As a student in Piano Pioneers, the UW-Madison Music School program that provides piano lessons to residents at reduced rates, Willa Cai, 14, can now practice in the living room, thanks to Steinway Piano Gallery.

Local Steinway Piano Gallery at 6629 Mineral Point Road teamed up with Piano Pioneers this fall to lend donated pianos to students such as Willa.

"I've only had two or three lessons and I've already learned so much," Willa said. "So I'm really glad we have, like, our own piano here. It's a lot more useful than having a piano somewhere else."

The piano arrived at Willa's home this fall before her lessons even began. So far, Steinway donated three pianos to Piano Pioneer students, according to Piano Pioneers program coordinator Paola Savvidou. Steinway also helps transport and repair pianos for the program.

"It just seemed like a natural partnership," owner of Steinway Piano Gallery Grant Billings said about joining Piano Pioneers with his donation program, Piano Bank.

The Piano Bank program at Steinway Piano Gallery repairs donated pianos and redistributes them to students. Before working with Piano Pioneers, Billings said deciding who to lend the pianos to was a challenge.

"Their program runs really right in relation with my program," Billings said. "It really seemed to me to be silly that they were going to have to find pianos when the Steinway Society's already set up to do that."

Piano Pioneers began in 2005 as a master's project by then graduate student Erin Grier through an Evjue Grant. Now the program consists of seven graduate students teaching 22 piano students, age six to 26, in one-on-one lessons.

Grants from the Ira and Ineva Reilly Baldwin Wisconsin Idea Endowment now cover some of the cost of lessons for families.

"This partnership will enable us to invite many more community members to join the Piano Pioneers program since supplying, moving and maintaining instruments for at-home practice is one of our primary costs," said Associate Professor of Piano Jess Johnson, who oversees Piano Pioneers.

Families are allowed to keep the donated pianos as long as they play them. Billings said the rewards of placing a piano at home with students are more beneficial than alternative ways to contribute, such as donating money.

"When you give, especially a younger child, this kind of outlet, the dividends are about so much more than money," Billings said. "We're giving them a way that they can express themselves through music that is right there through their home. They know that if nothing else, they have this 600 pound piano in their living room."