You don't buy a piano every day, but you might buy more than one in a lifetime. I've just bought my…read morefourth piano. And apparently, contrary to popular belief, it turns out that it's the fourth, not the third time, that's the charm! I say this because I'm coming from the absolutely best all-around experience I've had, and that includes all three steps of shopping for a piano, finally choosing a piano, and getting through the delivery of a piano. Haidi, one of the head salespersons at Hopper Piano and Organ in Raleigh, was a delight to work with. Piano shopping for me, and I'm not a professional musician - just someone with enough training to enjoy working on a new piece periodically - is like choosing a car: it has to feel right, it has to sound right, it has to look right (I know this is an odd analogy, but it works). So, I have to see what all the available models out there feel and sound and look like. It's a long, narrowing down process. It takes time and patience to get it right. Lots of trips to the piano stores. Haidi was patience personified. She was always glad to see me walk in, and this held true even after I'd purchased the piano and, while waiting for my delivery date to hit, would show up just to play around with my new piano. Haidi is a fount of information and experience, both on brand history and manufacturing details. She'll play each piano for you so you can walk around the room and take in the sound. Sales pressure was totally absent. Matching me with the best fit was my job alone and Haidi always gave me the time and space to do just that. I recommend her highly. I also have to recommend their professional movers, led by Miguel, who has twenty years of experience in the business, and his on-the-spot assistant movers, Robert and Andrew. As I said, this is my fourth piano buying experience and these guys had moving equipment aides I've never seen before but, in future, would now insist any piano moving company must have. In addition, they laid reems of carpet pad on the stairs to protect both them and the piano. The piano was wrapped in multiple CLEAN moving blankets. They took the time to position the piano exactly where I wanted it, put the piano bench together for me and got it ALL right. I think they move other things, as well. Ask Haidi, she'll know. Chuck Coleman

From the owner: Hopper Piano and Organ Company offers sales and service for pianos and organs throughout 60…read morecounties in North Carolina. The Family of Steinway Designed Pianos includes the handcrafted Steinway and Sons Piano of LIC, New York as well as their Boston and Essex Pianos. Hundreds of churches have placed their trust in us through the purchase of an Allen Organ or custom designed pipe combination organ. Allen is the largest builder of church organs in the US and is proudly built in Macungie, PA. If you are an individual, church, College, University or other organization we are here to serve you.

We purchased a Kawai piano from Maus. The experience was excellent! Zack was knowledgeable, but…read moredidn't use pressure sales tactics -- just answered our questions. We made a couple trips to Maus and also looked at a competitor store. In the end, we opted for the Kawai at Maus. Maus was very flexible with delivery dates, payment method, and even threw in a small upgrade to a component. The piano was delivered out of the box out of tune (apparently this is unusual), so Maus provided an additional in-home tuning at no cost. Maus has a friendly, family business feel to it. It's not a dazzling showroom, but the product and people are a great reason to go there.

I'd been in contact with Michael Hannah, looking for a particular piano in my price range. He…read moredidn't have the one I wanted, but a few days later, he put me in touch with someone who did have such a piano. It was an extremely generous, thoughtful, and selfless act that made me a dedicated future customer.

My husband and I went shopping here for a quality used upright piano. While we ultimately did not…read morefind our perfect piano in this store just due to the available inventory, we were thoroughly impressed by Bobby Charlton, the general manager. He was generous with his time over the phone when I called in advance with questions, and in the store in-person. He is very knowledgeable about piano quality and history and taught us an enormous amount that helped us define what we were looking for and determine the value and longevity of each instrument. There was a wide selection of about 10 used uprights ranging from $1200 spinets and consoles to $2500 studio uprights. We experienced no pressure to settle or buy, just friendly and informed conversation. He provides a 3-year warranty and 5-year trade up guarantee to a grand piano, as well as a free in-home tuning after delivery. Don't buy a used piano off of Craigslist when there are so many affordable, warrantied options available from a reputable, knowledgeable business!

