So your child has decided they want to learn how to play the piano, congratulations! Learning a musical instrument has many proven benefits including:
- Improved Brain Processing, Hearing and Memory
- Improved Counting & Math Skills
- Exercising New Language Skills
- Improves Reading Comprehension
- Encourages Creativity
- Practice with Time Management & Organization
- Requires Concentration, Discipline & Patience
We are excited to offer instruction from our wide selection of talented piano teachers for piano lessons in Houston, and your child can begin lessons as soon as they are ready!
The next step in this exciting journey, aside from meeting with your private piano teacher, is to decide what kind of instrument to invest in.
Below are some factors to consider to help find the perfect instrument for the budding pianist in your household.
Digital or Acoustic Piano?
The two primary choices of pianos are digital or acoustic. While there are advantages and disadvantages to either option, you must consider what is the best fit for your personal situation. Let’s take a look at the variables to help you decide which one to use for your online music lessons!
Size
Size is one important option to consider. How much space do you have in your household to accommodate?
Digital pianos will be the best option if size is an issue, as they take up less space and are light enough to easily move around. While the ease of spacing for a digital piano is greater than for an acoustic instrument, acoustic pianos can add a desirable aesthetic to the household.
Price
Price of the instrument is often of important consideration when choosing the right piano for your virtual music lessons. Fortunately there are a myriad of options for every budget, making finding the right piano for your child accessible.
One factor many parents face in consideration of how much to invest in a child’s first piano is whether or not they will want to continue playing down the road. Due to this, many people initially do not want to spend a fortune on an instrument from the get go.
Digital pianos are a great affordable option nowadays and can be a good place to get your child going. Many parents decide to start with an affordable instrument and invest more once they find their child wishes to continue with the piano.
Key Weighting
ow to look at the more technical aspects of the instrument! What are weighted keys?
Spring action keys use a spring to keep the key lifted and are found in many entry level keyboards. Spring action keys are often not velocity sensitive (allowing for adjustment of the volume of each note).
Semi-weighted keys combine the spring action mechanism with light weights attached to each key, and can be velocity sensitive.
Weighted keys imitate the action of acoustic pianos, and are usually velocity sensitive
Hammer action keys are the closest imitation to the keys on an acoustic piano; lower keys are weighted heavier as on acoustic instruments
Many entry level keyboards and digital pianos now have weighted keys, and the benefits are substantial to the early pianist in developing strength in their fingers which helps to build a strong technical foundation.
While weighted keys are certainly not necessary to begin learning the piano, this is a feature which further down the road every pianist will require in order to produce dynamic variations (louds and softs) and improve technique.
88 Keys
While you may save money initially on a digital piano with fewer than 88 keys, every student will undoubtedly need to upgrade eventually to a full size piano as they progress.
Starting from intermediate pieces and onward, the need for the full set of keys is ever present and having anything less would hinder the student’s progress to perform these pieces. Keeping this in mind, a smaller instrument would work great to get your child started, and the option to upgrade is always available down the road.
Of further consideration..
Digital pianos are fitted with headphone jacks which can benefit a busy household where everyone may not be privy to listening to the practicing musician every time they practice.
Another aspect of consideration is that acoustic pianos require tuning and more maintenance than their digital cousins.
Conclusion
Finding the right piano for your child can seem like a daunting task with all of the options that are available, and yet having these options are great because that means there is a piano out there for every unique situation! Whether you decide on a digital piano or acoustic, full size or smaller, this is a great investment in your child’s mental and artistic development!