Hi Everyone

I am an adult learner of the piano and have been learning for 3 years now. I have decided that I would like to buy a new piano as the piano we have although sentimental is getting on now and I would really like one with a nice tone.

Can anyone offer me any advice as to what you would recommend would be the best one to go for. I am looking for an acoustic piano and not digital. I am hoping to go out piano hunting next week during half term.

May thanks.

Tricia

HI! Maybe have a look here...

There was a site somewhere that gave a direct comparison between different makes of pianos (maybe it's one of the links on that page? Can't remember) If I find it again I'll post it here.

Best I think to have your teacher have a listen to whatever piano you fancy buying. A more experienced ear etc - I really wouldn't have a clue myself!

Hope that helps.

If you search the word "buying" in the piano forum here you'll get quite a few threads on this subject. Here's my search - I hope it works http://forums.abrsm.org/index.php?act=Sear...highlite=buying

I'm planning to get an acoustic next year and so I'm colecting information too. Schimmel seems to be very favoured.

Yes! I have a Schimmel and have always been delighted with the tone. But bear in mind that it does sometimes have a heavier action than other pianos. My piano does, and students playing it who practise on keyboards at home can find it takes a lot of effort. But is you are a piano player anyway (as opposed to a keyboard player) you would probably get on fine.

Isn't it exciting buying a new piano?!

Thank you for the link, it is really helpful. I was thinking of seeing if our piano tuner woud actually help me out here, I know that he has a shop himself and sometimes gets pianos in. Some friends have suggested a Kemble, but they do seem to be very expensive.

Trish



Hi Alicia

Thanks for that link, it is really helpful.

A Schimmel, I will have a look on line to see what I can see about that.

Tricia




Hi Misterioso

Yes I do play a piano at the moment, we have an old Spencer. It was my husband's grandmother's so we will keep it as well as my new piano for sentimental reasons. Also my son plays the piano so we could both play at the same time, he doesn't like it when we try duets on the one piano and I always get pushed up the low end lol

It is exciting buying a new piano, I have been saving up for ages, funny how people that don't play, look at me strange when I say I am getting a new piano and say you have a piano, what do you need a new one for?lol. I try and explain that if I was playing any other instrument, when you get better you get a good one.

I must admit I feel a bit nervous about going in a showroom and testing the pianos out but I know that I need to do this to make sure I get the right piano.

Trish

My singing teacher has had the same piano tuner for decades. I'm going to ask him to find me a good secondhand piano. He'll know exactly what he's looking at and I'll offer him commission. I know I won't get a duffer and it will be a lot better value than taking a chance.

You will want to test the pianos yourself to see which piano you prefer the feel of, but it would also be useful to take a piano tuner or your teacher with you to get a more informed opinion - especially if you are considering buying secondhand

It is actually quite difficult to choose a piano in a showroom when you want it for a small room at home. Showrooms tend to have far fewer furnishings, so the sound isn't absorbed as much, and are much bigger than house rooms. It's surprising how much that can alter the sound.

When I bought my piano (in my twenties) I chose one which sounded fine in the showroom, but when I got it home I hated it! I couldn't believe how much harsher it sounded when more of the sound was absorbed. Fortunately I knew the piano tuner who tuned for the shop where I'd bought it, and he encouraged me to go back and explain the position. Needless to say, the shop were happy to take the piano back provided I bought another one the same price or more. The piano tuner kindly offered to help me choose, and I've never regretted buying the piano he recommended, even though it cost a little more than the first.

So as carol*piano suggests, unless you are very confident, try to persuade your teacher or piano tuner to go with you. It's always useful to have a second opinion, and someone like a piano tuner, who has experience of many different pianos, is ideal. They will be able to tell you just how bright or mellow or harsh a given piano will sound in your home, which will help you choose.

Good luck in choosing the piano that's just right for you.

Thank you Carole and Berkshire Mum for your very valued comments. Maybe I will have a word with our piano tuner who has a stock of pianos himself, he has been to our house at least twice a year for over 5 years now so he should have a good idea what will work, and if not, maybe he would be kind enough to take it back.

I am just so excited and can't wait. My aim once I have a decent piano is to start playing in front of others to get me over my nerves as my target is to try and take a piano exam next year. I have reached Grade 5 level but been too nervous to take an exam. I read somewhere to get over nerves you should get used to playing in front of people.

Tricia

It's definitely true that the best way to become more confident playing in front of people is to do just that. Also, with piano exams you never know what the action on the piano will be like (unless you've played it before), so try to play on as many pianos as you can before your exam comes up. There is a big variation in how hard you need to press the keys, and it can be quite offputting to have to do a grade exam on a piano which has a much harder or much softer action than your own, so it's worth putting yourself in that situation without any exam pressure just to get used to it.

Another thing to consider is whether the piano at the centre is a grand or an upright. The position of the music desk is quite different, which again could throw you if you're not prepared. We have an upright, but our local exam centre has a grand; when I used to accompany my children in their lower grade exams, for about a week beforehand I'd play with the music balanced on the top of the lid so that I'd be ready for the higher music desk.

Again, best of luck in choosing the new piano, and it's great that you're considering taking the exams as an adult.

Take plenty of music with you. (you'll soon get over feeling awkward about playing in the shop). Play all over the keyboard, listen for abrupt changes of tone, the change in weight of the keys, make sure you take someone else so you can get a second opinion.

Also, ask the people in the shop about the piano - when and where it was made, what it's made of. Is there a guarantee, make sure you look right inside it and check everything out. If they show a reluctance to let you do this, then go elsewhere. Do they offer any sort of after sales service or tuning? Will they deliver for free? As has been pointed out elsewhere, it may sound completely different at home, so do they do a trial period? Do they offer the opportunity to 'trade-up' in years to come.

Don't buy immediately - your ears will be tired if you are listening to lots of different ones. Go and have a cup of coffee and then go back and play the ones you like again. Do you still like them. Don't feel you have to buy one because you've spent hours there playing.