Once you have selected the piano as the instrument for     your child’s music lessons, an obvious question soon         emerges. Do I need a piano for my home? Obviously,         this decision depends on a wide array of factors. One of     the most critical factors to consider is how likely is it         that both you and your child are firmly committed to       the piano. If you buy a piano for lessons and your child     only continues his or her classes for a few weeks, you         could regret your decision. The piano could end up as       nothing more than an interesting piece of furniture that    largely goes ignored.

Here is one factor to consider, does your child have a        track record of quitting things once he or she has               started? If so, then you might want to hold back a bit on purchasing a piano. However, if you are dedicated to making sure that your child will learn to play the piano, then it’s probably a decent idea to have a piano for lessons.

Having a piano in the home has a variety of advantages. For example, it means more practicing, as your young musician will have a piano in an easy to access location. However, this does not mean that you necessarily have to spend a small fortune on a piano. There are some alternatives that can be explored, such as buying a much cheaper, but effective, electronic keyboard. Don’t think about the electronic keyboards of the 1980s, as those days are long since gone. The new generations of keyboards are quite superior and have far greater capabilities than twenty or even ten years ago. For those children who are just beginning to play the piano, an electronic keyboard can make for a great temporary piano. Another excellent idea is renting a piano from the local piano store. Many stores will do a rent to own program, where they will apply a portion of your rental fees towards a purchase of a piano with their store. This can be a great way to have a piano in your home without committing to it long term if the child loses interest.
(more…)