If I had £1 for every time in my 40 years of piano teaching that I’ve worked with a student who had an old piano that had been handed down, I’d be very rich!
You know the kind of pianos I mean; some of the keys work but some are stuck, and well-meaning parents think that’s fine for a beginner. The thing is, it’s not. Beginners need a decent piano to help them develop good technique right from the start.
Imagine learning to type on a typewriter where some of the keys are stuck or missing, and you get the idea. You won’t be able to type anywhere near as well as you could.
An example that always comes to mind is my students who have digital pianos. Even before they tell me, I can see that they’ve been practising on a digital keyboard for years. Why is this an issue? Well digital keyboard keys are always touch-sensitive or fully-weighted and this prevents them from developing the proper technique.
So beginner piano students, if you want to fulfil your potential, how do you choose a piano?
Why a decent piano is so important
As you learn to play the piano, you are going to spend a lot of time practising. Having a decent piano will make this a much more enjoyable experience. It will also help you develop good habits.
If you just want to play a few tunes or you don’t have any space at home for a piano, then a digital piano is better than no piano. My students from Durham University tend to have a digital piano in their student rooms for easy access to short practice sessions or for playing with headphones on at night. However, to ensure that they learn with the correct technique, most of their practice is carried out on a good piano in one of the practice rooms at the university.
What is a decent piano?
For beginners who are serious about learning the piano, I’d recommend that you get a full-sized piano. A full-sized piano has 88 keys, while some digital pianos have 61 or fewer. And yes, you do need all the keys!
While you can get digital pianos that replicate the sound and feel of a real piano to an extent, they tend to wear out faster than acoustic pianos. Also, when it comes to sound, comfort, and allowing you to master technique, nothing comes close to an acoustic piano. If an acoustic piano is looked after well and tuned as often as recommended, it can last a lifetime.
How much is a decent piano?
When you choose a piano, cost is a consideration. However, buyer beware; this is one of those situations where going cheap is a false economy. While it’s true that a good piano can cost thousands of pounds, buy a Yamaha U1 or U3 piano and it will last a lifetime, you will never need to upgrade. However if you opt for a cheap starter piano or one that’s being offered for free online, you’ll soon be forking out money for an upgrade. Think of a decent piano as an investment in yourself and in your commitment to music mastery!
If you would prefer to rent, Mark & Julie Goodwin at Mark Goodwin Pianos have Yamaha U1 pianos for rent at £99 per month. You can get 12 months refunded if you go on to buy the piano.
How to choose a decent piano
There are a couple of key things to check when buying a piano:
Check the sound– Is the sound round and full? Is the volume of the keys consistent? How about sound quality, is it the same across all keys? Given that it’s so important to invest in a decent instrument, it may be a good idea to get advice from a piano tuner or your music teacher on the sound.
Another thing to bear in mind is acoustics. Your piano may sound very different in your home than it did in the showroom. It might be worth asking if you can try out the piano at home so you can gauge the true sound and make sure you’re happy with your choice. There will be moving costs involved but like buying the right piano, it’s a worthwhile investment.
Check the keys-Do the keys have a smooth surface? Are there any visible signs of cracks or damage? Do the keys have enough resistance? Resistance is important as it helps you develop the sensitivity you need to vary the volume and speed of musical phrases.
Where to get a decent piano
Looking for a decent piano can feel a bit overwhelming and that’s why I thought I’d share my experience of buying a piano. I chose to buy my Yamaha piano from Mark and Julie Goodwin at Mark Goodwin Pianos, and it turns out that it was a great decision. Here’s why:
1. Their pianos are reconditioned back to brand new condition and are less than half the price of a new piano. The Yamaha piano I bought from them looked and felt new.
2. They typically have 30-50 professional quality Yamaha upright pianos in stock (take a look here.) They have showrooms in Manchester and London, so go along and try them out for yourself.
3. Even if you can’t go and try them in person, they have a 100-day swap promise for peace of mind. If you change your mind, you can just swap the piano!
4. Delivery to my ground-floor music room was free, and I even got a free adjustable piano stool thrown in.
5. Their personal approach to service is second to none. They made sure that I was completely happy with the quality, price, and service.
Choosing a piano-the golden rules
- Ask your piano teacher for advice.
- Check out reviews of pianos.
- Make sure you get a warranty, or at the very least a ‘change your mind’ guarantee.
Choosing a decent piano can feel confusing, but hopefully the tips in this blog will make finding your perfect instrument a lot easier. You can visit Mark Goodwin Pianos here.