Thinking about buying a piano? Below are the most common questions parents ask piano teachers before making this purchase.
I want to enroll my child in piano lessons. When should I buy a piano?
Think Susie can learn to play piano without one? Don't hold your breath. Taking piano lessons without a piano is like learning to swim without water. Don't wait to purchase a piano or keyboard if you have enrolled or are planning to enroll your child in piano lessons. There are many options for every budget. My advice is to get the best instrument you can afford. If your child later decides that piano is not their cup of tea, you can always sell it for about what you paid for it. Another reason to get the best piano or keyboard you can afford is that quality matters. You can safely compare this to your golf game. How much more fun is it to play with a good set up clubs over a bargain set that lacks power and precision.
What's the difference between a piano and a keyboard?
An acoustical piano is what your great grandmother and Beethoven learned to play on, only now they're built in a factory. A factory built acoustical piano is a great investment at a practical cost. There are many types both new and used. From smallest to largest they are: spinet, console, upright, baby grand and grand. You can also rent a piano. Usually the rent can often by applied to the purchase price of the piano should you decide to buy it within six months. I recommend an acoustical piano for students, as a digital piano is limited when it comes to producing different tone colors by applying different playing techniques. An accomplished pianist might feel limited by a digital piano.
A digital piano is an electronic instrument with many features such as recording and the ability to play with headphones. Digital pianos have a full size keyboard of 88 black and white keys. This is important because learning to play the piano involves "geography." Reading piano music is similar to reading a map of the piano keyboard. Other key features that affect playing quality and enjoyment are weighted keys and genuine hammered-action keys. Hammered-action, wooden keys best imitate the lever action and feel of a real acoustical piano. One cost advantage of digital pianos is they do not need to be tuned. Playing on a digital piano that is in tune is preferable to an acoustical piano that is out of tune and/or in need of repairs. If you're considering a used digital piano, check to see if it is still under warranty before you make your offer. As is also the case with an accoustical piano, if the warranty is on the piano, it can be transfered to a new owner. Also, be sure to match the serial number on the warranty with the serial number on piano.
A portable, electronic keyboard is the least expensive 'instrument' available for piano students to begin piano with, and can be purchased for between $200-$600. An electronic keyboard should have no less than 76 black and white keys. It should also have a feature called 'Touch Sensitivity', which allows variations in volume depending on the pressure applied to the keys. Electronic keyboards also require the purchase of an inexpensive keyboard stand and bench, so you can set it up at the proper height for good posture. If an adapter isn't included, you'll need to buy one so you can plug it into an electrical wall outlet. Although some electronic keyboards run on direct current, replacing batteries is expensive, as they generally go dead the first time a student forgets to turn it off after playing. As with digital pianos, electronic keyboards do not need to be tuned. If you choose a portable, electronic keyboard, it is advisable to plan ahead to purchase an acoustical piano or digital piano when you can better afford this.
How do I know which is better for my family?
If volume is a factor for you, get a digital piano or keyboard with headphones. With this feature your piano student can practice while his sister is doing her homework, or early in the morning when you're still sleeping. If space is a factor, you might also consider a digital piano or electronic keyboard. One advantage of owning an electronic keyboard is that it's portable, so you can take it with you to grandma's house! If you're looking to fill your home with a beautiful piano that offers the finest playing experience, however, go for an acoustical piano. You can't beat this choice for playing quality, inspiration and enjoyment. I personally have not been able to choose between an acoustical piano and a digital piano, because they each have unique advantages. So I have both!
Why should I purchase a piano for my child?
Students who love piano dream of playing on a quality acoustical or digital piano. Will this purchase guarantee your child will play like mozart? No. But, I can guarantee that without this investment they'll find it substantially more challenging to achieve their musical potential in piano. Today's market couldn't be better for finding a good deal. So, if you've been thinking about buying a piano, look around. You might be surprised by the current market prices.
Below are photo examples of the different types of pianos. For more information on the benefits of piano lessons for children, read my earlier post, How Piano Lessons Benefit Young Children.
Grand Piano
Upright Piano
Spinet Piano
Digital Piano
Portable Electronic Keyboard
Best Wishes,
Cynthia Marie VanLandingham
