Piano - how much would you pay for a relative beginner?

[oxocube]

Our daughter is 8 and has been taking piano lessons since September. At the moment we only have a dated keyboard with short keys and her piano teacher has told us we really must invest in a piano if she is to continue next year. She is very enthusiastic and practises every day but I'm not a pianist and am unsure how much we should spend on her first piano. In the music shop near us there are currently a couple of 2nd hand pianos - one for 900 Euro and another btwn 2 and 3 thousand. Piano teacher is recommending we spend around the 2k mark but sales lady said the cheaper one should be fine for a beginner. What do you think? Any pianists with advice?

Thanks!

[dewmeadow]

Im a piano teacher and I would say go for the cheaper one first. You never know if she is going to continue longterm or not, but if she does you can always trade in and upgrade.

[Freckle]

I'd agree with that (and you've got to admire the saleslady's honesty!). We have a fairly ancient piano (apparently well over 100 years old). It is fine for DS3 who is not yet at grading level. It will probably only take a few more tunings (according to the piano tuner) by which time we will know whether DS3 is going to continue long-term and invest in a better one.

[oxocube]

thanks! The sales lady was nice and also said that lots of parents were more concerned with the piano's colour and whether it would match with their decor than with the piano itself. Piano teacher is a perfectionist and I suppose would go for the best we could afford but girls of 8 are very apt to change their minds!

[dewmeadow]

exactly oxo!! Give her at least 1 year before you shell out big money

[tortoiseshell]

I would go for the better piano, because as long as they're treated ok, and it's not brand new, then they hold their value pretty well, so you shouldn't lose much if you resell it. And if she does continue then you don't have the hassle of replacing it. I never think of pianos in the same way as flutes etc (where you would start with a cheaper model and then upgrade) probably because they are so big to move, and you would have to pay a piano removals firm to swap them! Also, cheaper ones often won't stay in tune, so you pay out more on tuning (or have to listen to hideous out of tune piano playing - one of the benefits of the piano over just about any other instument is that you generally don't have to listen to out of tune playing!).

The best advice I can give for buying a piano is to try lots within your budget and buy the one you feel is right - usually there will be one that you get a feel for.

[dewmeadow]

Agree with getting the one you have a feel for, but I dont think theres that much difference between a piano at 1000 Euro and one at 2000.

Also, my piano dealer does all the removals and tunings - check it out with yours.

[cupcakes]

I need a new piano. I don't know if ds is going to continue with his lessons in the longterm but I really want to take it up and take lessons again so it will definitely be getting some use.

[oxocube]

The dealer organises the removal and tuning (at a price of course!). I am also going to take lessons - for the 1st time at 40!!- so this piano will definitely get some use

[dewmeadow]

well done girls! Its never to late to make music!!