The Lego grand piano set is functional and a lot easier to move around the house than the real deal. Courtesy Lego
The Lego grand piano set is functional and a lot easier to move around the house than the real deal. Courtesy Lego
The Lego grand piano set is functional and a lot easier to move around the house than the real deal. Courtesy Lego
The Lego grand piano set is functional and a lot easier to move around the house than the real deal. Courtesy Lego

Lego unveils 3,662-piece set that creates a grand piano model you can play

The concept was created by Chinese music teacher Donny Chen

Evelyn Lau
Evelyn Lau
Abu Dhabi

August 04, 2020

  • English
  • Arabic

If you've always fancied a grand piano in your home but haven't got the space, Lego might have come up with the next best thing.

The Danish toymaker has released a 3,662-piece set of a grand piano which, when built, can produce music.

The set of the delicate but functioning instrument features 25 playable keys, a top lid that can be propped up, an adjustable bench and a moving damper and pedal.

Once completed, it stands at 22.5 centimetres high, 30.5cm wide and 13.5cm deep when closed, meaning unlike a life-size grand piano, it’s a lot easier to store around the house.

There’s also an app you can download on to your smartphone to auto-play songs on command or even help you compose and record your own music.

The grand piano set is part of the Lego Ideas collection, which offers fans the chance to submit their own creations with an opportunity to have their concept brought to life through the toymaker.

The idea of the piano was created by Chinese music teacher Donny Chen and even features a music sheet composed by him as well.

“When I first discovered Lego Ideas, I knew I wanted to build something that not only combined my two passions, but also looked visually stunning," Chen says. "It’s truly an honour to see my idea brought to life by the talented people at The Lego Group and I hope it brings joy to all the other music fans who voted for the idea on the Lego Ideas platform."

The Lego set for the grand piano features 3,662 pieces. Courtesy Lego
The Lego set for the grand piano features 3,662 pieces. Courtesy Lego

Federico Begher, vice president of global marketing at The Lego Group, revealed that the company enhanced Chen's design to make it playable.

“We get so many amazing concepts submitted through our Lego Ideas platform, but when we saw Donny’s piano design, it really stood out as something extraordinary, with great potential to become a truly unique Lego set,” he says.

“The accompanying images and video submitted by Donny really sparked some ideas within the team. We believed that including power functions as part of the model to enable the set to play real music in real life would elevate the design even further.”

Here's a video showcasing how it all came together: 

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Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

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The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”

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