All About Choosing and Buying Pianos
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hi,my girl just pass her grade 2. using second christopoti piano, think it tall at 121 cm. I got it at 2700 few years back. was think it is a good time to change to a better piano? as grade go higher is there diferent on learn on a low level piano to a high one? thanks
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Yes there is a difference as things get more technical in the higher grades. A good (better) piano will help the child hear and feel the differences in touch, sound that the teacher is (should be) teaching.
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I am looking to upgrade our piano.
May I seek comments/advice/reviews on Kohler & Campbell(made in Korea)and Ellington(made in China). Both models stand at 131cm, similar pricing.
The respective dealer ‘claimed’ their piano is made of European/German parts. Should I be concerned with their assembly origin? If u hv to make a choice, which would you go for, or none at all? TIA. -
jce:
Yes there is a difference as things get more technical in the higher grades. A good (better) piano will help the child hear and feel the differences in touch, sound that the teacher is (should be) teaching.
I am actually curious if there are grade 8 students who manage to score distinctions even without having a proper exam model piano to practice at home. I always recommend good pianos for my students, but there are a few times where I accompanied students to exam rehearsals and I found the pianos lacking and not properly maintained. So I am kind of wary of assigning pieces that require very careful shading and details for higher grades e.g. Bach's Preludes and Fugues. Those less transparent ones such as Scarlatti sonatas seem to be the safer choice, but sometimes no choice teach some pieces because students like them. -
I have had quite a few scoring distinction (high end and low end) despite having so-so pianos. I do choose Scarlatti over Bach as it is more straight forward. But even with that, B choice pieces will require more sensitive playing.
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Hi all,
I am looking for the good condition preloved kekboard. If anyone has to let go, ps pm me with the model,how long have been used and where to collect. Thks. -
Champagne1975:
Hi, I read your earlier post, and my personal opinion is that there is no doubt a grand piano will be a much better instrument to be practising on due to the action of the piano, however, the teacher must be sufficiently used to how a grand piano truly works in order to impart the skills needed to the pupil. Not every teacher in Singapore has a grand piano, therefore, even if you buy a upgrade, the teacher may not even know how to use a grand piano to it's full potential.Hi all, I read the entire thread but still need advice.
1. I would like suggestions on upgrade to a final piano.
2. Whether a poorer instrument hampers piano progress/ results?
3. Is there an affordable Grand piano (possible Diploma down the road?), around what price tag?
Edited for length.
Does a poorer instrument hamper piano progress? Yes, for example, a upright piano does not have a responsive action in comparison to a well made grand piano , therefore, when playing higher level pieces like concert etudes, or even trills , you can feel the difference. The usage of the pedal, also differs. However, at grade 5, I do not really think it makes a big difference.
As for regards to scoring a distinction, even if you do buy a grand piano, the exam pianos are almost always an upright, therefore, even if you do prepare sufficiently on a grand piano, you may not be able to recreate the same sound on the upright in the exam room. So it is very hard to say if buying a grand piano will enable your daughter to score a distinction.
Is there an affordable grand piano? It does depend on your budget. As many posters here have recommended, china made models or even indonesian made models are available at good price points. However, quality does suffer in my opinion (no offence to anyone!), and technicians back in Vienna have discussed at length with me about how the china made models are made shabbily and of inferior metal and wood quality with very odd ways of assembling the piano together, making them unable to last long. Well made ones can easily last you a lifetime when taken care of properly,and when a grand piano is of inferior quality, it may be that a much better quality upright will be superior to the grand.
Hope that helps! -
Thank you very much for those valid points, Pianoprincess!
I may have been reading too much in other non-local forums about grands. My online research on China-made and Indonesia-made pianos turn up similar reservations you raised. Still putting careful thought and weighing all considerations- now I have an idea of which aspects to look into regarding child's skill devt, and which recommended piano models. Not ready to take the plunge yet... -
Hi, need some advice regarding purchasing an upright vs grand.
It is known that some uprights are better than entry level grands.
For uprights, there are the Kawai K8, Steinway K-52, Petrof P135, Yamaha YUS5 etc. At least these are few of those uprights I know of. Please let me know if there are any others worth looking into.
On the other hand, there are the grands. Entry level ones are out. My question is, what models and price point at the minimum should I be looking at, to make sense of getting a grand vs above mentioned uprights?
I understand that a grand will probably cost more, and let’s take the size consideration out for the moment. I am trying to figure out how much more I have to pay, for a grand that is significantly better than the higher range of uprights, if I am to go the way of the grand. Thanks. -
bebebub:
Have you compared them with say Yamaha U1 or YUS-1?I am looking to upgrade our piano.
May I seek comments/advice/reviews on Kohler & Campbell(made in Korea)and Ellington(made in China). Both models stand at 131cm, similar pricing.
The respective dealer 'claimed' their piano is made of European/German parts. Should I be concerned with their assembly origin? If u hv to make a choice, which would you go for, or none at all? TIA.