Should you rent a piano?

You want to think long term when embarking upon piano lessons. Given a choice, most kids might not always brush their teeth, clean their rooms or do their homework. Practicing the piano is no different. If your child asked you, “Do I have to do my math homework? I don’t like math”. If you’re like most parents you would tell them that math is an important part of their education and it’s necessary that they do the work. Practicing the piano is no different. Families who value music education are successful with their children’s piano lessons. The vast majority of piano students go through slumps when they just don’t practice as much as they should. If you are waiting to stop the lessons when that occurs, you are setting up your child for failure. You are better off not starting piano lessons at all and finding something else that you can commit yourself to. The best you can do as a parent is provide the finest instrument and teacher you can afford and encourage your children to practice and reward them with opportunities to play for family and friends. Practicing is hard work if done correctly. I have met countless people who have expressed great regret for having given up on piano as children. It is a delicate balance getting your children to practice. They must practice in order to grow but if forced can end up hating it which defeats the whole purpose! But if you can work with your children positively, the rewards are a lifetime enjoyment of music.

A piano investment is not like buying other things. Unlike a car, refrigerator, TV, or countless other purchases, the piano you buy can last a lifetime. The higher the quality of the instrument you invest in, the higher the resale value because cheaper Asian pianos depreciate much more quickly than hand-made American and European pianos. That is why buying a used, higher end piano in good condition makes a lot of sense for many people. With the current market, it is a phenomenal time to get exceptional value in many things including pianos.