Hope you don't mind me joining this forum, but I need to pick your brains. I am not musical minded in anyway, but fortunately my 9 & 7 year old children are. They have both been going to piano lessons for the last 8 months and on their teachers recommendation now need a piano to practice on. I have no problem with this as they both enjoy the lessons (especially my 7 yr old who can listen to a tune and then play it on the small keyboard she carries around with her within an instant).

I've been to a local piano shop (and been amazed at the prices). They have suggested a Zender upright
(which looks exactly like the one in this picture)
http://www.pianowarehouse.co.uk/products/s...c32ac58c339e42) for the same price £895 (inc delivery).

Unfortunately I don't know if this would be a good buy. Ideally we are looking for a piano which will last them through their gradings, is musically sound and easy to play, but if they did lose interest would give us a good return to the outlay laid out. I could probably knock another £100 /£150 of the price, but if the piano is not up to much there seems no point. If anyone has had experience of this type of piano ( or any other suitable beginners piano) I would be extremely grateful if you could pass your experiences/ suggestions/ recommendations on to me. Thanks in advance

The url should be:
http://www.pianowarehouse.co.uk/products/s...9c32ac58c339e42

I'll try again
http://www.piano-warehouse.co.uk/products/...hp?type=upright

I'd be VERY suspicious of anything labelled a 'Beginners' Piano' - it's likely to be of shoddy workmanship with an indifferent tone. I don't know about the particular piano you mentioned; perhaps you could employ the services of a local piano technician to check it out for you?
I've got a Yamaha upright which I love - very responsive and with a beautiful tone. Can't remember exactly how much it cost - it was about ten years ago and I think it was about £2400 then, but it was money well spent!

My husband who loves playing the piano but never gets enough time or opportinuty to play it has just bought himself an electric piano/keyboard.
It is a lovely thing with weighted keys and lots of extra bits.Our 3 children love it too!
It cost £1200 - reduced because it is being replaced by a newer model - and we all love to play on it.
For the price might you consider something electronic??
We do have a lovely upright piano too but it gets very crowded and at times it can be very antisocial to play on it ( e.g.later on when the kids are in bed!).

I would agree that a good quality digital piano (eg Yamaha or Roland) would be preferable to an indifferent upright piano.

Prices vary quite a bit depending on location, but in my local department store they have Rolands (weighted keys, proper size keys etc) for around £900 - £1000. They are neat and don't need tuning.

I'd go and look at some if you can. I have a Yamaha which I'm very happy with. Stress to the salesperson that a Digital Piano is what you're looking for - this tells them you want more than just an electric keyboard.

By all means look at some uprights as well before you decide - you could also look for a good second- hand piano, but beware of old crocks that have not been looked after ! Maybe your teacher would be willing to look at any thing you consider buying?? I have sometimes done this with my students.

Hope they continue to enjoy their playing!

Maggie

I have a Kawai upright which I can't say anything about apart from how brilliant it is

These are reasonable priced pianos and very good quality. They also do electronic pianos too.

As an idea, my friend went and bought one last weekend for £1775 including a stool. Brand new from the shop and delivered to the house. (Forsyths - Manchester)

Cheaper than what I paid and mine is only18 months old.

Hope you get sorted.

Fiona

QUOTE (jo.clarinet @ Jul 2 2004, 10:08 PM)

I'd be VERY suspicious of anything labelled a 'Beginners' Piano' - it's likely to be of shoddy workmanship with an indifferent tone.

Yes you do have to be careful. I paid £450 for my first piano and it only kept going for a couple of years, the soundboard was cracked and some of the pins that hold the strings to the soundboard kept coming loose and so those notes would go out of tune very quickly. My new piano is a Kemble which cost me about £3000 and should easily see me up to Grade 8 standard. After that I am hoping to get a grand (fingers crossed). I know this may seem like a lot of money but pianos are expensive instruments. I would agree with JRBailey and Maggiemay and go for a digital piano rather than a bad upright. It is also very difficult to get rid of a piano that is no good, luckily when I bought my new piano the shop took away my old one to dispose of.

I live in the u.s. but i went to a music program and they had a zender upright. Literally, i didn't play well at all. And the tech had to keep coming in and fixing it every 2 hours, i have a yamaha upright and it has served me well. In the u.s. we bought it for about $3,500.

I have a Kemble, too. They are now very like Yamaha in sound.

I have an old Baldwin that I bought second hand very cheaply and it is excellent - I've played several others and it does seem to be a good make. I don't think they are that expensive new either.

Good luck
Cat

I've got a Casio CPS-700 digital piano at the moment and I'm quite happy with that. It's borrowed from a friend who gave up piano so I'll have to give it back one day though...