SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

                  Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
                      the Securities Exchange Act of 1934


              
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      / /        Soliciting Material Pursuant to Rule14a-11(c) or Rule14a-12

            STEINWAY MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, INC.
      -----------------------------------------------------------------------
                 (Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

      -----------------------------------------------------------------------
      (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement if other than the Registrant)


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                       STEINWAY MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, INC.
                                800 SOUTH STREET
                                   SUITE 425
                          WALTHAM, MASSACHUSETTS 02453
                                 (781) 894-9770

                                                                  March 30, 2000

Dear Stockholders:

    Our Annual Meeting of Stockholders will be held on May 5, 2000, at
10:00 a.m., at the Boston Marriott Burlington, One Mall Road, Burlington,
Massachusetts 01803. We urge you to attend this meeting to give us an
opportunity to meet you personally, to allow us to introduce to you the key
personnel responsible for management of your Company and to cover any questions
you may have.

    The formal Notice of Meeting, the Proxy Statement and the proxy card are
enclosed. A copy of the Annual Report to Stockholders describing the Company's
operations during the year ended December 31, 1999 is also enclosed.

    Messrs. Kirkland and Messina, who own 100% of the Class A Common Stock, have
advised the Company that they intend to vote their shares of Class A Common
Stock consistent with the recommendations of the Board of Directors set forth in
the attached Proxy Statement. The Class A Common Stock presently represents 85%
of the combined voting power of the Class A Common Stock and the Ordinary Common
Stock. Therefore, stockholder approval in accordance with the Board of
Directors' recommendations is assured.

    We hope that you will be able to attend the meeting in person. Whether or
not you plan to attend the meeting, please sign and return the enclosed proxy
card promptly. A prepaid return envelope is provided for this purpose. Your
shares will be voted at the meeting in accordance with your proxy.

    If you have shares in more than one name or if your stock is registered in
more than one way, you may receive more than one copy of the proxy material. If
so, please sign and return each of the proxy cards you receive so that all of
your shares may be voted. We look forward to meeting you at the Annual Meeting.

                                          Very truly yours,

                                          [SIGNATURE]

                                          Dana D. Messina
                                          CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

                       STEINWAY MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, INC.
                                800 SOUTH STREET
                                   SUITE 425
                          WALTHAM, MASSACHUSETTS 02453
                                 (781) 894-9770

                            ------------------------

                    NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
                             TO BE HELD MAY 5, 2000

                            ------------------------

    The Annual Meeting of Steinway Musical Instruments, Inc. (the "Company")
will be held on May 5, 2000 at 10:00 a.m. at the Boston Marriott Burlington, One
Mall Road, Burlington, Massachusetts 01803, for the following purposes:

    1.  To elect six (6) directors to hold office until the next annual meeting
       of stockholders and until their successors are duly elected and
       qualified; and

    2.  To ratify the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as independent public
       accountants for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2000; and

    3.  To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting
       or any adjournment thereof.

    Stockholders of record at the close of business on March 23, 2000 will be
entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting or any adjournment or postponement
thereof. All stockholders are urged to attend the meeting in person or by proxy.

    WHETHER OR NOT YOU EXPECT TO ATTEND THE MEETING IN PERSON, PLEASE SIGN AND
PROMPTLY RETURN THE ACCOMPANYING PROXY IN THE ENCLOSED PREPAID RETURN ENVELOPE.
The proxy is revocable and will not affect your right to vote in person in the
event you attend the meeting.

                                          By Order of the Board of Directors,

                                          [SIGNATURE]

                                          Dennis M. Hanson
                                          SECRETARY

Waltham, Massachusetts
March 30, 2000

                       STEINWAY MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, INC.

                                ----------------

                                PROXY STATEMENT

                             ---------------------

                 INFORMATION CONCERNING SOLICITATION AND VOTING

SOLICITATION AND REVOCATION OF PROXIES

    The enclosed proxy is solicited by and on behalf of the Board of Directors
of Steinway Musical Instruments, Inc. (the "Company") for use in connection with
the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on the 5th day of May, 2000 at
10:00 a.m. (the "Annual Meeting") and at any and all adjournments thereof.

    The persons named as proxies were designated by the Board of Directors and
are officers and/or directors of the Company. Any proxy may be revoked or
superseded by executing a proxy bearing a later date or by giving notice of
revocation in writing prior to, or at, the Annual Meeting, or by attending the
Annual Meeting and voting in person. All proxies which are properly completed,
signed and returned to the Company prior to the meeting, and not revoked, will
be voted in accordance with the instructions given in the proxy. If a choice is
not specified in the proxy, the proxy will be voted FOR the election of the
director nominees listed below and FOR the ratification of the appointment of
Deloitte & Touche LLP as independent public accountants for the Company.

    This Proxy Statement and the accompanying proxy are being mailed to
stockholders on or about March 30, 2000. The entire cost of the solicitation of
proxies will be borne by the Company. Expenses will also include reimbursements
paid to brokerage firms and others for their reasonable expenses incurred in
forwarding solicitation material regarding the meeting to beneficial owners of
the Company's common stock. It is contemplated that this solicitation will be
primarily by mail. In addition, some of the officers, directors and employees of
the Company may solicit proxies personally or by telephone, facsimile or email.

