Choosing your Piano

In the course of my piano teaching career I was often asked by students and parents about advice on how to choose a good piano. In this post I will share with you some of the key aspects to consider before purchasing a piano.

The beginning to improving your piano playing is to look at the piano itself, how it works, and what makes it good or not so good. It's important to consider the attributes of the instrument which you will be practising on, understanding it thoroughly makes you a more competent player. You probably have a piano already, but if you don't, here are some things to bear in mind which will help your choice when buying one. Remember, no matter what level you're at, you will only be capable of playing as well as your piano allows. The following points are mainly aimed at choosing an upright piano, since they are the ones most likely to be found in most homes.

The tone of the piano is probably the most important factor to consider, it is what suits you that matters. The 'feel' of the key action is also important, is it too heavy or too light? Try as many instruments as you can before buying in your local music shop. There're plenty of digital keyboards in the market which might also suit your need, with technology of digital keyboard manufacturers like Roland & Yamaha improving year after year, a high-end digital keyboard can feel and sound as good as an amazing upright piano. However, there're also certain Pros & Cons about using a digital keyboard. Personally I own a Roland FP-90X digital keyboard at my Ferntree Gully home for the purpose of practising music with technology. It has built-in Bluetooth and powerful 4 speaker system that could connect with my i-Pad; numerous musical functions, sound effects & technological aid. Allowing me to stream piano sheet music on YouTube with a high quality sound while sitting on the piano. It's a good time to make use of cool Jazz arrangements that are made available by passionate YouTube musicians. The drawback is that the key action and sound no matter how 'real' they feel, they are simulations of the Concert Grand Piano and it's impossible to produce the sonority projected by the real thing.

Tone Quality

Before buying a piano, assess the piano's tone quality. The sound a piano makes should be clear and resonant, never dull. It shouldn't be harsh, too soft, or mushy. Try playing it to determine whether you like the sound. This is subjective; some people prefer a brighter tone, while others prefer a mellower tone. Generally speaking, a good piano sound is round and full as well as consistent. Your teacher can also help you in choosing the right instrument. Instruments with greater string lengths will generally give better tone than those with shorter strings.

Key Action

The next consideration is the action of the keys: how they respond to your touch. When you play on the instrument, none of the notes should fail to sound. They keys go down smoothly but should offer a certain amount of resistance to your touch. Be careful if they go down too loosely or too shallow. Always compare the resistance and key action with a new piano, because a new instrument should give you an accurate benchmark, the correct feel for a standard touch. Strike the keys with equal power and the tone should come out evenly and consistently.

Hammers

If you are buying an upright piano, open the lid and check the surface of the hammers which strike the strings. If the instrument was preowned and frequently practiced on, the strings will have cut into and compressed the felt on the surface of the hammers. This sort of wear and excessive noise from the action, out of tune keys, are all matters which should be inspected by a piano tuner. Many of them could be cheaply dealt with, but some problems might not even be worth repairing.

The Importance of a Good Piano

You might ask what this has to do with piano playing, the answer is A Lot. An instrument that does not work properly or one with poor tone quality won't give you a chance to develop your technique and musicianship. My childhood upright piano was a cheap/poor instrument, returning to my childhood apartment in Hong Kong in my 20s, I couldn't believe how loose the keys actually were compared to the Kawai Grand Piano I bought with my brother for my Studio. The strings broke frequently & easily when stroke with increased power required by music like Beethoven, because of the short length of the strings they are held at great tension in the higher notes. If the instrument you practice on has loose keys and very shallow key dip, it will be extremely difficult for you to control your playing. Notes that react to the slightest touch can inhibit the development of your technique. You should be able to feel the weight of each key beneath your finger to control its movement accurately. It is possible to become used to a piano that is not working correctly and be unaware of the difference to a proper piano, which negatively impact your learning progress & create bad habits. Always buy the best quality piano you can afford, don't go cheap. A quality piano can last decades and save you thousands from maintenance and repairs, even makes you more motivated and stay engaged in practice.