What piano should I get?

The answer to this question really depends on your circumstances.  Do you plan to do piano exams in the future?  Do you plan to move houses within the next 3 years?

1) If you are an absolute beginner with a tight budget, a 61 key keyboard is okay just to start

My suggestion for those just trying piano out and not sure they will be doing it beyond 12 months is just to go for a cheap 61 key keyboard . This can take a student through from Absolute beginner to 1 year of learning. It has a drawback in that it has only 2/3 of the full keyboard length (88 keys). This can disorientate kids when they then play on a real piano.  There are no keys for the lowest octave of the Bass and none of the highest octave of the treble.   It has a bit of a digital ticking sound and does not have fully weighted keys so it is hard to develop crescendos on it.  You can get these between $120 and $250 at JB hi-fi.  Lighter than a surfboard,  one can move these around with ease. Great for young beginners.

2) If you are interested in playing dynamics on something almost like a real piano,  but compact,  disassemblable, and with no ongoing tuning costs,  no removalist costs  – a full 88 key digital piano is the solution for you

If you have a price range of $650(second hand)-$2000 (brand new), and want your child to learn to play tasteful dynamics my suggestion is the Roland F140R  which mimics a genuine piano hammer action. Roland has invested in the technology to mimic grand piano sound and feel.  They have an excellent service centre locally in Cromer, with dedication to meeting their promises.

On a full-size keyboard of 88 weighted keys, hammer action,  you can perform eloquent dynamics.  These are often easy to disassemblable,  easily moved,  good for gig performing,  do not need tuning, can be used for exam preparation up until Grade 8 level and can be purchased from Better Music Australia with free shipping

Always try to get a good deal,  that is,  make an offer.  Try to get Stool and pedal thrown in for free as piano stools often cost $100 + and are hard to match the colour of your piano. Stools with storage in them are the best value so look out for these.

3) If you have your heart set on a real Acoustic Piano – a Yamaha upright maybe the solution for you.

There is nothing like the genuine resonance and vibrations of a solid upright piano. Its automatic touch responsiveness is therapeutic and provides wholesome entertainment for a lifetime.  If one is a committed player or is committed to having the piano as part of their family environment for the long haul, an upright acoustic piano will bring a lot of joy to a home.  It also promotes more practice as family members simply walk past it and play it without needing power or cabling.

Just ensure you are not planning to move homes in the next 3 years as piano removalists cost between $280-400 and more if you have steps.  Piano tuning costs $200 and restoration can entail additional costs.  Michael Gray and Paddy Lelliot are Music Waves suggested tuners on the Northern Beaches.

My favourite brands are Yamaha, Kawai and Beale (in order of preference).  Piano World Roseville sells these for reasonable prices ($2000-5000) with 14 year warranties.

Gumtree also has a lot of upright acoustic pianos.  Just be wary of anything over 40 years of age.  Look for rusted or snapped strings,  sticky heavy touch keys or overly light touch keys, depth of touch unevenness (this is the distance that the keys go down), broken frames and silverfish or mice vermin damage.