to think that my dc deserves it

[receiverofopiniongiver]

My youngest is learning the piano, and appears to be a natural at it, and loves to do his practice.

He will remind me if he's not done his practice on a certain day, he spends 30 minutes practicing, and has just got a distinction in his first exam.

He begged to learn to do the piano from the age of 3, everyone said he was too young. So he's waited, and started at 6.

Now here's the AIBU part, he is doing all this practice, on a keyboard, that my parents bought me as a novelty item for my 14th birthday (20 many years ago). I grew up with a grand piano to play on, so this really was a mess around item.

Because this keyboard has full size keys, and touch responsive, my dh says our son doesn't need a piano. I've explained he does need a piano not least because the keyboard has money inside it which causes the keys sometimes not to work. He will need pedals in the not too distant future. DH is adament that he doesn't need pedals as he can't reach them.

I've tried to explain that there is such a difference between playing a piano and playing a keyboard in the whole feeling of it. I've even said digital pianos are 100xs better than this keyboard he's using.

He says it's a waste, and the keyboard is perfectly good for our son.

He's a hoarder, so will not get rid of anything whilst it works, and in his words, there wouldn't be room for both the keyboard and piano up at the same time, therefore the keyboard would go to waste.

AIBU to think a keyboard is not good enough? Or am I being a piano snob as my h is making me feel?

How long has he been playing (or did I miss that)...

Get your son a piano, it is good to encourage his talents in life.

Throw out the broken kettles, no need to mention it to him, he may never even notice.

The thing I have picked up on is that he is your youngest DC.

What of your other children? Are they going to get a hugely expensive item bought for them each too? You can't buy something so expensive for one child and not the others. You also can't really make such a big purchase wihtout your DH's agreement.

He's still very young and he's only taken Grade 1 by the sound of it. The fact that he has managed to get a distinction on a keyboard says it all. If he can't even reach the pedals on a piano then what's the point in getting one now? Why not get him a much better keyboard and / or find some ay for him to practice on a piano .. an extra lesson, etc.

He's still very young, perhaps he'll be the next Mozart or perhaps he'll give up next year, you just don;t know. One of my friends at school never had a full size piano, she had a big keyboard. If she wanted to practice on a real piano she had to wait until her lesson. She got to grade 8 with distinction.

"Pianos - lots CAN go wrong, and they do need a lot of maintenance! "

Excuse me? I have always lived in houses with pianos, I got one for my birthday after we moved in in our house. It is one of the easiest thing to keep and maintain! What exactly can go wrong with a piano?? You just keep it tuned once every two years, and usually that's all it needs. Unless your DC spend the day jumping on the keys, i can't see why you consider a piano such a delicate thing.

A1980 - what about the other children? Why should they get hugely expensive presents just because one requires a piano?

I never understood this "I spent X on DC1 so now I have to spend X on DC2" - my children know they are adored equally regardless of how much or how lite money is spent on them.

My older son wants to learn trombone which, if after a year of practicing on a borrowed/rented one he is any good at, we will buy for him. My younger son isn't going to get hundreds spent on him at that time just because. He'll get instruments if/when he shows an interest, or support with other hobbies if he's not musical (unlikely).

When I was growing up if we wanted to learn an instrument and we showed some ability and willingness to practise, we were bought our own. I didn't throw a tantrum when my brother was given a large (expensive) instrument and he didn't blink an eye when I was given a cello some years later.

I'm in slight disagreement with some of the thread. I think a good quality 8 octave keyboard which is height adjustable and comes with pedals which can be reached by a six of seven year old is entirely acceptable to learn on up to about grade 3 or 4. Super quality examples can be hired reasonably from good quality music shops. I would reach a compromise and rent one of these for 12 months; if at the end of 12 months your child is still very keen and practicing regularly you can then consider a piano. OTH if he has lost interest nothing has been lost.

Pianos are beautiful, too, at least I think so. They add a certain something to a room... :)

To answer questions -

if you leave loose change on the keyboard it eats the money - if you shake it the money falls out, however not always

re other children - they learn different instruments - trumpet, guitar, violin. They had those bought for them too.

Very interesting point made by my eldest yesterday whilst in the piano shop - 'if we had a proper piano in the house, I would take up lessons to learn it'.

You'll be pleased to know after spending hours in the shops yesterday playing both acoustic and digital my dh said that if he was buying one for him to play on (he doesn't play piano or keyboard he's a guitarist) he'd be perfectly happy with a digital, but he can see why I would want to get an acoustic.

Hoarding business we have come to agreement over the years of marriage, if he wants to hoard, it's in the garage not the house. I can't get into the garage (as in move inside it) but he knows exactly where every little thing is in that garage. So I leave him to it.

Oh sorry missed the question - he's been playing on this keyboard with my input since 3, had lessons since September.

Pianos do not have to be all that expensive these days - 1930's uprights go for pennies on eBay and often just need a good service and retune.

My piano teacher always used to say someone taught to play piano would always be able to play the keyboard, but keyboard players could not necessarily play piano as the skills were not always transferable that way.

If your DH plays guitar explain to him that letting your son continue on the keyboard would be like telling him that a banjo was a perfectly acceptable equivalent to his guitar.