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November 3, 2025
From Interiors to Instruments: Kelly Wearstler Launches TIMBRA with Edelweiss
American interior designer Kelly Wearstler has ventured into the world of musical instruments with Timbra, a striking rimless piano inspired by the fluid forms of sand dunes.
Based in Los Angeles, Wearstler created this sculptural piece in collaboration with British bespoke piano maker Edelweiss, a long-time partner. The design reimagines the traditional grand piano, blending organic movement with refined craftsmanship.
March 20, 2026
A piano used by John Lennon to compose songs for Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band has sold for a record £2.5 million ($3.2 million). The instrument, auctioned at Christie’s in New York, is believed to have achieved the highest price ever paid for Beatles memorabilia.
March 21, 2026
A one-week intensive training session led by American piano expert David Stanwood was recently held in Switzerland, organized and sponsored by FJV Piano Design.
Technicians from various backgrounds gathered to learn Stanwood’s SNAP method, working hands-on with three concert grand pianos from Yamaha, Bösendorfer, and Steinway & Sons.
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| Gauge Grand Regulation - Pianosmiths
The Grand Regulation Guides are designed to cover a range of key adjustment parameters, including six blow distances (43–48 mm), six set-off (let-off) positions (2–7 mm), and six damper lift settings (21.5–24 mm). They can also assist in evaluating checking, along with improved key height references ranging from 62–67 mm.
| Athena, the world’s first narrow-key digital piano, has officially launched. Co-founded by Linda Gould and Kathy Strauch - two veteran musicians and advocates for accessible music-making - the company introduces its flagship model with keys measuring 5.5 inches per octave, compared to the traditional 6.5.
| The fever for piano design shows no signs of slowing, yet it’s troubling to watch the direction in which it is headed...
| Tools may fade, ink remains, but passion lasts forever — for Scott Andrews and Ben Gac :)
September 5, 2025
Our magazine’s goal is not only to report the daily news, but also to highlight the positive side of our profession. There are places, workshops, and colleagues whose example is worth following — showing us the inspiring and wonderful side of our craft. In this spirit, I sat down with Lajos Toró, a piano technician based in Sweden.
October 25, 2025
In a time when the piano industry faces significant challenges and shifting markets, leading manufacturers are seeking new ways to evolve - from daring design creations to hybrid instruments and cross-industry collaborations, piano makers are trying it all in search of new growth. One striking example is Steinway & Sons’ recent partnership with Bentley Motors, revealed at an exclusive event in Hamburg.
□ Can pianists really change timbre by touch? Science says yes!
September 30, 2025
For over a century, pianists, teachers, and scientists have debated a tantalizing question: can a pianist truly change the timbre of a note simply through touch or is it just an illusion of the ear?
Now, a team led by Dr. Shinichi Furuya of the NeuroPiano Institute and Sony Computer Science Laboratories has provided the first scientific proof that the answer is yes. Their groundbreaking study reveals not only that timbre can be shaped by touch, but also how pianists physically achieve it.