


An acoustic piano in poor condition will only cause frustration and hinder the progress a beginning student. If you already have a piano, or plan to purchase or rent a used instrument, be sure it is in tune and the keys are in good working order. Not sure about buying? Many piano stores have affordable acoustic piano rental programs. Hoffman Academy considers the Yamaha U1 a favorite upright piano, but there are other good brands such as Kawai, Boston, and Schimmel. If you want a grand or baby grand piano, expect to pay $6,000 to $10,000 or more. The typical price range for a quality acoustic upright (also called “vertical”) piano is $4,000 to $8,000. The sooner a student has the opportunity to practice on an acoustic instrument with that kind of nuanced musical responsiveness, the better.

The sooner a student has the opportunity to practice on an acoustic piano, the better.Ī quality acoustic instrument that produces sound from real strings and real wood offers a level of responsiveness and a range of dynamics and tone color than even the nicest digital piano cannot match. A third category, the electronic keyboard, is the least expensive option, but an electronic keyboard may not have the right touch to develop hand strength for a beginning pianist, or enough keys to play a wide range of music.

There are also many good digital pianos, which are smaller, less expensive, and do a decent job of mimicking the sound and feel of an acoustic instrument. The largest and most expensive, and also the best when it comes to developing piano skills, are the acoustic pianos. There are three basic categories of keyboard instruments available. To help you decide what will be best for your child and your budget, let’s talk about how to choose a piano for a beginning student. If you wanted your child to play soccer, would you send your child out on the field in a pair of cheap flip-flops, or would you make sure your child had a good pair of shoes? Shoes, of course! On the other hand, does your child need professional-quality $100 soccer cleats? Maybe not on the first day.Īs a parent, you want to make sure your beginning piano student has a good experience while learning to play, but you’re probably not ready to go out and buy a baby grand. A beginning piano student needs a good instrument.
