A piano can provide decades of musical enjoyment and intellectual stimulation for every member of your family.
Whether you’re prepared to spend a few hundred dollars on digital piano or invest in the beauty and quality of an acoustic piano, Junior Reid — the owner of Reid Music in Mount Pearl — says it’s helpful to have a piano expert help you determine the best one for your needs.
First, there’s the brand to consider. Yamaha pianos are known for their signature bright sound and excellent quality, and are the preferred piano of musicians like Elton John and Alicia Keys. Junior says Yamaha pianos are the first choice of the Royal Conversatory of Music, so investing in a Yamaha piano provides an advantage for children taking piano lessons.
Then there’s the decision of digital vs. acoustic, which Junior says is often influenced by where the player lives and how they intend to use their piano.
“Digital Yamaha pianos are ideal for someone living in an apartment or condo where volume is an issue,” says Junior, who founded Reid Music back in 1991. “They’re also good for people who want to experiment with different sounds and rhythms, or connect it to their computer for recording and editing their music.”
If your child is new to the piano — perhaps starting lessons this fall — Junior recommends going with a 61-note touch-sensitive keyboard.
“Most music is written within the 61 notes of this keyboard, so it’s great for beginners,” says Junior. “A good digital piano can usually take a student up to Grade 7 or Grade 8 with the Royal Conservatory of Music, and then they’ll go to an acoustic.”
If you’re in the market for a digital piano that feels more like an acoustic model, Junior says an 88-key weighted action digital keyboard can be as low as $600.
Junior says Yamaha’s digital pianos are priced much lower than acoustic pianos but they don’t hold their value as well, whereas Yamaha’s acoustic pianos maintain their value for decades.
“An advanced player will definitely want an acoustic piano because there’s nothing like the touch of a real, high-quality acoustic piano,” says Junior. “It’s all about the touch and the tone, and it’s a solid investment.”
It’s an investment that’s a little easier on your wallet at the moment, too. Reid Music is currently running a promotion on Yamaha pianos. Anyone who purchases a digital or acoustic Yamaha piano by Sept. 30 can choose from six or 12 months with no interest or payments, or choose up to 24 months of equal payments. Depending on the acoustic model a customer chooses, they may also be entitled to a performance rebate of up to $3,000.
If you have an older piano and you’d like to upgrade, Junior says customers are encouraged to bring them in and discuss a trade-in towards a brand-new digital or acoustic model.
Junior says playing the piano is “good for the mind and the soul,” but it also exercises the parts of your brain that are useful in mathematics and spatial intelligence. He adds that piano lessons can improve your patience as well as your ability to memorize information and follow instructions.
Playing the piano may also make you smarter. A study conducted at the University of Toronto tested the IQs of a group of six-year-old children, provided them with free weekly piano lessons for nine months and then retested them a year later. The children had slightly larger increases in IQ than their peers who did not take piano lessons.
So whether your family has a child interested in starting piano lessons or a more advanced player looking to upgrade to a new piano, Junior encourages you to come into Reid Music to check out their wide selection of acoustic and digital pianos in their piano showroom.
Junior says they’re the only Professional Series Yamaha acoustic dealer in Newfoundland and Labrador, and they also offer the largest selection of pianos in the province.
“Our team is very knowledgeable about digital and acoustic pianos. We always want to help our customers get the right piano for their needs,” says Junior. “We pride our self in personalized service and give the best possible prices to everyone, every day.”
