Buying an instrument
Having a good quality instrument at home is essential for your child to make progress and fall in love with music making. All students studying with Surrey Music School are required to have a full size instrument with weighted keys prior to starting lessons. You can either buy an instrument immediately, or, if you would like to wait and see, you can rent one.
In all cases you will need an adjustable piano stool and for a digital instrument, a sustain pedal that looks like this (not the plastic 'switch' that comes with keyboards, it looks like this). Your child will also need a foot rest - yoga blocks are excellent as they can be added / removed to get the correct height. Children learning with Music Moves will initially learn standing up but later on they will need a stool and foot rest too.
Whether you buy a digital or acoustic piano, it is a big investment and it is well worth taking your time, doing some research and going out to try them as they all sound and feel different.
There is plenty of advice about the pros and cons of acoustic versus digital instruments on the web, two such examples can be found here and here.
In all cases you will need an adjustable piano stool and for a digital instrument, a sustain pedal that looks like this (not the plastic 'switch' that comes with keyboards, it looks like this). Your child will also need a foot rest - yoga blocks are excellent as they can be added / removed to get the correct height. Children learning with Music Moves will initially learn standing up but later on they will need a stool and foot rest too.
Whether you buy a digital or acoustic piano, it is a big investment and it is well worth taking your time, doing some research and going out to try them as they all sound and feel different.
There is plenty of advice about the pros and cons of acoustic versus digital instruments on the web, two such examples can be found here and here.
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Acoustic pianos
If you would like an acoustic piano then I recommend visiting a piano shop. Two shops I know of are Bonners in Reigate or Handel Pianos in Sunningdale and both will give you helpful advice. Do not buy an acoustic piano on the internet unless you know what you are doing! Once pianos are over 60 years old they start deteriorating and will not be good for your child to learn on. The piano must be capable of being tuned to, and staying at, concert pitch (which means it will be in tune). |
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Digital instruments There is a huge choice of digital instruments. The minimum is to buy a full size keyboard with weighted keys. Make sure you buy a stand as well as the accessories mentioned at the top of this page. They all differ in sound and touch. Again, I recommend you visit a shop to try them out as your child may have a preference for the sound and feel of one over the other. I have purchased instruments from both Bonners in Reigate and Andertons in Guildford and have received great service at both shops. The following are good examples of these: |
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Digital piano The other digital option is a digital piano. These tend to look more like a traditional upright piano and take up more room. At home I have a Kawai CS9 which I love. There are myriad choices and Bonners has a selection to suit all budgets. Again, take some time to do your research and go out to try the instruments to ensure you find one you and your child will love! |
Piano rental
If you do not wish to invest in a piano immediately then it is possible to rent one. I know of the following companies who provide this service. I only have personal experience of Handel Pianos.
Handel Pianos in Sunningdale
UK pianos
Piano Warehouse
If you do not wish to invest in a piano immediately then it is possible to rent one. I know of the following companies who provide this service. I only have personal experience of Handel Pianos.
Handel Pianos in Sunningdale
UK pianos
Piano Warehouse