Electric piano for 9 year old.

shayser

My nine year old son started piano lessons about 6 months ago. His teacher has told me that he thinks he is very talented. My son uses a piano at lessons but practices at home on a beginners yahama (EZ250i) keyboard.

I think a piano for him now would be good. His teacher recommended an electric piano, saying that he would get longer out of it and it wouldn't be as obtrusive in our kitchen (our house is very small) as long as it had pedals and weighted keys.

I'm looking for recommendations on what to buy. There is no music in the family so I don't have a clue really. Thanks.

jimi_t

Higher end Yamaha and Casio or Roland would do fine - anything e800 or over basically. Make sure it has 88 hammer action keys and you'll be doing fine - DO NOT BUY IT ON THE STRENGTH OF ITS BUILT-IN SOUNDS, buy the one that feels closest to a real piano, you can always update the sounds with a midi module

Quattroste

Dude €800 is steep for a 9 year old to be learning on. Ask the teacher for recommendations. The internet is a good place to get this sort of information(obviously!!). I would recommend you also try Ebay when you find the model you want to get.

shayser

The teacher recommended a Clavinova.

Please remember I very ignorant in all this but obviously want to give my son the best encouragement I can, so any info will help and is appreciated. Without any boast whatsoever, I think he must be quite good (I honestly don't know this for myself) because the teacher said that he is deliberatly trying to hold him back. He learns two or three songs a week.

Had a look at pianoplus.ie and the Clavinovas look pricey (1500 to 5000) but if this is what the teacher wants him to have this is what I will get.

I had an idea of around 2000 in mind (don't know why)!.

I will have another chat with the teacher.

The_g-man

When you talk with his teacher again, ask him if he has any experience with stage pianos. A Yamaha p140s might suit your needs.http://musicstorekoeln.de/en/Keyboard_Entertainer/2_41_ESTAGE_20_EPI0000433-000/0/0/0/detail/musicstore.html
This would take up less room than a Clavinova and could be stored away when not in use. If you don't mind shelling out for an amp as well, the Roland RD300sx is a fine piano too, but with no built in speakers.
http://musicstorekoeln.de/en/Keyboard_Entertainer/2_41_ESTAGE_45_EPI0000391-000/0/0/0/detail/musicstore.html

jimi_t

Quattroste wrote:

Dude €800 is steep for a 9 year old to be learning on

It certainly isn't - if you're intending to spend e400-500 a year on lessons for the next few years then you're going to need an instrument at home. A cheap keyboard is going to be counterproductive to the time, energy and money input into the lessons and will only nurture bad technique. It's not like the guitar where you can upgrade from a squier to a fender/epiphone to a gibson, unless you start off on an 88 key, weighted, hammer action keyboard/clavinova/upright piano then you're actually at a disadvantage.

Kenny_D

I got a Yamaha Clavinova CLP240 at christmas and I couldnt be happier. It was €2000 incl delivery and a stool. If he's just starting out maybe this one would suit him: http://www.thomann.de/thoiw6_artikel-186748.html .Thats the company I got mine off. The clavinova itself is a beautiful digital piano. Very realistic feel from the weighted keys and the recorded piano sounds are very nice. http://clavinova.co.uk/

Might seem like a lot of money but if he sticks at it and shows an interest then I think it would be better to get a little higher end or you'll end up upgrading again costing you more than if you got the clavinova first

Quattroste

jimi_t wrote:

It certainly isn't - if you're intending to spend e400-500 a year on lessons for the next few years then you're going to need an instrument at home. A cheap keyboard is going to be counterproductive to the time, energy and money input into the lessons and will only nurture bad technique. It's not like the guitar where you can upgrade from a squier to a fender/epiphone to a gibson, unless you start off on an 88 key, weighted, hammer action keyboard/clavinova/upright piano then you're actually at a disadvantage.

:eek: :eek: :eek:
And I was thinking about getting my daughter into piano! Better clean up the old tin whistle then! or maybe drums

Tchocky

Electric piano for 9 year old.

Sounds like a reasonable trade....

The_g-man

If you think you can permanently set aside the amount of space a piano takes up, then GStormcrow's suggestion is very reasonably priced. However, being able to store away a stage piano when not in use can be handy if you need the room. Either way your son would be playing a good quality piano.

shayser

Ordered the CLP240 today from the local music shop. Think I got a good deal at 1750 inc. stool/headphones/delivery!

Thanks all for the tips...

Kenny_D

Great price and fantastic piano. Where did you get it for that price?? Mine came to around 2000 even from Thomann. You'll need two strong people to assemble it btw

shayser

GStormcrow wrote:

Great price and fantastic piano. Where did you get it for that price?? Mine came to around 2000 even from Thomann. You'll need two strong people to assemble it btw

Got it from Reynolds Music in Letterkenny.

http://www.reynoldsmusic.ie/

What assembly is required?

Kenny_D

well the bottom consists of 4 parts I think. Two legs, the bottom piece with the pedals and the back piece. Those are easy enough to put together. Once they're together you have to slot the actual piano part (which weighs a tonne hence the need for two strong people) into the frame. It can be a bit tricky if you dont hold it right. Doesnt take long though. Maybe half an hour to do. Good luck with it anyway

shayser

GStormcrow wrote:

well the bottom consists of 4 parts I think. Two legs, the bottom piece with the pedals and the back piece. Those are easy enough to put together. Once they're together you have to slot the actual piano part (which weighs a tonne hence the need for two strong people) into the frame. It can be a bit tricky if you dont hold it right. Doesnt take long though. Maybe half an hour to do. Good luck with it anyway

Thanks for the info. In the end I got it from Sparks Music in Letterkenny for 1700. Reynolds were starting to BS me so I got a refund and went to Sparks. Much nicer people.

(I was thinking that, as the prices quoted by both shops look cheaper than Dublin/the internet, and as the pianos come from the distributor in Dublin anyway, it might be an idea to check prices country wide, if you were in Dublin and looking.)