Hi, I appreciate your thoughts on this, thank you.
My teaching studio is small and in it right now is an upright older Steinway that is well maintained. Possibly soon I will buy a small grand. I don't have room for both pianos in the studio. Do I sell my upright and put the grand in the studio for my students (beginners-intermediate players)? Not sure if the new grand should take a beating from the younguns....? But it would be nice to get some $ from selling the upright.
What do you think?

Hi Barb,

It's always nice to have a second instrument. Eventually, you'll want to do concertos and other music 4 hands, 2 pianos, plus you'll appreciate being able to play along with your students. Is there another room you can keep the upright in until it's time to move into a larger home?

Hi John,
Yes, I have room in my house for 2 pianos and could move my studio to another area as well. It's more about the $$$. Found a grand I am in love with and in the process of convincing hubby
My upright will be needing work again, probably soon, so just wondering if it's worth it to have the 2 pianos, given expenses involved with both.
I agree with you that it would make sense to have the 2 pianos.
Thanks very much!

Barb, I have had an agreement with my wife for a very long time. I won't go to her office and tell her how to do her job, what to buy, etc., and I expect the same consideration in return. Of course, if either of us wants counsel from our spouse, that's another matter.

It's definitely worth it to have two pianos. I've had two pianos since October, and it's made the world of a difference in teaching! Everything from playing new pieces to demonstrating technique is easier, let alone now playing duets requiring two pianos!

If space is at a premium and you are committed to your present room, you could buy a digital piano to use along with your upright. You can get decent ones now for as little as $1000. A grand can be intimidating for many early-level students, whether children or adults.

You don't have to have a second instrument to do worthy teaching, but it certainly looks professional.

I see I answered Barb's query in the abstract, whereas she really wants our blessing to buy a grand piano that will be pricey.

That's a tougher problem. I'd say buy a grand for yourself, and teach on it if you wish. Young children aren't going to give that piano nearly the workout that you will if you practice regularly. You love the piano, and you deserve it.

OTH, I stand by my other post, that early-level students of all ages may have more trouble having lessons on a grand than on an upright. So my advice would be to keep your upright, put some money into its repair if it's worth it, and also buy yourself a grand.

A Steinway upright should sell without much difficulty, if you want to go that route.

If you don't mind my asking - how is a grand intimidating for early-level students?

I teach on Yamaha grands and my youngest and elementary students haven't had any issues with it.

1. A grand is physically bigger and more intimidating just by its size. Most students don't own one at home, so there's also a familiarity issue.

2. The music is much further away from the keyboard than on an upright or digital piano. For a beginner of any age that's an impediment.

3. The music rack is also higher up on a grand than on an upright. For a little kid that can be a visual impediment.

4. The action is generally harder than on an upright, so early-level students have trouble adjusting from the instrument they play at home.

None of these are necessarily reasons to dispense with using a grand piano for early-level teaching; they're just my observations over the years.

I am not a teacher, but as a technician I know many teachers. I think owning a grand may not be imperative, but certainly near-essential for teaching advanced students. In Canada, all examinations from grade 6 and up are conducted on a grand. If a student never has the opportunity to play one, how can they adjust/adapt on the fly in an examination situation?

A grand piano in a teaching studio helps to elevate the studio (and the teacher's) reputation as being a quality and first class business, serious about teaching music. While this may be subjective in the mind of the prospective client, it is a real factor.

Teaching on a grand may enable you to raise your fees. Purchasing a grand, as a teacher, means investing in yourself and in your business. It is a business expense. Besides purchasing music and a small percentage of home costs, how many other tax write offs do music teachers have?

I think it behooves professionals in any field to pursue working with the best tools that they acquire, not the least in the interest of their clients.

And at the end of it all, personal joy and satisfaction in hearing and making music is another good reason to go for a grand.

Hi Barb860,
I currently have a grand and an upright piano in my studio. I teach beginners mostly ages 6-8 and NO ONE has had any problem using the grand. Each was given the choice of which piano to use, and everyone chose the grand.

The IDEA of getting money for your upright piano is appealing. But selling it can bring up issues. For example, it feels like a conflict of interest to promote your piano to your own students. My upright is a Yamaha U3 and I found that parents can get an entry level piano new for less. So the U3 goes unappreciated. Another issue I've had is that my upright has a light touch. And now I'm uncertain about whether a light touch is the best start.

I also intended to give my upright to my sister and get my old digital piano back (to make better use of the upright and for the fun of a DP). But she preferred to keep the DP especially since she can use headphones and not disturb anyone with her playing.

Now that a year has passed, I am comfortable with keeping both pianos. It really did come down to giving myself permission to keep it. I never advertised it. I had paid $4,250 for my upright piano and I know I'd be lucky to get $3,250 for it. I'd rather forgo the headache of dealing with selling. Plus I'd want it to go to a good home, not just sit somewhere neglected. And I play it a little most days for duets with kids.

Now that I think of it, what would be a better use of $3,250 anyway? It would just disappear. I'd rather have both pianos instead.

I look forward to congratulating you on purchasing a grand piano!!

You have my vote for 'get the grand' and 'keep the upright if you can.' It's not just for your students' benefit--- although they will--- but for your own.

Interesting point about the music rack being closer on a DP than a grand. It is not true of mine.

What grand are you loving lovingly at?

Buy the grand! You can write nearly if not all of it off as a business expense (either all this year or over 7 years.) In my last survey last fall, most parents stated that my grand piano is very important to their decision to study with me.

Buy it. If you love it, you won't regret it. I bought a 2nd grand last year and it was one of the best moves I've made in my teaching. My students play my 1948 Steinway L and I teach from the lesser piano.

Barb, you could choose the level of work you are willing to do to sell your upright. And if that doesn't work, then give yourself permission to keep it and pay for anticipated repair work.

In other words, are you willing to have strangers come to your home to see your piano? Or do you just want to circulate word among your students and perhaps your professional organizations?

It will be wonderful for you to own a grand piano. I vote for getting the grand.

The complication with your current piano is that it is going to need work. Do you know what expense it will involve?

I think it's nice to have 2 pianos. The question is whether your current upright will be your second piano. It may be by default (not finding a buyer). In that case, pay for the repair. I also think a DP would make a great 2nd piano. You could record kids playing and play it back so easily. And it's always fun to use different voices, especially at Christmas.

I also think it's great that Minniemay has 2 grands. Very professional! And it also helps me to see that my having 2 pianos in my studio is not excessive.