Kawai, Yamaha or other brands?
- Thread starter aunti
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nosepicker
New member
Hello aunti!!
Soft not very piano orientated one, go to pianoworld.com. Check te forum, there got one 'Adult Beginner Buying Piano in Singapore thread'. Ask te ppl there I think got better answers :lol:
Soft not very piano orientated one, go to pianoworld.com. Check te forum, there got one 'Adult Beginner Buying Piano in Singapore thread'. Ask te ppl there I think got better answers :lol:
Cheez
Moderator
Nosepicker, SOFT is piano oriented! It's just the post was placed in the wrong place. We have a lot of pianists here who can help out.
Aunti, getting a baby grand has a few considerations - 1. cost and 2. space. If both are not a problem, then go ahead. What grade is your daughter? Getting a baby grand at the beginning grades may be an overkill and too high an investment. Most people don't get a grand. I use the grand from grade 6 onwards - only because my piano teacher has a studio with a grand piano in there (Petrof).
I've not tried the U1, but Yamaha are generally OK. So is Kawai - my upright is a Kawai and has been around for more than 30 years.
What is your budget?
And lastly, piano_ex needs to come in here. He's the true piano expert among us!
Aunti, getting a baby grand has a few considerations - 1. cost and 2. space. If both are not a problem, then go ahead. What grade is your daughter? Getting a baby grand at the beginning grades may be an overkill and too high an investment. Most people don't get a grand. I use the grand from grade 6 onwards - only because my piano teacher has a studio with a grand piano in there (Petrof).
I've not tried the U1, but Yamaha are generally OK. So is Kawai - my upright is a Kawai and has been around for more than 30 years.
What is your budget?
And lastly, piano_ex needs to come in here. He's the true piano expert among us!
let me move this over to the keyboard section.
aunti, which grade is your daughter in? if high grade, then she can go to the shop and try out the piano. coz she will know what she wants.
the thing about buying piano is that there are no special specs to look out for. not like buy cars where you can compare fuel consumption, acceleration, .....
buying piano is like buying shoe, it must fit. the brand only promise you a sticker that others will recognise.
* which piano is she using now?
aunti, which grade is your daughter in? if high grade, then she can go to the shop and try out the piano. coz she will know what she wants.
the thing about buying piano is that there are no special specs to look out for. not like buy cars where you can compare fuel consumption, acceleration, .....
buying piano is like buying shoe, it must fit. the brand only promise you a sticker that others will recognise.
* which piano is she using now?
DoubleBlade
New member
Hi Aunti ,
I've got some questions to ask you with regards to your post.
1) How old is your daughter?
2) What is the interest level of your daughter's attitude towards learning the piano?
3) Do you have any plans for her? For example you intend to let her pursue further studies in music at a music institution (La Salle , NAFA etc)?
4) How grade is she in?
5) How long has she been playing the piano?
Reason why I'm asking such questions in because the questions being raised are kind of interrelated in one way or another.
If your daughter is in primary school then she would have not too many committments to handle (social life , academic life , CCA life etc) as compared to poly/JC which may pull her away from practising on the piano if you want to talk about committment issues here. No escaping that.
On the topic of level of interest projected by your daughter towards learning the piano , no point paying 20k on a baby grand piano and then a few months later she decides to quit learning the piano for whatever reason. If that should happen then it's definitely not a worthy investment.
If she intends to pursue further music studies at NAFA or La Salle , then I think getting a much expensive and better piano would be a worthy investment especially when it comes to pursuing a diploma/degree in piano performance where you need to perform often on a grand piano and it would be best if you had a grand piano for her to practice on at home.
The Yamaha U1 seems quite costly to me for a upright piano. But then again if your daughter has a deep interest in learning the piano then by all means , go ahead with the investment.
I've got some questions to ask you with regards to your post.
1) How old is your daughter?
2) What is the interest level of your daughter's attitude towards learning the piano?
3) Do you have any plans for her? For example you intend to let her pursue further studies in music at a music institution (La Salle , NAFA etc)?
4) How grade is she in?
5) How long has she been playing the piano?
Reason why I'm asking such questions in because the questions being raised are kind of interrelated in one way or another.
If your daughter is in primary school then she would have not too many committments to handle (social life , academic life , CCA life etc) as compared to poly/JC which may pull her away from practising on the piano if you want to talk about committment issues here. No escaping that.
