Instrument Recommendations
Pianos
For private piano lessons, each student must possess a piano, acoustic or digital, on which to practice at home. I've included options for both acoustic and digital pianos below, as well as tuner and mover recommendations.
Digital Piano Recommendations
Digital pianos are acceptable for beginner piano students, instruments must be full-length (88 keys) and have weighted keys. Here are some digital pianos I recommend:
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Donner DEP-08 – Only recommended for short-term use due to the lower quality, but it's acceptable for lessons.
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Yamaha Arius YDP-105 – I have this exact furniture-style piano in my studio.
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If you purchase a digital piano, please ensure you have the following equipment:
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Piano stand – Sometimes sold with the piano as a furniture-style stand or in a bundle.
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A piano bench – Many times this is sold with the piano, just double check.
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Sustain pedal – Necessary after about 6-10 months of lessons.
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Foot stool for shorter students
Acoustic Piano Recommendations
An acoustic piano is ideal. Financed purchases can be found at fairly reasonable prices. I recommend checking out the following stores:
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BHA Piano Center in Dayton
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Hauer Music in Centerville
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Piano Pros in West Chester
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Graves Piano Co in Columbus
Name brands are pretty important when it comes to pianos for high-quality. Look for Yamaha, Kawai, Steinway, Baldwin, and Chickering pianos. Please AVOID Pearl River and Young Chang pianos.
Facebook Marketplace Options
You can find a great acoustic or digital piano on Facebook Marketplace. However, you have to be very careful because it can also be a not-so-great piano. Many people selling their pianos don't know much about them or if it's in good condition. If you find a marketplace listing, and think you may want to purchase it, feel free to reach out to me, and I'd be happy to give you some pointers. NEVER buy a piano before playing it in-person.
Piano Movers & Technician (Tuner)
I highly recommend A1 Piano Movers to move your piano into your home. They will take great care of it! Roughly 3 weeks after it's been moved into your home, it'll be ready for a tuning. I recommend Austin Jaquith at Miami Valley Piano Tuning.
Long Term Students
After two years of taking piano, students are strongly encouraged to acquire an acoustic instrument if they don’t already have one. This is crucial to the development of technique and skill. However, this is not a requirement.
Happy piano shopping! If you have any questions, please reach out anytime.
