One of the most common questions asked by prospective students or their parents is whether they need to own a piano in order to take piano lessons. The short answer is no. A real acoustic piano in the home can be a wonderful thing, but it is simply not realistic for many families due to the size, cost and upkeep. While it may make sense for the advanced student, there are many viable alternatives for a novice.
Although you don’t need a baby grand in your living room, what is needed is an instrument to practice on. For the beginning student, a digital piano or high quality keyboard can be a good substitute for the real thing. There are caveats, however. A digital piano or keyboard should have the following:
- The full complement of 88 keys. Some keyboards have a limited range or smaller keys than a standard piano. Even if you are only playing on the middle portion of the piano, it’s important to understand the scale and placement of a full piano keyboard. Some electric keyboards also have slightly smaller keys. This can make it very difficult to transition to a real piano for lessons and recitals.
- Weighted keys. A common complaint with less expensive keyboards is that the keys are “light” and don’t offer the resistance of a real piano. Weighted keys allow students to understand the dynamics of touch as well as develop finger strength.
- Fixed Pedal. As any piano teacher will tell you, there is a great deal more to learning the instrument than learning to play notes on the keyboard. Learning how and when to use a pedal is very important, and therefore a pedal is a key feature for any digital piano or keyboard to include.
- A bench and a stand. Practicing on a table or bed at the wrong height can lead to bad posture and poor technique, as well as bad habits that will be hard to undo later. The keyboard and bench should allow the student’s arm from wrist to elbow to be parallel to the floor.
- Good sound quality. Nothing can duplicate the sound of a real, well-tuned piano, but many of the better digital pianos offer surprisingly rich and accurate sound.
At Columbus Music Schools, our students are introduced to the piano through lessons on high quality acoustic instruments. The time spent practicing at home, however, builds on that foundation and allows for growth and advancement. Having a quality instrument on which to practice can make all the difference in a student’s long-term enjoyment and success.