, the Disklavier system in a Yamaha piano has a mute rail which allows a full keystroke but prevents the hammer from hitting the string. This means you can play the instrument with headphones and listen to advanced digital piano pieces.

The new generation of self-playing pianos can connect to the Internet and let you see and hear live and archived performances that are faithfully reproduced on your own piano.

Specialist Advice on Self-Playing Pianos

Just imagine all the advantages of having a piano that plays itself like a professional. The specialist team at The Pianoforte can help you with all your enquiries about self-playing pianos and we’ll give you a free demonstration so you can see, and hear, for yourself how good they are.

We have convenient piano store locations in Sydney, so we’re never far away. Call us in:

• Chatswood – 02 9411 8911
• Seven Hills – 0478 658 227

Alternatively, contact us online for professional advice on the latest technology in self-playing pianos.