A Piano May Not Cost as Much as You Thought.

A Piano May Not Cost as Much as You Thought. Buying a Piano is a Financial and Personal Investment. Chapters Electric Pianos: How Much Should I Expect to Pay?Acoustic Pianos: How Much Will it Cost Me?Some Piano Brands to Consider.Should I Buy a Used Piano?  The Cost of a Piano: What Else Should You Consider? So is a Piano Really that Costly?Just as you can’t take playing the piano lightly, you have to take buying a new piano or used pianos seriously. Whether it’s before, during, or even after learning to play it.There are lots of piano brands. Do you know the difference between Kawai piano and a Steinway Sons piano? Could you even tell me where your nearest piano dealer is? If not, don't worry. Superprof is here to help!What you should know is that buying this kind of musical instrument is an investment. A long-term investment.While you can always consider how much money and how much time you’ll need to invest, the decision isn’t always that simple.Let’s reconsider the main question. “How much does a piano cost?”In this case we don't just mean money: we're going to c onsider every expenditure. Sure, considering all the elements as “costs” may seem a bit negative, but you’ll soon see that this isn’t really the case.Find out how the piano is a complete instrument in itself.Amazon. Whilst these aren't going to be the best keyboard you are ever going to play, but those who are not yet fully committed to piano playing might find them great options to start off with. They often come in starter packs that include headphones, a keyboard stand, a music stand, and a stool - so that you don't have to mess about getting all the other things you need to get going.If you want something a little more robust, you can go for a more credible beginner option - from a recognisable brand (you can see more on this below). These will set you back by between one hundred and four hundred quid.  But the benefits of these are substantial: they will be set up to mimic the effect of acoustic pianos - in the weight of their keys and in their sound - and they will not be at such a risk of technical faults. But you'll also have the added benefit of not having to pay for piano moving or for a piano technician.At the high end, you will find models designed to replicate the acoustic piano sound almost identically. They will have properly weighted keys so it feels like you are playing an acoustic piano too.  This combination of sound and feel is what primarily determines the price of an electric piano.  But  they will also come with different features, including USB ports, portability, and recording features. For these, you are looking at between a thousand pounds and five thousand.  Honestly, not recommended for the beginner.Let's Have a Look at Some Models.Here are three models, from each price range, to give you a sense of what's involved.Budget: RockJam RJ661 - £99The RockJam RJ661 has sixty-one keys (a full-size piano has eighty-eight), which is designed to make it compact and manageable for the beginner. This model comes with a stool, a stand, and headphones - and there are over a hundred different sounds, backing tracks, and demo songs to play with. At £99 it is a popular beginner option.Mid-Range: Yamaha P-45 Stage Piano Bundle - £375At the higher end of the mid-range is the Yamaha P-45, which has the full eighty-eight keys and a much more sophisticated sound engine - designed to really sound like you are playing the real thing. On an acoustic piano, the bass keys are heavier (as the strings that the hammers strike are thicker), and this model replicates that effect. Why does that matter? Because your technique will improve by playing on an authentic-feeling instrument. This is £375 - perfect for the committed amateur.High End: Casio GP300 - £1859This electric piano is from a really reliable piano brand, in association with C. Bechstein - one of the most famous manufacturers of acoustic pianos. It comes with six speakers - designed to replicate the full sound of a grand - and the three foot pedals that are usually lacking from electric keyboards. At £1859, this one's more for professionals or serious students of music.It would be a good idea to know how big a piano is before buying one...Acoustic Pianos: How Much Will it Cost Me?It's not worth beating about the bush - buying an upright piano or a grand piano when you’re just starting out seems highly ambitious. So, if you're thinking about buying your very first piano, buying an upright or a grand probably isn't an option even to consider.Nonetheless, let's have a look at what they are all about.The Benefits of the AcousticIf they are so expensive, why would anyone bother buying an acoustic piano? Here are some of the benefits.They look absolutely gorgeous. Honestly, many people (who have too much money to spare) buy acoustic pianos just because they are a great piece of furniture. They look beautiful and give your home a real 'wow' effect.For actual pianists, an acoustic sounds great. No electric piano can fully replicate the depth of sou nd, the natural volume, or the tone of an acoustic. If you are committed to making beautiful music on your piano keyboard, there isn't really any competition.If you are a serious musician, with ambitions to play in concert halls, you don't really have a choice. Most theatres are equipped with a grand piano, so you will need to practice with an instrument that feels like your performance instrument.  