Keyboard Vs Piano

[lkraj1]

Hi,

I am looking to buy a piano for my 7 year old child who is a beginner piano student.

Someone suggested me that my child can practice on a keyboard at home (since piano is expensive and a child going to be using it). Someone else told me that they are entirely different and practicing in a keyboard is no good for a piano student.

Could someone pls clarify this?
Thanks in advance.

[eddie92099]

To buy a keyboard that is worthwhile to practice on would cost you more than buying some pianos. Have you considered renting a piano for a year or so?
Ed

[dinosaurtales]

What ed said.  They are renting basic uprights out here for $40 a month.  The word from the street here is that the kids love keyboards for a month or so - they like playing with the different sounds. Then they want a *real* piano like some of their friends, so I'd look at renting, if I were you.

[lkraj1]

Thanks to U both.

If I go for a piano, which brand do U think is better to keep at home? Is there anything in particular I have to look for in a piano?

I have absolutely no knowledge about pianos. So any advice about music and piano would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

[eddie92099]

My advice would be to take someone who knows what s/he is doing (possibly your child's teacher) along with you,
Ed

[classicarts]

My advice would be to buy your child a cheap acoustic piano he can play on.  It's better for him to get accustomed to a acoustic than to play on a  plastic keyboard for many reasons.   If you are kind of serious of getting him a piano teacher, then its a must for him to have acoustic piano.   

[dinosaurtales]

I agree.  I am amazed by how many musical parents have their kids playing on cheapie electric keyboards - for several years!!!!!!

That said, a couple of music teachers I know love keyboards, because they say the kids like trying the pieces out with different sounds, and it gets them to practice more. I can't speak for that myself, but that's what I hear.

[sonatainfsharp]

I am one of those teachers who taught a demographic where parents would spend $50,000 on a car but only $200 on a keyboard for their kid.

Once the parents attended a few recitals, they could tell who had pianos and who had keyboards at home. Suddenly, all my students had real pianos.

A cheap upright is always better than an expensive keyboard; just for the feel of the action alone and beginning nuances. You can upgrade from there.

IMO and with experiences, you would need to spent $12,000 on a keyboard to get something that would behave like an acoustic piano.