Upright piano

• good potential for musical expression

• significantly motivates students

• can become a treasured family heirloom

• brand new upright pianos start at about $3000... used uprights can cost much less

• upright pianos MUST be tuned at least once-per-year

• Beware of pianos that haven't been regularly tuned!  If pianos aren't regularly tuned (once-per-year), they become Old Klunkers and are NOT suitable for private piano study.

grand piano

• highest potential for musical expression

• significantly motivates students

• can become a treasured family heirloom

• grand pianos MUST be tuned at least once-per-year

• Beware of pianos that haven't been regularly tuned!  If pianos aren't regularly tuned (once-per-year), they become Old Klunkers and are NOT suitable for private piano study.

electric keyboards

Electric pianos (keyboards) come in many levels of quality.  The smaller, cheaper keyboards are NOT suitable for private piano study and are really nothing more than toys. 

These are the features an electric piano keyboard MUST have to be suitable for private piano study: 

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• 88 keys

• weighted keys

• hammer action keys

• touch sensitive keys

• foot pedal

• bench

• keyboard stand (furniture cabinet type OR the X style for portable keyboards)

MY RECOMMENDATION: A suitable, inexpensive piano to start with is the DONNER DDP-90 ($470).