Kids and Pianos

[Clyde Hollinger]

This reminds me of a conversation I had with a client two days ago.  They
currently have a worn Kincaid spinet and want to get something better.  They
were looking at a 1988 Kimball console 404P in excellent condition (they told
me; I haven't seen the piano) being sold privately at a very reasonable price.

I asked, "Who will play the piano the most?"  A young adult daughter.  I
stressed the importance of letting her play the piano and making sure she likes
the tone and touch.  A bargain isn't a bargain if they won't like the piano.

Regards,
Clyde Hollinger

"Z! Reinhardt" wrote:

> So why don't more parents bring the kids with them when shopping for a
> piano?  Does it occur to them that if they want the kids to enjoy
> practicing, they will have to let the kids be a part of the decision
> process?  I've lost count of the number of times I've overheard
> conversations between salesmen and  sets of parents about "a piano for the
> kids" (who were nowhere to be seen) at these "Warehouse Sale" events.
>
> Only once have I come to a used piano where the house pianist (a
> then-9-year-old girl) picked out the piano of her choice.  The parents had
> wanted her to select something a little cheaper and a little better looking,
> or at least something that would fit into the livingroom decor.  But because
> she got the piano she wanted, she had "bonded" with it and practiced every
> chance she got.  The story goes that she wanted to host the annual recital
> so that her teacher and the other students could play her piano.  Alas, the
> family has since moved out of state.
>
> OK -- I got off the subject a little by talking about used pianos.  But,
> I've seen/heard the same thing happen around new pianos.  The parents select
> the piano for the kids in their absence, then expect the kids to practice
> without question because it is a new piano.  The parents are concerned with
> how it looks (and how cheaply they can have that look) whereas the kids are
> more interested in how it sounds and feels.  I've often wondered how many of
> these parental piano selections would have been vetoed by the kids, if the
> kids were there to voice an opinion.
>
> Just a couple of weeks ago, I urged a family to upgrade to a better piano,
> and to bring their daughter to select something she is comfortable with.
> "Oh yes yes, that is a good idea.  I think she will like that."  Makes me
> wonder how much of an input she had (if any) in selecting the current piano,
> which is beneath her playing skills.