20 February 2026
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If you’ve spent more than five minutes on social media lately, you’ve likely seen a sleek, black, 3,662-piece masterpiece pop up between piano tutorials and concert announcements. No, it's not a new boutique instrument from a German manufacturer - it’s the LEGO Ideas Grand Piano
For those of us who live and breathe 88 keys, seeing our world rendered in plastic bricks is oddly satisfying. But is this just a toy for the mantelpiece, or does it actually strike a chord with real pianists? Let’s take a look inside the lid.
A symphony in 3,662 pieces
Designed by fan-builder and music teacher Donny Chen, this isn't your childhood bucket of bricks. It’s an intricate engineering feat that captures the mechanical soul of the instrument.
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Authentic action: It features 25 individual keys, each connected to its own working hammer. While you won't be practising your Chopin études on it, watching the internal mechanism strike the 'strings' is a genuine thrill for anyone who appreciates piano anatomy.
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The details: From the adjustable bench and moving pedals to the propped-open top lid and fallboard, the attention to detail is remarkable. It even includes a printed music sheet of a piece composed by the designer himself.
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The 'playable' factor: This is where it gets clever and has seriously impressed us at Pianist. While the bricks don't produce sound (plastic isn't known for its resonance!), they connect to the LEGO Powered Up app.
How it 'plays'
The piano uses a motor and a hub hidden inside the body. Through the app, you have two main options:
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Listen mode: The piano becomes a 'player piano.' The keys move on their own while your phone plays one of several pre-recorded tracks.
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Play mode: You can actually 'perform' by pressing the keys yourself. The app detects the movement and plays the corresponding notes through your device's speakers. What an ingenious invention!
Watch an interview with the designer:
Why pianists are obsessed
At £344.99, it’s certainly an investment, but it occupies that perfect sweet spot between a high-end puzzle and a piece of art. It’s the ultimate "desk instrument" for a studio or a conversation starter for a living room.
In a world where we spend so much time perfecting the digital or acoustic sound of our real pianos, there’s something meditative about building one from the ground up—one "click" at a time. It’s a reminder that at its heart, the piano is a beautiful, complex machine.
Fun Fact: The set includes a vintage LEGO logo on the fallboard, a nod to the company’s history that mirrors the branding you’d find on a real Bechstein or Steinway.
Have you cleared off a spot on your shelf for this brick-built beauty yet? Visit the Lego store to purchase.
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