On the topic of level of interest projected by your daughter towards learning the piano , no point paying 20k on a baby grand piano and then a few months later she decides to quit learning the piano for whatever reason. If that should happen then it's definitely not a worthy investment.
If she intends to pursue further music studies at NAFA or La Salle , then I think getting a much expensive and better piano would be a worthy investment especially when it comes to pursuing a diploma/degree in piano performance where you need to perform often on a grand piano and it would be best if you had a grand piano for her to practice on at home.
The Yamaha U1 seems quite costly to me for a upright piano. But then again if your daughter has a deep interest in learning the piano then by all means , go ahead with the investment.
DoubleBlade
New member
I just hope that Aunti is not too engrossed with the pianoworld forums so as to neglect her post in soft. 
Spot on! I read until my eyes crossed!! So decided to have a peep in here again
Hi Cheez, Soft and DoubleBlade!! How are you guys doing?? Thank you for your replies! Wondering if you still remember me, I'm the mummy who asked for advices some time last year regarding Nafa Junior pianist course. :smt041
My daughter has been in Nafa for a year and is going to do Grade four in July. She just truned 8yo. The teacher kept hinting to me to upgrade my piano as my daughter is currently using a china made, otto miester. According to the technician who sold me this piano, it was of better quality than other china made brands. :smt017
I read thru the posts in pianoworld and found that majority preferred the kawai's sound. I was so keen in a kawai K5 until I spoke to a technician this morning. He advised me to go and have a try with Yamaha U5. He said he usually has problem with Kawai piano rather than Yamaha. Now I'm not sure which to get again. :? Another of my frend just got herself a German Brand from Chiu Piano (cannot remember the brand off hand), about $8K plus. But I have a feel that it should be a china made as well, for that price.
My budget is about $10K-$14K and would like to have a piano that can last her thru to diploma.
The price list :
Kawai K5 - $8588
Kawai K6 - $10600
Kawai K8 - $11600
Kawai Gm-10LE (baby grand) - $14250
Yamaha U1 - $8600
Yamaha U5 - $12400
Yamaha GC1 (baby grand) - $18354 (This is way..... beyond my budget!)
Cheez
Moderator
Hi Kiasuma! How come register under another moniker?
As to what the technician said, I never had any problems with my Kawai. I only needed one major overhaul about 10 years ago (after I had it for about 20 years). It's still working well now. Kawai seems to me pretty good.
We really need piano_ex's advices here.
Looks like your daughter is doing pretty well in Nafa! You must be proud! Is she enjoying herself?
My son just turned 6. And I'm still going through with him the basics. At least he is able to play with 2 hands now. His slower progress is my fault - he wants to learn new pieces but I'm so busy I can only give him occasionaly lessons. He would otherwise practice by himself without me. I'm not in Singapore and it's not easy to get a piano teacher here - also can't afford one! But then, I think he has perfect pitch! He hasn't learned all the black notes yet (only G through to F). But when I play the notes, he could tell me what they are - not using intervals. Maybe I'll slowly ease him towards jazz piano.... So it seems perfect pitch may be genetic after all.
As to what the technician said, I never had any problems with my Kawai. I only needed one major overhaul about 10 years ago (after I had it for about 20 years). It's still working well now. Kawai seems to me pretty good.
We really need piano_ex's advices here.
Looks like your daughter is doing pretty well in Nafa! You must be proud! Is she enjoying herself?
My son just turned 6. And I'm still going through with him the basics. At least he is able to play with 2 hands now. His slower progress is my fault - he wants to learn new pieces but I'm so busy I can only give him occasionaly lessons. He would otherwise practice by himself without me. I'm not in Singapore and it's not easy to get a piano teacher here - also can't afford one! But then, I think he has perfect pitch! He hasn't learned all the black notes yet (only G through to F). But when I play the notes, he could tell me what they are - not using intervals. Maybe I'll slowly ease him towards jazz piano.... So it seems perfect pitch may be genetic after all.
Hi Cheez!! I tried but couldn't log in under kiasuma.
It's good to know that your kawai piano has serve you so well! I didn't know you are not in Singapore. Is where you are as humid as Singapore? Not sure if what I've heard is correct, the humidity of the enviroment does has an effect on the piano.
Your son must have taken after you!! Having perfect pitch, especially inherited talent, dat's so awesome!
My daughter is doing alrite in Nafa. It's a tough course, but she has vast improvement since she joined.
