Are Real Pianos Necessary?
Real Pianos – Are They Necessary?
This is a tough question, to which I would say yes, but also no. Buying a real piano can be cost prohibitive for parents who want to start their kids in lessons. Not everyone can afford paying several hundred (or thousand) dollars for a real piano right away. Don’t worry, you can save for that purchase in the future! Beginners don’t need an expensive real piano to learn the fundamentals of piano.
Why I Recommend Digital Pianos
Piano lessons for beginners focus on the fundamentals of piano which include music reading, finding and playing the correct keys, playing with both hands, and learning rhythm. While affordable digital pianos often lack the soul and dynamic capabilities of a real piano, it does the job. Other benefits of digital pianos include the ability to use a headset. Now your piano student can practice their simple, repetitive beginner music without driving you crazy. I’ve found that it’s easier for students to focus on their practice and for other household members to go about their daily lives without much interruption for either.
Why I Recommend Real Pianos
A real piano does eventually become necessary to achieve that great emotion for which piano music is loved. When you are playing on an affordable digital piano, it doesn’t matter how soft or hard you play the keys, the sound of the key will sound the same. There are more expensive and quality digital pianos out there that have weighted keys and sound more like a real piano. These are getting so good–and expensive–that ultimately you’ll have to choose if you want one of these (with headphones and such) or a real piano for a more advanced piano student.
Digital Pianos Are Fun
Piano lessons for beginners are fun, but having the right tools can multiply the fun and enthusiasm that students experience. Digital pianos often have settings that allow the piano to sound like a different instrument, like a harpsichord (pronounced harp-seh-cord). The harpsichord was a precursor to the modern piano with a very distinctive sound. Many classical pieces from composers
like Johann Sebastian Bach were originally played on harpsichords. For a piano student learning a piece like this, it feels authentic and fun when it sounds like the original instrument it was intended for.
Real Pianos Are A Treat
I will always have a love for real pianos. My children grew up with an upright piano and a baby grand piano. Getting the experience playing on both of those, as well as digital pianos, provided them with the ability to learn that special touch that brings the drama to the music they learned to play. The digital pianos I had in the house allowed for early morning piano practice without waking the whole house.
How Do You Choose?
If the cost of a real piano is keeping you from getting your children started in piano lessons for beginners, you shouldn’t deprive them of the experience over something so minor. Get a cheap digital piano that will get the job done while they learn and grow in confidence. If budget is not a concern, consider the pros and cons of real pianos vs high end digital pianos that come with things like weighted keys because they will come with recording abilities, headphones, volume controls, etc. If you aren’t already, follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest for more piano tips.