Some Different Types of Acoustic PianoIf you are after an acoustic piano, you are going to have to decide which type of acoustic you are going to get.Upright PianosUpright pianos come in different sizes, and each different dimension has a different name. So, if you are after a particular small one, get a spinet piano (although these are often not the best quality instruments on the market).Consoles are the next biggest, and they come with a massive boost in quality from the spinet - and they are not too much more expensive.Studios and full size uprights are at the top of the scale. Full- size ones have pretty much the range of a baby grand piano - but without taking up all that extra room.Grand PianosIf a baby grand is about five foot, a concert grand can reach over ten feet. This makes the latter a little tricky to have in your home - let alone pricey as hell.So, How Much Will it Cost?Starting prices for upright pianos start in the thousands - and a baby grand will start at about three times the average upright. As you can see, acoustic pianos are not the sort of things that you should be buying as your first instrument.  For a grand piano, you are looking at probably eight thousand at a minimum. If you are really committed and have the cash to splash, you can pay over one thousand pounds. Maybe this ain't the best idea for your eight-year-old kid to make their first music on. You may as well buy them a small house instead.It sort of goes without saying that, to get the most out of your piano, you need to make sure it isn’t a financial strain. You need to choose a piano you can afford. The objective is to find the best piano for you, not the piano made by the best piano manufacturers using the richest mahogany.Let's Have a Look at Some ModelsEntry Level: Yamaha B1 Upright Acoustic - £2699Yamaha are a very reliable brand for pianos - and their pianos are used by amateurs in the home, professionals in the studio, and concert pianists on stage. Knowing this, the Yamaha piano is a great entry level acoustic instrument - with quality craftsmanship, a high gloss finish, and a great sound. It's the only size of piano that will reasonably fit in a home - and is £2699.Mid-Range: Yamaha GB1K Grand Piano - £8262.96Yamaha also do a great little grand piano that comes at in at just over eight thousand pounds.  The smallest variety of grand available - the baby grand - this Yamaha grand will do everything you need it to do in your home (if you can fit it) whilst sounding excellent too.Top End: Steinway D-274 - $160,000Yes, it seems a little ridiculous , but this is the most famous piano in the world, used by most concert pianists and synonymous generally with exquisite craftsmanship. Unless you are an owner of a concert hall - or you are devoting your life to playing Beethoven at the Albert Hall - there is no need to buy one of these. Regardless, Steinway pianos are the best in the world - and the most expensive Steinway piano sold for $1.2 million.Additional CostsOnce you’ve found the right piano, you need to consider the additional costs and work out a budget for:If you do buy an acoustic piano, you'll probably need to hire piano movers to get it from the piano store.A piano teacher for piano lessons.A piano tuner. You'll probably need a visit from one of these twice a year - and piano tuning by professional tuners isn't exactly cheap.Books and sheet music to study.Downloading piano music for a particular piece.If you're going for an acoustic, get it a cover - as you'll need to keep the dust away, as that can affect the sound .Learn all about essential piano accessories every pianist must have... LouisPiano Teacher £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AlisonPiano Teacher £32/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors BarbaraPiano Teacher £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Chi yuenPiano Teacher 5.00 (5) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors TomPiano Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ErenPiano Teacher 5.00 (5) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ValtiePiano Teacher £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors DanielPiano Teacher 5.00 (5) £37/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsSome Piano Brands to Consider.We've covered some above, but it is worth knowing some of the best brands around in the piano world. They differ depending on whether it is an electric piano you want or an acoustic.Electric Piano BrandsYamaha PianosThese guys make all sorts of different instruments - and their electric pianos are world-renowned for being reliably high qua lity.CasioYou know the people that make calculators? They are also one of the biggest names in electric pianos.RolandFrom the most budget of Roland models, these are built for professionals.KorgThese guys excel in lightweight, portable instruments.KawaiThey used to just make acoustic pianos, but now they are acing the electric scene too.Acoustic Piano BrandsSteinwayThe classy kings of acoustic pianos - with some of the most expensive models on the market (Google Steinway grand piano to get a sense of this).YamahaThem again - you can't beat them on price, reliability, and sheer quality. They make a great home piano.BechsteinA German company that started in the nineteenth