March 11, 2024
Our Quick N’ Dirty Guide to Buying an Instrument
The instrument plays a tremendous role in setting the tone for lessons.
A freshly tuned piano or the right-sized guitar can work wonders on your students’ enthusiasm and motivation. Whether you’re preparing for piano, guitar, drums, or voice lessons, here’s some “instrumental” advice from our experienced musician-teachers!
Pianos and Digital Pianos
- For upright or grand pianos, Yamaha, Kawai, and Baldwin are all reliable and reasonably priced brands.
- Consider a digital piano if you don’t have an acoustic. Digital pianos (as opposed to keyboards) have weighted, piano-style keys essential for technique and a satisfying experience. Digital pianos are also reasonably affordable; the “sweet spot” between price and quality is roughly $350-700.
- Recommended brands: Yamaha and Casio are great, but Roland is the gold standard. We recommend the Roland FP-10 as the best entry-level option. Check out some great digital piano options here, and you may find cheaper used options on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist.
Guitar
- Beginners should start with an acoustic guitar.
- Check with a store clerk to ensure the instrument fits the student.
- Budget: $200-$300 for a beginner.
- Our top store picks: Guitar Works in Evanston or Guitar Center in Highland Park.
Drums
- A drum set isn’t needed; drumsticks and a pad are enough!
- Start with Vic Firth 5A sticks.
- Recommended pads: Evans, Vic Firth, Vater.
- For small students: Gammon Junior Drum Set.
- Entry-level kit: Pearl Export or Pearl Roadshow.
- Cymbal recommendation: Zildjian’s Planet Z.
Voice
- Prioritize instrument care for vocal health!
- Check out this article for tips on caring for your vocal cords.
- Voice students should have a keyboard for practice and potential self-accompaniment.
Hope this makes you feel more informed and well-prepared!
Read more from Piano Power
Why Summer Music Lessons Matter – And How to Make Them Work for Your Family
Between vacations, camps, and outdoor activities, summer is a time to take a break from the usual routine for many of us! While we completely understand if you choose to take the summer off of…How to Make Your Music Student Happy this Summer
by Lara Levitan For many music students, summer means no school, fewer obligations, and a more relaxed attitude toward music practice. Rather than fight summer’s chill vibe, why not go with it and have a…Teachers now paid for all in-between-lessons time, effective September 1!
We are thrilled to announce that, beginning September 1, 2019, Piano Power is compensating our teachers for all in-between-lesson time at City of Chicago minimum wage: $13/hr as of this summer. This will be a…The Number One Quality We Look for in Teachers
Since 2007, we’ve interviewed hundreds of would-be teachers, but hired only a small percentage of them. To us, one quality in a music teacher really stands out. It isn’t musical expertise, awards, or a prestigious…
