Care and Maintenance

Why a piano needs a cover, and which type

Notes from the counter at Rome Piano Co in New York, NY.

Dust is abrasive

Household dust contains fine grit that works between and under keys, where it grinds against felt and bushings. A cover is the cheapest preventative maintenance a piano can get.

This applies to digital instruments too, where dust reaches the key contacts.

Sunlight and finish

Direct sun fades finishes unevenly and dries out wooden components. A cover on an instrument near a window prevents a very visible and irreversible problem.

Moving the instrument is better still, but is not always possible.

Key covers versus full covers

A key cover cloth protects the playing surface and is convenient enough to be used daily. A full cover protects the whole case but usually gets left off.

The cover that gets used is worth more than the one that is technically better.

Breathability matters

A sealed plastic cover traps humidity against the case, which is worse than dust. Fabric covers and lined covers let moisture move.

This is particularly important in a New York apartment with radiators.

Sizing digital pianos

Digital piano covers are sized by length, depth and height, and stands vary a lot. Measure the instrument rather than trusting the model name.

Our listings give the measurement for this reason.

Do not cover a damp instrument

An instrument that has come in from the cold should acclimatise uncovered before being covered, or condensation gets trapped.

A few hours is enough.

Where this sits in the shop

Rome Piano Co groups its stock into 5 categories, so most of what is discussed above lives in one or two of them:

Browsing by category is usually quicker than searching, because the groups follow how the goods are actually used rather than how a supplier lists them.

The largest group at the moment is Keyboard Note Labels with 18 items, and the smallest is Tuning and Care with 3. Those counts move as stock comes in and goes out, so they are worth checking rather than assuming.

From our shelves

A few items currently in stock that relate to this article:

Across the whole catalogue prices currently run from $1.24 to $87.49, with most of the range clustered around the middle of that span. Stock and prices on the product pages are live, so they are the figures to trust rather than anything quoted in an article.

Ordering, delivery and returns

Free US shipping on orders over $35; a flat $4.95 below that. Orders are picked and packed at the New York store on business days, and a tracking number follows by email once the carrier scans the parcel.

If something is not right, there are 30 days from delivery to send it back unused and in its packaging. The full detail is on the Shipping Policy and Returns and Refunds pages, and the FAQ covers the questions that come up most.

How we decide what to stock

Rome Piano Co carries piano learning labels, covers and stand accessories, and the range is deliberately narrower than a warehouse catalogue. A line earns its place by being asked for repeatedly at the counter in New York and by coming back without complaints — not by having the widest margin.

When something stops meeting that bar it comes off the shelf rather than being discounted until it moves. That is why the catalogue on this site changes slowly and why the specification tables on the product pages quote the maker rather than our own marketing.

Quick answers

Which size do I need?

Count the white and black keys on your instrument. Sets are listed by key count — 88, 76, 61, 54, 49 and 37 — and the listing states which it fits.

Do the covers fit a digital piano?

Some are cut for uprights and some for digital keyboards. The specification table gives the measurement, so check it against your instrument.

Related reading

Other notes from the same shelf that pick up where this one stops:

Coming to the store

Rome Piano Co is at Confucius Plaza, 43 Bowery, New York, NY 10002. Opening hours are Mon Closed | Tue-Fri 12:30-19:00 | Sat-Sun 09:00-18:00, and it is worth calling ahead on +1 212-431-4747 if you are travelling specifically for one item, because stock on the shop floor and stock listed online are the same pool.

Anything discussed in this article can be looked at in person before buying. If you would rather order online, the same stock ships from this address — nothing is drop-shipped from a third party warehouse, which is why the despatch address on your parcel matches the shop.

Ask us directly

If this has not answered your question, the counter is open Mon Closed | Tue-Fri 12:30-19:00 | Sat-Sun 09:00-18:00. Call +1 212-431-4747 or use the contact page — a person reads it, and you will get an answer within a business day.

Browse what is in stock at Rome Piano Co

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