Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Piano Forum How many pianos in the life of an artist?

So when do you folks become "monogamous" with your pianos? Seriously, as I continue to look at upgrading from a U1 for my student, it occurs to me:
How many pianos does the typical artist work through until they have developed solid opinions on what is pleasing, AND can afford those tastes.

Translated into my purchasing decision, if this purchase is a journey, and NOT a destination, perhaps it's folly to expect I find the PERFECT piano at such an early age, and should just pick a good grand piano that surpasses the U1.
Let the student's tastes (and pocketbook) mature.

PS...leaning to C2, and not a warmer sounding piano.

my guess is that it depends how poor the pianist is when he starts & how fast he gets rich...

Chopin upgraded a lot, but he also moved a lot, and he rented them. Liszt went through pianos like popcorn. He kept tearing them up. He kept upgrading until he found one he couldn't destroy.

Liszt tearing up pianos is a bit over the top. During his lifetime the top manufacturers provided the maestro with one or more of their pianos to get his endorsement. These pianos were not torn up, but became part of a large collection of instruments in his posession, many of which can be found in various museums honoring his memory throughout Europe.

Typically more wives than pianos.

To paraphrase Curry: (with apologies)

The idea of (Insert the name of the relevant virtuoso) tearing up wives is a bit over the top. During his lifetime the top manufacturers provided the maestro with one or more of their wives to get his endorsement. These wives were not torn up, but became part of a large collection of wives in his posession, many of which can be found in various museums honoring his memory throughout Europe.