Piano buying advice wanted

[goldilocks]

I'm thinking about buying a piano for our house. I used to play but haven't played in almost 20 years. The kids are 1 and 3 and I'd like them to have the option of playing so thought getting a piano earlier would be nice.

My parents bought me a digital piano which I always hated, it just never felt the same so I'm thinking of a standard upright piano. Not sure if the lack of headphones is something I'll hugely regret...

Does anyone have any advice on pianos with kids and where to buy?

Thanks

[Medusa]

I have two children who started learning the piano last year. I was given a free piano on the forum but it turned out to be deader than a dodo...which I only found out after spending rather a lot of money having it delivered and tuned. (I have no reason to think it wasn't given away in good faith, though, and could have been damaged in transit.)

As a result of this experience I played it safe when it came to replacing the piano recently. I don't play myself and it seemed too much of an imposition on my piano tuner friend's time to drag them along to every auction or private sale in town, so in the end, following a recommendation, I went here

http://pianolobby.co.uk/

and bought a piano from them. It's not the cheapest way to acquire a used piano but the man who runs the company, Julian Barber, is extremely helpful, friendly and candid and the pianos are under guarantee. I would definitely recommend him and the new piano is a lovely, lovely thing.

[catgirl]

we've got a digital piano but it's one with weighted keys so it feels like a proper piano.

The advantages over a standard piano are that it takes up less space and also that you can turn the volume down or use earphones! (disadvantage is that your 3 year old can keep turning it off while your 9 year old is trying to practice....)

ours was from www.chasedirect.co.uk

They have quite a handy guide to which digital piano is best for you which I liked because it said no point spending a lot on one with loads of features if you just basically want to use it as a normal piano.

[lorraineliyanage]

Another vote for Piano Lobby, they have some really nice pianos. I have a Barber upright piano.

Alternatively, Casio do some very realistic digital pianos - the Celviano is great.

I have an acoustic upright and two digital pianos (Yamaha and Casio) if you want to try them out.

[nunheadmum]

As a kid I had an upright piano - I hated practicing because the whole street could hear me. As an adult I really now wish I'd kept playing.

Now my daughter is playing and we got a Yamaha digital piano and I absolutely love that I can play it whenever I want and turn it down so no one has to suffer.

[MrsP]

I have played for nearly 30 years and have always been a complete snob about digital pianos vowing never to get one. However, I had a complete change of mind when I visited Chappell of Bond Street and tried some of the models there. I was very sceptical about the playing experience but now have a lovely Yamaha Clavinova. Not only does it never need tuning, I can plug the ear phones in and play as loud as I want when the kids are asleep. It flat packs so can be easily removed when we move house without the expense of a specialist removal company. I do recommend a trip to Chappell of Bond Street (now called Yamaha Music London http://www.yamahamusiclondon.com), they have a great range to try and helpful staff. They even did same day delivery including a lovely chap who put my piano together for me.

[goldilocks]

Thank you - thats really helpful.

I started learning on an upright - but after about 10 years it 'died' which is when my mother chose a digital piano - a technics one - can't remember why my mother chose this over a clavinova at the time but suspect it was because the colour coorindated with the living room furniture!! It did have weighted and touch sensitive keys, but there was just something about it that I never liked - so not sure if I'd have the same issues again.

Playing with headphones when the kids are asleep seems to be a definite advantage - as is being able to make them wear them to practice if its exam pieces, although the flip side is not being able to hear them practice!

On the other hand - an upright piano would probably look quite nice...

[BeccaL]

There is a piano store in Sydenham too (http://www.thepianostorelondon.co.uk/showroom-gallery) - no idea if it's any good though...

[hpsaucey]

goldilocks Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Thank you - thats really helpful.

>

> I started learning on an upright - but after about

> 10 years it 'died' which is when my mother chose a

> digital piano - a technics one - can't remember

> why my mother chose this over a clavinova at the

> time but suspect it was because the colour

> coorindated with the living room furniture!! It

> did have weighted and touch sensitive keys, but

> there was just something about it that I never

> liked - so not sure if I'd have the same issues

> again.

> Playing with headphones when the kids are asleep

> seems to be a definite advantage - as is being

> able to make them wear them to practice if its

> exam pieces, although the flip side is not being

> able to hear them practice!

>

> On the other hand - an upright piano would

> probably look quite nice...

Being presently mulling this over myself I've come to the conclusion that EVERY different maker of good Digitals - Roland/Yamaha/Kawai etc. will tell you why their's is the best and what makes it most like an acoustic upright - graded decay of notes/ wooden components etc. Most sample form their own pianos only. Nord 2 samples across a range of grand/classy uprights. No digital will be exactly like playing an acoustic, but then again all acoustics are different too. Think you'd have to go and try a few out and see if any of them did it for you personally.

Good luck!

H

[Soulking]

just took a look at that piano lobby site. Some nice piano's, but bizarrely I can't find an address for their showroom on their website. Anyone know where they are?

[Medusa]

It's an online company with pianos stored near Homebase in Penge.

[tyor]

Have a look at www.gear4music.com. I bought an 88-key Yamaha P35 digital piano for my then 5yr old son when he started playing last year. Comepetitive pricing for all types of pianos with inclusive extended warranty. I've been pleased with the purchase.

[BeccaL]

I think they've got a little store on Kirkdale - just off the roundabout. - yes 112 Kirkdale (on Contact us page)

[MusicoSouth]

You may already have got your instrument, but if not, I'd second the recommendation from BeccaL about The Piano Store, Kirkdale, Sydenham. They specialise in refurbing acoustic pianos for entry level market, and you can usually get a very nice instrument there for between ?500-?1000. The guys who run it are hugely knowledgeable, helpful and fun, and will give you frank advice and demonstrate the pianos for you if you like. Liam there can also tune your piano after delivery. Many of my piano students have bought instruments there, and been very happy with them.

Good luck!

Emma

musico south

[penelopeklippout]

I am a fan of Yamaha pianos UK. I suggest that you get one for your home. This brand is very durable and your children will be able to use it for many years to come.