How do I buy a Piano?

The Miss Liz Studio Piano was a generous gift from a family friend :)

I’ve gotten a lot of requests from new students recently about what to do in regard to obtaining a piano for practicing. Though there are several routes you can take, the most affordable and straightforward purchase is an electronic keyboard. Yamaha and Casio Privia are both great, affordable options. The main items you are looking for are:

• 88 Keys - this helps the student see the entire keyboard

• Weighted Keys - these imitate the feel of an acoustic piano, which helps the fingers gain strength

• Correct positioning - when you have set up the piano, make sure that the keyboard is at an appropriate height for the student’s optimal piano posture

In order to have optimal piano posture, feet should be solid on the ground (or a box/stool) with legs at a ninety-degree angle. Knees should be just under the keyboard, and the student should sit on their sits bone or the “edge of the piano stool,” instead of sitting back in the chair with their torso’s weight on the thighs instead of the sits bones. Arms should be roughly at a ninety-degree angle, with forearms parallel to the keys and curved, relaxed fingers on the keys and wrists free to move/bounce.

If you have any further questions about keyboards, I would consider checking out Classic Pianos or Amazon for the digital keyboard options I’ve previously mentioned. Craigslist sometimes offers free, acoustic pianos. You’ll need some specific feedback from a pianist (like me!) and will need to budget a specific piano mover (Classic Pianos has one through A-Z Moving) for around $100 and a piano tuning after the move for around $100 (please let me know if you’d like the name of a great tuner I know!). I would also like to pass along a link to my former employer’s well-researched, and incredibly informational article:

Choosing a Piano or Keyboard for the Beginning Student

Happy playing!