IMPORTANCE

[Fryderyk Biggemski]

to what measure is important the piano that is used to practice? l practice on quite bad upright and l think it holds me down...

[Fryderyk]

It´s definitely important to have or use a good piano if you want a future as a pianist. I don´t really care much about the sound or the condition of it, as long as it doesn't hold you down, and I think you will notice if it does bother your technique. It´s mostly about being too familiar with your own awkward piano and the certain technique you use for that piano, which might not work with other "standard" pianos.

I guess that´s another good thing with having a piano teacher. You can visit her nice apartment somewhere in Austria, and play Schubert on her nice grand piano.

I fell victim for this fact once actually,because I began playing on an electric piano with very light keys. The ability to use powerful dynamics was pretty useless with a piano like this, and I played with my hands quite high above the keys, not pressing the keys down enough. I got a very (pardon me) "Chinese" technique, quite the opposit to the russian technique.

The next piano I got was "real" this time , but VERY lound. The electric piano was bad at discerning voices and velocity, the sustain pedal was very kind to me, and the piano was generally quiet. The real piano was not. It was very good, but very different.

The loudness and uncontrolled sound randomly comming out of this piano was because I didn´t know how to handle a real piano. Because of this, I played every quiet/piano part with the use of the soft pedal. I realised that this method was stupid, and for two years I had not yet been near perfecting the art of pedaling, dynamics, pianissimo and the "push down" technique. And my scales were horribly uneven.

I know Chopin said/wrote/sang/meant that piano students should make sure to practise on a good instrument.

On the other hand- If you can rein a bad and wild piano, then playing on a Steinway concert piano should be OK, once you get used to it...

[Fryderyk Biggemski]

one specialist on pianobuilding said that my keyboard has a small immersion ....the sound is quite inexpressive

[tony]

never heard of that...

[juufa72]

a good piano is important. I play on a 76 key Roland keyboard and I do not have the same feeling as if I would be playing on a Steinway art case Barbar of Seville grand piano. (Does anyone have $150,000?)

[PJF]

to what measure is important the piano that is used to practice? l practice on quite bad upright and l think it holds me down...

Use the best instrument you can get your hands on! If I had to choose between a piano bad action (out of balance and uneven keybed, or otherwise not a smooth keystroke) or a piano with a brand new and smooth action but a flawed sound, I would choose the latter.

I would much rather see my students practice on a nice spinet over a crappy grand, any day.

If you can afford it, a baby grand or bigger would almost be a necessity in the formative years of an aspiring concert artist.

My first piano was a spinet. I kept it for too long before buying a grand. Not having a grand for the first seven years of my training held me back five years. If I could've started on a grand, I believe I'd be five years ahead of where I am now.

p.s. You should be able to find a decent Baby Grand for well under $10,000. I purchased my full size (6"1') Kawai for $17,500, I have it financed for ten years, otherwise I couldn't have afforded it. It's a car note. I drive a ten year old Ford Escort! My bumper sticker says, "My Other Car is a Kawai"

Piano is my first priority, ask yourself what priority you assign to your playing. If it is your top priority, figure out a way to get the best piano you can afford. If piano is second banana in your life, get a good quality fullsize upright. (about $6,000)

Do you have any kind, rich piano lovers in your family? If not, just do your honest best with what you've got to work with.

Good luck!

[johnmar78]

I agree with Pete TOTALLY. Buy the best you can afford with an expert that can help you to choose.