BUYING A PIANO

Information about buying a suitable instrument for you or your student.  

The Big Debate: Acoustic Pianos versus Digital Pianos

Despite the recent advances in technology, digital pianos simply cannot replicate the sound and feel of a real acoustic piano. If you are serious about investing in your students' progress and a good instrument, I would recommend getting an acoustic piano. That said, there are certain advantages to digital pianos: they are easier to move, don't require yearly tunings, and are often more affordable. 

Here a further explanation of the various types of keyboard instruments available: 
  • Acoustic piano.  These have vibrating strings inside and produce that wonderful acoustic sound we all love! Practicing on a good acoustic piano is the best case scenario, in terms of technique development, learning tone production, expression, and more. You can visit a piano store to shop for both new and used pianos. You can often find used pianos on FB marketplace. 
  • Digital piano.  Digital pianos are usually 88 keys in size and do have a weighted action. New digital pianos generally run between $600-5000, depending on the bells and whistles that are included. Some digital pianos come with furniture stands, while for others you will need to purchase a separate X or Z-style stand. You'll also need a bench and a pedal, if not included. You can purchase digital pianos on Amazon or used on FB marketplace. 
  • Electric keyboard.  These range in size from 66 keys, 77 keys, or rarely 88 keys. Electric keyboards generally have little to no weight to the keys and feel nothing at all like an acoustic piano. I do NOT recommend purchasing one of these. 
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what brands/models of digital pianos do you recommend? 

I recommend Kawai, Yamaha, and Roland. Casio is okay. I would stay away from Donner, Suzuki, and Williams. ​Click here to see my Amazon list with some entry-level digital pianos recommendations. But there are many more brands and models out there that are very good. Don't hesitate to do your research and/or run models past me if you'd like a second opinion! 


Where can I SHop for a new or used acoustic piano? 


What should I look for in an acoustic piano?

First, consider whether to buy new or used. There are advantages to buying a new instrument, and the salesperson may sweeten the deal with a free piano moving and piano tuning. By buying a piano used, you can save roughly 30% in overhead fees -- however, you will need to assess the condition of the piano and arrange the piano moving yourself. 

Questions to ask when looking at used pianos:
  1. What brand is it?  Kawai and Yamaha are two respected piano companies that produce fine pianos -- this is a good starting place. Steinway is also excellent, as are their Boston and Essex brands. Baldwin and Chickering are American-made pianos that may offer good models. Stay away from Wurlitzer, Samick, Young Chang, Pearl River, and any American brand names that have been bought by Asian companies and are now cheaply made in factory lines. 
  2. How old is the piano?  If the seller isn't sure, ask for the piano's serial number so you can look it up online.  
  3. Has it been tuned/serviced regularly over the past few years?  This is one of the most important questions to ask.  Just as you would never want to buy a used car that hasn't had an oil change done in years, you don't want to buy a piano that has not been tuned in years.  

If the piano seems promising, you can ask to go see/play the piano. If you know a few pieces, you can try out the piano to see if you like the look, sound, and touch. If you need a second opinion, I'm happy to advise and try out the piano along with you. 

Here are a few other quick tips for checking out used pianos: 
  • Be sure to play every key on the piano to make sure they all work!  :)
  • Try out the pedals.  The far right pedal (the damper pedal) is the one that is used the most.  When you press it, the notes you play should continue ringing even though you've released the keys.   The middle pedal is rarely used.  Sometimes it is a "practice pedal" (softer sound) but with grand pianos it is usually a "sostenuto pedal" (for special effects; rarely used).  The far left pedal is called the "una corda," Latin for "one cord."  It is a pedal that gives a different color to the sound as well as makes the sound softer.  
  • Try playing softly and loudly.  Do the keys still respond well even when you are trying to play softly?  

You can also hire a piano technician to look at the piano for you and ask him/her to determine the value of the piano and see what repairs s/he thinks the piano might be necessary. It will give you peace-of-mind before making your purchase. 


Moving a Piano

If you buy used, it is okay to move an upright piano yourself. You'll need a pick-up truck or a trailer, some friends, moving blankets, and cords to secure it.  Grand pianos require specialized skill to move, so I recommend hiring a professional piano moving company.  It can cost between 200-500 to move a piano, depending on the number of stairs you have and the number of miles you need to move it. Elite Piano Movers is an example of a company that specializes in moving pianos. 


Piano Maintenance

A tuning generally costs between $100-200. It is recommended that you tune your piano at least once or twice a year. Skipping tunings is like skipping oil changes for your car: it can result in damage if you do it often! 


Other Resources

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