Contact Information: Advance to Music Telephone: (858) 748-8944 Cell: (858) 248-2490 Address: 13349 Montego Dr., Poway, CA 92064 E-mail: rosiemace@advancetomusic. com
1. Does my child need to have a piano in order to start taking piano lessons?
Yes, it is necessary that your child has a piano at home. It is very important that your child can sit and practice at any time they want. If you do not have a piano, you may consider buying or renting one. While buying is better in the long run, it is a commitment that some parents are not ready to make. The next best thing is to rent a piano. This way you can rent month to month at very reasonable rates that are usually between $35 and $75 per month depending on the piano.
2. Where can I buy or rent a piano? Should I buy a piano from a person?
Buying a piano from a private party can be very risky. It may seem like a great deal, but I would certainly not recommend it unless you have a piano tuner-technician who can come with you and check it out. Used pianos can have a number of problems inside that will not be obvious to you, but that can make them worthless. Rust, significant wear of the hammers, a hairline crack in a vital part of the piano to name just a few. I would recommend buying or renting a used piano from a local piano dealer. These pianos are already checked for any serious problems, come with a warranty, and probably with one or two free tunings which is well worth the slightly higher price. Your piano will be delivered to your home by professional piano movers which is very important in order to protect your investment. I have had a personal experience with The Piano Warehouse /see the link to the left/, and can highly recommend them.
3. Can my child use a keyboard to practice at home?
My answer is yes, this is OK for a few months up to a year, but only if the keyboard is a good one - it needs to have at least 4 octaves, normal-sized keys, and a touch response. However, it is common for children that practice on a keyboard at home to get discouraged and loose interest because they want to have "a real piano". Practicing on a keyboard after the first year is not recommended and can mean a loss of time and money because the keyboard keys do no have the same "weight" as the keys of an acoustic piano so the student cannot build the necessary strength and technique.