century. Beautiful and gorgeous-sounding instruments.Shigeru KawaiYou know these from the electric pianos, but they make limited runs of acoustics too.Should I Buy a Used Piano?If you're set on buying an acoustic piano, you might want to check out second-hand pianos. You'll find some pretty good deals.Make sure that you are careful when you are buying second hand instruments. Ensure you closely exam every inch of the piano. If you're short on space, you should probably be looking at vertical pianos rather than grands.Check second-hand websites (like craigslist) and the classifieds for “Piano for Sale” ads. Just make sure you see the piano you're buying first, the pianos on these websites could be in any condition. Pay particular attention to the soundboard, the keys, and the pedals.Many piano merchants will sell second-hand instruments too. This might be your best place to look, as they well be quality assured and inspected already for damage. Buying a piano used from a bloke off the internet might not be a great idea if you don't really know much about the instruments.  The Cost of a Piano: What Else Should You Consider?Spending Time on the PianoDon’t forget that learning how to play the piano can take a significant amount of time.Of course, saying that it “costs” time might give you a negative idea of the whole learning experience (which in itself is usually very rewarding).Let me explain... When I say that learning the piano “costs” time, I mean that you need to spend time in order to practice.You can’t just practice whenever you want. If you’re learning to play, you won’t always be sitting down, relaxing, and playing your favourite songs.While there’s no set amount of time you have to sit down at the piano, you should spend at least 15 minutes playing whenever you do.This is enough time to play a piece three or four times from start to finish. Or enough time to play four different pieces.The time it takes to practice playing the piano can also be costly. (Source: How Kids Can Earn Money)If you only play during your piano lessons, then you know exactly how long you’ll be playing for. Whether it’s 45 minutes or an hour, you can decide this before you have the class. There isn’t really a maximum limit when it comes to classes.Playing the piano can also be used to unwind. If you’ve had a hard day, sitting down at your piano and forgetting about everything else is a great idea. In this case, it doesn't matter whether it’s for 15 minutes or 45. Your goal here is to leave the piano feeling calm and relaxed. You'll soon see that playing the piano can be really therapeutic.Follow our advice for buying your first piano...  Personal InvestmentIn addition to the time you invest, there’s also a personal investment involved. In fact, this cost is very similar to the time you’ll invest. When you think about investing in learning to play the piano, you have to push yourself.This personal investment is how much you want to practice doing something like learning to play the piano.You may reduce your time learning how to play by taking piano lessons online...So how can we measure this personal investment?Others might notice it even before you do! A pianist who continues to play regularly will progress much more than someone who infrequently plays for long periods of time.In the same way, a musician who regularly listens to pieces they want to play or often plays in front of their friends and family is personally invested in their new pursuit and will give their all to get better.The joy of playing is an obvious sign of their investment.  It's an investment of energy and passion.Long-Term AmbitionWe never know where learning to play the piano will take us. We don’t ever ask ourselves “Where am I going with this?” until the day comes when we have to answer this question. This choice can be very costly in terms of your short-term and long-term plans for the future. Sometimes the line between an amateur and a professional is very fine.You’re left with this choice: Am I going to continue practicing this instrument for my own personal pleasure or am I going to risk going professional with it? This choice can be costly.It’s not the sort of cost you can work out in terms of dollars. Though it is a choice that will greatly impact your life. You have to be aware of the possible outcomes of your decision before you make it. If I can give you one piece of advice, always have a plan B. Keep something up your sleeve in the event it all goes south.Discover how to select your ideal piano... So is a Piano Really that Costly?In short, yes. Economically, mentally, and in terms of time.But don’t forget that playing the piano can be a leisure activity. That means that despite all these “costs”, by weighing up the pros and cons, there’s still many good reasons to start practicing.You shouldn’t make your decision until you’ve considered everything and even maybe spoken to the people you know.Once you’ve taken the plunge, you'll probably forget all about these costs because you’re enjoying playing your piano too much.You have to love playing the piano, first and foremost! (Source: Wikitesti)That’s what’s important: the joy of learning and playing the piano.Find piano lessons th roughout the UK on Superprof.Piano lessons LondonPiano lessons EdinburghPiano lessons GlasgowPiano lessons LeedsAlso discover all you need to know about buying a piano...