What instrument should you buy for your budding pianist

What instrument should you buy for your budding pianist Piano for children - which model should you buy? ChaptersWhy the piano is right for your childThe importance of your child’s music teacher when they learn to play the pianoProtecting the sense of joy your child gains from playing the pianoPiano for children, learning about their new instrument!Buying a piano for the houseAdvice for buying a piano for your childMany artists who began playing the piano from a young age (think Nina Simone, Ray Charles or even Mozart) become piano virtuosos by the time they reached adolescence.Just like the lion has been dubbed ‘king of the jungle,’ the piano could easily be considered king of all instruments. And its often a secret relief for parents to see their children gravitate towards the piano instead of other musical instruments like the violin.Often, a wish to see your child playing the piano is just considered a ‘nice to have’ for many parents, but for others it’s a major goal.The piano is a great first instrument for children, and by learning to play the piano they’re able to b egin learning a whole repertoire of different genres of piano music including jazz, classical - even rap!What model, and what type of piano is right for your child?“Are these pianos right for my child?Is there a better piano to play at home?What’s the difference between an acoustic piano, electric piano and an electronic keyboard?Are there other piano companies I should look at?”Rent a piano before you buyChildren have a well deserved reputation for picking up and dropping hobbies frequently.So if you aren’t sure your child will make it past learning octaves to their first recital and really becoming a piano player, it might be a good idea to rent a piano, or maybe rent-to-buy if you can find it, either a digital or acoustic piano.For about $50-100/month you can often find piano models that will let your child practice their piano playing at home without making a long term (and very expensive) commitment. It’s worth spending that little bit more to get a piano instead of a keyboard, but you definitely don’t need a baby grand piano in your living room either.Your rental agreement will specify a fixed monthly payment for the rental until it is returned, often with a clause to verify the condition of the piano at the end.Avoid the ‘pianos for young children’ modelsWhile they may seem more appropriate for little hands, and short arms and legs, we wouldn’t recommend considering pianos made specifically for children.In contrast to the smaller versions you can find of violins, drums, or guitars,  pianos for children, even though they have smaller keys, are often more of a gadget than an instrument.Which brands of piano are good for children?There’s a wide range of different piano brands and they all have different advantages and disadvantages, making it difficult to choose the right piano for children (even for the customer service associates trying to help you). With names like Steinway, Kawai, Clavinova, Korg and Casio floating around your head, we’ve picked out a few of the best piano brands.Popular acoustic piano brands include:ChoiseulYamahaRameauGood digital brands include:YamahaRolandGemGiven all the different brands that are available and the new ones constantly entering the market, it’s best not to consider our list the be all and end all, and have a chat with your child’s piano teacher too. You never know what new brands and models might enter the market next year.Digital pianos - a good choice for childrenHow much should you spend to get a good quality piano?The digital piano often seems like a good choice for a child’s first piano. The built in metronome, ability to plug in headphones, and volume control are all an advantage - for parents as well as children.What’s more, it’s lacking a lot of the disadvantages of an acoustic piano, such as:The difficulty in moving the piano from one room, or even one corner of the room, to another.The volume - you can’t control the sound on acoustic pianosThe price - generally more expensive, even if you find an acoustic piano with a similar price tag to a digital piano, you won’t be getting as much for your money.They may lack a bit of style, but thanks to their weighted keys, digital pianos can often easily serve the needs of a piano student as they work on their notes, music reading, and playing their first melodies.Choosing a portable digital piano for an affordable costThanks to the profusion of portable keyboards, this segment of the market often offers a much more affordable selection, even for buying a new model.If you’re considering buying a portable digital piano for your child, you should expect to spend about $400-600 for an instrument that will serve your child well for several years.Considering the keys and sound quality of your prospective pianoWhen shopping for a digital piano, it’s key to consider the keys and sound quality on offer. These are the criteria that will help you find the right piano for your child.It’s a g ood idea to prepare a piece of music in advance - something with an interesting tempo - and try out the piece on different pianos to see how they perform.You can also play some scales on the piano to try it out, but you won’t get as good a sense of the digital piano’s musical abilities as a musical instrument.If you’re still a very fresh beginner and working on playing your first few notes, it’s worth bringing a musician friend along to help you buy your piano.If you’re really set on your child becoming a future professional pianist, it might make sense to make the leap and buy an acoustic piano. For them, technique will be paramount, and they’ll have a slight advantage on an acoustic piano, especially over learning on a piano keyboard. An upright piano is probably still more appropriate than a baby grand though!If you’re shopping for an acoustic piano, it’s a good idea to see if any piano makers are offering factory discounts for new pianos, or if you can find a gen tly used acoustic piano for sale.