Buying a Piano

This is concerning one of the most frequent questions I receive as a piano instructor - for good reason. A piano can be a major purchase and most people need to make sure it will fit their (or their child's) needs for as long as possible.

Acoustic or Electronic
I grew up when the only electronic keyboards was in some engineering lab somewhere so the non-electric, traditional piano was the only choice. Since then great strides have been made to replicate the sound and feel of an acoustic piano in electronic form. The result - really close, but still not the same.

This doesn't mean that an electronic keyboard serves no one's needs. In fact, for children, it can be a better choice because it's easier for little fingers to push down non-weighted keys. They also provide a variety of sounds and voices. The headphone input may also be a plus but for young students, parents need to take a more active role in what (and how) their children are practicing.

Prices
The big question. As of this writing, good electronic keyboards can be purchased from about $80 and up and can be found at many retail and online stores. Electronic keyboards with "weighted keys" (harder to push down, like an acoustic piano) start at $600. New acoustic pianos begin at about $2000 going up to the stratosphere in price depending on the maker, wood, and manufacturing process. Many people wanting an acoustic piano will opt for a good used one and there are usually plenty of those out there.

The great thing is that you don't have to be wealthy to make music and learn to play the piano. Buy what you can afford and enjoy!