How To Go About Learning Piano
There are multiple ways to learn piano. You could elect to take face to face lessons with a teacher. E-Learning is now a great source that has only recently become very popular.
One of the big differences you will note between these two approaches is in the area of instrument selection.If you select traditional lessons you have an experienced instructor to help with the selection process. Their recommendation is trustworthy based on their background as a pianist. Online courses are different.
If you want to see a more in depth discussion on this topic to include reviews and ratings of some of these courses check out: How to Learn The Piano
If you’re in an online course you won’t have the teacher there to assist with instrument selection. So, let’s do a short introduction to some of the issues you will likely run into as you go through this potentially very expensive selection. This is a ‘pricey’ purchase so make sure you have your questions answered before you proceed.
One early question is one of piano style; as in do you want to go with an electronic or acoustic piano. If space is limited you might want to elect for electric although there are some ‘smallish’ acoustic pianos out there. For this article we’ll stick with acoustic pianos since they are the more ‘traditional’ approach. Additional articles for keyboards are located at: Electronic Keyboards
In some cases you need to trust your ‘gut feeling’ on which type of instrument you like the sound of best”. You want to go with an instrument that appeals to you as that will increase the likelihood of you sticking with it. The caveat to that would be if you know you need one type over the other as in you’re going to play in a band and travel with it.
Acoustic Pianos:
There are two types of acoustic pianos: Vertical/upright and Grand Pianos.
Spinet, console, studio and professional uprights are the four sub categories of uprights and we will discuss those first.
Most beginners choose an upright to begin lessons on. The main reasons for this are primarily because of cost and space.
Below is a snapshot of the four uprights:
Spinet: The shortest of the uprights is the spinet. The size of a spinet can best be described as compact. Spinets carry the lowest price tag of all acoustics. Lower costs require compromises. SHORT is the compromise. The tradeoff here is in sound quality. Sound quality in a piano is based on string length and soundboard area. Pardon the pun but spinets come up ‘short’ in both areas compared with their bigger counterparts.
Console: While smaller than the largest uprights consoles are larger than spinets. A strong point in favor of consoles is the fact that they are taller than the spinets yet less expensive than larger uprights and grands.
Studio: The studios have better sound quality than the spinet and console. Key action and touch are also better. While this doesn’t matter much to a beginner it will to the more experienced player. Also, once you get to this type of piano the associated sound tends to dictate to manufacturers the need to raise quality levels of their craftmanship.
Upright: The ‘tall’ characteristics of this model translate into the best sound quality. Based on their long sting length these models can actually sound BETTER than a baby grand. Remember: soundboard and string length equal better sound.
Grand: There are 5 types (predicated on size) of acoustic grand pianos::
Baby grand, Medium Grand, True Grand, Small Concert Grand, Concert Grand.
Due to the fact that the majority of beginners begin lessons in an upright we won’t go into the construction of grands in this discussion.
However there are 3 thoughts to point out.
Larger grand’s have the longest sting length and this means better sound quality.
Grands have the best key action of all pianos due to the mechanical makeup of their hammers.
Most homes can’t absorb the size of a full sized concert grand.
Check out this site for additional articles on playing and selection of your ‘axe’: Reviews-How To Learn–Ratings