Upgrading to a digital Piano
Posted: 04 Oct 2009, 17:40
I started to learn the Piano in April and have so far been practicing on an old keyboard, a Yamaha PSR-170 if it makes any difference. It's been okay so far but I've just finished Grade 3 and I'm starting to consider an upgrade, it's getting quite difficult to learn dynamics and some pieces now include pedal work which proves a challenge. My neighbor has a Piano which I can practice on occasionally, so I'm considering a digital piano, hopefully to take me right through to Grade 8.
Based on what I've read, in this forum and others, my choice has settled on either the Yamaha CLP-320, CLP-330 or the CLP-340. Whilst budget is a concern I would rather wait to buy a better model than rush into an early purchase and need to upgrade later. I don't know if I'll continue learning at the pace I have done so far, but longevity is definitely my main concern and I'd like the instrument to be suitable for higher grades. I got the impression that this ruled out the CLP-320, so I guess the main question is whether the CLP-340 is worth the extra cost, and if it would last as long as I'm hoping it will.
The other side to this is an actual piano, and I've seen two upright Pianos advertised for around £250 recently, but I presume they wouldn't be a wise purchase. Is it possible to get a good Piano for a similar cost to a digital (size isn't really a consideration), and does it even matter that I wouldn't be practicising on the real thing?
Thanks for any help you can provide, it may be a year or so before I make the purchase but I'd like to have something to aim for (plus it's my birthday coming up soon, so you never know ). I'll try to have a go on some of the models nearer the time, to get a feel for them, but I'd like to know roughly what to expect.
Based on what I've read, in this forum and others, my choice has settled on either the Yamaha CLP-320, CLP-330 or the CLP-340. Whilst budget is a concern I would rather wait to buy a better model than rush into an early purchase and need to upgrade later. I don't know if I'll continue learning at the pace I have done so far, but longevity is definitely my main concern and I'd like the instrument to be suitable for higher grades. I got the impression that this ruled out the CLP-320, so I guess the main question is whether the CLP-340 is worth the extra cost, and if it would last as long as I'm hoping it will.
The other side to this is an actual piano, and I've seen two upright Pianos advertised for around £250 recently, but I presume they wouldn't be a wise purchase. Is it possible to get a good Piano for a similar cost to a digital (size isn't really a consideration), and does it even matter that I wouldn't be practicising on the real thing?
Thanks for any help you can provide, it may be a year or so before I make the purchase but I'd like to have something to aim for (plus it's my birthday coming up soon, so you never know ). I'll try to have a go on some of the models nearer the time, to get a feel for them, but I'd like to know roughly what to expect.