I need to make up my mind before July, so as to avoid the raising GST. Making this purchase is a REAL BIG 'investemnt' to me, so I hope I can get some advice to make a good choice.
It's good to know that your kawai piano has serve you so well! I didn't know you are not in Singapore. Is where you are as humid as Singapore? Not sure if what I've heard is correct, the humidity of the enviroment does has an effect on the piano.
Your son must have taken after you!!
Having perfect pitch, especially inherited talent, dat's so awesome! My daughter is doing alrite in Nafa. It's a tough course, but she has vast improvement since she joined.
I need to make up my mind before July, so as to avoid the raising GST. Making this purchase is a REAL BIG 'investemnt' to me, so I hope I can get some advice to make a good choice.
Cheez
Moderator
Yes, humidity is not good for pianos, hence make sure the dehumidifying power plug is on. When I was younger (yearly teens), I thought I wanted to save electricty and turned it off - for about 2 years. Then disaster struck. End result - major overhaul of my piano.
Oh yes, it's terribly humid where I am. 40 degrees now. But my Kawai is in Singapore. My son had to content with Yamaha keyboards (S90) - that's the closest I can get to the real deal. The pianos here - not worth mentioning at all. The Yamaha keyboard touch is even better than the pianos, believe it or not.
Oh yes, it's terribly humid where I am. 40 degrees now. But my Kawai is in Singapore. My son had to content with Yamaha keyboards (S90) - that's the closest I can get to the real deal. The pianos here - not worth mentioning at all. The Yamaha keyboard touch is even better than the pianos, believe it or not.
Hi all!! =)
sorry, was really really busy this week so didn't really able to comment earlier
Hi aunti .... heard tat ur daughter is in Nafa .. great!! that's good ... may I know hus the teacher? (hehehe .. just interested ... cuz i'm nafa graduates and i know the some of the teacher teaching the young talent course there)
anyway, back to the point of the piano.
budgetwise, I always prefer not to buy something in the middle range of my budget, as sometimes the difference with the cheaper ones and the more expensive ones is not so great. (prefer to go for cheaper one or really go for the best one ... =P )
as for the technician that gives you the advice, again .. may i know who is he? because in this industry, i've seen so many teacher and technician that don't really know so much about what they do.
about purchasing the piano, buying kawai, or yamaha, in my honest opinion doesn't make much differences in terms of finding less problematic piano. Each piano, if you buy the correct one (note that it's not the correct brand) and you treat it well and do regular maintenance (you should do it regularly ... of course must pay for technician) the piano will last soooooo many years...... (ah .. it needs to be played as well .... )
I'm not really keen on buying from technician that i don't know because sometimes what they do is they buy piano cheap cheap .... and sell it to parents hu dunno anythin and say lots of good things bout that lousy piano ... and sell it high....
So, my advice is ..... (if can, and cuz the teacher herself keep hinting about changin piano) to bring a pianist, a good pianist .... maybe the teacher? with you to choose A grand piano. try out as many piano and find the best piano. The one with best touch, best sound (of course this one lies to ones taste as well ... =P ), and then purchase that piano. THAT particular piano i must note again. Not a particular model of a piano. but the same piano that the teacher have tried.
This is i'm afraid, the only way to ensure that you get a good piano. Because, e.g. in Nafa, there is soo many Yamaha C1 pianos ..... I've played all of em .... and none of them feels the same. One is literally sucky (i've neva played it again ever since) one has wonderful touch ... one is heavy (it was weighted more) ... one is very light and i like it to play jazz (cuz it has a brighter sound as well). Same with the 2 concert grand steinway that NAFA has .... it's the same model, but totally different. one has brighter sound, one is mellower and more muffled ... one is projecting very easily ... one does not .... one has better touch, the other is not so preferrable.
the lesson about this is that you can't choose piano based on the brand and model like how we choose keyboard or cars. It's something more like choosing a girlfriend i guess? ... hahahaha =P (oops .. lame ....)
ya ..... try asking the teacher to help you pick the piano and to buy it ...
if she has time .... i believe she will be happy to help you ..... just tell her that you want her to try the piano that you want to purchase, to make sure that the piano is good.......
if she can't or not willing .... then ... hum .... cross ur finger? =)
haha .. but anyway, both yamaha and kawai .. i've played before and it won't be that bad lah even if u suay .... cuz it's a grand already.
