Should I have an acoustic piano?
YES. Music is about vibration. Vibration of the air is picked up as sound by the ear. But it is not only the ear that senses vibration: the body will feel vibration most fully when engaging in music made on an acoustic instrument. An electronic keyboard simply does not provide the same vibrational experience. Go to both an acoustic instrument and an electronic one; feel the instrument with one hand while playing a few low notes with the other hand. They will be different vibrational experiences.
Also, the pedals provide very different experiences on an acoustic versus an electronic substitute. As Rubinstein said, “the pedal is the soul of the piano”. On an acoustic piano, the right pedal (called the sustaining or damper pedal) lifts all the dampers, allowing the string to vibrate in sympathy with one another, creating a beautiful “glow” to the sound. On an electronic piano, the sustaining pedal will affect only the note/s played, and will not create the “halo” effect.
Electronic damper pedals are often unresponsive and difficult to control. And electronic pianos often lack the other two pedals completely: the left pedal (the una corda or “soft pedal”) and the middle pedal (on a grand piano, it is the “sostenuto” pedal, which sustains the sounds; on an upright piano, it is often a “practice” pedal, making the sound of the piano very soft). Even when an electronic has these other pedals, they again function differently and less effectively than an acoustic piano.
Consider the quality of equipment for any activity. If a soccer player had poor quality shoes, would soccer be an enjoyable experience? Would a player want to continue? Would a player excel? Most students who play on an electronic instrument do not enjoy the experience, do not excel, and often quit quickly.
Steinway Piano Gallery in Charlotte offers an excellent rental program. For $99/month, a student can play on an acoustic piano. After six months, the rental fees can be applied to purchase, the rental extended, or the piano returned.
How old does my child need to be to take piano lessons?
creative, inc.