    Messrs. Kirkland and Messina have advised the Company that they intend to
vote all of their shares of Class A Common Stock in favor of the election of the
six nominees recommended by the Board of Directors and the appointment of
Deloitte & Touche LLP to serve as the Company's independent public accountants
to audit the Company's financial statements for 2000. Such action by
Messrs. Kirkland and Messina is sufficient to elect such directors and to
appoint the independent public accountants without any action on the part of any
other holder of common stock.

VOTING AT THE MEETING

    Only stockholders of record at the close of business on March 23, 2000 will
be entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting or any adjournment or postponement
thereof. The Company's Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the "Certificate
of Incorporation") authorizes two classes of common stock, designated as
Ordinary Common Stock and Class A Common Stock. Each share of Ordinary Common
Stock and Class A Common Stock entitles the record holder to one vote and 98
votes, respectively, on any action to be taken at the Annual Meeting, unless
Delaware law provides otherwise. As of January 29, 2000, there were 8,447,874
and 477,953 shares of Ordinary Common Stock and Class A Common Stock,
respectively, outstanding. As of that date, all shares of Class A Common Stock
were owned by Kyle R. Kirkland and Dana D. Messina, Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer of the Company, respectively, representing 85% of the
combined voting power of the Class A Common Stock and Ordinary Common Stock.
Neither the holders of the Ordinary Common Stock nor the holders of Class A
Common Stock have cumulative voting rights.

                                       1

    The stockholders of the Company have no dissenters or appraisal rights in
connection with any of the items scheduled to be presented to the stockholders
at the Annual Meeting.

VOTE REQUIRED

    The election of director nominees requires a plurality of the votes cast in
person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting. Under Delaware law, the Certificate of
Incorporation and the Company's bylaws, shares as to which a stockholder
abstains or withholds from voting on the election of directors and shares as to
which a broker indicates that it does not have discretionary authority to vote
("broker non-votes") on the election of directors will not be counted as voting
thereon and therefore will not affect the election of the nominees receiving a
plurality of the votes cast.

    Ratification of the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as independent
public accountants of the Company for the 2000 fiscal year requires the
affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the aggregate votes
cast at the meeting. Under Delaware law, the Certificate of Incorporation and
the Company's bylaws, shares as to which a stockholder abstains or withholds
from voting on the ratification of independent public accountants and broker
non-votes have the same effect as a vote against such ratification.

                             ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

    The Certificate of Incorporation fixes the number of directors at not less
than three and not more than nine, with the exact number to be set by resolution
of the Board of Directors. On August 18, 1999 the Board of Directors increased
the number of the members of the Board of Directors from five (5) to six (6). To
fill the vacancy created thereby, the Board appointed A. Clinton Allen as the
sixth Director to serve in such capacity until his successor is duly elected and
qualified. The Board proposes the election of six directors to hold office until
the next annual meeting of stockholders and until their successors are duly
elected and qualified. Unless the authority to vote for directors has been
withheld in the proxy, the persons named in the enclosed proxy intend to vote at
the Annual Meeting for the election of the six nominees presented below. Except
as set forth below, persons named as proxies may not vote for the election of
any person to the office of director for which a bona fide nominee is not named
in the Proxy Statement. All nominees have consented to serve as directors for
the ensuing year and have previously served as directors of the Company.
Although the Board of Directors does not contemplate that any of the nominees
will be unable to serve, if any nominee withdraws or otherwise becomes
unavailable to serve, the persons named in the enclosed proxy will vote for any
substitute nominee designated by the Board of Directors.

INFORMATION REGARDING THE NOMINEES

    Set forth below are the names, ages, positions and offices held and a brief
account of the business experience for each of the persons to be nominated as a
director by the Board of Directors at the Annual Meeting.

               NOMINEES FOR DIRECTORS FOR TERMS EXPIRING IN 2001

    KYLE R. KIRKLAND, CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD AND DIRECTOR (AGE
37).  Mr. Kirkland has served as a director of the Company since 1993 and as
Chairman of the Board since 1996. Mr. Kirkland has been a principal of Kirkland
Messina, Inc. since 1994. From 1991 to 1994, Mr. Kirkland was a Senior Vice
President of a Los Angeles-based investment bank where he was responsible for
its private placement financing activities. From 1990 to 1991, Mr. Kirkland was
employed by Canyon Partners as a Vice President. From 1988 to 1990, he was
employed by Drexel Burnham Lambert in its High Yield Bond Department.

    DANA D. MESSINA, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND DIRECTOR (AGE
38).  Mr. Messina has served as a director of the Company since 1993 and as
Chief Executive Officer since 1996. Mr. Messina has been a principal of

                                       2

Kirkland Messina, Inc. since 1994. From 1990 to 1994, Mr. Messina was a Senior
Vice President of a Los Angeles-based investment bank where he was responsible
for all of its corporate finance and merchant banking activities. From 1987 to
1990, he was employed at Drexel Burnham Lambert in its High Yield Bond
Department.

    THOMAS T. BURZYCKI, PRESIDENT-SELMER AND DIRECTOR (AGE 56).  Mr. Burzycki
has served as a director of the Company since 1993. Mr. Burzycki has served as
President of The Selmer Company, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company
("Selmer"), since 1990. From 1978 to 1990, Mr. Burzycki held various financial
and operational positions with United Musical Instruments, including President
from 1985 to 1990. He has served on numerous industry and music education
committees.

