Which Piano To Buy

mybabyangels · 2023-08-31T13:28:36+00:00

I have two girls about to enter Year 9 and Year 7. They have completed Grades 4 and 3 respectively in Piano and I am looking to upgrade their existing portal keyboard to a weighted key Piano. Can anyone recommend a good one? Not too expensive but good value for money that will take them through to Grade 8 (hopefully!). The budget is around £2k. I am also looking for recommendations for a good/recommended Piano teacher (happy with online if that is an option - as they did that through Covid and managed well). Thanks so much in advance🎹🎼

Whataretheodds · 31/08/2023 14:31

Are you ruling out a real piano?

thepurcellsisters · 31/08/2023 14:35

I don't know any teachers who wouldn't expect a real (not electric) piano for any grade past grade 4. Definitely not for grade 8.

Lavendersquare · 31/08/2023 14:35

I'd have a look on fb marketplace and gumtree, I bought a fantastic Yamaha electric piano with fully weighted keys that meets the requirements of all the piano grades for £400, the price new was closer to £2500. I discussed the model with my DD's piano teacher beforehand to make sure and purchased it. We inspected it and checked all keys worked just to make sure.

Lavendersquare · 31/08/2023 14:38

thepurcellsisters · 31/08/2023 14:35

I don't know any teachers who wouldn't expect a real (not electric) piano for any grade past grade 4. Definitely not for grade 8.

Really, that's not my experience at all, in fact most pupils have electric pianos these days. These are not electric keyboards but fully sized electronic pianos with weighted keys, pedals and dynamic playing function. They obviously can't be put in a cupboard when not in use but ate still much more portable than the real thing and don't require tuning.

Comefromaway · 31/08/2023 14:39

Are you looking for a digital piano? £2k is a nice budget. You can go beyond the standard Yamaha P45 and go for something really nice like a Yamaha CLP Clavinova or Roland do some nice ones (depending what kind of touch you prefer)

hylian · 31/08/2023 14:39

thepurcellsisters · 31/08/2023 14:35

I don't know any teachers who wouldn't expect a real (not electric) piano for any grade past grade 4. Definitely not for grade 8.

Really? Why? There are many excellent digital pianos on the market now which are great for learning on through all the grades. I'm playing at around grade 6 and have a Roland digital which I adore. Even my teacher doesn't have an acoustic. Most accommodaiton where I live is flats so acoustic pianos aren't practical for most people.

OP, I highly rate anything from Roland. You can't go wrong there.

Comefromaway · 31/08/2023 14:40

My family is split. Ds prefers Roland, dh prefers Yamaha.

hylian · 31/08/2023 14:42

Comefromaway · 31/08/2023 14:40

My family is split. Ds prefers Roland, dh prefers Yamaha.

That's controversial!

I'm firmly in the Roland camp because I find the keys a bit plasticky on Yamahas I've played (but I might not have tried the more expensive £2k+ models, not sure if they're any different).

Roland have a much nicer ivory touch which feels very similar to an acousic. My Roland was £1000 and feels like an acoustic.

ladygindiva · 31/08/2023 14:46

thepurcellsisters · 31/08/2023 14:35

I don't know any teachers who wouldn't expect a real (not electric) piano for any grade past grade 4. Definitely not for grade 8.

I'm a piano teacher and I have a student sitting his grade 8 soon and he has only ever owned a digital piano. It's not hampered him at all.

Comefromaway · 31/08/2023 14:46

Dh is a more classical player than ds & feels that the higher end Yamaha pianos are a bit heavier and more like an acoustic. We currently own Rolands however because at the time they had better slightly lower end pianos, plus dh got a good discount from his workplace.

Original poster

mybabyangels · 01/09/2023 16:15

Hello All - thank you so much for your input. We had already ruled out a real piano (the key tuning and moving it is anxiety-inducing). We will look for a weighted key digital and so thank you for the Yamaha and Roland recommendations! I was a little lost before the help on this post!

OP posts:

BerryORourke · 27/10/2024 17:59

Try a Kawai or a Casio Grand Hybrid.

TheStickWaver · 15/11/2024 23:55

Probably too late now, but...

I've recently bought a portable Roland, and I'm very impressed. I've never really got on with the Yamaha's. When I bought my first one many years ago, I got a Technics, but unfortunately they have stopped making them, because it was a country mile better than either at the time.

I took a good set of headphones and went into several piano shops in London and tried them all out for touch and sound - I'd recommend if you can.

TheStickWaver · 16/11/2024 00:41

Apologies for the Grocer's apostrophe there...

PianoPiarno · 29/11/2024 17:48

I notice this is a resurrected thread from last year, but it's very helpful, I just came to MN to ask a very similar question!

I'd love a real piano for dd (approaching G4), and we have space in the house. But we don't have space in her room really ☹️ and her practice and love of playing only really took off once we moved her keyboard up there.

Saturdayssandwichsociety · 05/12/2024 21:30

Lavendersquare · 31/08/2023 14:38

Really, that's not my experience at all, in fact most pupils have electric pianos these days. These are not electric keyboards but fully sized electronic pianos with weighted keys, pedals and dynamic playing function. They obviously can't be put in a cupboard when not in use but ate still much more portable than the real thing and don't require tuning.

Show quote history

Even the best weighted pianos just aren't the same as a real piano. The experience of playing them is nowhere near as good. Ill never understand why people buy digital pianos

notnorman · 05/12/2024 21:32

I've got an amazing Yamaha
clavinova it's beautiful

notnorman · 05/12/2024 21:32

TheStickWaver · 15/11/2024 23:55

Probably too late now, but...

I've recently bought a portable Roland, and I'm very impressed. I've never really got on with the Yamaha's. When I bought my first one many years ago, I got a Technics, but unfortunately they have stopped making them, because it was a country mile better than either at the time.

I took a good set of headphones and went into several piano shops in London and tried them all out for touch and sound - I'd recommend if you can.

I had a technics in the 90s- it was amazing!!