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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to want a piano?

99 replies

ShouldIStaySelfIsolated · 19/08/2021 13:36

I'd love a piano. I've looked on ebay, marketplace etc and they are a lot cheaper than I thought it would be. We don't currently have the space but are looking at buying a new house after Christmas (not completely piano related).
I have lovely ideas about Christmas songs round the piano, my children being very cultured, learning Mozart, and having time to myself to play...

So, does anyone already have a piano and can confirm that my piano related dreams will become a reality, or will it just be another thing to dust/hoover around?

OP posts:
campion · 19/08/2021 14:57

Definitely get a digital. Takes up less room, earphones are an option, volume control and they have multiple settings to keep you all amused!

I do miss our heavy edwardian upright because it had a nice tone but they don't really suit most people's lifestyles now.
DH is a professional musician and a convert to digital.

Grumpyoldpersonwithcats · 19/08/2021 15:01

Both of our DS's are tolerably musical. Learning piano for both of them has opened doors (and defined DS1's career plans). They have also both transfered piano skills to the organ and both have had regular (salaried) church organist jobs from 14 years old. There is always music going on in our house & I love it.

So piano as a first instrument is brilliant for your kids. But I'd still start with a decent, full sized (e.g. Yamaha with weighted keys) keyboard or electric piano first. They are much easier to manage (put away, sell) if the interest doesn't continue. We got DS1 a real piano when he was grade 4ish and upgraded to a better one when he was doing grade 8.

If you do buy a piano, make sure it's tuned to concert pitch. If not you won't be able to use it to accompany any singing or other instruments your kids may take up

MatildaTheCat · 19/08/2021 18:31

@billy1966 I bet you your boys will come back to it at some point. I left such an enormous gap that I had to literally learn how to read music again but although I started as a beginner 2nd time round I progressed quickly and am now much more in love with it that before.

Strangely the only thing I could do was scales, muscle memory is a weird thing.

Manzanilla55 · 19/08/2021 18:55

Digital pianos do not have the same touch so not good if you are looking to advance in playing.

tywysoges · 19/08/2021 19:17

YANBU. DD started having piano lessons in October last year (using a keyboard) and by December I had already acquired a piano Grin - I asked if anyone was selling one on my local FB group and was given a (according to DD’s teacher) pretty decent one, only had to pay to get it moved and will have it tuned soon. DD has decided she doesn’t want to do the grade exams atm but she’s quite musical (went from not knowing how to read music to being ready for grade 1 exam in 8 months) and so are many of her friends, so they’re always playing when they come over. It’s really lovely. Even if DD changes her mind and decides she doesn’t want to play anymore, I already think it’s been worth it and it looks lovely in my lounge.

sleepyhoglet · 19/08/2021 19:20

We swapped our decent quality digital piano for a decent 1970s piano. It needs tuning now but it looks and sounds much nicer. I wouldn't have it if DH wasn't a pianist.

AbsolutelyPatsy · 19/08/2021 19:38

i think we got a very cheap one and the people selling it to us charged us and helped us move it to our house, they were that desperate Grin
the piano tuner was not very impressed with its condition but dd who had lessons through school enjoyed it

SoundBar · 19/08/2021 19:41

They are very cheap because they are knackered OP.

Find a used piano dealer who repairs and recondition. They will sell you something usable for maybe 200-500 including delivery. Moving a piano can be 100-150 regardless of distance so a dealer is a bargain when you think about it.

ChocolateCakeYum · 19/08/2021 19:42

We have a piano you can pick up really lovely ones at Heart Foundation furniture shops. I paid £50 for mine. Got it tuned and it was as good as new. Ds loves bashing out his ‘tunes’ on it and is starting formal lessons soon.

Chicchicchicchiclana · 19/08/2021 19:44

It depends on your commitment to piano playing, the space in your house and your proximity to neighbours. It takes a very long time to learn to play to a decent level.

They are loud, difficult to move and take up a lot of space. That's why most amateur piano players choose something digital and why many pianos are actually off-loaded for free second hand.

Tohaveandtohold · 19/08/2021 19:50

I bought a cheap keyboard during lock down just to see if I’ll be committed to it. I’ve never learned how to play any instrument as my parents couldn’t afford lessons.
I subscribed a piano learning app, it was less than £90 for a year. I renewed the subscription recently.
One year later and I can say except when I’m away from home, I’ve played at least 30 minutes a day. I’ve learnt so much and I love it. I can read simple sheet music and I’m enjoying every moment of it.

Now I’m saving up for a digital piano, one that has midi connection and then maybe get lessons from a teacher in future. I’ll say go for it

therearenogoodusernamesleft · 19/08/2021 19:55

@billy1966

I am into year 16 of piano lessons for 4 children.

The boys played beautifully but gave up at grade 6.
The girls are starting grade 7 and 8 at the moment and don't really play for pleasure either🙄.

It is the most wonderful skill and I console myself with the hope that they may develop a love of it when I am long gone.

The key thing is would I go through it all again?
The expense, effort, endless nagging and encouraging.....I don't think so.

