We live in a time of technology and electronics. There are so many benefits to technological innovation and so many downsides as well. You probably have read a book in electronic format by now (or at least some part of one) and also read a traditional paper book. The digital text and screen is convenient and space saving. It might also be environmentally friendly (although there are debates about the ecological imprint of an electronic device, its manufacturing footprint on the environment and how often it needs to be replaced and recycled. There’s also the issue of the screen time and what this is doing to our bodies and minds. Real books save your eyes, don’t emit radiation and look great in a library:)

Enter the piano. Digital pianos abound. You can by the cheap partial keyboard piano online or in stores in many places. You could by a full keyboard/electronic piano at places like Costco fairly cheaply. You could also invest in cutting edge technology with a Yamaha digital piano (there are many different kinds including ones that have real actions in them).

When it comes to real pianos (I mean the acoustic kind made of wood, metal, real strings etc.), there are so many options. You can by some pretty cheap ones being produced in places like China (even Yamaha has entry level upright pianos and grands that are not great quality). You can also spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on brands like Bösendorfer or Fazioli.

How does one make a decision about the right piano for your personal needs? First off, quality is everything. Buy the best and the biggest (with acoustic upright and grand pianos) you can afford. Why? You could argue that “my son/daughter is just starting out, so we’re going to buy a less quality/expensive piano”. This is a fundamental mistake. Every note you play, how the keyboard feels and how the sound forms, sets the human response. If the sound is artificial (electronic sampling) and poor quality, there will be a huge negative impact on the human response to the music. If the strings are really short in length, they will not produce great sound. The longer the strings, the better the sound quality. That’s why there are such things as concert grands on stages of concert venues around the world. If you buy cheap, you are setting up the possibility of failed interest in music.

I’m a bit of a purist when it comes to electronic instruments. They are convenient for moving around and not needing tuning. You can also often sample many different types of sounds like harpsichord and organ. When in a pinch, I’ve practiced on these myself. I’ve even travelled with them when on tour, practicing in the hotel room with headphones on. If you buy one of these instruments, be sure to get the best quality you can afford: the sampling of sounds and keyboard weighting will sound and feel more like a real piano. These instruments are often very convenient if you live in an apartment. Yamaha has a technology that can be installed in acoustic pianos that allows one to switch from acoustic to digital, so you can have the best of both worlds. It’s called the Diskclavier.

Much of the music written since the late 18th century for keyboard was written for a real acoustic piano. I highly recommend the purchase of an acoustic instrument over top of the digital ones. The ability to blend/mix sound cannot be matched by an electronic piano. Like a real book, your body’s response to the sounds and music created by a real piano will be different than an electronic digital instrument. The piano is a a magnificent invention that so many composers loved and continue to love today. Do some research and find a wonderful acoustic instrument if you can make that work for you. The brands I recommend are Yamaha (high quality and stand up in multiple climate zones), Bösendorfer, Steinway, Fazioli (if you can afford one of these, I’ll be right over to play it for you!), Kawai, Bechstein, Schimmel, Steingraeber & Söhne, Grotrian-Steinweg, and Sauter. 

You can purchase a used piano, but remember, pianos are like cars, they don’t age that well. Don’t buy an old piano unless it’s been completely reconditioned with new hammers, new strings and other important replacements. Even with a complete makeover, the quality might not be that great as the sound board has likely lost its crown (this is the wood under the strings). Do some research and learn as much as you can about pianos before you buy one!