buying a piano

[jax]

<p>My son will be starting piano lessons and the teacher would like him to have a &quot;proper&quot; piano at home as opposed to the keyboard we already have.&nbsp; Any suggestions/recommendations about buying an upright piano (space is an issue) would be greatly appreciated.&nbsp; Thanks.</p>

[SinA]

don't you know that we're all a bunch of philistine half-tards?&nbsp; ask something we can comprehend, like &quot;where can i find/buy ketchup?&quot;

[Marc with a c]

catsup sucks. buy some jelly

[mdr55]

Unless your son really really likes playing the piano, hold off on buying one. Since he's just starting out, most of the songs and notes he'll be learning, the keyboard is more than sufficient at this time in place of the piano (which will cost money, take up space, pay the piano person to tune it from time to time, etc.). Don't let the piano person talk you into buying a piano (if the teacher is any good, keyboard, piano wouldn't make a different....unless their a piano ELISTEST). Heck, I bet you can find some piano teachers that have there own office, residence or school where your son can be taught to play the piano and he can practice at home on the keyboard. Give it a year or 2 and if your son like playing, get a piano.<br />

[SatCam]

garage sale

[mdr55]

Oh yeah. I've took lessons for a couple of years. And the piano that I learned how to play on is taking up space and collecting dust. I RARELY even touch the keys on it anymore but once in a blue moon I'll start to play a song that I still remember but stop since I forgot the rest of it. But it makes a nice place to put picture frames on!<img src="http://www.ronfez.net/messageboard/tiny_mce/plugins/emotions/images/thumbup.gif" border="0" />

[jax]

<p>He'll be taking the lessons at the teachers house but she was firm that he have an actual piano at home to practice on.&nbsp; I visited a few web sites and, for the most part, this was consistent with the opinions of most of the&nbsp;teachers.&nbsp; He already picks out some little songs on the keyboard we have and my husband who plays guitar also play a bit of piano.&nbsp; So, in the spirit of if you&nbsp;build it they will come, I figured it would not be a wasted investment.&nbsp; His little brother my end up taking to it as well. There is a rent to buy option I could explore.&nbsp;</p>

<span class=post_edited>This message was edited by jax on 1-31-07 @ 7:39 PM</span>

[mdr55]

Get one then. Since it looks like more than 1 person will be using it. I'm not familiar with brands of pianos (the one I got is a Sohmer's) so you 'd be better off asking the piano teacher what's a good one or what they would recommend. Good luck! <br />

[SinA]

<p>i've&nbsp;just started&nbsp;taking golf lessons, and my instructor suggested that i have a 36-hole tigerproof course built in my yard.&nbsp; i'm sure there are more practical and affordable solutions, but i feel like i'm going to stick with the game for a while, so i'm going all in.</p><p>do what makes you and your kid happy, if you want a piano, get a piano.&nbsp; with all this interneting you mention, it sounds like you've got it all figured out.&nbsp; </p>

[Chigworthy]

Where can I find ketchup?&nbsp; I'm really sick of buying it all the time.&nbsp;

[cupcakelove]

<strong>SinA</strong> wrote:<br />don't you know that we're all a bunch of philistine half-tards? ask something we can comprehend, like &quot;where can i find/buy ketchup?&quot;<p>&nbsp;<img src="http://www.ronfez.net/messageboard/tiny_mce/plugins/emotions/images/thumbup.gif" border="0" /></p><p>This made me laugh out loud.&nbsp;</p>

[MellySmelly]

<strong>jax</strong> wrote:<br /><p>My son will be starting piano lessons and the teacher would like him to have a &quot;proper&quot; piano at home as opposed to the keyboard we already have.&nbsp; Any suggestions/recommendations about buying an upright piano (space is an issue) would be greatly appreciated.&nbsp; Thanks.</p><p>I've played piano for about 31 years and I taught for years and years.&nbsp; The majority of my students started out on a keyboard.&nbsp; As long as the keys are fullsize, there usually isn't any problem for the first couple of years of piano.&nbsp; A 61 or 88 key, with weighted keys and possibly a pedal would be the best.&nbsp; I would always prefer an acoustic piano, but it isn't practical for parents to lay out that kind of money and the issues with the space and moving it around.&nbsp; And you have the added bonus of volume control with a keyboard.&nbsp; When your sons sticks with it a couple of years, then get him a digital or acoustic piano.&nbsp; Yamaha has a great line for all budgets and in my opinion they are the best for the money.</p>

[DonInNC]

I took piano lessons for three years without&nbsp;either a piano or a keyboard at home. I was awful.&nbsp;

[Skellington]

i learned on a keyboard for a few years before my parents invested in a real piano for me.&nbsp; The issue that teachers have with a keyboard vs piano to practice on is the amount of keys, weightlessness of keys in a keyboard vs fulled weighted piano keys, and touch sensitivity.&nbsp; I now own a 88 key fully weighted touch sensitive keyboard with sustain and soft pedals.&nbsp; It cost me $2500.&nbsp; You can buy a spinet piano (smaller than a upright, terrible sound) used for about $500 - $1000, depending where you look.&nbsp; Uprights, esp. studio uprights, get pricer because of the sound and length of strings.&nbsp; A high end keyboard with all the above might be more worth the money because they never need to be tuned (piano's need turning at least every 6 months, that's about $150 every 6 months), and the keyboard is fully portable (79lbs portable opposed to needing movers that are specialized portable).&nbsp; I have a Yamaha Motif ES-8 which has terrific sound, but it also has a bunch of other bells and whistles built in (sampler, drum machine, syn stuff).&nbsp;&nbsp; Most piano places and i think Guitar center have 88 key fully weight touch sensitive keyboards that don't come with all the crap mine did for about $800 or less i think.&nbsp; that might be a better option for you and your son.&nbsp; regardless, don't let a piano teacher force you into buying.&nbsp; Kids change their mind and a piano is a few thousand dollar investment to be taking a loss on if your kid does loose interest.&nbsp; I was competition level for many years, but played for 4years on a 76 key keyboard with no pedals&nbsp;before i got a 'real' piano.&nbsp; keyboards are fine.