What to Look for in a Keyboard Instrument
(Acoustic and/or Digital)
If you are looking to take piano lessons and do not yet have an instrument upon which to practice, you are faced with a lot of choices. The following is a short guide to help you decide what instrument will best suit YOUR needs. Piano or Keyboard (acoustic or digital)? It is always in your best interest to practice on the best quality instrument your budget can allow. A good measure of what you learn in the piano lesson has little to do with your fingers – you are training your ears. If you then practice on an instrument that is badly out of tune or has poor tone quality, you are training the ears to accept flawed sound whether you are aware of it or not. Your ears will love you if you insist on an instrument that is “in tune” and creates a pleasing tone.
Furthermore if the fingers are used to playing on a keyboard that has too light or flimsy a touch, they struggle when trying to play on an acoustic piano (which generally has 55 grams of weight per key).
Let us begin by looking at pianos.
What to look for in a Piano There are two types of pianos, upright and grand. An upright piano stands tall in a room. The strings run from floor to ceiling. On a grand piano the strings run parallel to the floor. Both styles are fine but note that within each style, you will find both good and bad instruments.
When purchasing a new piano, most salespeople are very knowledgeable and they will help you find an instrument that best suits your needs and budget. You may wish to take your teacher with you for advice when you get closer to a final decision.
Used Pianos unlike stringed instruments that can ripen and improve with age, pianos will deteriorate over time. If you are looking at used pianos, especially if they are in private homes and not piano stores (where they usually come with a warrantee), I would advise that you have an accredited piano technician look at it as well. Some problems may only be cosmetic but others can be fatal and a technician can tell the difference. They can give you an evaluation of its general condition and any required repairs as well as their cost. Be prepared to pay for this service: it is money well spent!
The following are some suggestions to help in your search for an acoustic piano.
Touch: Here you want to get as close to 55 grams of weight per key as possible. Often upright pianos have a considerably lighter touch than grand pianos. This is due to their mechanics. Also be careful as some grand pianos have more than 55 grams of weight per key and that could actually cause injury to the hand (tendonitis for example). Here is where you would want an experienced teacher or a technician to help you out. Tone: Ideally you will hope to find a lively, rich, full tone from the low range though the middle range and into the upper range – not shrill and not dull. A shrill tone can grate on the nerves. A dull sound is frustrating and can cause injury in the student if they are trying too hard to produce a richer tone quality. Condition of the Keys: Some used pianos have broken keys, missing ivory/plastic covers and the like. Your technician could help you determine the cost of these repairs. The Sounding Board: This is the board that resonates and projects the sound from the vibrating piano strings into the room. If it is badly cracked, it cannot be repaired and replacing a sounding board is very expensive. Some cracks do not affect the sound whatsoever. Again, a technician will advise you. Pedals: It should have at least 2 pedals. The right pedal sustains tone even after you lift your fingers off the keys and the left pedal softens (or dulls) the tone somewhat. These pedals are used a lot in piano music and they are essential. Some pianos have a middle pedal. Its function differs from instrument to instrument. On some upright pianos the middle pedal lowers felt fabric over the hammers, thus creating a very soft, dampened tone. This is used when one is practicing in an apartment at times that would disturb neighbours.
What to look for in a Keyboard or Digital Piano
These days keyboards are far less expensive than acoustic pianos and budget is a concern for most families. Always an acoustic piano will sound, feel and react to your fingers infinitely better than a keyboard and many teachers find that students practicing on electronic instruments at home tend to stop lessons after only a few years. Ultimately a real piano is far more rewarding and enjoyable to play on. However if a piano does not fit into your budget, a digital instrument is better than nothing and should be fine for the first year or so. Here are some important points to consider when shopping for a digital piano.
1. 88 keys: Your eyes judge everything you play and peripheral vision is essential when playing the piano. You will feel disoriented on a piano if your eyes are accustomed to a shorter keyboard. The most common complaint that teachers get from students who are practicing on small keyboards is that they cannot find their notes quickly enough on the piano in the lesson. They feel lost.