    BRUCE A. STEVENS, PRESIDENT-STEINWAY AND DIRECTOR (AGE 57).  Mr. Stevens has
served as a director of the Company since 1995. Mr. Stevens has served as
President of Steinway & Sons, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company
("Steinway"), since 1985 when Steinway was acquired from Columbia Broadcasting
System television network. Prior to that, he was employed by the Polaroid
Corporation for 18 years, where he held various positions including Director of
Marketing for all of Polaroid's international business. He has served on
numerous industry and music education committees.

    A. CLINTON ALLEN, DIRECTOR (AGE 56).  Mr. Allen has served as a director of
the Company since August 1999. Mr. Allen is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
of A.C. Allen and Company, an investment banking consulting firm. He also serves
on the board of directors of Psychemedics Corporation, Inc., The DeWolfe
Companies, Swiss Army Brands Inc., Response U.S.A. Inc., Diversified Corporate
Resources, Inc., and Legal Club of America, Inc. Mr. Allen provided the original
financing for Blockbuster Entertainment Corporation, was their founding Director
and served on the Board until the company was acquired by Viacom/Paramount in
September of 1994.

    PETER MCMILLAN, DIRECTOR (AGE 42).  Mr. McMillan has served as a director of
the Company since 1996. Mr. McMillan is Executive Vice President and Chief
Investment Officer of SunAmerica Investments, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of
American International Group, Inc. As Chief Investment Officer, Mr. McMillan has
overall investment management responsibility for the major asset classes in
SunAmerica's portfolio, including government securities, mortgage-backed
securities, public and private bonds, and commercial and residential mortgages.
Mr. McMillan joined SunAmerica Investments, Inc. in 1989 after managing the
fixed-income portfolio for Aetna Life Insurance and Annuity Company.

    Each director of the Company is elected for a period of one year and serves
until his successor is duly elected and qualified. For information regarding the
beneficial ownership of Ordinary Common Stock and Class A Common Stock by each
nominee, see "Principal Stockholders."

MEETINGS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

    The Board of Directors took action on twelve separate occasions during 1999.
In addition to actions of the full Board, directors also took action through
Board committees. The Board of Directors has standing Audit, Compensation and
Option Committees. The Board of Directors does not have a standing Nominations
Committee. None of the members of the Board of Directors participated in less
than 75% of the meetings of the Board of Directors held or of the total number
of meetings held by all committees of the Board of Directors on which various
members served during the year ended December 31, 1999. The current members of
each of the Board of Directors' committees are listed below.

THE AUDIT COMMITTEE

    The current members of the Audit Committee are Messrs. McMillan and Allen.
The Audit Committee assists the Board of Directors in assuring that the
accounting and reporting practices of the Company are in accordance with all
applicable requirements. The Audit Committee took action three times during
1999.

                                       3

THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE

    The current members of the Compensation Committee are Messrs. Kirkland and
Messina. The Compensation Committee sets the compensation for the executive
officers of the Company and administers the Company's compensation programs. The
Compensation Committee took action five times during 1999.

THE OPTION COMMITTEE

    The current members of the Option Committee are Messrs. Kirkland, Messina
and McMillan. The Option Committee was formed prior to the Company's initial
public offering of shares of Ordinary Common Stock, which occurred on August 1,
1996 (the "IPO"), to administer the Steinway Musical Instruments, Inc. 1996
Stock Plan (the "Stock Plan") and the Steinway Musical Instruments, Inc. 1996
Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "Purchase Plan"). The Option Committee took
action twice during 1999.

            THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE FOR THE
                 ELECTION OF EACH OF THE NOMINEES NAMED ABOVE.

                                   MANAGEMENT

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY

    Set forth below are the names, ages, positions and offices held and a brief
account of the business experience for each executive officer and director of
the Company.



NAME                                 AGE                       POSITION
- ----                               --------   ------------------------------------------
                                        
Kyle R. Kirkland.................     37      Chairman of the Board and Director
Dana D. Messina..................     38      Chief Executive Officer and Director
Thomas T. Burzycki...............     56      President-Selmer and Director
Bruce A. Stevens.................     57      President-Steinway and Director
Dennis M. Hanson.................     45      Chief Financial Officer and Secretary
Michael R. Vickrey...............     57      Executive Vice President
Thomas Kurrer....................     51      Managing Director, Steinway-Germany
A. Clinton Allen.................     56      Director
Peter McMillan...................     42      Director


    For biographical information concerning Kyle R. Kirkland, Dana D. Messina,
Thomas T. Burzycki, Bruce A. Stevens, A. Clinton Allen, and Peter McMillan, see
"Nominees for Directors for Terms Expiring in 2001."

    DENNIS M. HANSON, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER AND SECRETARY.  Mr. Hanson serves
as the Company's Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and General Counsel.
Mr. Hanson started his career in public accounting at Haskins and Sells in 1976.
In 1980, he joined Computervision Corporation, where he held various financial
positions including Vice President of Audit. He joined Steinway in 1988 as Vice
President Finance and assumed duties as General Counsel in 1993.

    MICHAEL R. VICKREY, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT.  Mr. Vickrey has been employed
by Selmer since 1970. He has held the positions of Controller, Accounting
Manager, Cost Accounting Manager and Regional Credit Manager. Prior to joining
Selmer, Mr. Vickrey spent seven years in the banking industry, specializing in
commercial finance.