sorry if it's too long ...... =)
sorry, was really really busy this week so didn't really able to comment earlier
Hi aunti .... heard tat ur daughter is in Nafa .. great!! that's good ... may I know hus the teacher? (hehehe .. just interested ... cuz i'm nafa graduates and i know the some of the teacher teaching the young talent course there)
anyway, back to the point of the piano.
budgetwise, I always prefer not to buy something in the middle range of my budget, as sometimes the difference with the cheaper ones and the more expensive ones is not so great. (prefer to go for cheaper one or really go for the best one ... =P )
as for the technician that gives you the advice, again .. may i know who is he? because in this industry, i've seen so many teacher and technician that don't really know so much about what they do.
about purchasing the piano, buying kawai, or yamaha, in my honest opinion doesn't make much differences in terms of finding less problematic piano. Each piano, if you buy the correct one (note that it's not the correct brand) and you treat it well and do regular maintenance (you should do it regularly ... of course must pay for technician) the piano will last soooooo many years...... (ah .. it needs to be played as well .... )
I'm not really keen on buying from technician that i don't know because sometimes what they do is they buy piano cheap cheap .... and sell it to parents hu dunno anythin and say lots of good things bout that lousy piano ... and sell it high....
So, my advice is ..... (if can, and cuz the teacher herself keep hinting about changin piano) to bring a pianist, a good pianist .... maybe the teacher? with you to choose A grand piano. try out as many piano and find the best piano. The one with best touch, best sound (of course this one lies to ones taste as well ... =P ), and then purchase that piano. THAT particular piano i must note again. Not a particular model of a piano. but the same piano that the teacher have tried.
This is i'm afraid, the only way to ensure that you get a good piano. Because, e.g. in Nafa, there is soo many Yamaha C1 pianos ..... I've played all of em .... and none of them feels the same. One is literally sucky (i've neva played it again ever since) one has wonderful touch ... one is heavy (it was weighted more) ... one is very light and i like it to play jazz (cuz it has a brighter sound as well). Same with the 2 concert grand steinway that NAFA has .... it's the same model, but totally different. one has brighter sound, one is mellower and more muffled ... one is projecting very easily ... one does not .... one has better touch, the other is not so preferrable.
the lesson about this is that you can't choose piano based on the brand and model like how we choose keyboard or cars. It's something more like choosing a girlfriend i guess? ... hahahaha =P (oops .. lame ....)
ya ..... try asking the teacher to help you pick the piano and to buy it ...
if she has time .... i believe she will be happy to help you ..... just tell her that you want her to try the piano that you want to purchase, to make sure that the piano is good.......
if she can't or not willing .... then ... hum .... cross ur finger? =)
haha .. but anyway, both yamaha and kawai .. i've played before and it won't be that bad lah even if u suay .... cuz it's a grand already.
sorry if it's too long ...... =)
Heh i know i'm going off a tangent here, but the Korean brands "Sojin" and "Young Chang" make very good pianos at reasonable prices.
I practiced regularly on both till I finished my Grade 8 and often found that their sound and touch were better than the yahamas to my ears (although I didn't check the models of the yamahas - could've been cheap or expensive ones).
[/b]
I practiced regularly on both till I finished my Grade 8 and often found that their sound and touch were better than the yahamas to my ears (although I didn't check the models of the yamahas - could've been cheap or expensive ones).
[/b]
You are not the only one who did that. I have heard a few. :lol:
Thanks Quassar! I have not try any korean brand piano. The touch of china brand piano does have alot of different.
Hey piano_ex,
I was anticipating your reply, as cheez was calling out to you. Thanks for responding.
When did you graduate from Nafa? If you dun mind, can I communicate with you thru email regarding certain things with Nafa.
Coming back to the piano. I can understand what you mean by the different feel of the same piano in Nafa. There are only a few rooms that the teacher will use to teach. And my daughter loves the steinway she played during her master class. We did try a few upright piano in Roberto, one was a german brand $38000 and another steinway at $52000. Both will wonderful! I especially like the $38000 german piano, the sound just go straight to my heart thru the ears :lol:. But no way I can afford that.
Soft did mentioned, buying a piano is like buying a pair of shoe, it must fit. And thanks to your detail advice, getting the teacher to play on the piano that I'm buying would be the best way to determine the right choice. I know it's ok if we are buying a second hand piano, test play on the actual piece we are buying. Not sure if Yamaha or Kawai will accommodate request like this. I'm going to give them a call later, hopefully it can be done. I dun think my daughter's teacher will extent the help to test play the piano, but will try to ask. I never try, I will never know, keeping all my fingers cross X X X X X.
