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Original poster

So apparently dd (6.5) is starting piano lessons and I have to buy a piano !

45 replies

LucyLamb · 04/07/2007 20:46

And although I did have lessons back when I was at school, and although technically I own a Bentley, I am now going to have to buy a piano !!

Have been looking on ebay and have contacted a local chap - who has suggested 3 to me, costing £900, £750 and £450 - whilst I was thinking of more like £150 !!!

So the question is - how does a non musical person like me find a cheap but good piano (that also goes with the decor !) and not get ripped off ?

(PS. The thing about the Bentley - my mother supposedly bought it me for Xmas when I was about 15 - but now she says its hers as I never paid any interest - and she occasionally plays it !)

OP posts:

Original poster

LucyLamb · 06/07/2007 18:40

Hi everyone - well I asked school again today and they were a bit sniffy about keyboards as opposed to actual pianos ! The headphone thing is very attractive though - but if I know dd she will prefer to make lots of noise with it !

I am actually quite fancying a nice traditional piano now !

Does anyone know anything about piano makes ? I am watching one on ebay that I really like the look of and it is by Carl Schubert of Leipzig - I have Googled but can't find mention of him as a piano maker.

Am also watching a beautiful Bechstein - but it is soaring out of my budget !

OP posts:

Original poster

LucyLamb · 06/07/2007 19:06

OOh - piano man has just emailed to say he has found me an old Joanna for £100 ono ! From some people he just sold a new one to - says it is very basic but Ok to start on !

OP posts:

webchick · 07/07/2007 11:07

can she practice on one at school at lunchtime for 15 mins, or after school. Do you have any nice friendly neighbours who have one she can use for a few months and see how she gets on.

muppetgirl · 07/07/2007 11:27

Bechstein!
Blimey...second mortgage time!

I have to say a school asking you to buy a piano before your child has even started is a bit much. Whe I started the 'cello I first borrowed one from school (Those were the days I realise and not possible for piano) but my parents then hired one from Hickies -Reading /Russell Acott -Oxford. (Can't remember which one) Can you look into hiring a piano? What ever you pay to hire it used to be taken off the balance if you were to buy -not sure if they still do that though.

I used to have pupils coming in a break/lunch to practise if they didn't/couldn't afford to buy a piano. That seems to me a good comprimise until you know your dc is keen....

CoffeeCrazedMama · 07/07/2007 12:04

Lucy - I would get a piano tuner to check it out. Some old Joannas cannot be tuned to pitch. We had an old one like that (which we bought for £100 when we first bought our house). As the dcs took up playing, it became clear it was not going to meet their needs as the tuner said the frame was too old to hold pitch. (It was Edwardian...) You cannot know if dd has perfect pitch yet, and playing an out of tune instrument can wreck that. Hope this does turn out to be a bargain though - there are some out there!
If not, I would seriously recommend the rent first buy later option. A child does need to practise daily even at the beginning. Most good piano shops do this - you can find on the net. We bought a brand new one (German) when it became clear that ds is seriously talented on a ten month interest free scheme at a lovely company in Lewisham, if you are in London.

Original poster

LucyLamb · 07/07/2007 12:53

Well - thanks everyone - have looked up rentals now and that's looking like a great option - about £30 - £40 per month for a decent modern piano and they tune it twice a year for you etc.

Still fancying the traditional old one though - it has candesticks and everything ! I know _ I so fickle - Piano man has said as much - teling me to focus on the instrument not the case etc...

But - I don't want a hideous thing in my house !

OP posts:

WakeUpCall · 07/07/2007 13:20

My ds has done very well with an electric keyboard. I'd love to have a piano but needs must and all that.

He is 8yo and on grade three so a keyboard hasn't held him up at all. If they have the desire in them, a cheap keyboard will do.

lulumama · 07/07/2007 13:25

not read teh thread, but thought i;d throw in my thoughts

bought an old piano from a junk shop for £100, should have been £120, but we got someone to collect it for us, so they knocked £20 off

it is late 19th century, with candlesticks and lovely inlay

spent £35 having it tuned, and it is fab! and if DS and DD don;t play, it is a beautiful piece of furniture..

Original poster

LucyLamb · 07/07/2007 16:40

Ahh lulu - you are on my wavelength !!! So glad to hear this - I want a beautiful one - not a modern one - and as no-one can even play yet - why not ??

That's what I am going to do then - and if she does any good we can think about upgrading !

OP posts:

muppetgirl · 07/07/2007 17:01

...am waiting for my ornamental harp to be delivered as we speak.

Anyone know where I can get the cherubs to match?

LorraineSE22 · 21/06/2012 17:54

I would have thought having a piano was a pre-requisite before signing up for piano lessons. But instead of buying one, you can always hire one to see how your child gets on with it. Freecycle always a good place to look out for pianos.

scattergun · 21/06/2012 20:34

Ds's school also has the 'must have a piano' rule but we couldn't get one because our flat is far too small. My friend, who happens to be a concert pianist, came and tried out digital pianos for me and we've got a very serviceable (but not cheap) digital job that feels like the real deal and has the added benefit of slotting under our bed when not being used.

EnolaAlone · 21/06/2012 21:32

We also bought a piano before DS started lessons. Our piano teacher recommended her piano tuner, and he found one for us. Lovely old traditional looking one, basically a lady didn't want it as no one in her house played anymore. It was £450. I was quite sceptical at forking out this much money and space before he'd even started, but actually he's been playing it everyday for six months and it's really helping his practising, and it sounds lovely. My DH has also resurrected playing for the first time in years! I would definitely go with the piano tuner's recommendations.

roisin · 21/06/2012 21:43

When I was looking for a piano for ds2 I asked around and within about 4 weeks had been offered 3 free. But actually free isn't free by the time you pay to have it moved and tuned.

In the end when we looked at them we weren't happy that they would see ds2 through many years, he'd just done grade 4. So we ended up paying £800 for a better quality one.

accountantsrule · 22/06/2012 11:51

My piano teacher insisted we had a piano before I started so my parents sent me to another teacher for a short time to see if I liked it. They then bought a full size digital piano (they are now about £700 I think), they have weighted full size keys but never need tuning (and you can plug headphones in to them). They are pretty much the same as a piano.

Be careful with a bog standard keyboard or electric piano as they do not always have weighted full size keys or the same sort of pedals as a normal piano. It is IMO really important to be able to practice on a proper piano.

accountantsrule · 22/06/2012 11:53

The digital pianos are nice looking but obviously not traditional in any way. Ours is dark brown wood and looks nice in our modern looking lounge.

PatriciaHolm · 22/06/2012 14:03

You do all realise this thread is 5 years old, right? I think the OP will have made her decision by now!

accountantsrule · 22/06/2012 19:42

How funny, someone replied to it Thursday

EnolaAlone · 23/06/2012 10:16

Well spotted PatriciaHolm! I hadn't noticed that!

pianoteacher1 · 05/08/2014 11:18

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

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