To Buy or Not To Buy (and What To Buy)
Every family finds its own way to the piano. Some parents have fond memories of lessons and recitals, others always wanted to play and hope to give their kids the chance to learn. Pianos get inherited from grandmothers, bought at yard sales, given away for free when they’re past their prime.
It is often like the chicken and the egg - which comes first? The determination to get someone to play the piano that’s been sitting quietly in the living room all these years or the spark of interest to play a favorite song in a home where there isn’t a piano at all?
In this, our very first blog post, Cody, our resident pianist and piano teacher, gives his thoughts on where to start whether you’re looking to purchase an electric keyboard to test the waters or ready to commit to an acoustic piano of your own. Please note that we get absolutely no compensation for any of the instruments mentioned below and this is Cody’s opinion, based on many years of helping beginners find a solution that works for their home.
Pianos - Acoustic & Electric
If you are considering an acoustic piano, my recommendation is to buy the newest one you can afford. Unlike violins, old pianos don’t get better with age. My favorite upright pianos are Yamaha, Kawai, and Boston (designed by Steinway).
That said, if you can get your hands on an older piano with no broken keys, which has been regularly tuned (at least once a year), you will also do well, and it can be a better solution than an electric piano.
Often, though, for beginning to intermediate players, an electric piano is a perfectly fine alternative. Electric pianos have the advantage of always staying in tune and tend to take up much less space.
In my opinion, the best electric piano for the money, available only at Amazon, is the Yamaha P71 ($400 without stand).
The P71 has a full size piano keyboard (88 keys), is touch sensitive (when you play the keys hard the volume gets louder), and weighted keys (which feel like a real piano). It has decent built in speakers so it is ready to play out of the box. You will also need to buy a keyboard stand, or consider the "Home Bundle" option, which comes with a nice wooden stand and bench for a more permanent and attractive look. It is a surprisingly good-sounding, playable keyboard for its inexpensive price point. Instruments of similar feel and sound run well over $1000.
Do keep in mind, though, that it is a minimalist instrument and just does one thing well - it emulates the feel and sound of a real piano.
If you are looking to make a smaller investment, but with literally more bells and whistles, the Yamaha YPT360 ($180) is the next best option. The drawback of this choice is that it has a synth-style keyboard, meaning the keys are not weighted (but it IS touch sensitive, which is a must for even a beginning piano student!). However, it will be a bit of a learning curve to get used to the feel of a real piano down the road, since the keys feel so much different. It is not a full size keyboard with just 61 keys, but that won’t matter much for beginning players. One of the advantages over the P71 is that it has hundreds of sounds and drum patterns, which are fun for kids to play around with and can help inspire interest. Again, you will also need to get a keyboard stand and bench.
Ultimately, there are many factors to consider - space, budget, level of commitment, to name a few. The most important thing is to foster a love of music and keep it alive. A great song and a place to play it is really all you need.
We are always happy to help or answer questions, whether you’re a student of ours, or just browsing our site. Contact us any time!
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