5-yr old DD has just started piano lessons. I thought we had an adequate digital keyboard at home but it turns out it isn't. Now I'm in the market for a digital keyboard - sigh. Piano lessons this summer were supposed to be a trial run to see if she likes it and should continue. Now I'm looking at making an investment of several hundred dollars (just shy of four-figures.) The only good thing that comes out of this is hubby does have some musical talent (he plays by ear) so he will have lots of fun with a digital keyboard even if DD gives up on it.

IF you have faced the same dilema, which digital piano did you get? Any words of advice?

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I guess I don't understand why she needs a fancy keyboard for beginning lessons. We have a grand piano in our house I bought before kids, but when my dd started piano lessons we got her a keyboard for barely over $100 (and that was 10 years ago) and she played on it for probably 6 years while taking lessons. She actually got fairly good and still played on it. So my advice is to find out WHY you need a keyboard for $1000 for a 5 year old to play on. I'd expect some explanation before I'd invest that kind of money.

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Yes, I agree, don't invest a bunch of money on something like a fancy digital keyboard if you aren't sure your DD will enjoy it. I started my piano lessons out on a regular old (used) keyboard.

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Speaking from experience, if you get used to a keyboard that doesn't have weighted keys it's very hard to get used to a piano. I taught myself a lot on a cheapy casio keyboard but for the life of me can't play a high end keyboard or piano because I'm used to very easy to strike keys that provide consistant sound output regardless of how hard I strike them.

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I don't think I would spend a huge amount of money for a beginner. You don't know at this point if he's really going to be interested in it or if it is just a phase. After you ask why, and you still think you need to buy one, I'd go used at first.

I guess I'm curious to as why you need an expensive keyboard as well. I played piano growing up and even took classes in college. Obviously I didn't bring my piano to the dorm (and didn't want to go through the trouble of reserving practice time on campus) so I just practiced on a cheap $100 keyboard. It was fine.

That's what we had...a cheapo casio. But my dd didn't have any trouble switching over to our regular piano. So I don't think that's true of everyone.

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We already own a very nice 60+ key Casio. DD is having lots of fun with the different voices, etc. She has enthusiastically practiced every single day, sometimes more than once a day. So far so good.

Unfortunately, even her first lesson is centered around her having an 88 key keyboard. We've looked around and the cheapest keyboard we can find - new or used - is $375 for a basic weighted keyboard. There is a keyboard one step up from that at $475. Hubby did some research and said if we were going to spend money on a new keyboard, we "might as well spend a few bucks more" and get the one for $775. I tend to agree with him. By the time we add the accessories to the $475 keyboard, we will have spent almost the same as the stuff that comes standard with the more expensive model AND the higher priced model does have some nice features. Besides, I'm always 'cheaping out' on these kinds of purchases then regretting it. I soon end up spending MORE money buying what I really wanted in the first place.

I'm also surprised by the price of 88-key keyboards now a days. To rent a piano (or even a digital piano) is $60 a month which is quite an investment on top of the lessons. The least expensive digital keyboard I could find available for purchase in my area is $1500. By that standard the on-line model for $775 is quite a deal. I checked everywhere for used keyboards or pianos and can't find anything under $500. I even checked surrounding states and places like e-bay. If anyone can find a $100 88-key digital keyboard with weighted keys for sale, PLEASE tell me!

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"I've been rich and I've been poor but independently wealthy is where it is at."