[Randomz]

My 6 yr old is learning piano next year. What kind of keyboard, or second hand piano (off gumtree?? iI saw some on there...) would you recommend?

I know absolutely nothing about piano so if you could be as descriptive as possible that would be great!

Any links to pianos/ keyboards would be excellent!

Thanks!!

This post has been edited by Randomz: 23/11/2012, 06:50 AM

[katrina24]

Hi, my grade one DD started piano this year. I'm far from expert but our teacher gave us some advice. She suggested that we consider an electric/digital piano. She suggested this because an investment in a regular piano, and all of the maintenance that involves, may be too big when we don't know how long DD will stick with it. We purchased a digital piano at a price around $1000 and we are thrilled with it. We didn't end up getting it but we were looking at casio pianos online around this pricepoint (in the end a local music store matched the deal with a similar Yamaha piano). Sorry but I can't remember the name of the website we looked at.

Other tips we were given by the teacher were - get a full sized keyboard, get one with weighted keys so it feels like a 'real' piano, get one on a stand so it doesn't wobble all around and get one with the pedals (DD has only been learning 13 weeks and has already learned a song she uses a pedal in).

Hope that helps a bit. I'm sure someone else will come with more expert advice:)

[RipeWickedPlum]

If you are thinking your child might want to do exams etc, a real piano would be heaps better. There is a massive difference between the feel of a keyboard and a real piano.
Plus, I think pianos look awesome! hehe.

Mum and Dad bought me a piano when I was 7. I went on to learn and do exams til I was 17. Now it's here for my girls to learn on, I don't play much anymore but I love having it in the house!

My piano is an upright YAMAHA. It's a good little piano. My piano teacher had a Kawai baby grand and gees, that was one hell of a piano! =)

This post has been edited by RipeWickedPlum: 23/11/2012, 07:10 AM

[Schnitzelvonkrum...]

I have an upright Kawai, and it is both a beautiful piano, and a beautiful piece of furniture.

I used to teach piano, and my advice would be along the same lines as Katrina24's - a good second hand digital with a full size keyboard is a great beginner. I suggest second hand, because new they can be very expensive, and if she doesnt stick with it, at least you wont loose as much. Please, whatever you do, don't get an old iron frame out of tune one, because often they can't be tuned adequately and it will do your head in having an out of tune piano!

[duck-o-lah]

Other tips we were given by the teacher were - get a full sized keyboard, get one with weighted keys so it feels like a 'real' piano, get one on a stand so it doesn't wobble all around and get one with the pedals

Agree. DH has a cheaper electric, while it does the job, the keys are not weighted correctly, so playing a proper piano afterwards feels awkward and clumsy. Very important if the lessons are to be conducted on a regular piano.

Also if it doesn't have the full range of keys, it's very sad when your song has big fat bass chords and you can't play the bottom notes!

My parents bought me a Technics Piano, it's just lovely. It has a few extra bells and whistles (different settings ie. harpsichord, pipe organ etc, record/playback function) which are fun but not necessary, so you could probably get something more economical.

[pratique]

I've played piano for 17 years. I hate using electric keyboards, they are a completely different feel.

I would get a cheaper upright.

[Nappypin]

Agreed with the proper weighed keys on the electric pianos.

My niece is 18 and always played on electric her whole learning life and she has just finished her last AMB exam.

She is amazing and plays at many events.

[Blossom77]

Agreed with the proper weighed keys on the electric pianos.

My niece is 18 and always played on electric her whole learning life and she has just finished her last AMB exam.

She is amazing and plays at many events.

Are these the AMEB Piano for Leisure or Keyboard exams? Is it possible to do the Pianoforte exams on a keyboard?

OP I've played the piano since the age of five (30 years! so old) and went right through the AMEB Pianoforte exams. My parents initially purchased a cheap upright and then as I became more serious about it (practising 2+ hours a day) they purchased a beautiful, wonderful piano that I still have and treasure more than anything else I own. It is hard to describe how much I enjoy playing it. So I would buy a cheap/secondhand piano and then you can upgrade if your daughter wants to take it seriously in future.

[BadCat]

If you opt for a "real" piano rather than digital be careful of the cheap second hand ones. Many pianos being sold cheap will no longer hold their tuning and are effectively worthless. If you go second hand it's a good idea to get a professional to look over it first. Or buy from a reputable dealer.

[MrsLexiK]

I would be looking at a second hand upright from a piano shop not from gumtree. We had an old piano which could no longer be tuned. Which was fine as it was for looks, we also had my rather expensive piano which was beautiful to play. Nothing like any keyboard I have ever played on, it is not just the keys but the sound as well. If your daughter is doing exams she needs to be able to do pitch work and hit notes, I can't think of one professional player I know that would prefer a keyboard over the real thing.