Piano for beginner
Discussion
My daughter is 10 and currently is learning to play the guitar. She seems to be gifted at it, according to the teachers and those that listen to her etc. She's been playing for a couple of years now and is very keen.
She now wants to learn to play the piano too (but not at the same time!) and I'd like some advice.
Thinking of buying a digital piano, with weighted keys, as I am told that a keyboard would be a bad way to start. She has her first lesson this week and clearly I'm not buying until I'm sure that she wants to carry on.
Any ideas on a relatively inexpensive digital piano or source of a decent s/h one please?
She now wants to learn to play the piano too (but not at the same time!) and I'd like some advice.
Thinking of buying a digital piano, with weighted keys, as I am told that a keyboard would be a bad way to start. She has her first lesson this week and clearly I'm not buying until I'm sure that she wants to carry on.
Any ideas on a relatively inexpensive digital piano or source of a decent s/h one please?
We had a similar quandry, so we bought an old crasher on the basis that if our daughters took to it and developed we could always upgrade it.
Best to buy locally rather than on ebay because quality is tricky to assess. Also don't underestimate the weight of some of these old uprights - they are not easy to move into a house
We ended up with an old music school piano - it weighs a ton, but sounds fantastic !
Best to buy locally rather than on ebay because quality is tricky to assess. Also don't underestimate the weight of some of these old uprights - they are not easy to move into a house
We ended up with an old music school piano - it weighs a ton, but sounds fantastic !
garyhun said:Agreed. Digitals sound great, and the features will likely keep a youngster more interested (scales using different instruments etc), wont need tuning, and will provide more for your money as well as give your own ears peace if you want her to use headphones, or turn the volume down.
As long as it has full size and properly weighted keys (ie a proper piano action) then that's all you need to worry about
Unless she had a stuffy old "acoustic only" mindset, she will surely enjoy the digital more. Just make sure it has weighted wooden keys.
Davel said:
Ta for that.
Electronic piano it is then....
If you're not sure what to get, I think Roland do monthly rentals.
Edited to apologise if that's advertising, I've not used them and can in no way vouch for the level of service, or quality of piano you will recieve....
>> Edited by dmitsi on Tuesday 31st January 15:28
dmitsi said:
I've had a brief go on a Yamaha P60.
"Want that one."
The P60 is great, it has the same GH as their more expensive pianos. Good value.
I have a P60 and can confirm it is a really nice bit of kit. The keyboard has the most piano like feel at the price point (and 'vs some more expensive ones).
Ben
you cannot beat the feal of a real piano. A colleague of mine has just let opne go for free, and paid half the delivery costs!!!
Apparently, if you look in the trade it, you can pick 'em up for pennies if you can collect.
If space is a premium, modern keyboards aren't bad, and you can adjust the sensitivity of the keys as well. Iamuse myself with a casio WK-3500. A BRILLIANT grand sound, shedloads of others, plus enough rythms to keep you going.
depends what you want....
Apparently, if you look in the trade it, you can pick 'em up for pennies if you can collect.
If space is a premium, modern keyboards aren't bad, and you can adjust the sensitivity of the keys as well. Iamuse myself with a casio WK-3500. A BRILLIANT grand sound, shedloads of others, plus enough rythms to keep you going.
depends what you want....
I bought this one (without the gay stand). It is fantastic for learning on (hammer action keyboard), and isn't as expensive as the equivalent yamaha or korg. The sounds are extremely good, and there isn't a load of crap on there that you don't use.
www.piedog.com/musical_instruments/piano/digital_pianos/casio-px_110dk.htm?tf_7624
www.piedog.com/musical_instruments/piano/digital_pianos/casio-px_110dk.htm?tf_7624
Davel said:
If you go down the 'real' piano route, how often do they have to be tuned and how much does each tune cost please?
At the moment, still fancy the electronic piano route - with headphones for the early stages!
I would say twice a year for average use, just before winter sets in, and just as spring starts. It's the best time to do it as the humidity is changing a lot and it can swell the wood of the piano.
Edited to add, paying about £30-40 is reasonable.
>> Edited by dmitsi on Wednesday 1st February 11:05
shadowninja said:
And make sure the tuner guy is blind. 
Just bought the Korg SP300 in the end.
Oh yeah, they have to be blind. If they turn up and they're not blind, the AAPT (accredited assoc. piano tuners) say you're within your legal right to take a pair of chopsticks and poke out their eyes.
celticpilgrim said:
you cannot beat the feal of a real piano.
Absolutely true. I started playing on an old crappy piano that my folks bought for £25. We eventaully got a beautiful upright one which made my playing sound much nicer (honest!!)
I now have a Yamaha Clavinova - not quite the same as a 'real' piano, but never needs tuning, takes up less space and being able to use headphones is a bonus. Much easier to move than an upright, and you don't have to encounter the scary piano tuners!! You can also attatch them to your PC, allowing you to compose all sorts of stuff.
>> Edited by MrsVodkaKid on Wednesday 1st February 12:09
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