One of the first questions that parents ask me is how important it is to have a piano at home for piano lessons. The second question is usually is to inquire whether an electronic keyboard instrument is adequate.
Of course, I understand that a piano appear to have a hefty investment. What if the child doesn’t play it at home? What if they take lessons for a month and then don’t want to anymore? These are valid concerns
While I am in no position to make financial decisions for your family, I can help illustrate the importance of choosing an instrument for learning.
Having an Instrument
This is a must to take piano lessons at the studio. Having a piano at home allows the student to reflect on the concepts they’ve learned, and to experiment with their music beyond the confines of a lesson. Without any keyboard instrument at home, the student can difficulty building an relationship with learning the piano.
The Quality of Instrument
The quality of instrument directly influences how the student will learn and respond to their creation. Of course, at a beginner stage, a student does not need a world class instrument; although, it definitely can not hurt!
Music creation is a partnership between the instrument and the way that a musician plays it. Even the most skilled player can not make moving music on a toy piano, nor can an amateur suddenly gain years of experience by playing on an expensive instrument.
The quality of the instrument will affect the student’s ability to understand or apply concepts that they have learned. For example, if we are learning about dynamics (how to control loudness/softness of the sounds, and how to use it to create effective music), it is important that the instruments is able to respond to the technique. Some electronic keyboards may have a limited dynamic range. Imagine how frustrating it can be for a student to learn a concept, and not be able to use it on their own instrument. Furthermore, A quality instrument responds to the student, in way that encourages proper technique.
While purchasing an instrument includes more factors than just supporting the learning of the piano student, please consider these opinions as you make your choice.
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