Choosing an
Instrument
Deciding on an instrument at any phase of piano study is not easy and can begin to feel overwhelming. However, it doesn't have to be. Below you will find suggestions, helpful links, and points to consider when conducting your search.
Own or Rent?
A piano is a very big purchase to make, both financially and sometimes physically. Therefore, one factor which will immediately affect your decision is space. If there is not room for a grand piano, an acoustic upright (or in the beginning a digital piano, if need be) will have to suffice. While there is a difference in tone production between a grand piano and an upright, it is minimal compared to that of a digital piano. Therefore, of the three options, one of the acoustic ones will always be a better choice.
However, cost may be a factor. Depending on brand, age, condition, or model new pianos and used pianos may not differ much when it comes to cost. So, it is most important to do extensive research, ask many questions, get opinions, try a piano out yourself, get an appraisal, and take time to make a well-informed decision.
Top line acoustic grand pianos, and even uprights for that matter, can range between several-thousand to the ten-thousands. Bear in mind these costs are generic estimates. You may find something that does or does not fall within the estimated range. Brands to consider might be (but are not limited to): Steinway, Bösendorfer, Petroff, Yamaha, and Mason and Hamlin.
A mid range grand piano can range from several thousand to between ten and twenty thousand dollars. A mid range upright will most likely range between several and ten thousand dollars. Brands to consider might be (but are not limited to): Boston, Essex, Yamaha, Kawai, and Baldwin.
Local retailers to contact include (but are not limited to): The Steinway Gallery in Paramus, Forte Piano , Beethoven Pianos , Frank and Camille's or Amadeus Pianos.
Renting a piano (usually an acoustic one) can be a viable option for a student who is beginning his/her studies and for a family who is not yet sure of their level of commitment. Often, this is the best situation all around, as the teacher knows the student has a real piano, the student learns and practices on a real piano, and the parents are not stuck with a big purchase which may or may not pay for itself in the long run.
The Steinway Gallery in Paramus offers a rent-to-own program, with a portion of the rental costs applied to the final purchase. Other dealers such as Frank and Camille's or Amadeus Pianos, though not in New Jersey, will rent to this area and don't require a purchase at the end of the rental period.
The downside to the rental agreement is that depending on how long the instrument is rented for, there may be a financial imbalance in the end. The amount of money paid in rental costs may or may not come close to what one might pay for good digital piano, which again, for the ambivalent or new student is a reasonable option.
However, cost may be a factor. Depending on brand, age, condition, or model new pianos and used pianos may not differ much when it comes to cost. So, it is most important to do extensive research, ask many questions, get opinions, try a piano out yourself, get an appraisal, and take time to make a well-informed decision.
Top line acoustic grand pianos, and even uprights for that matter, can range between several-thousand to the ten-thousands. Bear in mind these costs are generic estimates. You may find something that does or does not fall within the estimated range. Brands to consider might be (but are not limited to): Steinway, Bösendorfer, Petroff, Yamaha, and Mason and Hamlin.
A mid range grand piano can range from several thousand to between ten and twenty thousand dollars. A mid range upright will most likely range between several and ten thousand dollars. Brands to consider might be (but are not limited to): Boston, Essex, Yamaha, Kawai, and Baldwin.
Local retailers to contact include (but are not limited to): The Steinway Gallery in Paramus, Forte Piano , Beethoven Pianos , Frank and Camille's or Amadeus Pianos.
Renting a piano (usually an acoustic one) can be a viable option for a student who is beginning his/her studies and for a family who is not yet sure of their level of commitment. Often, this is the best situation all around, as the teacher knows the student has a real piano, the student learns and practices on a real piano, and the parents are not stuck with a big purchase which may or may not pay for itself in the long run.
The Steinway Gallery in Paramus offers a rent-to-own program, with a portion of the rental costs applied to the final purchase. Other dealers such as Frank and Camille's or Amadeus Pianos, though not in New Jersey, will rent to this area and don't require a purchase at the end of the rental period.