    THOMAS KURRER, MANAGING DIRECTOR, STEINWAY-GERMANY.  Mr. Kurrer joined
Steinway in 1989 as Managing Director of the Hamburg facility. Mr. Kurrer was
employed by the German-American Chamber of

                                       4

Commerce in New York from 1976 to 1978. Between 1978 and 1989, he held various
positions of increasing responsibility with the Otto Wolff-Group, a conglomerate
of steel and machinery equipment companies. Mr. Kurrer's last position with the
Otto Wolff-Group was Managing Director of Wirth GmbH.

                  EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND OTHER INFORMATION

    The following table sets forth the annual compensation paid and accrued by
the Company for services rendered during the fiscal years ended December 31,
1999, 1998 and 1997 to (i) the Company's Chairman of the Board and the Chief
Executive Officer and (ii) the four other most highly compensated executive
officers of the Company and the Managing Director of Steinway-Germany serving at
the end of the last completed fiscal year (each a "Named Executive Officer").

                         SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE(1)



                                                                                    LONG-TERM
                                                                                   COMPENSATION
                                                                                      AWARDS
                                                    ANNUAL COMPENSATION            ------------
                                            ------------------------------------    SECURITIES      ALL OTHER
                                                                    OTHER ANNUAL    UNDERLYING    COMPENSATION
NAME AND PRINCIPAL POSITION   FISCAL YEAR    SALARY      BONUS      COMPENSATION    OPTIONS(#)         (5)
- ---------------------------   -----------   --------   ----------   ------------   ------------   -------------
                                                                                
Kyle R. Kirkland............     1999       $229,615       --           --     (2)    --             $ 8,400
  Chairman of the Board          1998          --          --                  (2)    --              --
                                 1997          --          --                         --              --

Dana D. Messina.............     1999       $229,615       --           --     (2)    --             $ 8,400
  Chief Executive Officer        1998          --          --                  (2)    --              --
                                 1997          --          --                         --              --

Thomas T. Burzycki..........     1999       $268,000   $  180,000(3)     --           --              --
  President-Selmer               1998       $268,000   $  285,000       --            --              --
                                 1997       $268,000   $  375,000       --            --              --

Bruce A. Stevens............     1999       $404,425   $  190,080       --            --             $15,083
  President-Steinway             1998       $387,000   $  193,500       --            --             $14,977
                                 1997       $372,000   $  168,000       --            --             $13,512

Dennis M. Hanson............     1999       $222,300   $  177,000       --             5,000         $ 9,780
  Chief Financial Officer        1998       $211,000   $  165,500       --            --             $ 9,420
  and Secretary                  1997       $201,000   $  147,000       --            --             $ 9,020

Michael R. Vickrey..........     1999       $100,000   $  180,000(3)     --           --              --
  Executive Vice President       1998       $100,000   $  190,000       --            --              --
                                 1997       $100,000   $  235,000       --            --              --

Thomas Kurrer(4)............     1999       $228,390   $   51,717       --            --              --
  Managing Director,             1998       $238,408   $   72,118       --            --              --
  Steinway-Germany               1997       $234,713   $   77,448       --            --              --


- ------------------------

(1) The table does not include the cost for personal benefits made available by
    the Company. However, no executive officer named in the Summary Compensation
    Table received such compensation in excess of the lesser of $50,000 or 10%
    of such officer's cash compensation, nor did all executive officers together
    receive such other compensation in excess of the lesser of $50,000 times the
    number of such executive officers or 10% of such officers' aggregate cash
    compensation.

(2) Prior to 1999 Messrs. Kirkland and Messina received compensation pursuant to
    services agreements among themselves, the Company and Kirkland
    Messina, Inc. which allowed for a payment of $200,000 for each of
    Messrs. Kirkland and Messina. Effective Jan 1, 1999 these agreements were
    supplanted

                                       5

    with employment agreements between each of Messrs. Kirkland and Messina and
    the Company. See "Employment Contracts" below.

(3) Amount reflects estimated payments based on performance. Final approval by
    the Compensation Committee and disbursement has not yet been completed as of
    the date of this statement.

(4) Mr. Kurrer's compensation information contained in this statement has been
    converted from Deutsche marks to U.S. dollars based upon average foreign
    exchange rates for the years presented.

(5) The Company provides the Named Executive Officers with certain health,
    medical and other non-cash benefits generally available to all salaried
    employees and not included in "Other Compensation" pursuant to SEC rules.
    The table below presents the components of "Other Compensation" for 1999,
    which represent (a) the value of Company contributions to one of its 401(k)
    plans, (b) the value of premiums paid by the Company on group term life
    insurance and (c) in the case of Mr. Stevens the economic benefit received
    under the terms of a Split Dollar Life Insurance Policy provided by the
    Company.



                                     401(K) PLAN     GROUP TERM LIFE     SPLIT DOLLAR
                                     CONTRIBUTION   INSURANCE PREMIUM   LIFE INSURANCE
                                     ------------   -----------------   --------------
                                                               
Kyle R. Kirkland...................      $8,400
Dana D. Messina....................      $8,400
Bruce A. Stevens...................      $8,400           $4,500            $2,183
Dennis M. Hanson...................      $8,400           $1,380


OPTION GRANTS IN 1999

    The following table provides information related to options to purchase the
Company's Ordinary Common Stock granted to the Named Executive Officers during
the year ended December 31, 1999 and the number and value of such options held
as of the end of such year.