2. Touch: 55 grams of weight per key. If the keyboard has an extremely light touch, the student experiences difficulty when trying to control the sound properly on an acoustic piano. Many salespeople will tell you that their keyboards simulate a piano sound and touch – the best way to know is to play on the keyboard and a grand piano at the same time. You will feel if there is a significant difference.
3. Sound that dissipates quickly: When you depress a key on an organ, the tone will continue for as long as the key is depressed, however on a piano, the tone dies away quite rapidly. Play a note on the keyboard and keep it held down – be sure that the tone dies quickly.
4. Sound that simulates that of a piano.
5. Volume control - through the weight and speed used in depressing the keys. One must be able to control volume with each keystroke. Play a key gently, and then hit the same note swiftly and strongly. If the second time is not significantly louder, you will be unable to control dynamic levels and the instrument will do you more harm than good.
6. Two pedals: (see comments above under “What to look for in a Piano”)
OK I have my instrument. Now what?
The location of your instrument in the home is also essential if you want amazing results from your lessons. I highly recommend that your piano be located in a room free from distracting noises like the television, internet or other children playing. Avoid placing an acoustic piano close to a heating or air conditioning source as this will affect its tuning.
Speaking of tuning, if you have chosen an acoustic piano, you will want it to acclimatize to its new home for a month before you have it tuned. Weather changes, barometric pressure and humidity changes can affect its tuning as well. Keeping your piano tuned is just as important for its own well-being as it is for your ears.
If you live in a particularly dry area, you may wish to invest in a humidifier especially designed for pianos. These attach to the back of an upright piano and underneath a grand piano. In excessively humid climates, a dehumidifier would be a valuable investment.
Conclusion
You now have some basic points to consider when purchasing an instrument. Remember that most sales people are very knowledgeable and will do their best to help you find the instrument that is right for you. If you feel uncertain about your choice for any reason, talk with your teacher or technician.
All the best!
May you Grow… Achieve… and Enjoy piano music for many years to come.
© Laurie-Jeanne Lister
Musikmeister Studio provides Piano, Music Theory and Music History lessons to students of all ages and levels of ability.
We offer both Classical and Contemporary training.
Students may start as young as age 4 thanks to our Pre-School Piano Course.
Disclaimer: Musikmeister Studio does not sell musical instruments. This information is provided simply as a service to our students. For other information, brochures or to inquire about lessons contact us.
Furthermore if the fingers are used to playing on a keyboard that has too light or flimsy a touch, they struggle when trying to play on an acoustic piano (which generally has 55 grams of weight per key).
Let us begin by looking at pianos.
What to look for in a Piano There are two types of pianos, upright and grand. An upright piano stands tall in a room. The strings run from floor to ceiling. On a grand piano the strings run parallel to the floor. Both styles are fine but note that within each style, you will find both good and bad instruments.
When purchasing a new piano, most salespeople are very knowledgeable and they will help you find an instrument that best suits your needs and budget. You may wish to take your teacher with you for advice when you get closer to a final decision.
Used Pianos unlike stringed instruments that can ripen and improve with age, pianos will deteriorate over time. If you are looking at used pianos, especially if they are in private homes and not piano stores (where they usually come with a warrantee), I would advise that you have an accredited piano technician look at it as well. Some problems may only be cosmetic but others can be fatal and a technician can tell the difference. They can give you an evaluation of its general condition and any required repairs as well as their cost. Be prepared to pay for this service: it is money well spent!
The following are some suggestions to help in your search for an acoustic piano.