The downside to the rental agreement is that depending on how long the instrument is rented for, there may be a financial imbalance in the end. The amount of money paid in rental costs may or may not come close to what one might pay for good digital piano, which again, for the ambivalent or new student is a reasonable option.
Acoustic or Digital?
There are many benefits to learning on an acoustic piano. The student gets accustomed to the response of the keyboard action and develops a good technique right from the start, the student has the entire keyboard range, the ear and hands are able to immediately equate differences in touch with varied tone production, and the student gets used to the natural action of the pedals and their effect on the sound.
However, for one reason or another (ambivalence, cost, size, logistics) an acoustic piano may not be the right option for now. Temporarily, a digital piano will more than suffice. Usually, a good digital piano may cost between several hundred to slightly above a thousand dollars, give or take. Again, this is an approximation.
Digital pianos should not be confused with "keyboards." Though a keyboard can seem like a financial bargain at only a few hundred dollars, it comes at a much greater cost to the student's learning experience. Keyboards will usually only have a fraction of the full keyboard range, maybe only 61 or 76 out of 88 keys. The keys will not be weighted which will give new students a false perception of what playing the piano actually feels like; that is, students will not be able to correctly learn how to equate physical motion with tone production, and will develop many bad technical habits that will later on be, very likely, hard to break, no matter how much they practice. Keyboards most likely will not have pedals and generally the sound samples are not the greatest.
Digital pianos have a full 88-key range, the keys are weighted to approximate the feel of a real piano, they will have a pedal or pedals, and generally are equipped with a sound sample taken from a high quality acoustic instrument, so the tone process and realization of production is as close to a real piano as possible. Usually, they physically resemble an upright piano and come with a matching bench. Brands to consider include (but are not limited to): Yamaha, Kawai, Roland, Kurzweil, and the Casio Privia line.
A digital stage piano looks like a standard "keyboard" but functions like a digital piano. As a result, the cost will most likely be a little bit lower. The Yamaha P-45 and the Casio CDP-130 are a few good examples. Additionally, being that stage pianos are designed to be portable, a separate bench, stand, and maybe a sustain pedal, will need to be purchased as well to make practicing possible.
For the first few years, a beginning student with a digital piano will be adequately equipped to learn and practice. After that period of time, one should begin considering and researching the purchase of, or again maybe the initial renting of, an acoustic piano. By then, the situation regarding a student's, and/or family's, level of commitment might be different, and purchasing an acoustic piano might seem like the next logical step. Conversely, depending on one's financial situation and perspective on commitment at the outset, another way to look at owning a digital piano is that, in the end, when the time comes to upgrade its initial cost only adds to the final price tag of an acoustic piano.
Local and online retailers to consider include (but are not limited to): Guitar Center, Amazon, and Sam Ash.
However, for one reason or another (ambivalence, cost, size, logistics) an acoustic piano may not be the right option for now. Temporarily, a digital piano will more than suffice. Usually, a good digital piano may cost between several hundred to slightly above a thousand dollars, give or take. Again, this is an approximation.
Digital pianos should not be confused with "keyboards." Though a keyboard can seem like a financial bargain at only a few hundred dollars, it comes at a much greater cost to the student's learning experience. Keyboards will usually only have a fraction of the full keyboard range, maybe only 61 or 76 out of 88 keys. The keys will not be weighted which will give new students a false perception of what playing the piano actually feels like; that is, students will not be able to correctly learn how to equate physical motion with tone production, and will develop many bad technical habits that will later on be, very likely, hard to break, no matter how much they practice. Keyboards most likely will not have pedals and generally the sound samples are not the greatest.
Digital pianos have a full 88-key range, the keys are weighted to approximate the feel of a real piano, they will have a pedal or pedals, and generally are equipped with a sound sample taken from a high quality acoustic instrument, so the tone process and realization of production is as close to a real piano as possible. Usually, they physically resemble an upright piano and come with a matching bench. Brands to consider include (but are not limited to): Yamaha, Kawai, Roland, Kurzweil, and the Casio Privia line.
