All About Choosing and Buying Pianos
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Dear mummies and daddies,
I just sign up my dd to Yamaha JMC course.
I am thinking of buying the keyboard for her to practice.
Pls kindly advise me which keyboard model is suitable for beginner.
I dont know how to choose. I just want the suitable and not expensive one.
Thanks… -
rose88:
I would recommend getting a digital piano. Reason is if your dd wish to continue towards 1-to-1 classical piano lesson she would have a decent instrument to start with.Dear mummies and daddies,
I just sign up my dd to Yamaha JMC course.
I am thinking of buying the keyboard for her to practice.
Pls kindly advise me which keyboard model is suitable for beginner.
I dont know how to choose. I just want the suitable and not expensive one.
Thanks..
Some good entry level models include Korg Sp250 and Casio PX150, both of which can be bought for slightly over $1000. If just want a keyboard that produces sound, can purchase a MIDI controller that hooks up to your PC/laptop; this will cost around $200. -
Hi Dreamaurora ,
Thank you very much for your suggestion!! -
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. -
Scoring Distinction - in which section is she falling short? What is the child weak in? Is it because not enough preparation was done in these sections? Teacher is not meticulous enough in pointing out certain details that are crucial for scoring? Music is very much like writing compositions, in order to score, phrases have to be beautifully written with much detail and attention (and bombastic words!). In music these details will bring a child into the distinction region. A sensitive teacher will be able to highlight all these to the child and “drill” the child in carrying out these details. Some teachers are not able to pick these out and hence diminishing the chance of scoring high.
It is true that the instrument plays a part, more so when the child reaches the higher grades of 5 and above. The sensitivity of the piano plays a part. How frustrating it would be if the child were to try and produce a certain sound on the piano, the child makes sure the technique of playing it is right, only to find out that the piano is not able to give you what you had in mind. Having said that, I have students who practice on average pianos but still have the interest in practising and can execute what is taught well.
As for which piano to buy, there is more to it than “yamaha”. Of course Yamaha is a widely known brand and it does manufacture decent, affordable pianos. But if it is an investment you are talking about and you’re seriously looking into grands, then it really pays to look and shop around. If you have a budget in mind, state it here and I am sure there will be some good suggestions popping up -
Champagne1975:
I would like to add more that what jce said, which was excellent btw.Hi all, I read the entire thread but still need advice. Most friends/ child's ex-piano tchrs around me rec *only* Yamaha. Some forums also advise that student will be more motivated by a grand piano, particularly if going Diploma route.
We have an resale non-Yamaha of unknown age that cost less than $1K. It has taken DD through her exams G1, G3... she will be taking G5 next yr in Pri 3. The tuner technician thinks it'd work to G8. Piano teachers past and present haven't said anything bad about the piano. She is fairly young, diligent and keen on piano, but I can't say she is particularly talented. So far just abit short of Distinction results.
I would like to upgrade to a final piano.
1. She says she wants to do Diploma eventually but I'm unsure she'd change her mind in years to come (although she has been very steadfast since she took G1 in K1).
2. I'm also unsure if this instrument is really her thing, seeing she hasn't had Distinction- it would be much easier to justify an upgrade if she had just one? But I do wonder if she has been hampered in any way by her instrument or environment- if the instrument cost more, she (us?) might be more motivated? Both kids are the only ones with any musical training. I cannot trust the younger one to be steadfast in interest.
3. I guess I'd bring her around to choose her own piano on her own preference but she is easily swayed by salespersons too? Is there an affordable Grand piano for her purposes (possible Diploma down the road?), around what price tag and necessitating any special room temperature/ humidity requirements?
I do want the best for her within financial limits. She is a dear and knows I worry over the expense- she tells me her current piano is fine enough.
Now, distinction is by no means an easy feat to achieve, especially in the later grades. There are many factors to consider as well if students wish to achieve high merit or distinction consistently.
1. Strong technical foundation
Very important and often neglected by many teachers due to time constraint in lessons. As students progress in grade, so do their pieces increase in technical difficulty. By right, besides learning pieces there should be a consistent technical regime consisting of scales, arpeggios, and etudes. It is true that good teachers are capable of adding much more musical details to their students' playings as compared to average teachers. But no matter how good the teachers are, if the students are not capable of realising those details, their playings would not be able to realise full potentials. When I was teaching some higher grades transfer students last time, I had to be honest to them and told them they might not be able to get very good results because of weak foundations. For such cases I normally recommend delaying the exams to work on the technical deficiencies first, but students and parents often are unwilling to do so and prefer to rush into exams.
2. Appropriate Repertoire Choice
Each student is unique and comes with his/her own playing styles along with strengths and weaknesses. To achieve best result in exam, repertoire assigned should display the students' strengths and suit their temperaments. Normally I will let my students choose their exam pieces, but I may veto some of their decisions if clearly the pieces do not suit them. And I also encourage alternative pieces as the examiners may get tired from listening same pieces too many times. Some teachers assign exactly same exam pieces for all students of the same grade for convenience sake; this should not be the way.
3. Good examiners
Now, I know that we should not blame the examiners for our marks and there was no way we could know how our students performed inside that room. But I have experienced at least a few occassions where the examiners did not mark according to the marking guidelines or demonstrate knowledge of repertoire being assessed. ABRSM has laid out very specific marking guidelines for the grades in their syllabus that can be read freely in their website and I normally give some mock scores according to these guidelines. I was most of the time on the dot, but a few errant examiners seem adamant not to follow them, mostly deducting more marks than necessary (4 marks deduction for slightly off pitch echo singing!!!). And there are at least a couple times I totally disagreed with the comments the examiners wrote for the pieces; coincidentally the examiners were non pianists. But such is the nature of music; even the best pianists can polarize opinions (can read up the local concert reviews for Nojima who performed in Piano Festival a few years ago).
As for your daughter wishing to do diploma, that is still quite far off and she may change her mind. But be forewarned that it is quite costly. Engaging proper diploma teachers are not cheap and total the piano fees may well go into more than 10K. She also will need to devote at least one to two hours or more consistently for an extended period of time. As for whether she should do diploma if she has not scored a distinction before, plenty of distinction scorers for grade 8 has failed diploma exams before. Diplomas are totally different ball game altogether. How she do for the grades do not really matter; what matters more is her passion and work ethic. I scored only 118 when I self-taught myself to take grade 8 piano, but I still went on to join NAFA full time and graduated from it.
An actual grand is not really necessary. My K80 upright grand served me all the way from grade 8 to my full time study. But if you are looking at actual grand, consider entry level Yamaha C or Kawai RX. Hailun's grand is below 20K and worth considering as well. -
I’m overwhelmed and thankful for the thoughtfully crafted replies. I’ve been trying to digest the info. hence my delayed response. I’d be back when I’ve considered things over more.
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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.