Finding the right piano is very important for all players, from fresh students to polished professionals. The number one factor for most people in finding the right instrument is going to be price. Generally, quality will increase with price, but this is not always true. It is important to check out reviews or recommendations from trusted sources when you are buying pianos. Try to spend what you can afford as this will generally give you the most quality and can have a very positive impact on your playing experience, especially when you start to get out of the beginner stages. Some studies suggest that there is a direct relationship between the quality of the piano and the progress of the student.
Some of the things you want to look for when choosing a piano include tone and key size. A high quality tone will be round and warm and fill the room with vibrations. It is important that the keys are of a good size and one that is comfortable to the player, including when they are being pressed- it is always a good idea to try out the piano at the store before purchasing if possible. It is also important to make sure that the surface of the keys is smooth and does not have any chips or cracks (or appear to be prone to them).
The next thing you want to look for is the quality of the pedals. They should provide good haptic feedback when pressed. Pedals can be just as important as keys when it comes to being a good piano player. A sostenuto pedal is preferable to typical damper pedals, although it may be more costly as well. In addition to the pedals, make sure that the music rack is at a comfortable level and big enough to hold the music that you want on it.
The quality of the materials such as the wood that makes the piano is also very important and is often an underrated aspect when people look to buy. It can have a big impact on the quality of the sound and the tones that the instrument produces, so do not skimp on it, especially in favor of something like style. It may be a bit costly to get a nice piano that meets all of the criteria mentioned, but it is really an investment in yourself and your future progress as a piano player.
Image credit: Gayane Avetisyan