A digital stage piano looks like a standard "keyboard" but functions like a digital piano. As a result, the cost will most likely be a little bit lower. The Yamaha P-45 and the Casio CDP-130 are a few good examples. Additionally, being that stage pianos are designed to be portable, a separate bench, stand, and maybe a sustain pedal, will need to be purchased as well to make practicing possible.
For the first few years, a beginning student with a digital piano will be adequately equipped to learn and practice. After that period of time, one should begin considering and researching the purchase of, or again maybe the initial renting of, an acoustic piano. By then, the situation regarding a student's, and/or family's, level of commitment might be different, and purchasing an acoustic piano might seem like the next logical step. Conversely, depending on one's financial situation and perspective on commitment at the outset, another way to look at owning a digital piano is that, in the end, when the time comes to upgrade its initial cost only adds to the final price tag of an acoustic piano.
Local and online retailers to consider include (but are not limited to): Guitar Center, Amazon, and Sam Ash.
New or Used?
A new piano does not always need to be purchased. Very often, a piano that is a few (or even many) years old, will work just fine providing it was well maintained. Pianos need more than the average twice a year tuning. It is worth remembering that while getting your car a "tune-up" means making regular, necessary, mild repairs, "tuning" a piano only means the the strings are tightened so that they vibrate at the correct frequency when struck to produce accurate pitches. Pianos are very susceptible to changes in weather and humidity. So, given the piano's previous situation somethings may need work. The action (i.e. mechanical system of hammers and how it relates to the feel of the key under the finger and tone production) may need to be regulated. Strings may need to be cared for if they've rusted. The hammers may need to be cared for if they've hardened too much. Tuning pegs may need work if they are loose and slipping out of place more than they usually would over time. The pedals may need to be adjusted. If the soundboard (the piece of wood under the strings which causes the sound to resonate within the instrument) is cracked it will need to be replaced.
Obviously buying a new piano will prevent you from having to deal with any of these issues, but it will be expensive. The benefit to buying a used piano from a reputable dealer is that these things will already have been taken care of before the piano leaves the showroom, so ideally, you're starting with a clean slate, so to speak. Most of the time, but not always, moving costs and the initial in-home tuning are complimentary benefits the dealer provides.
Often, people will ask about finding and buying a used piano independently from someone on Craig's List, the newspaper, or word of mouth. Very often classified ads for used/free pianos will say "needs tuning." While getting a piano for around $1,000 or $1,500 (or maybe even for free) may seem like a bargain there are many hidden costs to be aware of. As one would have a mechanic examine a used car before buying it privately, you should have a technician check out the piano for you. You can locate and contact a technician based on recommendations, or if you do not have any available to you, visit the Piano Technicians Guild website to begin your search.
Pianos are very intricate and detailed instruments. While the majority of professional pianists may know when something doesn't feel or sound right, unlike other instrumentalists who can sometimes even make small repairs to their instruments, we really are not able to definitively say exactly what is wrong, why, how to fix it, and what it will cost. Therefore, it is crucial that a technician be the one who examines the piano you are considering purchasing; not a friend, the piano teacher, or even the student. The student should play the instrument and see if he/she likes how it feels and/or sounds, but only a technician will be able to tell you if the instrument is in good working order and what its true value is.
To examine and appraise a used piano, a technician will charge you for their time, which may or may not cost between $100 and $200, give or take. If you decide you like the instrument and it is in good condition, most likely moving costs will range between $200 and $400 depending on your living situation (stairs always cost more). Once it is in your home you will have to have it tuned (as moving a piano will throw it out of tune). The fee for this will also probably be in the neighborhood of $100 and $200.