                                                  INDIVIDUAL GRANTS
                            -------------------------------------------------------------
                            NUMBER OF     PERCENT OF
                            SECURITIES      TOTAL
                            UNDERLYING     OPTIONS      EXERCISE                  GRANT
                             OPTIONS      GRANTED TO     OR BASE                   DATE
                             GRANTED     EMPLOYEES IN     PRICE     EXPIRATION   VALUE(2)
NAME                          (#)(1)     FISCAL YEAR    ($/SHARE)      DATE        ($)
- ----                        ----------   ------------   ---------   ----------   --------
                                                                  
Dennis M. Hanson..........    5,000           100%       $20.75     2/12/2009    $38,932


- ------------------------

(1) Each option reflected in this column was granted under the Stock Plan and
    becomes exercisable for 20% of the total grant on each anniversary of
    February 12, 1999, subject to acceleration upon the occurrence of certain
    events as described in the Stock Plan.

(2) The fair value of options on their grant date was $7.79 per option, which is
    measured using the Black/ Scholes option pricing model. Key assumptions used
    to apply this pricing model in 1999 are as follows: (a) risk-free interest
    rate of 4.99%; (b) expected life of option grants of six years;
    (c) expected volatility of Ordinary Common Stock of 26.8%.

                                       6

AGGREGATED OPTION EXERCISES IN 1999 AND YEAR END OPTION VALUES

    The following table provides information related to the exercise of certain
options to purchase the Company's Ordinary Common Stock by the Named Executive
Officers during 1999 and the number and value of options held by the Named
Executive Officers as of the year ended December 31, 1999.



                                                           NUMBER OF SECURITIES
                                                                UNDERLYING               VALUE OF UNEXERCISED
                                                          UNEXERCISED OPTIONS AT        IN-THE-MONEY OPTIONS AT
                                              VALUE          DECEMBER 31, 1999           DECEMBER 31, 1999(1)
                        SHARES ACQUIRED ON   REALIZED   ---------------------------   ---------------------------
NAME                       EXERCISE (#)        ($)      EXERCISABLE   UNEXERCISABLE   EXERCISABLE   UNEXERCISABLE
- ----                    ------------------   --------   -----------   -------------   -----------   -------------
                                                                                  
Kyle R. Kirkland......             --             --       42,450         28,300        $33,166        $22,111
Dana D. Messina.......             --             --       42,450         28,300        $33,166        $22,111
Thomas T. Burzycki....             --             --        8,000          8,000        $ 6,250        $ 6,250
Bruce A. Stevens......             --             --       19,800         13,200        $15,470        $10,313
Dennis M. Hanson......             --             --       15,900         15,600        $12,423        $ 8,282
Michael R. Vickrey....             --             --        8,700          5,800        $ 6,797        $ 4,532
Thomas Kurrer.........             --             --       14,700          9,800        $11,485        $ 7,657


- ------------------------

(1) Value based on a fair market value of Common Stock of $19.7813 on
    December 31, 1999, less the option exercise price.

EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS

    In January 1999, the Company entered into an Employment Agreement with
Kyle R. Kirkland which provides that until December 31, 2006, unless earlier
terminated in accordance with its terms, Mr. Kirkland will serve as Chairman of
the Company. The consideration for such services is an annual salary of $200,000
which may be increased at the discretion of the Board. In addition,
Mr. Kirkland may be entitled to receive bonuses and certain other employment
benefits as determined by the Board of Directors in its discretion.

    In January 1999, the Company entered into an Employment Agreement with Dana
D. Messina which provides that until December 31, 2006, unless earlier
terminated in accordance with its terms, Mr. Messina will serve as Chief
Executive Officer of the Company. The consideration for such services is an
annual salary of $200,000 which may be increased at the discretion of the Board.
In addition, Mr. Messina may be entitled to receive bonuses and certain other
employment benefits as determined by the Board of Directors in its discretion.

    In July 1996, the Company entered into a Noncompete Agreement with each of
Thomas T. Burzycki, Bruce A. Stevens, Dennis M. Hanson and Michael R. Vickrey.
The Noncompete Agreements remain in effect for a period of ten years and bar the
individual parties thereto from competing with the Company in any geographic
region in which the Company then conducts business. Additionally, provided that
the individual party thereto refrains from engaging in certain restricted sales
of Ordinary Common Stock, each Noncompete Agreement commits the Company to renew
the individual party's employment agreement described below for successive
one-year periods over the life of the Noncompete Agreement.

    On May 1, 1995, Steinway entered into an Employment Agreement with Bruce A.
Stevens. The agreement provides that Mr. Stevens will serve as President of
Steinway, in consideration of an annual base salary, which may be increased
following the end of each year of service. In addition to a base salary,
Mr. Stevens is eligible to receive bonuses and certain other employment
benefits. Mr. Stevens' agreement provides that, in certain circumstances, the
Company is obligated to pay up to $340,000, plus the salary for the remainder of
his term, to Mr. Stevens upon termination of his employment. This agreement was
subsequently assigned from Steinway to the Company and thereafter amended to
automatically renew on an annual basis unless affirmatively terminated.

                                       7

    On May 1, 1995, Steinway entered into an Employment Agreement with Dennis M.
Hanson. The agreement provides that Mr. Hanson will serve as Chief Financial
Officer and Secretary in consideration of an annual base salary, which may be
increased following the end of each year of service. In addition to a base
salary, Mr. Hanson is eligible to receive bonuses and certain other employment
benefits. Mr. Hanson's agreement provides that, in certain circumstances, the
Company is obligated to pay up to $210,000, plus the salary for the remainder of
his term, to Mr. Hanson upon termination of his employment. This Agreement was
subsequently assigned from Steinway to the Company and thereafter amended to
automatically renew on an annual basis unless affirmatively terminated.

