The University of Florida School of Music is fine-tuning its program with the addition of 61 Steinway & Sons pianos, making it the largest owner of Steinway & Sons pianos in Florida.
Andy Howard, spokesman for the College of Fine Arts, said the pianos cost $1.23 million and will replace the old pianos dating back to the 1950s and 1960s.
Most of the new pianos were delivered Dec. 21. to the UF School of Music, Howard said.
Howard said they were purchased with the help of donations and through a loan from UF, which will be repaid by the music department over seven years.
In order to help pay for the loan, students will be charged equipment fees for classes that use the pianos, according to Howard.
Joanna Gardner, a music education sophomore, expressed her excitement about the recent purchases.
“To some it may seem like an insignificant detail to have newer instruments — especially pianos — but in my opinion, pianos are an essential tool for all of the music students and professors,” Gardner said.
