Upgrading Piano
We started our hunt for a new piano to upgrade Brendan’s academic model to exam model. Whether engaging a teacher from a music school or a music teacher who comes to the home to teach, having a piano at home will be a must as regular practices are definitely expected at home to perfect the skill.
We never imagine that selecting a suitable piano is by no means easy. User will have to test it out, like the performance and external look before committing ….hmmm….sounds like buying car or bike :) One thing I have been advised is that expensive piano does not necessarily mean good quality. It is important that the user of the piano selects the piano personally or if he/she is still too young to determine the suitability of the piano, then it is good to bring the music teacher or an expert along.
In our case, we are grateful to Brendan’s piano teacher for making the special trip with us to choose the piano. There are just so many factors to consider like the feel/touch, the tone, the quality of the exterior, the price, and how well the piano is maintained if it is a second hand set.
I am looking for a second hand one for my daughter as well. Quite cheap here in the UK.
I haven’t bought any piano in my life yet, but I would love to someday. Your post reminds me of the time when I was learning to play the violin and had to buy one for myself. It didn’t feel right to just buy any violin right away, as there are many factors to consider to be able to get one that’s really worth it. To play it safe, we asked my violin teacher (who was also teaching at a music school that sells musical instruments) to purchase one for me. We just gave her the money, and she chose a good one, and we even got a good discount because she knew the people in that store. I guess this purchasing strategy doesn’t only apply to buying violin, but also, in buying piano, as in your experience, or any other musical instrument or piece of investment.