A beginning piano student needs a good
instrument. Think of it this way: If you wanted your kid to play soccer, would
you send him or her out on the field in a pair of cheap flip-flops, or would
you make sure your they had a good pair of shoes? Shoes, of course! On the
other hand, does your child need professional-quality $100 soccer cleats? Maybe
not on the first day.
As a parent, you want to make sure your beginning
piano student has a positive experience while learning to play, but you’re
probably not ready to go out and buy a baby grand. That’s fine. To help you
decide what will be best for your family and your budget, let’s talk about the options.
Acoustic
Pianos
A quality acoustic instrument that produces
sound from real strings and real wood offers a level of responsiveness and a
range of dynamics and tone color than even the nicest electronic keyboard
cannot match. The sooner a student has the opportunity to practice on an
acoustic instrument with that kind of nuanced musical responsiveness, the
better. True, acoustic pianos are expensive. The typical price range for a
quality acoustic upright (also called “vertical”) piano is $4000 to $8000, and
if you want a grand or baby grand piano, expect to pay even more. There
are some great brands out there, including Yamaha,
Kawai, Boston, and Schimmel. If you already have a piano, be sure it is in tune
and that the keys are in good working order. Tuning a piano typically costs
between $150 and $200 and North Main Music would be happy to connect with you
with reputable tuning companies in the Nashua area.
Electronic
Keyboards
If you’re not ready to spend a few thousand
dollars on an instrument, your beginning student can get off to a great start
with an electronic keyboard or “digital piano”. Electronic keyboards come in
many sizes and prices. For a new piano student, the most important factors will
be the number of keys and whether or not the keys are weighted.
Learning on a keyboard with 88 weighted keys
gives a student a big advantage. The weighted keys build hand strength and
respond more like the keys of an acoustic piano, making it easier for an
advancing student to move on. One of our top picks for beginning students in
the electronic keyboard category is the Casio Privia PX-150
, which has great key action and the same size
keyboard, 88 keys, as an acoustic piano. These and other similar keyboards cost
between $500 and $700.
, which has great key action and the same size
keyboard, 88 keys, as an acoustic piano. These and other similar keyboards cost
between $500 and $700.
Whether you buy a keyboard with weighted keys or
not, it’s best to go with a trusted brand such as Casio, Yamaha, Kawai, or Roland. When buying an
electronic keyboard make sure to also purchase a bench and a stand. A keyboard set on a table
will probably not be at the correct height for a young student seated in a
chair. Ideally, the keyboard and bench should be set at the right height so
that the player’s arm from wrist to elbow is parallel to the floor.
There are certain advantages to having an
electronic keyboard over an acoustic piano, such as the ability to plug in
headphones so that a child can practice without disturbing other members of the
family. Electronic keyboards can also be connected to a computer with a midi
cable and used with all kinds of educational and music production software.
They’re more portable, and, unlike acoustic pianos, electronic keyboards never
need to be tuned.
If a beginning student has access to a quality
acoustic piano, they will have the opportunity to develop more nuanced
musicianship from the first. But students can also get a great start with at an
electronic keyboard and move on to an acoustic piano at a later time.
We hope these tips will be helpful to you in
your search for the right piano for your currents needs. As always, you’re
welcome to contact us if you have any other questions.
Adapted
from this
article on the Hoffman Academy website.
Photos from the North Main Music fall 2014 student concert courtesy of Robyn Neville.
