Not usre where to start..?

[tiggy748]

Hi Im wondering if anyone can offer advice please?

My daughter who is 14, has spent the last 11yrs performing on stage doing dance/drama and singing, winning awards and competitions all over the UK. For the last 3 years or so she has been nagging me about learning the piano. Im going to give in and get her some form of piano for christmas as she will be taking music for her GCSEs and intends to continue this through to ALevels.

Question is which one do I get her? My mother has an upright piano stored in her shed for the past few years, after a clean and tune up would this suffice? or is it perhaps past retsoring due to the storage conditions? anyway of telling? Any acustic piano would have to be placed in the conservatory which is very large heated and nearly open plan into the kitchen/diner. I have no idea if this is suitable?
I have had a scan around for prices and acoustic's tend to go for nearly free, but dont know if this is just because they are dodgy makes?

If putting a piano in the conservatory is Ok then any advice on what model, price etc to look for would be good. If its not good in the conservatory and avice on electric versions will also be welcome. Unfortunatly as a student myself I can only afford secondhand and budget type pianos (max 300) but they will need to last till Alevels, then I can get her a proper piano for uni where she wants to do her performing arts degree.
Thanks for any help in advance.

[MarkGoodwinPianos]

Where are you located?
Noooo don't put a piano in the conservatory
I have a very nice piano you could have for free but not if it's going into a conservatory
Yes get a digital instead
I've got a Roland I took in partex for £400 if you can get to Manchester to try it. I'd accept £300 so that you don't go over budget.

[Colin Nicholson]

Never put a piano in a conservatory!!! it will ruin it. I walked away from 2 pianos last year kept in a conservatory - the tuning plank had cracked & both pianos were un-tuneable, and rendered worthless.

Sounds like your daughter is very talented. I wouldn't 'skimp' when it comes to buying a piano for her.... digitals are ok for about 6 months to grasp the basics, but a 14 yr old will learn very quickly (as I teach several young teenagers who have started lessons late).... and already they have 'outgrown' their digital piano. Tone production & good quality dynamic control combined with the sustain pedal cannot be fully achieved with a digital. I only teach one pupil from their home, and the parents are now planning to buy an acoustic piano because the pupil is very limited.

Please remember that learning music GCSE is not an easy option! I hope that your daughter will catch up with some grades. Learning piano takes years to master & careful regular tuition by a good teacher.... at the age of 14, the expected grade from ABRSM is Grade 5 standard. This also means that regrettably your daughter may be too old now & not in the correct grade for her age to compete in piano competitions (if you were thinking that)...... however "better late than never"



Good luck with finding a piano suitable.
Keep away from shed pianos though.... this will ruin anyone's confidence, and your daughter would lose interest in the piano altogether.... get her a decent instrument, and see the results.

Colin

[athomik]

re: Pianos in conservatories
Something just occurred to me:
Has anyone ever tried to keep a seemingly hopeless basket case in the right conditions to see if it ever re-hydrates, etc. and recovers to a reasonably useful condition or are they always beyond any hope?
I remember a thread on Piano World, where someone boils a piece of wood with 3 notches in it, drills a hole through it, crushes one end and puts in a bolt. When the wood recovers, the bolt is in an apparently impossible position. (I'll post a link if I find it)

[tiggy748]

Thanks looks like an electronic it is then - only as i have absolutly no where else to put it, in the next few years we are planning on moving so should be able to get a proper piano when we have somewher to put it! Any ideas as to model?

[tiggy748]

Thanks everyone.

Unfortuntaly Colin it will have to be electronic now if a conservatory is unsuitable. We live in a two up two down terrace ,there is no room anywhere for a real piano. We are hoping to move to the coast in the next two years, (currently in Leiester) so will get a real one when we move and have room for it.

Meanwhile anyone have suggestions on which model to get?

[tiggy748]

As real piano out of the question, im thinking of the Yamaha Clavinova 340, any comments? Do you think I could get one in my price range? They seem to have been given good reviews onhere and generaly on the net.

[Colin Nicholson]

You might be best to enquire about digitals on the Digital Piano section - markymark is your expert there. If your daughter is a complete beginner, then anything fairly decent by Yamaha or even Kawai/ Roland/ Casio would be a good start.... just make sure there are 88 keys, weighted keys & sustain pedal. When the 'technique' starts to kick-in, then upgrade.

[athomik]

Further to my earlier comment, this is an example of what I was talking about:

http://youtu.be/UqFz2Gxa9_w

[Model V]

Tiggy,

If Mark's offer of a £300 is still on the table, you could probably do a lot worse. I often travel between Derby (home) and Manchester and would be happy to transport for you for a contribution to my fuel (I've got a big people mover). This would also give me the opportunity to visit Mark which I've been meaning to do. PM me if you want to talk.

MV

[Colin Nicholson]

Just be careful MV.... Mark is having babies at the moment!! & on holiday.

[Model V]

Babies! Oh Boy! That's why had to buy a people mover!

[Gill the Piano]

Ah, so you're an experienced baby sitter...? JUST what Mark could do with...