good quality piano with great action for diploma

[asianpianoer]

apparently I need a piano with a even action and longer strings
so I can practice diploma repertoire.

Is this so?
I have spoken to numerous people about this and abt half agree, half disagree.
so confused :s

[kelly_kelly]

I don't think you necessarily need to buy a new piano - however, I think it does help if you have access to good pianos that you can practice on occasionally. I live at university, so it's nice because there are loads of pianos, from bad to mediocre to excellent. Practicing on good pianos did help my technique in terms of my ability to cope with unfamiliar pianos in recital/exam situations, but bad pianos can be useful too - before my DipABRSM exam, my teacher (who was familiar with the venue) told me that the piano wouldn't be great, so I intentionally practiced on subpar pianos in the few days before 

[keys60]

That kind of advice usually comes from somebody that is able to throw some cash around or the "I have, so you must have too" types.
So you buy a new piano with longer strings and a better action, yet you test on a different piano that feels and sounds nothing like your own.
A NY Steinway can perform completely different than a Hamburg.
Sure.....a high quality piano that suits you is nice, but I disagree that it is a must have.

[keyboardclass]

You don't want a straight strung or a spinet - that much is true.

[richard black]

All you want is something with a bit of dynamic range and reasonably responsive action so you can practice playing fast and playing with colour and phrasing. I would also strongly recommend practising at least occasionally on other instruments (good, bad or indifferent), as it can only increase your awareness of what's possible.

[asianpianoer]

yeah well right now my teacher is getting fed up that we aren't buying one....

and he seems to the best i can get atm, at the conservatorium

so now we are selling our bad piano.... if we can, and buying a kawai grand...
so much moneys

[keys60]

If your current piano is really an old beater that you have seriously outgrown and it just isn't worth the repair, than I can understand you teachers frustration. It won't exactly fly out the door either, so you may have it for a while unless you donate it or sell it fairly cheaply.
Kawais are nice. The repetition lever action of a grand will help you too. But I've seen teachers try to get students to go for premium grand pianos just because they had one. They get into this mindset that only Steinway or Mason Hamlin is the only good piano on this earth.
Buy what you can afford without remortgaging the house.

[asianpianoer]

hmm it's not an old beater...
it' is a victor baby grand which has uneven action... which apparently will cause bad habits

[keyboardclass]

A technician can do something about that.  Overhauling though tends to be too expensive these days.

[asianpianoer]

A technician can do something about that.  Overhauling though tends to be too expensive these days.

yes true... but my teacher thinks that is not worthwhile and i may as well buy a new kawai.

[keys60]

An uneven action is corrected through regulation. A complete regulation is where the technician levels the keys, adjusts springs, evens out the hammer blow and distance (the point of where the jack pushes the hammer towards the strings and then lets off to fly freely until impact) changes felts in the bushings and reshapes the hammers. Voices them if necessary.
This job usually runs between 500-1000. Somewhere in between. New strings can run roughly 2K. If they are corroded and very old, it will diminish the sound.
I wouldn't worry myself about the finish too much. Finish doesn't perform.
Hope this helps. Its a start. Only a good technician that actually inspects the piano can give you better info.
I've seen C5 Yamahas , 1990's for roughly 15K in mint condition, if that helps.
Hope this helps at all.

[asianpianoer]

thanks...
yeah hmmm c5 yamahas.... well i haven't been able to find that
can u give me a link>