So apparently dd (6.5) is starting piano lessons and I have to buy a piano !

[LucyLamb]

And although I did have lessons back when I was at school, and although technically I own a Bentley, I am now going to have to buy a piano !!

Have been looking on ebay and have contacted a local chap - who has suggested 3 to me, costing £900, £750 and £450 - whilst I was thinking of more like £150 !!!

So the question is - how does a non musical person like me find a cheap but good piano (that also goes with the decor !) and not get ripped off ?

(PS. The thing about the Bentley - my mother supposedly bought it me for Xmas when I was about 15 - but now she says its hers as I never paid any interest - and she occasionally plays it !)

[christywhisty]

You don't need to buy a paino to start with. I good touch sensitive organ with 61 keys (i think) is all you need.

[fingerwoman]

ok well why not talk to your mum and see if you can have the bentley for your dd?
we have a ymca furniture charity shop thingy near here and it always seems to have pianos in for around £150-£200

[moo]

There is no way I would buy a piano for a 6 year old who (have I got this right?) hasn't even started lessons yet. She might hate it!

[christywhisty]

I need to read what I write first

that should be "piano" and A not I

[LucyLamb]

Well - school says she can only have lessons if she has a piano at home - and I have to sign to say she will do 15 mins practice every day.

To be honest I don't see how you can start lessons without a piano - but anyway that's not the question is it.

[LucyLamb]

Mother has already said I can't have it until she is dead - don't tempt me eh ?

[slondonmum]

Be careful don't get an old Joanna get something decent. Anything really cheap, be careful! You may have to pay to get someone to take it away. We got one from a woman a couple of streets away (she stuck a notice in the local newsagents) paid about £400 for it. I searched the make on google and found I got a good deal the piano tuner said it was worth twice that. If you really want to be sure, you could pay a piano tuner to give it the once over.

[LucyLamb]

That's what I'm worried about really. The local chap said he could keep an eye out for an old one for me - and he is a tuner/restorer etc of good reputation - so maybe via him will be the safest way to go ?

[slondonmum]

He sounds a good bet in my opinion. I personally think you need a piano - keyboards just don't sound the same. I am sure your child will enjoy playing it. My DD plays both the violin and piano, and we found she picked the piano up much quicker. Also doesn't take long to sound quite good!

[MorocconOil]

You can hire pianos from some piano shops, then if you decide to buy one they will knock the amount you rented it for off price if you buy one.

Our DS started at 6. He's now 7 and wants to give up, but we are making him carry on. I wish we'd waited a year or so before starting him.

[LucyLamb]

She always makes a beeline for everyone elses piano - so I am sure she will be enthusiastic - just not convinced she will keep it up ! Hence I really don't want to spend a lot !

Yes - I will ask local chap to keep an eye out for an old and cheap one for me ! He at least will know what he is looking at and also he delivers and tunes - whereas with ebay it's pot luck and you have to organise someone to collect as well !

Thanks for your advice !

[fannyannie]

definitely get a piano rather than a keyboard (although a touch sensitive electric piano would be just as good).

[fannyannie]

where abouts are you in the country Lucy??

[LucyLamb]

School said that if we get electric one the keys must be weighted - not too sure what I'd be looking for though.

[LucyLamb]

Hampshire/Berkshire borders

[fannyannie]

ahh - a bit too far from me - otherwise I would have sold you my upright - it's a lovely piano, badly needs tuning (been moved - house - twice and not done yet) and has a few scratched in "hyroglyphics" courtesy of DS2 along the front but nothing major that needs doing to it.....

If you go for Electric basically what you need is one that plays notes quietlly if you press gently, and loudly if you press hard - whereas most keyboards it's the same volume no matter how hard you press

[cheechymunchy]

Hi LucyLamb, I'm a degree-trained pianist that used to sell them too. Please don't go down the route of 61 note keyboard. Go for the local gentleman's advice. The worst thing is picking up a £100 "bargain" from the local paper to find that it's an iron-framed hunk of junk that's been left for so long that the tuning frame will need a complete rehaul. Many pianos are just beyond repair. This man should be able to locate an old piano that will need some, but not too much work. Besides, they look so much nicer than keyboards to put your photos on!

[LucyLamb]

Oh thanks fanny - that would have been good ! Never mind - I will brief the local chappie to find me a very cheap one ! Problem is I am so picky about furniture etc !

[potoroo]

LL - there's a few places that will let you hire first. Then if you decide to purchase they take off the amount you have already paid (even if it is on a different piano).

There's definitely a place in Reading that I have been too.

Also, if you get a digital piano, be aware that unless you fork out for a touch sensitive/weighted keys one, they will have a different feel to a real piano.

The AMEB (Australian Music Exam Board) website has a list of digital pianos that they allow for the first few exams - good starting reference.

[LucyLamb]

Thanks cheechy - I'll do that !

I am sure I would land myself with a complete dinosaur if I tried to find one independently !

[LucyLamb]

thanks potoroo - are the hire places selling just new pianos though ? I am horrified how expensive new ones are - so even if they take the rental off I probably still couldn't afford a new one !

[littlefrog]

how about looking on freecycle? there have been a lot of pianos on our local one - no idea about the quality though, and of course you need to transport it...

[ib]

dh plays a lot and says a keyboard weighted electric is fine for practising, plus has the advantage that you can use it with headphones so don't need to drive everyone nuts when you are working on a particular passage, and they can be stored in a cupboard when not in use. The yamaha dcx series are keyboard weighted I believe.

Then, if she gets really into it, you can buy her a good one.

[portonovo]

We bought this digital piano from this Ebay seller.
Excellent service, arrived within a few days. It is fully-weighted, touch-sensitive etc. My daughter gets on really well with it - she is used to playing different pianos in her lessons etc and says it doesn't feel too different.

We got it because of lack of space, and yes, so she could practise with headphones on!

[singingmum]

LucyLamb a keyboard will do for the first year or 2.My son plays and has only had a piano for about 2/3 yrs and has been learning for about 6.You can pick up a pretty decent keyboard second hand these days and then buy a piano only when you know that your dc will continue and is serious.This was the advice we were given by the piano teacher.