    As of May 8, 1989, Steinway entered into an Employment Agreement with Thomas
Kurrer that provides that Mr. Kurrer will serve as Managing Director of
Steinway's German operations in consideration of an annual base salary, which
may be increased following the end of each year of service. In addition to a
base salary, Mr. Kurrer is eligible to receive bonuses and certain other
employment benefits. The agreement automatically renews every three years unless
at least 12 months' notice is given by either party.

RETIREMENT PLANS

    The Company maintains separate pension plans for each of its major
divisions. The Pension Plan Table set forth below shows estimated annual
benefits payable upon retirement (based on the benefit formulas in effect and
calculated on a straight life annuity basis, as described below) to persons
covered under the Selmer division plan, including the Named Executive Officers,
in specified compensation and years of credited service classifications,
assuming employment until age 65.

                               PENSION PLAN TABLE



                                               YEARS OF SERVICE
                        ---------------------------------------------------------------
FINAL AVERAGE PAY          5          10         15         20         25         30
- -----------------       --------   --------   --------   --------   --------   --------
                                                             
$100,000.............   $ 5,634    $11,268    $16,902    $22,536    $28,169    $33,803
$110,000.............   $ 6,384    $12,768    $19,152    $25,536    $31,919    $38,303
$120,000.............   $ 7,134    $14,268    $21,402    $28,536    $35,669    $42,803
$130,000.............   $ 7,884    $15,768    $23,652    $31,536    $39,419    $47,303
$140,000.............   $ 8,634    $17,268    $25,902    $34,536    $43,169    $51,803
$150,000.............   $ 9,384    $18,768    $28,152    $37,536    $46,919    $56,303
$160,000.............   $10,134    $20,268    $30,402    $40,536    $50,669    $60,803
$170,000.............   $10,884    $21,768    $32,652    $43,536    $54,419    $65,303


    The Company maintains a qualified defined benefit pension plan for the
Selmer division. Benefits accrue on a straight life annuity basis, using a
formula that takes into account the five highest consecutive calendar years of
compensation within the prior ten years of plan participation times years of
Benefit Service up to 40 years. The plan is also integrated with Social Security
so that earnings in excess of the Social Security taxable wage base generate
additional benefits. The above table assumes a birth year of 1942 in order to
calculate the additional social security benefit. Mr. Burzycki has 9 years of
credited service and Mr. Vickrey has 11 years of service under this plan.

    The primary benefit formula in the Steinway division domestic plan was
frozen as of June 30, 1993. The accrued benefit will be a monthly benefit amount
payable in the life annuity form equal to the sum of (a) the benefit accrued in
accordance with the formula as of June 30, 1993: plus (b) $9 multiplied by
benefit years of service completed after June 30, 1993. Mr. Stevens has
14 years of service under the plan with an estimated annual benefit of $29,676.
Assuming he continues his employment with the Company until age 65, his
estimated annual benefit would be $30,504. Mr. Hanson has 11 years of service
under the plan with an estimated annual benefit of $15,204. Assuming his
continued employment with the Company until age 65, his estimated annual benefit
would be $17,316. These amounts are based on the pension being

                                       8

paid during the participants lifetime and would be reduced on an actuarially
equivalent basis in the event of a survivor benefit or optional form of payment.

    Mr. Kurrer is entitled to benefits under the Steinway division foreign
pension plan. Based on the formula and his 11 years of credited service his
estimated annual benefit would be $69,660. At age 63 Mr. Kurrer would receive
36.5% of his annual base income earned in the year prior to retirement. Assuming
a 3% increase in annual salary, the estimated annual benefit at age 63 would be
$118,860. The figures presented have been converted from Deutsche marks to U.S.
dollars based on 1999 average foreign exchange rates.

COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS

    Members of the Board of Directors of the Company do not receive compensation
for their services as directors. All members of the Board of Directors are
reimbursed for all expenses incurred in connection with their serving on the
Board.

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION

    Messrs. Kirkland and Messina serve as the Chairman of the Board and Chief
Executive Officer, respectively, of the Company. Each serves on the Compensation
and Option Committees of the Board of Directors.

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS INVOLVING DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, AFFILIATES OR BENEFICIAL OWNERS

    No director, officer, affiliate or beneficial owner of the Company, or any
associate thereof, is a party adverse to the Company or any of its subsidiaries
in any lawsuit nor has a material adverse interest thereto.

                      REPORT OF THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
                          ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION(1)

COMPENSATION PHILOSOPHY

    The Compensation Committee's executive compensation philosophy is to provide
competitive levels of compensation while establishing a strong, explicit link
between executive compensation and the achievement of the Company's annual and
long-term performance goals, rewarding above-average corporate performance,
recognizing individual initiative and achievement, and assisting the Company in
attracting and retaining highly-skilled management. This philosophy has been
adhered to by developing incentive pay programs which provide competitive
compensation that mirrors Company performance. Both short-term and long-term
incentive compensation are based on direct, explicit links to Company
performance and the value received by stockholders.

1999 EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

    Cash compensation includes base salary and annual bonuses. Base salaries are
set at competitive levels, with reference to the responsibilities undertaken by
personnel, their experience and geographic market conditions. Annual salary
adjustments are determined by reference to the Company's and the individual's
performance, as well as marketplace conditions generally. Annual bonuses are
awarded based primarily on management's ability to achieve specified earnings
levels.

