So you’re ready to sign your child up for piano lessons at The Piano Spot! That is wonderful news.
The first thing you need to do is get an acoustic piano.
At The Piano Spot, acoustic pianos are required before starting lessons. Kids can develop poor skills on electric instruments vs. acoustic that typically can’t be fixed later on. We want kids to start off with excellent foundational skills.
What kind of piano should I get?
Grand pianos are the best options but are often not affordable or possible for families to have. Upright pianos are usually the most practical options. They don’t take up much space, usually cost less, and are easier to move. Learn more about Piano Differences.
Where can I buy a piano?
You have many options in the greater Houston and Katy area when it comes to buying or renting a piano. It’s a bit like buying a car.
Options include:
- Purchasing a piano from a piano store (used or new pianos are available, and there may be rental options or rent-to-own options) — like buying a car from a dealer
- Purchasing a used piano in a private sale from an individual — like buying a car from your neighbor
You may pay more for a used piano that is sold by a piano store, but there are benefits to that:
- A reputable piano store is not going to sell you a piano that is not in good working condition
- They may include a warranty with the piano
- They may include free or reduced moving costs and a tuning
- You don’t have to be concerned about exchanging money with strangers
Sales people at Houston Piano Company, Fort Bend Music Center, and the Kawai Gallery Houston can help answer your questions. I’ve also had students purchase used pianos online from Rick Jones Pianos. In this case, you purchase the piano without playing it (it’s located on the East Coast), and it’s delivered to you.
If you are comfortable buying a used piano in a private sale, used acoustic pianos are a dime a dozen in this area. You can find some that are cheap and being sold by individuals (maybe a few hundred dollars, but be careful with cheap pianos) and you can even find them for free. You’d have to negotiate with the seller about moving the piano.
A piano store doesn’t sell groceries
While stores like Costco might sell pianos, I advise against buying instruments from them. They do not have specialists on hand (like piano sales people) who know how to move the instruments, handle the instruments, keep them in good working condition, identify if the piano has a problem, and they certainly won’t be able to answer your piano-specific questions.
In addition, I would generally advise against buying a piano that is more than 50 years old from a private seller unless you have a technician inspect it first. While many pianos of that age are still wonderful instruments, some have lived a hard life and may not hold the tunings very well.
Where to find a used piano from a private seller
There are probably thousands of pianos in the greater Houston area for sale by private owner. Many of these are listed on Craig’s List, NextDoor, Facebook Marketplace, and other local listings. You can also try PianoMart. In the Katy area specifically, Facebook Marketplace probably gives the most options and is easy to use.
You can save money by privately purchasing a piano, but the pianos will be “as is.” Similar to a car dealer, piano stores have overhead expenses and other reasons for sometimes selling pianos at slightly higher prices. But, as we discussed, there are a lot of benefits to purchasing a piano at a piano store.
