All About Choosing and Buying Pianos
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sook:
My dear son is 6 years old this year. We started him on the Yamaha Junior Course since he was 4 (throughout the 2 years - he practiced on keyboard which was ok).vicki:
I'm going to buy a Yamaha U1 soon. Hope i dont regret this decision!
How old is your DS? and how advance? I am so tempted to get a piano though my 4.5 daughter just started piano lessons a month ago.
Just switched him to piano in Oct and the teacher said that \"must have piano\" otherwise learning will become stagnant!
So now - whilst waiting for my dear hubby's Maybank cc card to be approved (using that to purchase Yamaha items will give you 5% rebate) - I'm therefore still deliberating whether to get the U1 (but seem most likely cos teacher recommend).
So how - would you be getting a piano also? Btw - can i know where school did you register your daughter for her piano class or are you doing private? -
I managed to get a good second hand Yamaha direct from someone whose child gave up piano. Ofcourse it has no warranty, so if you choose to buy direct, you need to know the serial no., age, verbal history about how it is maintained, get a tuner to check it and move it yourself. I think total cost for check and move was less than $150. Considering the difference between buying from a second hand dealer and buying direct was more than $1000, I think the hassle was worth it.
If you’re buying a piano for your child who is just starting to learn and you don’t play yourself, it is quite a large investment. The problem with buying a brand new piano that costs more than $8000 is that indirectly and unintentionally, it may cause an adult to place a lot of pressure on the child to pursue music. Some children are naturally interested, yet there are some out there who will learn because of threats and pressures by adults, but find it so tortuous they are pleading on the inside to quit.
If you buy a second hand, you know you can resell the piano without losing half its value. So it may place less pressure and result in a more pleasant learning process for the child.
…just speaking from personal experience as I grew up, I had no pressure to learn the piano as a child, but I loved the piano and enjoyed my lessons. I know someone who hated lessons, but was forced to tears to continue until she begged and begged and begged to quit. I think its an awful situation for a child to be in just because an adult paid alot of money for something.
To get a good second hand, keep your eyes open on the internet and noticeboards at piano schools, supermarkets, newspapers. You can also post a "want to buy" ad… I believe there are lots of pianos sitting in people’s houses, most kids learn only for a few years…
Patience is the key. It may take months… if you can wait.
Buying a cheap piano is also not a solution either. The weighting on the keyboard is totally different. The sound is very different. When you play in an exam, you may find your fingers are not strong enough, the sound sounds "funny" or different to the piano you are used to. So buy the best you can afford with minimal loss should you have to sell it second hand. Its almost a gift to the child for life…if they chose to love music for life. Most people don’t change pianos like cars, you simply don’t buy a new one every 10 yrs or less… -
Argh!! So many things to think of hor...
The only consolation i have is if ds1 give up - i can still cross fingers n hope that ds2 and ds3 might have interest!!
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[I can’t help you on which to get, i think it’s a matter of personal preferance. Once bitten twice shy for me. Gave up hunting for usd piano after kena conned by a supposedly "reputable" shop (i lost $200 deposit). At that time, i didn’t know can check the serial #. The shop owner told me the piano was aroung 15 years. Luckily i took nite of the serial number to check (though after i paid full but not delivered to my place). The serial # indicates that it’s built in 1960s!!!. When i confronted him, he said i heard wrongly - he said ABOVE 15 years, 40 years is above 15 years, not wrong ma. :x[/quote]
Buying a used piano is difficult and tedious. We spent two weekends covering both ends of singapore viewing pianos. I finally bought a 16 years old U1 for 4200 from Jazz piano school in Pomo. I also signed my daughters up for classes with them. Thank you for all your advices. -
vicki:
waiting for my dear hubby's Maybank cc card to be approved (using that to purchase Yamaha items will give you 5% rebate) -
Didn't realise can use for piano purchase. Good lobang
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Hi Vicki, currently my DD having private lesson at home. Her weekends are alerady packed with other enrichment classes, don’t have time and car to chaufer her on weekdays. But i am not sure if its a good idea to get a private teacher. As i am music illiterate, do not know whteher the teacher is good or not.
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sook:
As i am music illiterate, do not know whteher the teacher is good or not.
:idea: How about:
1) Record the lesson and/or her practice sessions.
2) Upload it.
3) Ask for commends.
4) Repeat 1-3 weekly. -
sook:
Hi Vicki, currently my DD having private lesson at home. Her weekends are alerady packed with other enrichment classes, don't have time and car to chaufer her on weekdays. But i am not sure if its a good idea to get a private teacher. As i am music illiterate, do not know whteher the teacher is good or not.
I guess it really depends if DD is a beginner, intermediate or advanced.
Firstly, just check your music teacher's qualification. If you DD is just a beginner, then as long as the teacher is grade 8, she should surely surely know the rudiments of music, hand positioning on the keyboard, teaching finger drills and scales etc... In otherwords, just check the certificate. However, if your DD is intermediate, then pls go for higher qualification.
The rest boils down to human touch ability to communicate with the child and encourage the child, which does not take a music literate person to observe. Take some time off work and simply observe the lesson. -
Sorry, don’t agree with Sci on the "If you DD is just a beginner, then as long as the teacher is grade 8, she should surely surely know the rudiments of music, hand positioning on the keyboard, teaching finger drills and scales etc…" There are, of course, those who can teach and are good at teaching beginners at this stage, just as there are those who CAN’T teach properly even with a diploma cert or any cert! I believe that a good foundation must be built at the early stages so finding a good, competent teacher at this stage is crucial, otherwise as more and more gets piled on, if the foundation is not built properly, the whole thing will crumble.
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Hi Everyone,
I am planning to get a upright piano for my 7 yrs old. I came across this particular model Kawai CE 7 which cost $1,000. Last heard from the shop owner that this model is make in Japan. Age wise is about 10 over years.
Is this deal consider a good one as I only nuts about piano. Can any kind soul out there help me please, thank you.
Lighting Hawk :celebrate:
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