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There are so many options in the market, that when you’re trying to select a piano for your family, it can be a daunting task. Not only are they a big ticket purchase, but pianos can also be difficult to move. Depending on the type of piano you select, it can take up a lot of space in your home.

First, consider the player.

The quality of a piano is determined by their sound, touch and tone. The sounds a piano makes will be directly related to the weight the player applies to the instrument when playing it. So, when you’re looking at an inventory of instruments, you should take into consideration the person who is going to be using the piano. How are the instruments you’re considering helping you interpret your music. 

Select a piano for beginners.

The weight of the keys and how sensitive they are to the touch will affect the learning process. If the keys are too light, the student will struggle when sitting in front of a better (and more expensive) model. 

If the keys are too heavy, a younger student could have trouble or even damage their hands by trying to produce sounds. 

In short, weighted key pianos of good quality are best when you select a piano for a beginner student.

Consider your budget and your needs when selecting a piano.

Is the piano player in your home already committed to practicing the piano specifically? Or are they mostly just dabbling in learning an instrument at this time? Is there enough space for your piano at home? Will the sounds of practicing bother any neighbors?

As far as your budget, you will get what you pay for. The range of prizes and quality is truly huge. You can find a used piano on Facebook Marketplace; but you can also spend thousands of dollars in a quality concert piano. 

Digital pianos and keyboards

If your piano player is still a beginner, we suggest considering a digital piano or keyboard with weighted keys. It’s the lowest entry cost into piano playing for a beginner or a child. They are easy to move around, don’t require a ton of space and can even be played with headphones for privacy.

While the sound will never match that of an acoustic piano, your beginner will have the chance to explore the experience.

Acoustic pianos

With a longer lifespan, and a craftsmanship that makes it a real investment, an acoustic piano is the correct choice for a more seasoned player. The most important thing to know about an acoustic piano: no two instruments are ever the same. Even if they are the same model and/or brand. So you must make the time to always test the instrument on site before making a decision to purchase. 

The best brands are Steinway, Fazioli, with more affordable prices in brands from Yamaha or Kawai. 

New or used?

You can find a brand new piano from a variety of local music vendors. You can look for local events like the Rockley Family Foundation instrument sales. Regardless of the place you choose, try to find a vendor with a larger selection of pianos you can test on-site (for both new and used instruments). 

If you decide on purchasing a used piano, you will need to be ready to try those on-site and then arrange to have them moved into your home. Even though a used piano is, in theory, a less expensive solution to select a piano; you need to consider that a bargain can mean you end up paying out of pocket for restoration, repairs, tuning, etc. 

Finally, consider rentals

If you’re a parent who is not yet sure of whether your children will stick with the instrument in the long term, a piano rental might be a good solution. Like an auto lease, a piano rental allows you to have the instrument at home and decide to purchase it at the end of the rental period for a reduced price, or you can simply return it.