Aibu to want my child to learn in a piano

[Skipperc]

Hello,

My child has piano lessons. They are expensive.
We have a digital piano at home which she plays and practices on.
She has told me she has been having her lessons on a keyboard and can't tell me why a piano is not available but knows there is one in another room in the music school.
I don't normally have direct contact with the teacher, I just get notes home about what she needs to practice and how she is doing.
Is this OK. Will she progress as well on keyboard. Is it because she is a beginner perhaps?
I feel like if I'm paying for piano lessons and have bought a piano for home despite the cost (I could have bought a keyboard much cheaper but was under the impression this wouldn't do) then I

want her to actually have her lesson on a piano. Aibu.

Well with the caveat that you need to check out exactly what she means - what kind of keyboard? Weighted keys? - I wouldn't like this at all - especially if you're paying the going rate for piano lessons. Presumably she can tell the difference between a digital piano and a keyboard. You do need to check though.

Just ask the teacher?

Can you email or phone the teacher and find out what she is learning on? Sometimes kids don't describe things correctly. It may be an electric piano rather than a keyboard.

If she is a beginners she can make good progress on a keyboard for a while, especially if it's one with weighted keys. There will come a point that a proper piano - digital or otherwise - will be necessary.

She is very good at telling me the truth and describing exactly whats happening. She says its a keyboard and does not have weighted keys. She saud its exactly like the keyboard we have at home (one she messes about on that we got from ebay years ago). She says the keys are not like on our piano at home because ours are weighted as its a full digital piano.

Ours is an electric/digital piano at home. She says this us definitely a keyboard without weighted keys.

For her to learn in the piano, you’d need a baby grand at the very least.

@Piglet89

Contact the teacher. Sounds like she's getting keyboard lessons which are offered as an option in DDs school as well as piano.

I wouldn't be happy. I think weighted keys are essential to learning the piano.

What would I say to the teacher i don't want to come across as a complainer so early on.

As a beginner she is probably being taught things that won’t matter either way. Having a decent digital instrument at home is great and she can use her skills and practice better.

Obviously raise it with the school but it’ll be some operational issue. Having a private teacher is the other option of course. I love my lessons with the teacher coming to my house.

@Skipperc

What would I say to the teacher i don't want to come across as a complainer so early on.

It’s not a complaint it’s a query. ‘May I ask why the piano lessons are taking place using a keyboard instead of a piano?’

Do check the paperwork though. Are you certain it’s piano lessons you are buying?

Just ask the teacher, if she has lessons in school then sometimes getting access to the piano is a nightmare e.g. it’s in the hall and there’s PE on etc.

Yanbu, when my daughter took her first piano grade I was really struck by how hard it must be for kids to walk in and play it when they've been practising on a keyboard

If she's a beginner it really won't matter at the moment. I'd just ask the piano teacher outright what the plans are.

Re weighted keyboards... My daughter only has access to a weighted keyboard and has done brilliantly and Grade 1 and 2 and is about to do her Grade 3. We got it second hand and the previous owner had completed their grade 5 on it.

I think the best thing is just to ask? Maybe the piano is out of tune or something? My daughters started on a keyboard, but it was very basic. They now have lessons on the piano at home, and there is a world of difference. However, at the piano teachers house they played on a very good quality keyboard, I can’t remember the make, but it’s much more like a piano than ours was. So - maybe it’s better to play on a good quality keyboard than a rubbish piano, and better to play on a decent piano than a rubbish keyboard 😊 #nohelp

I really disagree with the posters saying it's ok. It so important to build strength from the beginning.
All you need to do is email and say something like, I wanted to get in touch to see how DD is doing and to ask what type of piano she has her lessons on.
That's plenty.

@Meadowbreeze

I really disagree with the posters saying it's ok. It so important to build strength from the beginning. All you need to do is email and say something like, I wanted to get in touch to see how DD is doing and to ask what type of piano she has her lessons on. That's plenty.

Yes I agree. It is really not optimal to start learning without weighted keys - it affects both strength and finger placements, both of which you want to start with good habits.

Is this with school? If you’re paying, just go to a private teacher. Much better long term

You could just ask what they use as you’re thinking about getting one for her and you want one to practice on.

I have heard many people starting on a keyboard though but don’t have experience myself.

Talk to the teacher and check your contract in case you booked keyboard lessons.

I have emailed simply asking if she is using a keyboard and why and what the plan is going forward. Il ring if I don't get a response tomorrow.

Definitely booked piano lessons.

Gosh I'm obviously miss demanding. I would be cross if piano lessons were on a digital piano tbh. A piano teacher should have access to a real one!