Back in 2013, I had a sudden interest to learn the piano. There were so many pianos to choose from. A new piano, a secondhand piano, an electronic piano keyboard, keyboard apps on your phone... I went with an upright acoustic piano in the end.
However, my interest faded overtime and I no longer play the piano now. There were so many things I wished I had considered before making my first purchase.
So here are 4 things that you should consider before buying a piano!
1. Cost vs Interest
Realistically speaking, how many new-found hobbies have we embarked on, only to see our interest fade over time? I have a piano and a skateboard in my room, reminding me that not all hobbies will turn into lifelong pursuits.
It is important to explore new hobbies. But do not throw all financial sense out the window doing it. If you’re just trying out an interest, I’d definitely recommend getting something affordable which will not blow a hole in your wallet.
2. Space Constraints
An upright piano is a bulky item. I live in a modest HDB apartment. I had to rearrange so many furniture just to accommodate it. It was chaos.
3. Noise Pollution
A piano can be loud. Really loud. There were so many times I was so conscious about the ruckus I was creating. I tried to keep my practice sessions short, or schedule it when everyone wasn’t home.
When choosing a room to house the piano, you should find a room that can minimise or even contain the sound. Ideally, a room that has the least human traffic so you can practise unapologetically. Trust me, not everyone wants to hear you figuring out the tune to ‘Can You Feel the Love Tonight’.
4. Maintenance and tuning
Every now and then, the strings of the piano get loose and needs tightening. Freelance piano tuners charge $80 and above per session. Depending on your usage, it needs to be tuned every 6 to 12 months.
Also, your piano has a small in-built heater that prevents the humidity from damaging the strings. You will have to keep the piano plugged in perpetually.
Well, 5 years on and I’ve stopped playing the piano. I’m having tremendous difficulty trying to resell it. I’m caught in a struggle between selling it at a great discount or just keeping it plugged in on life support.
If you have a slight interest towards learning the piano, I’d highly recommend getting the Flexi-Piano Starter Kit from TravelClef!
It stores nicely in a tiny box and does not need constant maintenance. It also has an in-built speaker to let you hear the music you play. Or if you wish for a quiet practise session, there is also an audio jack to plug your earpiece in.
For beginners who have zero music experience, this kit comes with a step by step video tutorial to teach you the basics of piano playing. It is easy to follow along, suitable for both adults and kids!
Click on the link find out more!