If you love music, then yes, there are many Black owned brands you should know, and not only in headphones and speakers. There are Black creators shaping instruments, audio gear, learning tools, clothing, candles for practice rooms, even furniture that works better for rehearsal. You can find many of these through curated directories of black owned brands, but I want to walk through some that feel especially relevant if you spend a lot of time at the piano, in the studio, or just listening with care.
I will start with the obvious music products, then move around a bit. Some will feel very practical. Others are a bit more personal or even niche. That is fine. Real music life is not tidy.
Why supporting Black owned music brands matters for musicians
If you play piano or produce music, you already know how much small choices shape your sound. The instrument you pick. The chair you sit on. Even the notebook where you write chord ideas. The same applies to where your money goes.
Supporting Black owned brands in music is not charity. It is a way to bring more variety, stories, and sounds into your own creative space.
I used to think it did not really matter who made my gear as long as it worked. Then I bought a small pedal from a Black builder who tuned it with gospel keys in mind. The way it handled chords felt different. Rich but not muddy. It changed how I voiced progressions. So yes, it can be personal and practical at the same time.
For piano and music lovers, this support often shows up in three areas:
- What you use to practice and perform
- What you wear or carry to gigs, lessons, and sessions
- What you put in the space where you listen, compose, and teach
Some brands below are big. Some are tiny. I am mixing both on purpose. Real life buying is like that.
Black owned brands creating instruments and music tools
Let us start where most musicians feel it first: hands on keys, strings, pads, or knobs.
Keyboards, pianos, and accessories that respect the player
To be honest, full piano manufacturers that are Black owned are still rare. Piano building is expensive, slow, and usually controlled by large companies. But there are brands working around that gap by focusing on the tools that make piano playing better or more welcoming.
Custom MIDI controllers and keyboard tools
Some Black makers build custom MIDI controllers, desktop modules, and small gadgets that many pianists use for composing or live looping.
Common examples include:
- Custom pad controllers mapped for gospel, neo soul, or house
- Expression pedals tuned for piano and Rhodes style playing
- MIDI templates built with jazz voicing in mind
If you are a pianist who also works in a DAW, these can feel more natural than mass market presets that focus on EDM drops or pop loops. You start to see chord sets built around real voicings, not just triads.
When you buy tools from Black creators who grew up inside church music, jazz, R&B, or Afrobeat, you often get gear that already understands extended harmony.
Small note: I think some of these builders are hard to find, and that is a real problem. Many sell through Instagram or small shops, and their stock changes often. It is not ideal, but it is also what makes the scene feel alive, a bit messy, and not fully locked in by big brands.
Sheet music, method books, and learning platforms
If you teach or learn piano, Black owned brands are especially strong in publishing, digital courses, and apps. This is where you can see a very direct link between support and what ends up on your music stand.
You can find:
- Arrangements of spirituals, gospel standards, and modern R&B for piano
- Jazz piano method books that place Black composers at the center, not as a side note
- Ear training apps that use real Black music traditions, not just European classical examples
When a beginner only sees one style in their books, they may assume everything else is secondary. That is not great. For anyone, but especially for Black students who rarely see their culture on the page.
Choosing a Black owned brand for lesson books can quietly change what students think music theory is for, and whose music counts as “serious.”
From a teaching point of view, this matters more than one might expect. I taught a teenage student who lit up the moment she saw an R&B lead sheet that looked like something on her playlist, not from a distant past. Her practice time almost doubled that month. That was not magic. It was representation plus good pedagogy.
Audio gear for people who actually listen
Many piano players spend more time listening to recordings than they admit. That mix of Glenn Gould, Herbie Hancock, Cleo Sol, games soundtracks, whatever. Black owned brands in audio gear can change how these sessions feel.
Headphones and earphones
Some Black led audio companies build headphones tuned with low end that respects kick and bass, but does not smother piano or vocals. The idea is not “extra bass” as a gimmick. The idea is balance for real world genres like hip hop, soul, gospel, and house, where low end is not optional.
If you practice electric piano with backing tracks, or shed transcriptions from Spotify or YouTube, this tuning can make it easier to pick out inner harmony without losing the groove.
| Feature | Why it matters for music lovers |
|---|---|
| Balanced low end | Keeps kick and bass clear without masking piano or vocals |
| Comfortable pads | Long practice or mixing sessions without ear fatigue |
| Detachable cable | Easy replacement if a cable breaks on tour or between lessons |
| Foldable design | Fits in gig bags and backpacks for students and performers |
Of course, not every Black owned audio brand will tick all these boxes. Some sets are more fashion than reference. That is fine, but if you are using them for serious listening or mixing, read user reviews from musicians, not just lifestyle blogs.
Speakers and studio monitors
There are also Black owned brands in speakers and home audio. Many sit in the lifestyle space: Bluetooth speakers, portable systems for small events, things like that. For a pianist who gigs at small venues or does wedding work, these can matter more than studio monitors, which are often fixed in one place.
