briansmama Posted March 7, 2013 Share Posted March 7, 2013 I'd love to hear from piano families- our hand-me-down digital piano isn't working for us- the middle black keys aren't working so my poor dc can't play a whole song. And, we just started with a new instructor who is fantastic with my dc, and really reasonable too. So...Dh and I are looking to buy either a used piano or a new digital piano from costco. Our dc are beginners at this point, but I can see my oldest advancing quite quickly (he's 9). We plan to keep them in lessons for at least a year or two, possibly longer, as we both value music instruction for them. We are looking to spend between $500-800. Thoughts? We could go up if there is a compelling reason to, but we weren't planning to spend thousands this year on a piano, but the current set up has bit the dust. Thanks for any guidance! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arcadia Posted March 7, 2013 Share Posted March 7, 2013 If you are looking for a used piano, see if your instructor has any discount with the piano stores. When we went shopping for a used piano, the stores asked us if we were recommended by any teacher and they do give discounts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Tick Posted March 7, 2013 Share Posted March 7, 2013 Our local piano shop rents pianos (35ish a month) and all of the first year's rent can be used toward purchase (along with half the 2nd and 3rd years'). I was happy to be able to try lessons before buying. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
songsparrow Posted March 7, 2013 Share Posted March 7, 2013 We got a piano for free; a family was giving it away just for the cost of moving it. I paid to have a piano tuner come and take a look at it to see if it was worthwhile, and then I hired movers to move it. It probably cost a couple hundred dollars in total. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
briansmama Posted March 8, 2013 Author Share Posted March 8, 2013 Thanks you all! Songsparrow, that's a good option, and may be better than settling for a digital piano. How did you know the piano didn't need work? That's what I'm concerned about. The rent-a-piano seems like another great option, especially if it includes delivery. Would you recommend a rent-a-piano option over buying a digital? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knittingmama Posted March 8, 2013 Share Posted March 8, 2013 You might look at Craig's list too, and then get a piano tuner (recommended by your piano teacher) to come by and take a look at it before you buy it. Sure, you might be out a few dollars if it turns out to not be good, but it will save you a bunch of money on junk. I bought one several years ago from $150 that way, and it was a decent piano, and I know someone selling a fantastic piano right now for $600, so they are out there. Definitely be sure, though, that your tuner comes highly recommended. I have a student who bought a piano *from* a tuner, and it turned out to be junk. Just like in any other profession, there are fabulous tuners and there are some not-so-fabulous tuners. This is timely as I just had our tuner come by and service our piano today (I'm a piano teacher). I was talking to him about regular vs. digital pianos (I really am not fond of digitals for kids who are serious about piano anyway), and he told me about this fantastic piano student at a local university who could not make it past a certain level around the middle of her junior year. She ended up having to change majors. Come to find out, she had only ever practiced on a digital piano, so she had not developed the strength or technique necessary for advanced playing. I will spare you the technicalities of why that makes a difference, even with weighted, touch-sensitive keys, but it is a real concern. I think that digital pianos do serve a purpose, and I think they are okay to get kiddos started right at the very beginning, and they are wonderful if you are going to be playing at venues that wouldn't otherwise have a piano, but if you think at all that the kiddo might someday be truly serious about advancing, I would highly, highly recommend getting a regular piano. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
songsparrow Posted March 8, 2013 Share Posted March 8, 2013 Thanks you all! Songsparrow, that's a good option, and may be better than settling for a digital piano. How did you know the piano didn't need work? That's what I'm concerned about. I didn't have the expertise to evaluate the piano myself (I just knew that at that time I hoped for my daughters to take lessons when they were older, and I still hope to take lessons myself one day). That's why I hired the piano tuner. He came and looked it over and advised me on whether or not it was worthwhile for me to pay to have it moved to my house. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
briansmama Posted March 8, 2013 Author Share Posted March 8, 2013 Thank you Songsparrow for explaining your process. That helps a lot, especially since I just read Knitting Mama's advice. Knitting Mama, I really appreciate the feedback, and lucky me you were just talking about this today! Knitting Mama, Dh suggested earlier today (after I mentioned just replacing the digital with another digital) that if the kids are serious about playing we could always upgrade at that point. How long would that be for a fast learner? My oldest is a fast learner. Would we get 2 years out of the experience? He's 9. We just don't know yet if he will continue playing. We have explained that he will practice and take lessons for a year or 2 though. Dh thinks he will likely move on to a different instrument. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arcadia Posted March 8, 2013 Share Posted March 8, 2013 How long would that be for a fast learner? My oldest is a fast learner. Would we get 2 years out of the experience? He's 9. We just don't know yet if he will continue playing. We have explained that he will practice and take lessons for a year or 2 though. Dh thinks he will likely move on to a different instrument. Regardless how fast a learner your oldest is, there is always room for improvement. Besides if he move on to a different instrument, he can still play the piano for leisure. Your younger children can play too. Remember to budget for piano tuning once a year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knittingmama Posted March 8, 2013 Share Posted March 8, 2013 I would certainly try to have a better instrument by the time he is 12 or so, but it's just so hard to say. He could just completely astonish you in the next year or so. (I have seen it happen.) I guess my thinking is that I have seen really good used pianos for well under what you are thinking for a digital. So if space isn't an issue, you might think of going ahead and getting a regular piano. They are also so nice to have, because they become a beautiful piece of furniture for your house, something you can't really say for most digitals. I know that's silly, but it's true! And even if your kids don't continue with lessons, they might like to pick out songs here and there. (As an aside, my sister quit lessons at 9 years old, but she continued playing around on the piano and still plays it every time she is at my parents' house as an adult.) But you could easily get a couple of years out of another digital piano, and at that point you would have a better idea of what you would like to ultimately do with the piano situation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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