| The most important factor to decide is whether | | | | instrument the sound is confined to a small |
| you want an electronic keyboard or a real | | | | speaker, even on an expensive model. No matter |
| acoustic piano. | | | | how loud you set it, the electronic model cannot |
| Here are several things to keep in mind as you | | | | match the acoustic model. The reason for this is |
| make this first decision: | | | | that the acoustic piano has a deep, rich sound, |
| 1. Before you buy a great big acoustic piano, think | | | | which is vibrating your floor and all the walls, |
| about why you are buying it: if you are buying it | | | | resounding and reverberating in the room. It's just |
| for a child, and they have never played piano | | | | a better musical and aural experience. |
| before, you might consider buying an inexpensive | | | | With that in mind, how do you go about |
| electronic keyboard first to determine the level of | | | | purchasing a reasonably priced used piano? Here |
| interest the child has. If your child demonstrates | | | | are a few factors to keep in mind: |
| interest, then consider upgrading to a real piano. | | | | 1. If you want to know about expensive pianos, |
| Why? Pianos are big and expensive, and once you | | | | that's outside of this discussion. Just so you know, |
| buy it, it will cost $200-300 to move it, every | | | | for comparison purposes, a well-preserved model |
| time. And if you want to sell, it is not quite so | | | | of the Steinway brand (the "Mercedes" of pianos) |
| easy. And if you CANNOT sell it, they are hard | | | | will fetch at least $15,000 to $25,000, and well |
| and expensive to dispose of (unless you have | | | | into the $75,000 area and up if that's what you |
| bought a very top of the line model such as | | | | want. But we're not here for that. |
| Steinway.) | | | | 2. The type of piano you get depends largely on |
| 2. Do you have room for an acoustic piano? An | | | | where you get it. Let's divide it into STORES and |
| average piano requires at least five feet in width, | | | | INDIVIDUALS. Stores such as piano clearing |
| plus room to get around it. And if it's a grand, it | | | | houses or outlet dealers, or wholesale houses, are |
| can be 5 to 6 feet long. The average acoustic | | | | in general offering pianos of recent vintage and of |
| piano weighs at least 500 pounds. | | | | Chinese, Japanese or Korean manufacturers. The |
| 3. Are you planning on moving? As mentioned | | | | piano manufacturing business has been taken |
| above, piano moving is not cheap unless you have | | | | over, in the low price range, by the Oriental |
| some strong friends and a truck. Count on | | | | companies. They are able to turn out a creditable |
| $200-300 for a simple move. Then add more to | | | | instrument in the $2500 retail price range. You can |
| the cost if you have steps. Piano movers have | | | | pay much more, but as of 2008, the low end for |
| been known to charge as much as $100 per step | | | | a new Chinese upright piano is $2500. |
| if it is a difficult move. You can shop around for | | | | 3. Be careful with wholesale piano outlets: the |
| movers and save a bit, but choose a reputable | | | | nasty truth in the piano business is that these |
| company that has experience moving the | | | | places often, not always, but often buy what is |
| specialty of pianos. The point is that if you have | | | | known as "factory returns." These pianos are |
| an acoustic piano, do not plan on moving it around | | | | pianos with problem, usually a funny clicking here |
| easily or inexpensively. | | | | or there, not able to be tuned properly, etc., but |
| ELECTRONIC MUSICAL KEYBOARDS | | | | not such bad problems that they cannot be sold |
| Let's assume you have decided to buy an | | | | to the unwary buyer. They may have a variety |
| electronic keyboard for reasons of cost, | | | | of subtle problems that may never bother you. |
| convenience or portability. Here are points to | | | | To be honest, I have such a piano, a Chinese |
| consider before you buy: | | | | upright I bought a while back for a teaching |
| 1. You must know why you are buying the | | | | studio, and it works just fine after constant |
| instrument, once again. For example, if you are | | | | practicing punishment! But for how long? That's |
| buying a small electronic keyboard for a small child | | | | the question. But for most people's kids who play |
| who has never played, my advice is to get the | | | | only a little, you'll never have a problem. |
| simplest, least expensive keyboard. The reason is | | | | 4. Regardless of where you buy it, it pays to |
| that you do not know what your child's interest | | | | have an independent professional take a look at it. |
| will be until the child actually tries the keyboard. | | | | I have looked at pianos for prospective buyers, |
| The may love the keyboard or they may not. | | | | and there is a wide range of both junk and jewels |
| Your safest bet is to purchase an inexpensive | | | | out there. The opinion of at least a decent pianist |