From the owner: Pianosread more

One of the few music stores in Raleigh that actually has a sound stage that's set up for recording…read morein a back room. Visit them on Tuesday nights to enjoy the open mic musicians and one Friday night a month for an open mic for praise and worship musicians. Steve, the owner, is very helpful (so is his wife). His son, David is running a little coffee shop on the opposite side of the store so be sure to order an espresso or cappucino while you're browsing over the instruments and equipment. This store specializes in guitars, guitar equipment and providing lessons. The instructors are top notch and if you've ever heard any of them play you'd wonder why in the world they settled for giving lessons. Why aren't they playing in some big name famous band somewhere with all the talent they have in them? I think these guys have more talent in their little pinkies than I have in my entire being but that's beside the point. When this shop gets guitars in, it's tough for them to keep most of those instruments in stock. My latest (big) purchase here was a mandolin - not that I'm any good at playing it, but I want to learn. Steve found me a decent quality Ovation acoustic electric mandolin at a very reasonable price that will far outlast some of the much more inexpensive beginner mandolins he typically has in stock. My last comments revolve around the techs who work on the guitars here. Not every broken down guitar is a success story and some just cannot be fixed. One of Steve's techs did wonders with one of my basses. I had an old Kramer Striker I'd gotten at a pawn shop years ago that was now virtually unplayable. This tech not only made it playable, but made it such that I was willing to part with my Fender P-bass shortly thereafter. Since then, the same tech has done set up work for me on almost all of my guitars, getting them all back into top playing shape.

Wonderful music school with reasonable prices. I am so glad I found this place. They have an…read moreextensive list of instruments they can help you work on. I might even take more than one class here someday. Amazing staff. Very responsive. Highly recommend. Such a blessing.

Been taking guitar lessons here for a while. My instructor is the owner, Paul Warren. So…read moreobviously I have good things to say about him. But the other instructors on a multitude of instruments including guitar, bass, banjo, drums, piano, voice, fiddle, and others are beyond top notch. The price is the average for any instrument lesson business in the area, currently $95 a month, which gets you 4 thirty minute sessions a month. Here is what I really think makes RMA stand out above the others in the area. If you have a young child wanting to learn guitar, the primary youth instructor is Mary Ann. Her students never fail to amaze me with the skills they have at such a young age, and how fast they progress and improve. For the adults wanting to learn, you can put all of the instructors names in a hat and pull one out and you will not be disappointed in the expertise and quality of instruction you get. And to further separate the RMA from others in the area, each month there is a student show for those students who want to play live and show what they have learned and gain the experience of performing live in front of a crowd. And if you want some icing on the cake that you truly can not find at any other local place, the RMA regularly brings in musical legends such as Jennifer Battan, Doyle Dykes, John Pettrucci, Greg Howe, Vinnie Moore, Bumblefoot, Paul Gilbert, and Andy Wood. Read those names again and find me another musical instrument lesson business in the area that brings such people in and provide their students an opportunity to learn from them and watch them perform. You can't do it.

The Raleigh Music Academy is a well established business that provides music lessons, clinics,…read moreperformances, and workshops. The staff is the most professional and talented in town, and the opportunities to enhance your music skills are great. I think they are the only school in town that has a student show or recital every single month. You can usually play for friends and family without going on a waiting list - usually whenever you are ready. You can play with other students (like a band), alone, or just with your instructor. The shows are popular so get there early for a good seat!

Mr. Doug was very helpful yesterday in listening to our needs for a smaller drumkit as our family…read moreis expanding and we need the space. Brought in a very nice Roland TD 17 in exchange for a smaller kit, and I feel the deal offered for the Roland to downsize was fair and it got us where we needed to be. It's quite a nice atmosphere in this shop specifically. Kids, young and old, were in jam sessions together and all were respectful of their neighbors. There's such talent in this shop, just walking in off the street to look, play and shop. This Guitar Center on Capital is quite the collaborative hub but of course it is a business and they seem to be doing fine on that front there too.

Poor customer service. Sold me a guitar and case and the case didn't fit the guitar. Service takes…read moreway too long. Need to revamp their customer service. Took them 15 minutes to find a cable that I walked over and picked up in 2 seconds. Filled with folks who think they are rock stars. Good luck trying to return anything. They take 46 days to get to you with a 45 day warranty.

We purchased an antique piano from the 1860s and needed it tuned. We reached out to multiple places…read moreand got a swift and professional reply from Chris. His business is a one man show and we are all about supporting local! Chris was exceptionally knowledgeable and I enjoyed chatting with him as he worked. The piano sounds great and he even replaced our broken knobs and rubber stops! Prices are very reasonable and I will be recommending him to friends and family for his outstanding work!

He was great at tuning my piano and really knows his stuff. I look forward to working with him in…read morethe future for piano tuning.