The German government gifted a Steinway concert grand piano to Mumbai, India four decades ago. While most concert halls abroad change their pianos every seven years, the old Steinway remained in Mumbai until just this year.

The city finally made a change as they realized they were losing out on great performers coming to the city because the piano was no longer up to standard. So a new $225,000 Steinway 'Model D' Concert Grand Piano was unveiled for use in city concerts this month. The piano was acquired for the city by Furtados, a private firm with a history that is almost as old as Steinway itself. It is an iconic one-stop-music shop that was founded in 1865 in Mumbai. According to Furtados owner Anthony Gomes, the aim of the gift is to foster Western classical music in the city, and attract world-class performers to Mumbai.

A rebuilt baby grand piano can be a better choice then a new one. The greatest concert pianists of the late 20th century often performed on and owned rebuilt grand and baby grand pianos. Arthur Rubenstein, Van Cliburn, and Vladimir Horowitz wouldn't be caught dead performing on an Asian import. Even for those who are not concert pianists, the best quality for your money can be had by buying restored instruments.

This is because early 20th century pianos were built by hand, by craftsmen of the highest skill who picked aged hardwoods and made instruments of unsurpassed quality. Even new hand built pianos today will not compare to those made between 1900 and 1940. Many imports today feature prestigious American and German names on their fronts of companies that no longer exist, hoping you'll be fooled into thinking you're buying a quality hand made baby grand piano and not a mass produced low end product.

A grand piano is a luxurious addition to any home and if you're planning to buy one, it's important to be informed about their difference in style and size. Based on your musical demands, your budget and the size of your home, you have to pick the one that's right for you.

A grand piano can range from a few thousand dollars to more than $50,000. If you're going to listen to someone play it and not play it yourself everyday, then buy a less expensive one. But if someone will practice on it daily then you need to buy a grand piano which is durable.

There are two types of pianos, grand and upright. A grand piano is horizontal, with the strings extending away from the keyboard and a vertical, piano is just that and can fit into smaller spaces.

According to the National Piano Foundation, grand piano models start under 5 feet in length, then there are baby grands (5 feet to 6-feet-5-inches), semi concert or 6-foot grands, a popular choice for teachers and serious amateurs. The largest grand pianos are 7 to 9 feet, and they are called concerts. There are three stand-out brands of piano– Yamaha, Steinway and Baldwin.