| model until your child shows interest. Then you | | | | can be invaluable. |
| can upgrade inexpensively rather than paying a lot | | | | 5. What you are looking for, regardless of price, is |
| initially for an electronic musical keyboard. | | | | condition. Do all the notes play? Is it in tune? Does |
| 2. Do not let a sales person sell you a fancy | | | | it look neglected? Is it obviously damaged? Is it |
| model with a lot of features. There are dozens of | | | | new, used or almost dead? You'd be surprised |
| models made by companies like Casio that cost | | | | what people might think you'd want to buy, |
| perhaps $99 and will do everything you need to | | | | especially from a private home. On the other |
| do and more. I've seen and taught people who | | | | hand, I once consulted for a family that had |
| were sold horribly complex keyboard setups for | | | | bought a house, and it came with a Steinway. |
| $7500, and they would have derived exactly the | | | | They hired me to play it and see what it was |
| same education and enjoyment from the $99 | | | | worth. It was a breathtaking PERFECT Steinway |
| model. The truth is, and I've owned recording | | | | 7 foot (the professional size) that was easily |
| studios so I have some idea of it, that there are | | | | worth $60,000 to perhaps $80,000. Perfect. How |
| no features on an expensive electronic keyboard | | | | much did the sellers want? $10,000. I said buy it, |
| of which a beginner can make fruitful use. Get the | | | | and they did. Moral: you never know what you're |
| simple model first. | | | | going to find. |
| 3. What are the requirements of a keyboard? | | | | 6. If it's junk, stay away at any price. Do not |
| Good question. A basic electronic keyboard for | | | | ever be swayed by piano salespeople. They are |
| piano lesson or recreational use should have | | | | very good at convincing you that this piano is |
| around 48 keys (a few more or less) counting | | | | sensational. The truth is that a piano contains |
| both the black and white keys. This is what most | | | | thousands of parts and they will baffle you with |
| basic electronic music keyboards (Casio) have. | | | | things you know nothing about until you're |
| The keys should be ¾ of an inch wide: that | | | | convinced that the $18,000 for a 4-foot Kawai |
| is the standard width of keys on all full size piano | | | | grand is just what your daughter needs to get |
| keyboards. You may run across a "mini" keyboard | | | | started. The only lasting test is a pianist playing it |
| which has smaller width keys, but I would | | | | and saying, "It's good." We're the only ones who |
| recommend against those types of models: even | | | | would know. |
| the smallest child can handle a full size keyboard in | | | | In short, if buying from a store outlet, expect a |
| their own way, and it is better they learn on the | | | | Chinese model in the low price range. And it |
| same setup they will later play upon. | | | | doesn't matter what the name printed on the |
| 4. If it comes with a sustain foot pedal, get that | | | | piano is. I've seen hundreds of pianos with names |
| model. It should be moderately expensive, say an | | | | like (not quoting) HugoVan Altenbrunner, or some |
| extra $25 or so, but it is worth if you have the | | | | such exalted name, but it is made in Shanghai, my |
| choice. If no choice is offered, you'll do fine with | | | | friend. The low end is all Oriental pianos, some |
| the model without the sustain pedal. The pedal | | | | very good, some not so good. |
| adds a certain depth to the sound, an added | | | | If buying from an individual, then anything is |
| enhancement to the rather flat sound of an | | | | possible. A good place to look is locally. Families |
| electronic piano. | | | | grow up and out of the piano market. April and |
| ACOUSTIC PIANOS | | | | May are good months to buy because most |
| If possible, your child's experience will be far richer | | | | corporate relocations are at that time and leave |
| with a real, acoustic piano, assuming it is a fairly | | | | people with expensive pianos they don't want, |
| good model in reasonable shape. Pianos should last | | | | can't sell, and will take any reasonable price for. |
| 50 years if not abused. But you will run across | | | | Look in the local newspaper, talk with other |
| many, many beat up old pianos, because they are | | | | families, these are a couple of approaches. I will |
| hard and expensive to get rid of. | | | | tell you this: never ever buy a piano sight-unseen. |
| The reason an acoustic piano is better is simple: | | | | I've seen them advertised online in what appear |
| the answer lies in both the physical and | | | | to be great bargains. |
| pyschoacoustic experience of playing a piano | | | | But the truth is that pianos are like people and |
| versus playing an electronic instrument. The | | | | used cars, very unique, each with a different |
| primary difference is that on an electronic | | | | history. Let a pianist take a peek under the hood. |