Good questions to ask before you buy:
- Is this meant for background listening or for critical work?
- Do I need great stereo imaging, or just clear sound and reliability?
- Will I move this speaker between rehearsals, church, and home?
I sometimes think we overcomplicate this. If a small Black owned company is making speakers that sound good in real rooms, not just labs, that already gives them an advantage for working musicians.
What you wear: clothing and accessories for the music life
Clothing might seem far from piano technique. It is not. Anyone who has played a hot stage in bad fabric knows how much it can distract from phrasing and memory. There are many Black owned fashion brands that quietly serve working musicians, even if that is not their only audience.
Stage ready outfits that still feel like you
Many Black owned clothing brands pay attention to sharp looks that also move well. That matters for players who sit, stand, pedal, reach, and breathe for long sets.
For pianists this can mean:
- Blazers with enough shoulder room to reach the extremes of the keyboard
- Pants with some stretch so pedals are easy to work for a whole concert
- Dresses or skirts cut so they sit comfortably at a piano bench
One thing I like about smaller Black owned fashion brands is how often they show real people of different sizes and body types in their photos. If you teach, you probably have students who rarely see bodies like theirs presented with elegance and confidence. Even something small like sharing a link with them can help them imagine themselves on stage.
Bags, cases, and gig essentials
There are Black owned brands in bags and accessories that work very well for musicians:
- Backpacks that fit a 15 inch laptop, headphones, and sheet music
- Crossbody bags for set lists, tuners, and small audio gear
- Leather or vegan cases that look professional for classical recitals or jazz clubs
A good bag sounds trivial until you are juggling a keyboard, sustain pedal, cables, and charts in the rain. Some brands even build in cable organizers or extra padding. Small, but it helps.
Jewelry, watches, and small statements
Many music lovers like a small visual detail that signals what they care about. This can be subtle:
- A watch from a Black owned company with a clean, minimal face for formal recitals
- Necklaces, rings, or earrings from Black owned jewelry brands that fit your on stage identity
- Bracelets that do not clash with wrist movement at the piano
I know some players avoid jewelry at the keyboard, which is fair. Others use it as part of their stage presence. There is no right answer. The main point is that you can choose where those pieces come from.
Making the music space feel right: home, studio, practice room
A lot of our music life takes place in small rooms. Practice rooms, teaching studios, living rooms with an upright piano squeezed against a wall. Black owned brands that serve home and decor can shape how those rooms feel.
Candles and scents for practice and listening
Scent is personal, but it affects focus more than many people admit. Some Black owned candle companies make scents inspired by jazz clubs, vinyl, old books, coffee, or forests. That might sound a bit abstract, but in a practice room it can matter.
| Type of session | Scent style that often works well |
|---|---|
| Slow, deep practice (Bach, Chopin, counterpoint) | Soft wood, amber, or very light spice |
| Improvisation or songwriting | Citrus or herbal for a bit more energy |
| Late night listening sessions | Warm, cozy scents like vanilla or smoke |
None of this is required, of course. Many great pianists practice in plain rooms with no extras. But if scent helps you stay in the room longer, and that scent comes from a Black owned brand that you like, it becomes part of your routine in a good way.
Furniture that works for real practice
Some Black owned furniture makers and designers focus on pieces that actually support daily work: sturdy chairs, small desks, shelving for scores and vinyl, lighting that is gentle on the eyes.
Things that matter for piano and music practice:
- A bench or chair at the right height, or at least adjustable
- A side table for metronomes, pencils, and water
- Shelves that can hold heavy music books without sagging
- Good floor lamps that keep glare off the sheet music
Many of us accept bad setups for years because “it works fine.” I did. Then I played at a studio furnished by a Black designer who clearly thought about musicians. The lamp placements alone made reading so much easier that I went home and rearranged my whole layout.
Art and prints that honor music history
Visuals in a music space can affect mood and motivation. Black artists and illustrators often create posters or prints of legendary pianists and composers: Nina Simone, Thelonious Monk, Duke Ellington, Mary Lou Williams, and many others.
Hanging these in a teaching studio or home practice room can quietly change the story students see about who a “serious” musician is. It is another way to balance the images that often default to a narrow set of faces from conservatory walls.
Brands centered on wellness for musicians
Playing and listening to music sounds romantic until your body reminds you that repetition has a cost. Wrists, back, shoulders, ears, even skin and hair can suffer during long tours or teaching weeks. Some Black owned brands exist right in this overlap between wellness and daily creative work.
Skincare, body care, and long practice days
Anyone who has done a full day of practice in a dry room or under stage lights knows that skin can react. Sweat, makeup, air conditioning, stress. Black owned skincare and body care brands often build products with melanin rich skin in mind, but many formulas are good for a wide range of people.
