Ourselves as well as most piano teachers would usually recommend students to purchase their own piano so that they are able to practice when they are at home. However, pianos can vary vastly from style, size, cost and so forth. Regardless, a medium-sized upright piano is ideal for most individuals. Firstly, it takes far lesser space as compared to a grand piano. Secondly, it has better sound than most compact and digital pianos.
An important thing to take note of is that it can be rather dangerous and challenging to shift a piano from destination to destination. Therefore, ensure that you hire a professional delivery service to assist you in moving your instrument. Generally, for first hand pianos, they will come in tune. However, if you were to acquire a second hand piano, you might be required to get it tuned and/or even repaired before it is usable.
Although purchasing a keyboard is acceptable for those living in studio apartments or with little space at home, it is usually not recommended. This is because you might end up having more trouble learning the proper posture and hand positioning than you would with an actual piano. Furthermore, you will not be able to have as much control over the sound of a keyboard as you would with a piano.
After your piano is all set and ready to use, what you would require next is a bench and some music to play. Generally, most pianos come along with the bench as well. If for some reason they do not, you can easily purchase them at any music stores. Ideally, try to get an adjustable bench as the bench height is essential in getting the right posture. Try avoiding using substitutes such as a dining chair or ottoman unless it naturally puts you at the ideal height for playing.
To get yourself started, you can make a request at any music store for basic, easy-to-play music books. The staff should be able to recommend a few books for you to choose from. If possible, try to get a book that has beginner’s advice in the front and contains both scales and arpeggios. Perhaps you can also get another book with simple and complete songs for practice.
Also, if you feel that you are unable to keep up with the rhythm, buy a metronome. A metronome sits on top of your piano and ticks like a clock at the pace you set for it. It’s rather handy for maintaining a steady tempo as you begin to get better at playing.
If you feel that you need the assistance of a piano teacher, Awesome Piano would love to be of help! We offer piano lessons in Singapore by certified teachers.