Piano for your Kids

Information on Piano for Kids in Australia

Is Piano for Your Kids?

If your kids are prepared to devote time to regular practice, not only will learning piano give them enjoyment but it will also:

• Strengthen the ability to focus attention
• Advance geometric reasoning, reading fluency, analytical skills by learning to decipher chords and notes
• Improve manual dexterity
• Enhance children's sense of rhythm and timing
• Increase self-confidence, self-esteem and social poise
• Research continues to show that piano lessons can help students obtain higher results in maths examines.

Get Your Kids Started!

You will need a piano. Prices vary widely with type, make, model, and retailer's mark-up. The main types are:

• Classical or acoustic
  • Grand piano
    • Better sound
    • The original and most appropriate for classical music
    • Expensive ($10,000-$150,000)
  • Upright
    • Uses less space
    • Perfect for jazz and modern music and in-house playing
    • Less expensive ($3,000-$30,000)
• Electronic
  • Keyboard
    • Small (usually 61 keys)
    • Portable but needs power source or batteries
    • Various sounds and rhythms
    • Can be bought for under $300
    • Fun for young children but not really suitable for learning academic piano
  • Digital piano
    • Can be in either upright or grand
    • Cheaper than classical (some models in some locations can be bought for less than $1000)
    • Sound chips and speakers can give not only an incredibly realistic piano sound but also hundreds of band and orchestral voices
    • Touch different to an acoustic
    • Perfect for modern creations by tuning multiple electronic sounds
    • Not really suitable for anyone hoping to someday perform on solo academic piano

Buying second-hand can be considerably cheaper, and a good used piano can sound better, play better, tune better, and keep its value better than new. However, it needs to be thoroughly tested. It is also possible to rent pianos.

When buying a piano:

• Take someone with you who can play (ideally, a tuner)
• Listen for tone over the complete range
• Make sure the learner is comfortable with the touch
• In the case of used pianos, make sure every key works

Depending on model and location, renting a piano may cost $70-110 a month.

It is possible to teach yourself piano., However you child will progress much faster  by enrolling them in  a Piano class or in individual Piano lessons. To find a suitable academy.

• Check the ActiveActivities Directory for piano schools and piano teachers

You will probably also need to buy music sheets.

Events not to be missed

The Sydney International Piano Competition of Australia is held every four years and broadcast live throughout Australia, New Zealand and worldwide on the Internet.

Piano is one of the most popular kids' activities!