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER COMPENSATION

    The Compensation Committee does not control compensation decisions with
respect to the Chairman of the Board and the Chief Executive Officer. These
decisions are determined by the Board of Directors. The Board reviewed both the
individual performance of each such executive officer and salary data for
comparable positions in similar industries and, based on the results of these
reviews, determined that an

                                       9

increase in base salaries was reasonable and appropriate. Accordingly, the Board
unanimously approved an increase in the base salaries of each such executive
officer to $250,000 per year effective June 1, 1999.

SUMMARY

    After its review of the Company's existing programs, the Compensation
Committee believes that the total compensation program for executives of the
Company is competitive with the compensation programs provided by other
corporations with which the Company competes for management talent. The
Compensation Committee also believes that the annual bonuses provide
opportunities to participants that are consistent with the returns that are
generated on behalf of the Company's stockholders.

LIMITATION OF TAX DEDUCTION FOR EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

    The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 (the "Act") prevents publicly
traded companies from receiving a tax deduction on compensation paid to
proxy-named executive officers in excess of $1 million annually, effective for
compensation paid after 1993. Although the Compensation Committee has not
adopted a policy relating to the Act, the Compensation Committee believes that
there will be little, if any, impact from this limitation to the Company.

                                          COMPENSATION COMMITTEE:

                                        [SIGNATURE]
                                          Kyle R. Kirkland

                                          [SIGNATURE]

                                          Dana D. Messina

- ------------------------

(1) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in any of the Company's
    previous or future filings under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Exchange
    Act, the Report of the Compensation Committee on Executive Compensation
    shall not be incorporated by reference in any such filings.

                                       10

                              PERFORMANCE GRAPH(1)

    The following graph compares the Company's cumulative total stockholder
return on its Ordinary Common Stock for the period from the Company's IPO on
August 1, 1996, to December 31, 1999, with the cumulative total return of the
Russell 2000 Stock Index ("Russell 2000"), and the cumulative total return of a
peer group consisting of Baldwin Piano and Organ Co., Harley-Davidson Inc.,
Boosey & Hawkes PLC and Fleetwood Enterprises. This peer group was selected by
management based on the status of each as a manufacturer and distributor of
luxury goods. The performance graph assumes a $100 investment on August 1, 1996
in each of the Company's Ordinary Common Stock, the Russell 2000 and the common
stock of the selected peer group. The stock price performance shown in this
graph is neither necessarily indicative of nor intended to suggest future stock
price performance.

                      COMPARATIVE STOCK PRICE PERFORMANCE
                   AMONG STEINWAY MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, INC.,
                       THE RUSSELL 2000 AND A PEER GROUP

EDGAR REPRESENTATION OF DATA POINTS USED IN PRINTED GRAPHIC



COMPARISON OF CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURNS
                                                                   
                                           Peer                   Steinway  The Russell
                                          Group  Musical Instruments, Inc.         2000
8/1/96                                  $100.00                    $100.00      $100.00
12/31/96                                $104.65                     $91.45      $113.52
12/31/97                                $130.19                    $121.71      $136.82
12/31/98                                $112.90                    $136.84      $132.10
12/31/99                                $120.52                    $106.58      $158.02




                                          8/1/96    12/31/96   12/31/97   12/31/98   12/31/99
                                         --------   --------   --------   --------   --------
                                                                      
Steinway Musical Instruments, Inc......  $100.00    $ 91.45    $121.71    $136.84    $106.58
The Russell 2000.......................  $100.00    $113.52    $136.82    $132.10    $158.02
Peer Group.............................  $100.00    $104.65    $130.19    $112.90    $120.52


- ------------------------

(1) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in any of the Company's
    previous or future filings under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Exchange
    Act, this Performance Graph shall not be incorporated by reference in any
    such filings.

                                       11

                             PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS

    The following table sets forth certain information regarding the beneficial
ownership of voting securities of the Company as of January 29, 2000 by
(i) each person known by the Company to be the beneficial owner of more than 5%
of any class of the Company's voting securities, (ii) each of the directors and
Named Executive Officers of the Company and (iii) all executive officers and
directors of the Company as a group.



                                                  AMOUNT AND                   AMOUNT AND
                                                   NATURE OF                    NATURE OF
                                                  BENEFICIAL                   BENEFICIAL
                                                 OWNERSHIP OF                OWNERSHIP CLASS
                                                   ORDINARY                     A COMMON
                                                COMMON STOCK(1)   PERCENT       STOCK(1)       PERCENT
                                                ---------------   --------   ---------------   --------
                                                                                   
American International Group, Inc. (2)........     1,801,131        21.3%             --           --
  70 Pine Street
  New York, New York 10270
John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company....     1,543,553        18.3%             --           --
  200 Clarendon Street
  John Hancock Place, 57th Floor
  Boston, MA 02117
Fort Hill Capital LLC.........................       643,180         7.6%             --           --
  EAB Plaza
  West Tower, 6(th) Floor
  Uniondale, NY 11556

Directors
  Kyle R. Kirkland(3).........................       196,886         2.3%        226,949         47.5%
  Dana D. Messina(3)..........................       217,571         2.6%        251,004         52.5%
  Thomas T. Burzycki..........................       112,179         1.3%             --           --
  Bruce A. Stevens............................        86,273         1.0%             --           --
  Peter McMillan(4)...........................            (4)         (4)             --           --

Other Executive Officers
  Dennis M. Hanson............................        41,601          .5%             --           --
  Michael R. Vickrey..........................        70,000          .8%             --           --
  Thomas Kurrer...............................        41,601          .5%             --           --

All directors and executive officers as a
  group (8 persons)(3)(4).....................       764,980         9.1%        477,953        100.0%


- ------------------------

(1) Each share of Class A Common Stock has 98 votes. Each share of Ordinary
    Common Stock has one vote.