Touch: Here you want to get as close to 55 grams of weight per key as possible. Often upright pianos have a considerably lighter touch than grand pianos. This is due to their mechanics. Also be careful as some grand pianos have more than 55 grams of weight per key and that could actually cause injury to the hand (tendonitis for example). Here is where you would want an experienced teacher or a technician to help you out. Tone: Ideally you will hope to find a lively, rich, full tone from the low range though the middle range and into the upper range – not shrill and not dull. A shrill tone can grate on the nerves. A dull sound is frustrating and can cause injury in the student if they are trying too hard to produce a richer tone quality. Condition of the Keys: Some used pianos have broken keys, missing ivory/plastic covers and the like. Your technician could help you determine the cost of these repairs. The Sounding Board: This is the board that resonates and projects the sound from the vibrating piano strings into the room. If it is badly cracked, it cannot be repaired and replacing a sounding board is very expensive. Some cracks do not affect the sound whatsoever. Again, a technician will advise you. Pedals: It should have at least 2 pedals. The right pedal sustains tone even after you lift your fingers off the keys and the left pedal softens (or dulls) the tone somewhat. These pedals are used a lot in piano music and they are essential. Some pianos have a middle pedal. Its function differs from instrument to instrument. On some upright pianos the middle pedal lowers felt fabric over the hammers, thus creating a very soft, dampened tone. This is used when one is practicing in an apartment at times that would disturb neighbours.
What to look for in a Keyboard or Digital Piano
These days keyboards are far less expensive than acoustic pianos and budget is a concern for most families. Always an acoustic piano will sound, feel and react to your fingers infinitely better than a keyboard and many teachers find that students practicing on electronic instruments at home tend to stop lessons after only a few years. Ultimately a real piano is far more rewarding and enjoyable to play on. However if a piano does not fit into your budget, a digital instrument is better than nothing and should be fine for the first year or so. Here are some important points to consider when shopping for a digital piano.
1. 88 keys: Your eyes judge everything you play and peripheral vision is essential when playing the piano. You will feel disoriented on a piano if your eyes are accustomed to a shorter keyboard. The most common complaint that teachers get from students who are practicing on small keyboards is that they cannot find their notes quickly enough on the piano in the lesson. They feel lost.
2. Touch: 55 grams of weight per key. If the keyboard has an extremely light touch, the student experiences difficulty when trying to control the sound properly on an acoustic piano. Many salespeople will tell you that their keyboards simulate a piano sound and touch – the best way to know is to play on the keyboard and a grand piano at the same time. You will feel if there is a significant difference.
3. Sound that dissipates quickly: When you depress a key on an organ, the tone will continue for as long as the key is depressed, however on a piano, the tone dies away quite rapidly. Play a note on the keyboard and keep it held down – be sure that the tone dies quickly.
4. Sound that simulates that of a piano.
5. Volume control - through the weight and speed used in depressing the keys. One must be able to control volume with each keystroke. Play a key gently, and then hit the same note swiftly and strongly. If the second time is not significantly louder, you will be unable to control dynamic levels and the instrument will do you more harm than good.
6. Two pedals: (see comments above under “What to look for in a Piano”)
OK I have my instrument. Now what?
The location of your instrument in the home is also essential if you want amazing results from your lessons. I highly recommend that your piano be located in a room free from distracting noises like the television, internet or other children playing. Avoid placing an acoustic piano close to a heating or air conditioning source as this will affect its tuning.
Speaking of tuning, if you have chosen an acoustic piano, you will want it to acclimatize to its new home for a month before you have it tuned. Weather changes, barometric pressure and humidity changes can affect its tuning as well. Keeping your piano tuned is just as important for its own well-being as it is for your ears.
If you live in a particularly dry area, you may wish to invest in a humidifier especially designed for pianos. These attach to the back of an upright piano and underneath a grand piano. In excessively humid climates, a dehumidifier would be a valuable investment.
Conclusion
You now have some basic points to consider when purchasing an instrument. Remember that most sales people are very knowledgeable and will do their best to help you find the instrument that is right for you. If you feel uncertain about your choice for any reason, talk with your teacher or technician.
All the best!
May you Grow… Achieve… and Enjoy piano music for many years to come.
© Laurie-Jeanne Lister
Musikmeister Studio provides Piano, Music Theory and Music History lessons to students of all ages and levels of ability.
We offer both Classical and Contemporary training.
Students may start as young as age 4 thanks to our Pre-School Piano Course.
Disclaimer: Musikmeister Studio does not sell musical instruments. This information is provided simply as a service to our students. For other information, brochures or to inquire about lessons contact us.