piano lessons

[user789653241]

I am a complete novice here. My ds said he would like to learn piano.
I have read past post, and found out it cost around £25~£30 for half an hour lesson?
But have no clue how to find a teacher or how many times he should be having lessons every week.
Could you give me any ideas? Do we have to buy proper piano, or electrical one is enough? Sorry I'm completely lost. It's just very rare that he wants to do something new and I just want to do best I could.

My DS does piano at school. Not as part of the normal curriculum, but the teacher has an arrangement to come to the school and teach privately. Maybe ask if there is a similar arrangement at your DS's school? I pay £12 per week for a 20 min lesson. An electrical piano is fine for them to practise on.

I pay £15.50 for half an hour for DD. She has one lesson a week. I found the teacher by googling "piano teacher" and the name of the city where we live, although as it turned out I did actually know the teacher. She is preparing for grade 4 and we are just buying a proper piano now.

Hi - our paths cross again!

I have replied on similar questions many times, so if you 'Search' on my name and Piano, Keyboard, Music, etc you will find my earlier replies.

I am pleased to hear he is getting interested in music now; remind me how old he is, or what Year group he is in? And am I correct in thinking you are not in UK?

For a beginner, an electronic Piano or even a Keyboard, is OK to START to learn the basics. As students progress to more advanced music, an electronic Piano with 76 keys is recommended, but the need for that may be a few years away:

www.yamahamusiclondon.com/NPV80-Piaggero-Digital-Keyboard/pidYAM-NPV80

With an adult helping, and also use of on-line tuition, a teacher is not ESSENTIAL to start with, as there are many books that a student can use to start learning.

'PIANO' and 'KEYBOARD' involve two different methods and styles of playing, and for a beginner I suggest Keyboard is easier to start with, and is more fun. HOWEVER, some people want to play only Classical Music, in which case Piano would be necessary.

Look up my earlier replies, then we can 'talk' again in a few days.

Around here lessons are about £10 for 20 minutes. A digital piano is fine but I suggest you buy a second hand keyboard for him to practise on to begin with, and upgrade to a piano/digital piano if he likes it. The keyboard will need to be touch sensitive.

Keyboard and piano are played differently (but you can practise playing piano on a keyboard until you need the pedals).

Thank you everyone.

BarbarianMum, definitely good idea to buy second hand first... in case he decides it's not for him.

Ferguson, Thank you for your help again. I am foreign, but we live in England. My ds is YR3, 8yrs old.
I will look up your past post.

If you're in London and want someone to come to the house, try the London Music Centre - ask for Elliott, the owner - they are a very helpful agency. We found my daughter's teacher through them and she is lovely.

Ask your school. Ours has an arrangement with the local music foundation that sends in peripatetic music teachers for various instruments. It's brilliant as its all in school hours so no need to take her somewhere, so very easy.

Thank you everyone!

I asked the school and they said they do lessons at school. Very handy!
Thanks for your advice.

Glad it worked out

Ferguson, are you still here? I need your help please. Or anyone?

I have sorted out his piano lesson. He had his first lesson, and loves it.
Problem is, we haven't got keyboard/piano yet.
I have looked at your past post and the link you gave me.
I don't want to spend a lot on keyboard yet, since we don't know he will continue or not. Is this a good choice?

www.yamahamusiclondon.com/PSR-E353-Portable-Keyboard/pidSPSRE353UK

It says touch sensitive, that's all we thought about.(I really haven't got a clue.)
I would like to spend less than £200 if possible, so price for this is ideal, since we have to get stand etc. as well. I originally thought second hand, but since we have no knowledge about this, is it safer to purchase new?
Or doesn't matter so much?

Ferguson? Where are you?

Get a piano keyboard with weighted keys. This makes the feel of the keyboard as close to a piano as possible. I think that if you buy a keyboard without this feature it would be like the difference between typing on a typewriter and typing on a computer. The keys are in the same place but the feel is different. Depending on how quickly he progresses, you could find yourself upgrading within months if he quickly advances more than the keyboard can supply. But ANYTHING is better than nothing. My little niece drew her own piano keyboard on paper and 'played' her 'piano'when they went away on holidays! Be aware that he could potentially be playing with pedals in some Grade 1 pieces. Depending on how fast he is at picking it up that
Could you not ask your son's piano teacher? They will generally advise you on what is the most suitable. Don't rush too much, you don't want to make a mistake and have to buy again. Most teachers are just happy if you have something for your child to practice on!

Thank you, Youarenotthebossofme.
The lesson was back to back with other children, so I was bit reluctant to ask the piano teacher in person, but I might email her and ask her advice.

Ideally you need something with weighted keys, however anything is better than nothing. You can get second hand digital pianos for under £200 but also it depends on the space. Lots of shops sell re-furbished or small ads/ebay/gumtree usually have lots, check that all the keys play and the pedals work before going second hand. By the time they get to grade exams, they really need to playing on something with weighted keys, so you've probably only got a couple of years on a keyboard before upgrading. I usually ask parents budgets/space/sound limitations and then advise accordingly.
The must haves are full size keys and touch sensitive.

All our local music shops do rent-to-buy schemes, where you can rent an instrument for a few months before you decide whether to buy. If you buy, they knock off the rent charges you've already paid. It's a good way to find out whether your child will stick at it, but still provide then with a decent instrument.

But do speak to his teacher. My daughter's piano teacher is insistent that pupils have either a real piano or a decent digital piano with proper weighted keys. Other teachers are happier with starting on a decent keyboard. It depends whether you are assuming for classical piano (weighted) keys essential or keyboard.

Thank you for great advice, every one!

Hi - So sorry I have been out of contact! Once you had got 'fixed up' at school with lessons, I haven't been back will now.

The PSR E353 is only 61 keys, and because it is aimed more at 'pop' music it has things DS doesn't really need.

A more suitable keyboard, that has 76 keys, is the Piaggero series. It also 'feels' a bit more like a proper piano with 'graded touch', which is not quite as good as weighted keys, but goes some way towards it.

This link for Normans has a video about the instrument, but lots of other dealers stock it:

www.normans.co.uk/p-8533-yamaha-piaggero-np32-electronic-keyboard-black.aspx

But if you can ask at school, and you can purchase through them , it may be cheaper as there may not be VAT to pay. See what help you can get a school, and I will look back in a day or two.

Thank you Ferguson. I am glad that we didn't go and buy something without any clue!

Yes your suggestion seems better. And I will ask school as well. Thank you again.

I just watched the video on your link. My ds fell in love with the sound,
and me too! That is fantastic.

Ferguson, if you are still here, can I ask some more questions?
What's the difference between NPV80, NPV60 and NP32?
Are there massive difference? Is it better to buy 60 or 80 instead of 32?
TIA

Ferguson, we ended up ordering NPV80 in the end. This was your original recommendation I believe.
Thank you for all your help, and ds is happily practicing on the keys drawn on piece of paper at the moment, until it arrives.

And thank you every one for your advice and help.

Sorry! Wasn't on computer yesterday . .

The NPV80 is quite a bit dearer than the other two, but it certainly does offer a lot more 'goodies'! I'll send a PM sometime explaining the differences, and I have here another link with information, and music. Are you able to buy through school, and get a good deal? If you have to buy through a shop, try to get some 'extras' included - stand, headphones, etc:

www.yamahamusiclondon.com/NPV80-Piaggero-Digital-Keyboard/pidYAM-NPV80