Buying expensive things for only child

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here thanks for the responses. We have some concerns buying piano used as there could be issues with tuning etc.

You can buy a piano at Costco, fyi. And even people with pianos they bought new hire a piano tuner to come about once a year to tune the piano.

[Anonymous]

I had a very old used piano when I was growing up. We had it tuned, but it still had this one key that was off. I got used to it and actually learned to love the way my big old piano sounded. When I visit I still play it, even though it hasn't been tuned in decades. If we had somewhere in the house to put it, I'd get a used piano in an instant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here thanks for the responses. We have some concerns buying piano used as there could be issues with tuning etc.

You can buy a piano at Costco, fyi. And even people with pianos they bought new hire a piano tuner to come about once a year to tune the piano.

NP here. Absolutely. My BIL is a professional pianist (degrees from Oberlin Conservatory and Indiana U) and he hires a tuner yearly. You can buy concert pianos pre-loved during yearly sales; I think he said concert halls will sell theirs on a regular basis.

[Anonymous]

Rent the piano. Have an independent tuner take a look at it in the store, to check it out before agreeing to rent it. Or sometimes you can get a free piano from a neighborhood list, with you just paying the cost of transporting it (and then tuning it). You could also start out on an electric keyboard for a few months, until you see whether your kid likes it, and then move to a piano. That’s what we did and six years later DC is now playing on a concert grand.

[Anonymous]

13:04 here. I meant to give a shout-out to Rick Jones Pianos. Great selection, extremely knowledgeable, good people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Rent the piano. Have an independent tuner take a look at it in the store, to check it out before agreeing to rent it. Or sometimes you can get a free piano from a neighborhood list, with you just paying the cost of transporting it (and then tuning it). You could also start out on an electric keyboard for a few months, until you see whether your kid likes it, and then move to a piano. That’s what we did and six years later DC is now playing on a concert grand.

We got a used keyboard off Facebook Marketplace for $100. DS1 did NOT take to Simply Piano, but he loves banging on it. If he ever shows more interest, we will upgrade to lessons. If he hangs in for 6 months, we would upgrade to a piano.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here thanks for the responses. We have some concerns buying piano used as there could be issues with tuning etc.

PP with the violin again.
Some of the best classical instruments are old, as I'm sure you know
However, in the student and young professional range, new and used are comparable, as long as we're not talking about a damaged instrument.
If this is your child's first piano lessons, then you can also rent. No keyboard, even with weighted keys.
Whatever you do, the piano will have to be tuned once a year by a professional.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^^ and I am happy its not a horse!!

As someone who has two girls who ride, I can agree that this is something you should celebrate.

[Anonymous]

See if you can rent?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here thanks for the responses. We have some concerns buying piano used as there could be issues with tuning etc.

Buy a digital piano, cheaper and less space than an acoustic piano. Just be sure to get one with decent weighted keys.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here thanks for the responses. We have some concerns buying piano used as there could be issues with tuning etc.

Buy a digital piano, cheaper and less space than an acoustic piano. Just be sure to get one with decent weighted keys.

We have both a digital piano and a regular piano. Even with weighted keys, the regular piano is a vastly superior playing experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here thanks for the responses. We have some concerns buying piano used as there could be issues with tuning etc.

Buy a digital piano, cheaper and less space than an acoustic piano. Just be sure to get one with decent weighted keys.

We have both a digital piano and a regular piano. Even with weighted keys, the regular piano is a vastly superior playing experience.

Probably, but for most people the cost/space tradeoff makes a digital piano the better choice. Unless you are already a committed player, it is pretty easy for an acoustic piano to become something of an albatross. It is perfectly possible and acceptable to learn on a digital piano.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here thanks for the responses. We have some concerns buying piano used as there could be issues with tuning etc.

my kid takes piano lessons but practices on an electric keyboard at home. You do not need to buy a piano. DD is 8 and has been playing just over a year.

[Anonymous]

We bought DS a keyboard from Amazon and Simply Piano.

[Anonymous]

For piano, get a 44 key Casio keyboard under $100 or an 81 key Yamaha digital piano around $400 first to see how serious your kid is, if your kid is getting progress and willing to practice and doesn’t give up in 3 months, get an upright Yamaha piano (new one start around 5000, used one around $2000+), as keyboard/digital piano is totally different compare to a real piano. For violin, just rent it for around $35 a month, as you will have to keep changing size, in 4 years dc has changed 4 violin sizes, even if you want to buy a good violin you need a violin expert to help you pick one.