If it is determined that the piano needs work, and you still want it, repairs can get very expensive and may range from several hundred to several thousand dollars. So now, the $1500 piano has possibly cost you an extra $600 - $800 just to make sure it is in good condition, get it into your home, and have it tuned. To the current cost of $2100 - $2300, you will now need to add all of your estimated repair costs (which again, may range from several hundred to several thousand dollars, and may increase upon closer examination).
Again, this may all work out fine. People do successfully buy pianos privately and sometimes generous or unwitting people give away good instruemtns. But if you're looking at a used, mid-range piano from a dealer for a few thousand dollars, most likely you'll probably come out the same in the end financially if you purchase an instrument from them as opposed to finding something independently. You may even save yourself a little time and frustration in the process as well.
It is worth remembering, that most university music departments will often host annual sales for the piano dealer whom they may have a contract with. At these sales, one can usually find a reasonably priced instrument in good condition. Usually advertisements arrive in the mail, but feel free to inquire within a university's music department by phone or e-mail.
Obviously buying a new piano will prevent you from having to deal with any of these issues, but it will be expensive. The benefit to buying a used piano from a reputable dealer is that these things will already have been taken care of before the piano leaves the showroom, so ideally, you're starting with a clean slate, so to speak. Most of the time, but not always, moving costs and the initial in-home tuning are complimentary benefits the dealer provides.
Often, people will ask about finding and buying a used piano independently from someone on Craig's List, the newspaper, or word of mouth. Very often classified ads for used/free pianos will say "needs tuning." While getting a piano for around $1,000 or $1,500 (or maybe even for free) may seem like a bargain there are many hidden costs to be aware of. As one would have a mechanic examine a used car before buying it privately, you should have a technician check out the piano for you. You can locate and contact a technician based on recommendations, or if you do not have any available to you, visit the Piano Technicians Guild website to begin your search.
Pianos are very intricate and detailed instruments. While the majority of professional pianists may know when something doesn't feel or sound right, unlike other instrumentalists who can sometimes even make small repairs to their instruments, we really are not able to definitively say exactly what is wrong, why, how to fix it, and what it will cost. Therefore, it is crucial that a technician be the one who examines the piano you are considering purchasing; not a friend, the piano teacher, or even the student. The student should play the instrument and see if he/she likes how it feels and/or sounds, but only a technician will be able to tell you if the instrument is in good working order and what its true value is.
To examine and appraise a used piano, a technician will charge you for their time, which may or may not cost between $100 and $200, give or take. If you decide you like the instrument and it is in good condition, most likely moving costs will range between $200 and $400 depending on your living situation (stairs always cost more). Once it is in your home you will have to have it tuned (as moving a piano will throw it out of tune). The fee for this will also probably be in the neighborhood of $100 and $200.
If it is determined that the piano needs work, and you still want it, repairs can get very expensive and may range from several hundred to several thousand dollars. So now, the $1500 piano has possibly cost you an extra $600 - $800 just to make sure it is in good condition, get it into your home, and have it tuned. To the current cost of $2100 - $2300, you will now need to add all of your estimated repair costs (which again, may range from several hundred to several thousand dollars, and may increase upon closer examination).
Again, this may all work out fine. People do successfully buy pianos privately and sometimes generous or unwitting people give away good instruemtns. But if you're looking at a used, mid-range piano from a dealer for a few thousand dollars, most likely you'll probably come out the same in the end financially if you purchase an instrument from them as opposed to finding something independently. You may even save yourself a little time and frustration in the process as well.
It is worth remembering, that most university music departments will often host annual sales for the piano dealer whom they may have a contract with. At these sales, one can usually find a reasonably priced instrument in good condition. Usually advertisements arrive in the mail, but feel free to inquire within a university's music department by phone or e-mail.
Recommended Piano Technicians and Moving Companies
Listed in the link below are the numbers of a few technicians and movers we often recommend to studio families. While these individuals appreciate the referrals, they may not appreciate their personal information being divulged on the internet. Therefore, the page is password protected and available only to studio members. Please click on the following link to be taken to the page: Recommended Piano Technicians and Movers