(2) During 1999, American International Group, Inc. acquired SunAmerica Inc. and
    its subsidiaries including SunAmerica Life Insurance Company, thereby
    acquiring a beneficial interest in the Company's Ordinary Common Stock.

(3) Includes 1,131 shares owned by Kirkland Messina, Inc., which may be deemed
    to be beneficially owned by both Kyle R. Kirkland and Dana D. Messina.

(4) Mr. McMillan is Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer of
    SunAmerica Investments, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of American
    International Group, Inc. As Chief Investment Officer, Mr. McMillan has
    overall investment management responsibility for the major asset classes in
    SunAmerica's investment portfolio, including the 1,801,131 shares owned by
    American International Group, Inc. Mr. McMillan disclaims beneficial
    ownership of such shares.

                                       12

COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 16(A) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

    Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"Exchange Act"), requires the Company's executive officers and directors and
persons who own more than 10% of the Company's Ordinary Common Stock to file
reports of ownership on Forms 3, 4 and 5 with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission"). Executive officers, directors and 10%
stockholders are required by the Commission to furnish the Company with copies
of all Forms 3, 4 and 5 they file.

    Based solely on the Company's review of the copies of such forms it has
received, the Company believes that all its executive officers, directors and
greater than 10% beneficial owners complied with all the filing requirements
applicable to them with respect to transactions during fiscal 1999.

                  SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

    The Board of Directors has selected Deloitte & Touche LLP to serve as the
Company's independent public accountants to audit the financial statements of
the Company for 2000. Deloitte & Touche LLP has served as the Company's
independent public accountants since 1993. Representatives of Deloitte & Touche
LLP will attend the Annual Meeting, will be given an opportunity to make a
statement if they desire to do so and will be available to answer appropriate
questions.

    THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS, ON THE ADVICE OF ITS AUDIT COMMITTEE,
THAT THE STOCKHOLDERS VOTE FOR RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF DELOITTE &
TOUCHE LLP AS THE COMPANY'S INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS FOR 2000.

    Unless a contrary indication is made on the enclosed proxy card, it is the
intention of the persons named in the enclosed form of proxy to vote FOR the
selected accountants.

                                 OTHER MATTERS

    The Board of Directors is not aware of any other matters to be presented at
the Annual Meeting. If any other matters should properly come before the Annual
Meeting, the persons named in the proxy will vote the proxies according to their
best judgment.

                             STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS

    Stockholder proposals, if any, which may be considered for inclusion in the
Company's proxy materials for the 2001 Annual Stockholders Meeting must be
received by the Company at its offices at 800 South Street, Suite 425, Waltham,
Massachusetts 02453 not later than January 31, 2001.

                                 ANNUAL REPORT

    The Annual Report to Stockholders for 1999 accompanies this Proxy Statement.
Stockholders may obtain a copy of this report without charge by writing to
Steinway Musical Instruments, Inc., 800 South Street, Suite 425, Waltham,
Massachusetts 02453, Attn: Investor Relations, telephone number (781) 894-9770.

                                       13

                       STEINWAY MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS INC.

        THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE ANNUAL
               MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON MAY 5, 2000

    The undersigned stockholder of Steinway Musical Instruments, Inc. (the
"Company"), hereby appoints each of Dana D. Messina and Dennis M. Hanson
attorneys and proxies of the undersigned, each with full power of substitution,
to vote on behalf of the undersigned at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of
the Company to be held at the Burlington Marriott Hotel, One Mall Road,
Burlington, Massachusetts 01803, on May 5, 2000, at 10:00 a.m., and at any
adjournment of said meeting, all of the shares of Ordinary Common Stock which
the undersigned may be entitled to vote.

    The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR the nominees named below and
FOR ratification of the accountants named on the reverse side, and if no
specification is made, the shares will be voted FOR the election of the nominees
named herein, and FOR the ratification of the accountants. The undersigned
hereby acknowledges receipt of the Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders, the
Proxy Statement and the Annual Report furnished herewith.


                                                                                   
1.   Election of Directors  FOR all nominees  WITHHOLD AUTHORITY                               * Exceptions / /
                            listed below / /  to vote for all nominees listed below / /


        Nominees: Kyle R. Kirkland, Dana D. Messina, Thomas T. Burzycki,
               Bruce A. Stevens, A. Clinton Allen, Peter McMillan

(*Instructions: To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee, mark
                the "Exceptions" box and strike a line through that nominee's
                name.)

2.  Ratification of Deloitte & Touche LLP to serve as the Company's independent
    public accountants to audit the financial statements of the Company for
    2000.

            / /  FOR            / /  AGAINST            / /  ABSTAIN

3.  At their discretion regarding other matters presented at the Annual Meeting.

                                              Dated:
                                                    ----------------------------

                                              ----------------------------------
                                                         (Signature)

                                              ----------------------------------
                                                         (Signature)