The Perfect Gift

By Kathryn Brunner, Founder of Musik at Home

Are you ready to add a new member to your family this Christmas? 

“Who might that be?” you ask. 

I’ll give you a hint.

This new family member has its own voice.

It has character. 

It has beauty.

It will enliven your home with brightness and joy. 

It will make you more expressive.

You don’t have to train it, but it might train you because it begs to be played with. 

You don’t have to feed it, but it will beg for your attention all on its own. 

It will start you on a new adventure!

That’s right, your home will come alive with a piano this Christmas! 

The number one way to set your child up for musical success is to give this new member a forever family with you!

When a child sees a piano, he can’t help but want to touch it, hear it, experiment with it!

This is the beginning of the pathway toward music literacy and artistic expression. It gives your child a new voice. 

A piano is a gift that keeps on giving!

If you're ready to explode the happiness in your home around music and you need help knowing where to start, I've got you covered!  

Many parents ask me if it’s ok to start out with a digital piano. 

My answer...

Yes! You can absolutely get started with a digital piano! I allow my beginning students to use a digital piano for the first three years of lessons. 

If you decide to get a digital piano, it must have three very important features:

--88 Keys

--Weighted Keys

--Pedal

You can get a decent digital piano for under $500, and you can get an awesome digital piano for a bit more. 

Here are the top 5 starter pianos I recommend. 

1. Yamaha P-45 Digital Piano - Black Bundle with Adjustable Stand, Bench

It's highly recommended to get a stand and a bench when you purchase a keyboard. In virtual lessons this year, I've seen it all. I've had some students who are trying to learn to play with a swivel chair or by placing the piano on a folding table. They are easily frustrated. I've had some great conversations with parents to provide resources for finding the right stand and bench. But, if you can get yours all in one package, you are in great shape! 

This Piano provides amazing sound quality, ensuring notes are sustained for the intended duration the note is held. 

2. Casio PX-770 BK Privia Digital Home Piano, Black

The hammer action on this piano is touted as unparalleled for speed and accuracy. Concert Play allows you to play along with ten recordings of well-known orchestral pieces. Kids will love this feature! 

3. KORG B2SP 88-Key Digital Piano Bundle with Stand, Three-Pedal Unit, Knox Gear Piano Bench and Piano Book

I absolutely love Korg digital pianos. They have a depth of sound and a rich feel with the weighted keys. When I travel to perform, I always take my Korg digital piano. 

This particular piano is portable, compact and has three pedals! Most digital pianos only come with one pedal, the damper pedal. So, this is a fantastic find! 

4. Suzuki VG-88 Vertical Grand Console Digital Piano

This Suzuki digital piano is worth every penny! The grand piano sound makes you feel like you're playing on a real grand piano. The graded hammer action is excellent for a smooth touch and feel. 

5. Roland DP-603 88-key Digital Piano with Authentic Grand Piano Touch and Bluetooth, Contemporary Black

This Roland Digital Piano has all three pedals: the damper pedal, sostenuto and una corda. This piano will advance you and your child through many levels of artistry. It also comes with numerous features for education, entertainment, and performance. 

This digital piano delivers the authentic tone of an acoustic grand piano. The price is higher for a good reason! Its sound is absolutely mesmerizing. I have two of these pianos in my piano studio. My students love playing them! 

As a bonus recommendation for the littlest musician in your family, here is a top of the line tiny piano for tiny fingers!

The Korg Tiny. One of my biggest complaints about cheap tiny pianos is that they always go out of tune. An out of tune piano is a terrible first experience for a little one.

This gorgeous red piano will hold its tune. It also comes with 50 demo songs to listen to which will train your little musician's ear for music. 

Acoustic Pianos!

If you are ready to invest in an acoustic piano, I recommend buying a used piano that is in great shape. Rick Jones Pianos ships used, refurbished pianos anywhere in the United States. Check out their collection here. I purchased my 5' 8" Kawai grand piano from Rick Jones. Its voice is absolutely everything I ever hoped for in a piano.

The best part about purchasing from Rick Jones is that when I am ready to upgrade to a Steinway someday (Ah...I might be dreaming!), Rick will give me 100% of what I paid in 2010 toward the new purchase when I trade in my previously purchased piano. It's quite possibly the most brilliant business model ever for piano sales. If you purchase a piano from Rick Jones, please let me know by emailing kathryn@mymusikathome.com. He offers a commission to teachers, but only if we call him and tell him about your purchase. 

Here is a picture of the showroom in Beltsville, MD. To check out their pianos, find the demos of all pianos for sale here. Listen to the demos until you find the sound of a piano you love. Then, call Rick Jones, and place your order! 

Like any new member of the family, your new piano will need care.

Carefully keeping the keys dust-free, and using a gentle touch when playing are two ways to lovingly welcome your new family member into your home.

Your child will absolutely go crazy when you unveil a piano on Christmas morning! 

Can’t you picture it now? 

Wonder. Hope. Beauty. Songs. This is Christmas at its best.