New to piano - what instrument should I get?

I’m going to lay out my recommendations for pianos as concisely as possible in this entry.

In my professional opinion, you really have 2(.5) options to choose from:

1. Digital Piano. You need to spend at least $500 to get a decent instrument in this category. It will be a perfectly decent instrument that can be used even by highly advanced students to prepare concert repertoire. I highly recommend getting a setup that has a nice furniture-style bench for the keyboard. The ‘X’ stands will break down pretty quickly and can be very wobbly. Digital pianos need no maintenance and will last indefinitely if cared for properly. Please consider resell value: if you under-spend and buy a junky instrument, it will be worthless if you decide to move on from it - and you’ll need to move on very quickly. If you spend on a nice digital piano and want to move on from it, we can easily connect you with a new client that needs one and can purchase it from you. If you do decide to go with this option - it is an absolute MUST to get 88 weighted keys.

Pros - Cheapest option, no maintenance, resell easily, can be used with headphones for quiet practice.

Cons - Does not feel like a real piano when played, does not provide the same auditory experience of an acoustic instrument.

The instrument I recommend is the Williams Allegro IV. We can get you this instrument ourselves for a reduced cost. Let me know if you want to go this route and we will place an order and schedule a pickup.

2. Piano store. You're headed towards at least $1,000-2,000 on this option but having a real instrument is a huge benefit. The mechanisms inside the piano really cannot be replicated without just making a piano, so the way it feels is always inauthentic on a digital. The same is true of the acoustic sound - you get a totally different aural experience listening to a real instrument as opposed to a speaker. It may not be immediately obvious, but it is a little bit like learning a language from someone with an improper accent, vs. someone who has the proper native accent. You will learn the language, but you might be consigned to having an accent. Same in music - a real piano helps you understand the subtleties and intricacies of producing extremely high-quality playing. Piano stores in our area do a good job of finding nice used instruments that they can restore. You'll basically get what you pay for so make your selection based on your budget, physical space constraints, and aesthetic preferences. If you have the budget for new - go for it. Technology is improving so fast - it never ceases to amaze me how incredibly nice new pianos are. They just get better and better like everything else! Real pianos do need to be tuned, preferably twice a year for approximately $200 per tuning. Other maintenance can come up but it’s very infrequent, especially if you care for the piano well. You want the instrument in a climate-stable area. It should not experience massive fluctuations in temperature or humidity or you will be significantly degrading it!

Pros - Proper feel for fingers, proper sound for ears. You really can’t replicate these on a digital.

Cons - More expensive, needs maintenance, larger.

Some piano stores I recommend are Lees Pianos and Jordan Kitt’s music.

2.5. I separate this category because I don’t recommend it very highly. Facebook Marketplace or other places people post used goods can be used to find both digital and real pianos. This is a toss-up for several reasons. Many people are just trying to get rid of pianos and will let you take theirs for the cost of moving it. In some cases you will find a really nice piano and get it free or really cheap. In other cases you're unfortunately getting a really junky instrument that will have problems and need a lot of work. Even if you trust the source, they may not have had any idea of what maintenance really needed to be done on the instrument and it may not be worth the price you are paying. I’ve seen several clients get incredible deals this way, and I’ve seen several waste time and money on it. I don’t say it’s a totally lost cause, but you’ve been warned!

Good luck - please don’t hesitate to reach out with any additional questions you may have about the topic!