| When you are just starting out playing the piano, or | | | | pianos are probably best left to professional musicians, |
| you are thinking about starting, one of the first | | | | or those who are completely devoted to their art. |
| questions you ask yourself is "What sort of piano | | | | Of course the three types of piano also sound |
| should I go for?" The answer depends on where you | | | | different from each other , and the way they actually |
| expect to take your piano playing -- will it be a hobby, | | | | work is part of this. The beginning piano player will not |
| are you aiming to be a concert pianist, or will it be | | | | be concerned too much with this, but a more |
| something in between? What sort of music are you | | | | advanced or discerning player will want to take this |
| intending to play? These considerations are important, | | | | into account. Grand pianos work by way of hammers |
| but you also need to consider where the piano is going | | | | swinging upwards and hitting a taut string from below; |
| to be, and how much you are willing to spend. Once | | | | in upright pianos the strings are vertical and the |
| you get the answers sorted out, you can be sure that | | | | hammers swing sideways to hit them. Some players |
| there will be a piano that will fit in with your | | | | find that a grand can be played faster and require less |
| requirements. | | | | tuning and maintenance, but an upright will produce |
| One of the most important of the influences on your | | | | good sound quality for the slower players. Most |
| decision is what space is there to site your piano? | | | | players agree that a digital keyboard does not produce |
| Perhaps you have visions of a large black polished | | | | sound with the same resonance as a grand or upright |
| grand piano as a talking point for visitors to stand | | | | as it does not have strings -- but they are great way |
| around, and to lean on while you render a concerto in | | | | to get into piano playing and learning all the techniques. |
| your own inimitable style; but if you live in a seventh | | | | For most of us, the major factor when buying a piano |
| floor apartment where your largest room is the lounge | | | | is the cost -- can you afford the basic unit plus all the |
| kitchen shared space, and the floorboards are | | | | maintenance and tuning it may require? Remember |
| creaking dangerously, then you should seriously | | | | that a digital keyboard will not need tuning, and |
| downgrade your vision. You need a reasonable area | | | | maintenance is minimal. On the other hand, a |
| to enable you to practice your piano skills in a relaxed | | | | well-maintained grand or upright is likely to increase in |
| environment -- even if you do have a good-sized living | | | | value over time, and can be regarded as a long-term |
| room you might prefer to play in a separate space to | | | | investment. |
| be able to concentrate better. | | | | One way through financial obstacles is to consider a |
| So, you have thought carefully about where your piano | | | | digital keyboard. These can vary greatly in cost, but |
| can go. Now you can begin to think about your buying | | | | they are usually much less expensive than a grand or |
| options ; these are in three types: grand pianos, upright | | | | upright. Uprights are generally in the middle with respect |
| pianos, and digital keyboards, and the corresponding | | | | to cost. |
| space requirements are a lot, not so much, and hardly | | | | To help you make that final decision, try borrowing or |
| any. In the latter category, digital keyboards require | | | | renting a keyboard and playing with it for a while, then |
| very little space and, since they are usually easily | | | | go into a store and ask to try out the different piano |
| transportable, can often be packed away in a | | | | options. Try some of the techniques you have used on |
| cupboard or under the bed when they are not in use. | | | | the digital keyboard and see how they feel on a piano |
| Also, since digital keyboards are electronic, they need | | | | with strings and real movement. Come to that, some |
| little maintenance. | | | | digital keyboards now try to emulate the 'action' of a |
| Of middling size is the upright piano; this can be heavy | | | | stringed piano, so try some digital keyboards too. |
| but, since their shape is fairly regular and compact, it is | | | | When you have decided which sort of piano to go for, |
| not too difficult to transport (with a little help!). The other | | | | you have to make sure that you get full return on your |
| good point about an upright is that it go against a wall | | | | investment by learning the piano with an experienced |
| or even in the corner of a room. Grand pianos, on the | | | | piano teacher. You don't want your piano to sit there |
| other hand, are curved on all sides apart from where | | | | unwanted or unplayed just because your "How to Play |
| the player sits, and so absolutely has to stand away | | | | Piano" book was difficult to understand! A human |
| from a wall and the options for placing it are not so | | | | teacher, or a video/DVD course will be a lot easier to |
| many. So, yes, a grand piano looks fantastic, but they | | | | follow, and enable you improve your piano playing as |
| have to be treated very carefully, and need | | | | far as your imagination will take you! |
| experienced specialists to transport them. Grand | | | | |