I have had moments of pure joy listening to them play some wonderful pieces beautifully.
But the truth is, despite them being well able to and having great ability they are just not bothered.

I am not alone in the experience.
Friends with kids that were wonderful on the flute and chello, also ditched it the first chance the got.
Grade 6 tends to be that point for a lot of kids.
It has been a long, tedious road to here.

Strongly recommend you rent a good keyboard and see how it goes.

Flowers

I was forced to learn piano until grade 5. Hated every second of it, have never been near it since.
Immaculatemisconception · 19/08/2021 20:01

Follow your dreams @ShouldIStaySelfIsolated, life is too short not to.

TimeForTeaAndG · 19/08/2021 20:06

@Manzanilla55

Digital pianos do not have the same touch so not good if you are looking to advance in playing.
Not at the lower end of the ranges but there are some extremely good electrics.

For a beginner though so long as it has some touch sensitivity she can learn on it.

I've got a reasonable digital piano that I'm learning on. If I ever progress (and get a bigger house) I might look at a proper acoustic but I don't really care about the intricacies of that yet.

nokidshere · 19/08/2021 20:10

I want a piano. I don't play but I love the look of them, the feel, the sound. Even if I never do anything other than 'tinkle' I'd still go for one. Enjoy

deplorabelle · 19/08/2021 20:17

Pianos are a bit like second hand cars. A bad one can be a complete nightmare and cost you money to get rid of.

We have a piano which DH and one DS can play. It's lovely but if you don't know about pianos, an electric is a safer option.

pickingdaisies · 19/08/2021 20:21

Digital - easier to transport, you can connect them to a PC and use for recording, composing etc. They might not be as responsive as a very good acoustic, but mine, which is ancient, is touch sensitive, and the level of sensitivity is adjustable. Good enough for most people to learn on and enjoy.

billy1966 · 19/08/2021 20:35

[quote MatildaTheCat]@billy1966 I bet you your boys will come back to it at some point. I left such an enormous gap that I had to literally learn how to read music again but although I started as a beginner 2nd time round I progressed quickly and am now much more in love with it that before.

Strangely the only thing I could do was scales, muscle memory is a weird thing.[/quote]
I hope so.
He's also a super tennis singles player but doesn't do that either.

Every opportunity, 15 years of lessons.
He wants to travel, and tennis does travel.

I believe tennis and piano lessons are gifts for life, very light on luggage.

A sport that you can play well into your 70's and an instrument that soothes the soul until you die.

I watched a dementia patient sit down and absolutely kill Chopin's Moonlight Sonata, whilst not recognising her children.
So moving.

Happyoldbat · 19/08/2021 21:07

I got a piano free off gumtree and paid a piano tuner to have a look at it in situ before I went to the expense of moving it. It hadn’t been tuned for 14 years. I started learning piano as an adult on an electric piano, but I found the weight of the keys was not the same as a real piano ( especially not the grand piano I had to play in exams), so I wanted to switch to a real piano to strengthen my fingers and improve my playing generally. I think you should go for it. Once you get reasonably proficient at sight reading, you can entertain yourself for hours.

NoIDontWatchLoveIsland · 19/08/2021 21:16

I'm just in the process of shopping for one atm. I have played since I was a child, managed with a fairly basic electronic once since I was 25 but now want a proper piano for DS to start lessons.

I dont think I would buy one unless someone in the house already played to a decent level though. Get an electric one first and see how you get on, before committing.

Hankunamatata · 19/08/2021 21:19

We went electric with weighted key things (you can tell I know absolutely nothing) bonus is dc can use headphones or turn music down, super light and easy to move

Original poster
ShouldIStaySelfIsolated · 19/08/2021 21:39

Thanks for all the replies. I wasn't expecting so many.

They have given me a lot of food for thought, especially about maybe trying with an electronic one first.

I don't play, but did music GCSE so could read music but would likely need a bit of a refresher. I had keyboard lessons as a child for a year so know the absolute basics and a couple of songs that I play for my children on their tiny toy keyboard.

@Immaculatemisconception that's kid of what I was thinking. Would I regret it if I didn't get one and at least try?

I see a piano tuner parked outside a storage unit near me every weekend and it always gets me thinking

OP posts:
CanICelebrate · 19/08/2021 21:45

I can’t imagine a house without a piano! Ours doesn’t get played as much as it used to but I love that it’s there if one if I’d wants to play (I’m terrible but my dc are quite good!)

DoctorSnortles · 19/08/2021 22:09

I love my piano. I am completely shit at playing it, but get such enjoyment from bashing away on it. It's a digital piano, a Clavinova, and feels and sounds like a proper piano. Go for it, OP. But don't get a knackered old piano. Mine probably cost less than it would cost to move a traditional piano and it never needs tuning. Plus, I can put headphones on if necessary. DH is often to be found quietly and calmly watching cricket on the TV, while I give it the full Elton in the corner with my headphones on.

MrsTerryPratchett · 19/08/2021 22:11

We got one. DD plays and has kept up lessons.

Ours was free from an old people's home (they get left a lot) but eye-wateringly expensive to move.