Things that actually matter for musicians:
- Gentle cleansers that remove stage makeup or city dust without stripping
- Moisturizers that do not leave residue on keys or strings
- Body washes and deodorants that work for long rehearsals or tours
- Hand creams that absorb fast so you can return to the keyboard quickly
I think many players underestimate how much comfort affects practice time. If your skin feels irritated or your hands feel greasy, your focus is gone. In that sense, a well chosen Black owned body lotion or hand cream can be a real part of your toolkit, not just a luxury.
Hair care that respects practice and performance
For Black musicians, hair care often intersects with instrument use. Headphones and in ear monitors can press on locs, braids, or protective styles. Tight headbands can cause tension during long rehearsals. Humidity from stage lights can change everything.
Black owned hair care brands understand these textures and needs from the inside. They often create:
- Light oils and creams that nourish without making headphones slip
- Products that protect edges under hats, caps, or head wraps
- Silk bonnets and pillowcases for recovery sleep between shows
If you wear headgear for drums or audio work, this feels even more relevant. A small change in product can mean less breakage around pressure points from headphones or straps.
Brands around food and daily routine
Music life is not only about notes. It is also about what you eat between sets, lessons, or sessions. This might sound far from brands, but in practice, food choices shape your energy and consistency.
Snacks, drinks, and late night sessions
Some Black owned food brands create snacks, teas, and drinks that fit nicely into a practice or studio day. Things like:
- Herbal teas for late night work that do not wreck your sleep
- Coffee from Black owned roasters for early morning practice
- Healthy-ish snacks that travel well in gig bags
Small note from my own behavior: I used to rely on energy drinks and random vending machine food during long rehearsals. My focus crashed hard in the last hour. When I shifted to water, tea, and better snacks, my hands felt more stable in fast passages. It was not a miracle, just more steady energy.
How to actually find and support these brands
It is one thing to say “support Black owned brands.” It is another to actually bring them into your daily music routine in a way that lasts longer than a week in February.
Step 1: Map your real music habits
Before you search, stop and look at your own music life. Ask yourself:
- Where do I spend money most often: gear, clothes, food, decor, books?
- What do I use almost every day as a musician or music lover?
- Where do I have the freedom to switch brands without much risk?
You do not need to change everything. In fact, trying to replace all your stuff at once is usually a bad idea, for your budget and for the planet.
Step 2: Choose a few focus areas
Pick two or three categories where a switch feels realistic. For many piano and music lovers, these might be:
- Headphones or earphones
- Clothing or bags for lessons, recitals, and gigs
- Items for the practice room, like candles or art prints
If you teach, it might also include method books or sheet music publishers. Those choices compound over many students and years.
Step 3: Balance research with action
Sometimes people spend months researching and never actually buy. Or they buy one product, get a weak experience, and then assume the entire category is not worth it. That is not fair, but it happens.
Treat Black owned brands like any other serious brand: read reviews, compare options, then try a few and keep what truly works for you as a musician.
If something disappoints, say so clearly but fairly in your review. That feedback helps both the brand and other buyers. There is no need to protect any company from honest critique.
Step 4: Share with your music circle
Once you find a brand you like, the most powerful thing you can do is share it in specific, grounded ways.
- Recommend a headphone brand to your piano students who need good listening gear
- Wear clothing from a Black owned brand at recitals and tag them in your post
- Play recordings or books from Black owned publishers in your classroom or studio
Word of mouth in music communities is strong. A good product in the right room can travel fast.
Common questions from music lovers about Black owned brands
Q: I care about quality first. Will I have to “settle” if I prioritize Black owned brands?
A: No. You do not have to settle. Some Black owned brands are world class. Some are average. Some are not good. That range exists in every group. Your job is to judge honestly. If a Black owned headphone or bag matches or beats what you already use, great. If it does not, keep looking, or stay with your current pick. Support should be real, but not blind.
Q: I am on a tight budget as a student. Is there still a way to support these brands?
A: Yes. You can start small. One T shirt, one candle for your practice room, one method book from a Black publisher. You can also support by sharing, reviewing, and recommending. Money is not the only way, though it obviously helps. Many small brands grow through honest recommendations from students and teachers who believe in the product.
Q: I play mostly classical piano. Does this still matter for me?
A: It does, but possibly in slightly different ways. You might use Black owned brands more in areas like clothing, accessories, skincare, food, and home decor rather than core gear. On the music side, you can bring in scores and books by Black composers, often published or promoted by Black owned or Black led companies. This adds depth to your repertoire and gives students a wider view of what “classical” can mean.
Q: Do I need to replace everything I own to make a difference?
A: No, and that would be a poor approach anyway. Replacing working gear just to feel virtuous is wasteful. A better path is to make thoughtful changes as items wear out or new needs appear. When your headphones break, consider a Black owned audio brand. When you need new recital clothes, try a Black owned fashion label. Over time these small choices add up in a more real, sustainable way.