By far the most important part of preparing for piano lessons is to have a piano in the home. Make it be a normal part of your life - place it in a prominent, comfortable room in your home. Let it be a showpiece in your favorite space.
90% of the time, I have observed that students do not like to practice because somehow this message has been projected: piano is not a normal part of our daily lives.
A piano should never be placed in the child’s bedroom. It should not be placed in the basement - or a room that is cold or unwelcoming. Make the piano part of your everyday lives and students will receive the message - piano is normal, piano is celebrated, piano matters
By investing in the best possible instrument, you will be the champion for their success at every stage of the process.
If your piano is damaged, have it fixed by a qualified Registered Piano Technician. If it cannot be repaired or tuned properly, it is definitely time to upgrade your instrument. Just as you would not send a child into an athletic situation without the proper gear, one must have a proper instrument on which to practice and succeed.
What kind of piano is best for my child?
This is slightly more complicated answer - it really depends.
How much space do you have in your home for a piano? In other words - how much do you really use your dining room table, and maybe a quality, well-maintained grand piano would be a better use of space in that room?
How much piano can you afford? If you have a steinway grand that’s been handed down through the generations, but it’s never been played - you will need to invest $2-4k+ upgrading and having it prepared for daily use. If you can afford a $5-$10k instrument, purchase a high quality upright - my word of advice is: don’t buy a low-end grand. The “action” (the way the keys feel) matters FAR more than anything else. A grand piano that costs less than $5k is almost never worth (the waste of money). I’m speaking from experience - I’ve never played a low-end grand that produced a satisfying tone, and most often they have many “limits” to the touch and key-action. And to be honest, some $10,000 grand pianos were not worth the price - it’s really best to spend time looking and being very critical. I’m happy to go to music stores with my students and offer my opinions, but also know I am not a registered piano technician and will not give advice on pianos that are not being sold as part of a store’s inventory or by a piano technician whose knowledge and expertise I am confident with.
If you have a smaller home, and finances are limited, plan to spend between $1500-$3000 on a better quality digital piano. My advice is to budget for the higher end of that spectrum. Try to avoid purchasing a used (or free) spinet piano unless you have a reputable piano technician who can verify the piano is suitable for young hands. I can’t tell you how many times (because they are countless) that a piano was “too heavy” or hard to play for young fingers - you’re setting a student up for failure before that first lesson. The piano itself matters very much - as much as where you put it in the home. If you’re going to be spending upwards of $1,200 a year for lessons, plan to spend at least twice that on the instrument at a minimum - and make that investment up front.
If you have the means and the space:
Go to a local piano retailer. Mention them that you are looking for a quality instrument and who will be playing it and at what level. Identify your ideal purchase price, and your ceiling “for the perfect instrument that you know probably won’t materialize… but if the stars align this is what I’m willing to spend.” A reputable piano salesperson will respect your range and steer you in the right direction.
IF YOU ARE ON MY WAITLIST - I WOULD LOVE TO GO PIANO SHOPPING WITH YOU. LET’S FIND A TIME TO MEET AT THE PIANO STORE OF YOUR CHOICE (IN DANE COUNTY, OR NEARBY) AND I’M HAPPY TO PLAY THE INSTRUMENTS AND GIVE YOU MY THOUGHTS ON QUALITY, PRICE, ETC.
If you have the means to purchase a new steinway/yamaha/kawai acoustic grand for your home - do it if:
it’s at least a 5 foot grand piano, smaller pianos are almost never worth it.
if you can’t fit a larger size grand in your home, invest in a higher quality upright piano. I prefer Yamaha upright U series, and the “taller” designs of the Kawai uprights are very nice pianos. There are many other “brands” that are worth your money - an upright upwards of $10k … get a second opinion and shop around.
If you have the $25,000+ for a grand piano, you will certainly find something very special that will be a family heirloom and grace your lives for generations.
Pros and Cons of digital pianos.
Limited Space. A digital piano is a great option if you have limited space. As I note elsewhere on this site, you still want to put it in a prominent place in your home. But, don't just buy the cheapest model on the market. Two words: designed obsolescence. They are almost always a waste of your money because they are not designed to be used regularly. If it costs less than $1,500 - consider upping your budget. A piano MUST have a permanent home - buy the solid bench - do NOT buy an "X" stand. Make sure it has at least the damper pedal - if you can purchase 2 pedals, the damper and the "soft" or (una corda) pedal, do that. If you live in an apartment, buy the quality headphones.
Tuning. A digital piano does not need to be tuned. That said, don’t neglect the piano. Digital pianos have electronic components that do not like dust, and never like excess moisture. If you’re buying a digital piano, cover it with a vinyl protector. If you like to make quilts, make a piano quilt! What a fun project to do with your child & teach them some fiber skills at the same time.
If you’re buying a digital because you’re nervous that your child won’t take to the piano and you don’t want to risk “wasting money” - that’s the wrong reason to choose a digital piano. Go with a quality acoustic upright, purchased from a reputable dealer. You send the signal to your child that you value music lessons, that you are willing to invest in their education, and you know that having a quality instrument in your home is going to help them develop their ear and a love for learning music.
If you ever have any questions - ask! I’m all ears about pianos - I’m passionate that every child should have the opportunity to learn piano, and to be given every advantage with their education at every stage of learning.