Do I need to buy a piano?

Lesson Tips

Apr 1

If you’re a singer, no - you do not need to own a piano in order to train your voice. Can it be beneficial to have one around? Absolutely! So if you have one in your home or practice space that’s awesome; don’t move it along just yet.

If you are a piano student - also no! You don’t need to go out and purchase an expensive acoustic piano or keyboard to start piano lessons. In fact, if you aren’t quite sure if piano lessons are something you’re certain you want to keep up long term, I always suggest renting rather than purchasing.

Here in the lower mainland of British Columbia, we have great businesses like Long & McQuade who offer excellent keyboard rentals from anywhere for a few days to month-to-month plans. Then, if you decide you’d like to purchase the instrument you’re renting, they will actually apply some of what you’ve paid in rental fees towards your purchase. It’s a win win! I have students in the US who have also been able to rent beautiful keyboards from their local music stores, so take a look around to see if there’s a store in your area that offers this kind of service.

At the very least your keyboard should be 88 keys (full length so it has the same number of keys as an acoustic piano) and weighted for optimal practicing (weighted meaning when you press the keys there’s a bit of resistance - your local music store owners will be familiar with this term). You may also need a stand for the keyboard (an adjustable one is great, especially for growing students!) as well as a bench or a designated chair to sit on.

Another great place to find an instrument can be your online marketplaces: Facebook Marketplace, Kijiji, Cragislist, etc. Often you can find wonderful acoustic pianos for free! Granted it will take a bit of money to move and settle the instrument into your home and get it all tuned up but it can be a great way to get a great instrument without buying one new. When I was still in Toronto I reached out to a man in Vancouver who was giving away a stunning old baby grand piano because he was moving and was in too much of a time crunch to sell it! I still dream about that piano.

And last but not least - you can absolutely purchase a brand new instrument if that is within your budget and you know you will be playing it for years to come. Research your local piano stores, search through reviews to get a sense of their customer service skills, and research what kind of piano you would like. The next step would be to go and play them! Check out your local showrooms (nowadays you may have to book an appointment so keep an eye out for that) and go play the instruments. This will give you a great idea of the different sounds between them and how the different brands feel.

If you have any questions let me know!

Arianna teaches voice and piano lessons online and from her at-home studio in Maple Ridge, BC. She creates a welcoming learning environment for students of all ages – kids, teens, and adults.