And lastly, do you think it is ok to get a baby grand which is the lowest end of the grand pianos or a highend upright piano?
Thanks!!
nosepicker
New member
Have yu considered getting a 2nd hand piano? Between short scale baby grand n and a "upright grand" ah, I rather go with the upright. Can try popping down to Asia Piano at Singapore shopping center, they have nice assortment of used pianos for sale. The prices are quite reasonable and gotta good warranty scheme oso
DoubleBlade
New member
Just to let you know that almost every piano you see in the various shops are all made in China.
Lots of piano retailers like to tell you that this piano that piano comes from Japan/Germany/England etc but in actual fact the INTERNAL COMPONENTS of the piano (piano strings , hammer , damper pad , soundboard etc) come from these countries BUT BUT BUT they are assembled in China due to a much cheaper labour cost.
So I would advise you to be wary of such piano retailers.
The piano parts come from European countries BUT the piano is assembled in China.
Lots of piano retailers like to tell you that this piano that piano comes from Japan/Germany/England etc but in actual fact the INTERNAL COMPONENTS of the piano (piano strings , hammer , damper pad , soundboard etc) come from these countries BUT BUT BUT they are assembled in China due to a much cheaper labour cost.
So I would advise you to be wary of such piano retailers.
The piano parts come from European countries BUT the piano is assembled in China.
hi aunti =) ...
i graduated this year, are currently just waiting for my graduation ceremony (but start working already .. thank GOD! .. hehehe)
sure, i'll pm you my email ...
the steinway during masterclass, issit in the C6-21? the old steinway? cuz i do love that steinway sound .... but it's very old already ... hehehe .... or the one in the Theatre? that one .... is especially loveable ... hahaha the feel of steinway concert grand ... the feel and the sound ..... nothing can replace that once you play that ... =P ... but ... yeah ... we won't afford that .. hahahaha
for yamaha or kawai.... they will surely allow us to try the piano ... the specific piano ... those in glass room? ... if you tell them u want to try cuz u want to buy .. they'll let you in and play =) ... dun worry
the other way is to let your daughter play, and let her decide which one she like more .... =) ... if the teacher can't do for u ... (ur daughter will be the one playing anyway ... hehehe)
for me, if i can go for a grand, even though it's a baby grand ... i'll go for grand... if u hav the space, and money .. go for grand ... why? because the mechanism is so different.... which will feel extra different.... It's not about high end upright anymore .... because upright and grand have a very different mechanism.
upright: the hammer strikes horizontally .... (touch and feel is mostly lighter and it's usually played differently)
grand: the hammer strikes vertically, goin upway ... resulting gravity resistance as well ... and this is the main difference.
of course soundwise ..... usually grand is better also ... cuz of the way the sound will be projected when the lid is opened.... and usually the soundboard will be bigger than upright =)
hope it answers ur question? =)
i graduated this year, are currently just waiting for my graduation ceremony (but start working already .. thank GOD! .. hehehe)
sure, i'll pm you my email ...
the steinway during masterclass, issit in the C6-21? the old steinway? cuz i do love that steinway sound .... but it's very old already ... hehehe .... or the one in the Theatre? that one .... is especially loveable ... hahaha the feel of steinway concert grand ... the feel and the sound ..... nothing can replace that once you play that ... =P ... but ... yeah ... we won't afford that .. hahahaha
for yamaha or kawai.... they will surely allow us to try the piano ... the specific piano ... those in glass room? ... if you tell them u want to try cuz u want to buy .. they'll let you in and play =) ... dun worry
the other way is to let your daughter play, and let her decide which one she like more .... =) ... if the teacher can't do for u ... (ur daughter will be the one playing anyway ... hehehe)
for me, if i can go for a grand, even though it's a baby grand ... i'll go for grand... if u hav the space, and money .. go for grand ... why? because the mechanism is so different.... which will feel extra different.... It's not about high end upright anymore .... because upright and grand have a very different mechanism.
upright: the hammer strikes horizontally .... (touch and feel is mostly lighter and it's usually played differently)
grand: the hammer strikes vertically, goin upway ... resulting gravity resistance as well ... and this is the main difference.
of course soundwise ..... usually grand is better also ... cuz of the way the sound will be projected when the lid is opened.... and usually the soundboard will be bigger than upright =)
hope it answers ur question? =)
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