Learning to play the Piano - Need advice on a practice instrument.

Riskoe · 06-30-2009, 09:32 AM

Ive started taking lessons yesterday after weeks of wanting to find a decent teacher and finally start learning how to play.

My teacher has told me it would be best for me to buy an electric hammer action piano to practice on at home, trouble is I dont have a spare 400quid lying around to buy one. My aunt and some other friends have pianos in their homes, but I cant get access to them every night like I would like to be able to practice.

What would be a good instrument to learn on at home between lessons bearing in mind it needs to be weighted keys I beleive?

I only have about £200 to spend at the moment, so a few examples of decent pianos that I could maybe find second hand would be much appreciated!

Cheers,

Steve.

mr dave · 06-30-2009, 04:46 PM

if you've already got half of the money necessary to get what you need then why spend it on something else that likely won't last in the long run?

so you go a few weeks without being able to practice every night. it's hardly the end of the world. just create a budget and stick to it and you'll have the cash necessary before you know it.

Astronomer · 06-30-2009, 08:31 PM

The best thing you can do, if you're serious, is buy a full length electric piano with weighted keys and a damper pedal. Trying to learn on an unweighted cheaper, 'keyboard' that isn't full length is too difficult. If you're serious about learning this instrument, and electric piano will be a good investment to save up for.

Riskoe · 07-01-2009, 12:26 PM

I will do, but at the moment Im just using a yamaha keyboard.

Its more a matter of months to be able to spend 500quid on a piano, and I need something to practice on regardless.

I also dont have space for a full size piano, otherwise Id buy a second hand acoustic one. Not even an electric piano is going to fit into my room.

Astronomer · 07-01-2009, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Riskoe

I will do, but at the moment Im just using a yamaha keyboard.

Its more a matter of months to be able to spend 500quid on a piano, and I need something to practice on regardless.

I also dont have space for a full size piano, otherwise Id buy a second hand acoustic one. Not even an electric piano is going to fit into my room.

I have an electric piano in my room and my room is TINY. They may be full-length but they take up A LOT less space than real pianos. Plus if I need to put it away I just take it off the stand, put it under my bed, and fold the stand up. Easy. They're quite handy.

There's nothing wrong with practicing on a cheaper keyboard while you save up for a piano. It's just a bit annoying because you are limited in what you can do.

BTown · 07-02-2009, 12:57 AM

Don't geta keyboard. Getting Keyboards with weighted keys are usually quite expensive and then you'll have to buy a good pedal too.
I'd suggest buying an Ellington upright piano.
They are beginner pianos and are relatively smaller than most pianos and contain less keys but the amount of keys it gives you is fine for a year or so.

If you do have your heart set on getting a keyboard with weighted keys i'd suggest buying a cheap electric keyboard until you can afford a better one. For the first 6 months of me learning piano all I really learned were some chords, finger exercises and really simple songs so playing on a cheap keyboard would be ok for a little.

06-30-2009, 09:32 AM	#1 (permalink)
Riskoe Groupie Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 2	Learning to play the Piano - Need advice on a practice instrument. Ive started taking lessons yesterday after weeks of wanting to find a decent teacher and finally start learning how to play. My teacher has told me it would be best for me to buy an electric hammer action piano to practice on at home, trouble is I dont have a spare 400quid lying around to buy one. My aunt and some other friends have pianos in their homes, but I cant get access to them every night like I would like to be able to practice. What would be a good instrument to learn on at home between lessons bearing in mind it needs to be weighted keys I beleive? I only have about £200 to spend at the moment, so a few examples of decent pianos that I could maybe find second hand would be much appreciated! Cheers, Steve.

07-02-2009, 12:57 AM	#6 (permalink)
BTown super cool Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 806	Don't geta keyboard. Getting Keyboards with weighted keys are usually quite expensive and then you'll have to buy a good pedal too. I'd suggest buying an Ellington upright piano. They are beginner pianos and are relatively smaller than most pianos and contain less keys but the amount of keys it gives you is fine for a year or so. If you do have your heart set on getting a keyboard with weighted keys i'd suggest buying a cheap electric keyboard until you can afford a better one. For the first 6 months of me learning piano all I really learned were some chords, finger exercises and really simple songs so playing on a cheap keyboard would be ok for a little. __________________

06-30-2009, 08:31 PM	#3 (permalink)
Astronomer we are stardust Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Australia Posts: 2,894	The best thing you can do, if you're serious, is buy a full length electric piano with weighted keys and a damper pedal. Trying to learn on an unweighted cheaper, 'keyboard' that isn't full length is too difficult. If you're serious about learning this instrument, and electric piano will be a good investment to save up for.

07-01-2009, 12:26 PM	#4 (permalink)
Riskoe Groupie Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 2	I will do, but at the moment Im just using a yamaha keyboard. Its more a matter of months to be able to spend 500quid on a piano, and I need something to practice on regardless. I also dont have space for a full size piano, otherwise Id buy a second hand acoustic one. Not even an electric piano is going to fit into my room.