Grand Piano for Gifted 6-Year-Old (Kawai GL or GX?)
Iāve joined Tonebase for my daughter, who will be turning 6 in January. She started learning piano at 4, and we currently have a Kawai K500 upright, which I originally thought would be suitable for at least the next 8 years.
However, itās become clear that sheās not only highly interested in piano but also quite talented. At 5, she placed 1st in the "Age 7 and Under" category in a local competition. While I wouldnāt call her a prodigy, she practices nearly two hours a day and has just completed the first movement of Beethoven's Sonatina in F major. Sheās now working on the second movement.
Given her dedication and progress, weāre considering purchasing a grand piano to help her get used to the different touch and action. Do you think the Kawai GL series or Yamaha GC series would suffice for the next 10 years, or should we invest in a Kawai GX or Yamaha CX, despite the significant price increase? Or, is it simply too early to transition to a grand piano at her age?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
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I would hold off on a grand for a while.
I consider it most important that your current piano is perfectly tuned, the keys properly weighted and a good overall tone.
Speak with your trusted tuner and if she/he considers the piano meets these needs, then hold off.
If not I'm afraid I can't advise on which model better (I have a Boston) but again I would put my trust in the opinion of a good tuner.
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The Yamaha Cx series is the better built piano with more resonance , more protection of sound and probably will last you a life time. It has more string length and more detail in the sound board. The new ones are almost as good as The Bosendorfer(which I have). This is a serious piano hence the price.
Since your daughter is only 5, she needs to play a lot more piano- to a more advance stage to know her mind. A piano is a very personal thing, like choosing a partner in marriage. You canāt choose it for her and she be stuck with it for all her youth growing up. First of all, you need at least a C3X which is 6 ft. Or bigger to be worth while. No point in having anything smaller, ior else it will be the same length of strings as a full upright. When she is older and knows her mind, She has to choose it for herself . If you insist on buying it now. Then you should take her teacher with you or someone who plays well to know the difference. For most pianists, this is the purchase of a life time The half life of a piano is about 30 years. There is nothing wrong with a full upright if the action and sound are fine. At present, her little fingers will not be able to make use of the power of a 6ft or bigger grand. You should talk to her teacher about this.
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I used to recommend Kawaii instruments to my students, because I preferred the warmer and more āmellowā tone they tended to have. But, for a student, that mellow tone also can mask playing technics that would otherwise produce a brighter tone. The Yamaha instruments will produce a brighter sparkle with little coaxing, but will turn around and produce a warm murmur when you ask it. Refining the ear to hear the subtle tone differences that different keystrokes produce is critical to developing a high level of artistry. IMO, the Yamaha instruments do a better job at that. Later on, if she really takes to it, you might consider a re-built Steinway.
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Christopher Macy Your comment also resonates to me as an adult relearner... Recently upgraded from Yamaha upright to rebuilt Steinway, and I've realized my legato etc has gotten very sloppy because I can hide poor technique now. I could see how this could impact a child's learning.
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Judy Kuan I agree. I have a 60+ year-old restored Steinway baby grand and a Yamaha upright, and alternate which I practice on for this exact reason. Both pianos have their own unique sound, and if I get too used to one or the otherāfor instance the easy legato of the Steinway, or the brighter forte of the Yamahaāthen when I finally go to play on the piano I havenāt touched for a day or two it will take a while for a piece to sound good again.
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I have had a Yamaha G3 and C3. I now have a Steinway Model B. My students have Kawai GX, Shigeru-Kawai, rebuilt-Steinway, and Yamaha CX.
Since your daughter is only 5, I would recommend waiting a few more years. Kawai K500 is sufficient for now. An upright piano with a larger soundboard (50 ~ 52 in) is as good as a baby grand. When she becomes 9 or 10 and works on more advanced pieces, then consider investing in a grand piano that is at least 6'. A bigger piano lets you produce more variety of colors and richer sound, not to mention helps you develop better technique, too.
Of course, I would recommend a Steinway grand piano. It doesn't have to be brand new. But it's trickier to shop for a used or rebuilt Steinway piano. If you are planning to keep the first grand piano for 10 years or so, Yamaha, Kawai or Boston is ok but only a brand new one. Be sure to get one with a bigger soundboard, 6' or more. Also, this is very important part of owning a piano. Find a GREAT PIANO TECHNICIAN. A great technician can elevate your piano.
All piano companies have sales. Yamaha seems to allow its dealers to offer more flexible prices. One of my students got a huge discount on her Shigeru-Kawai because it had a couple of small scratches on the lid.
My students are making great progress. However, for students who have Kawai GX and Yamaha CX, I prefer recording them on my piano when we make videos.
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as a competitive pianist at 13 years old, my dream piano is a steinway LOL but my piano growing up was and has been a yamaha baby grand (from costco. literally.)
you want to see how much she progresses further. wait until 12 or 13. if you want to really invest in her playing, i recommend buying a grand piano that has a better sound- like a yamaha. While kawai is good, it might not be as pleasing to listen to select pianists / something like that, seeing as it's japanese?? it has a different tone but if you grow up playing it it's beautiful (or so i've been told).
steinway is if you're rich lol! but anyways, i do recommend making her practice on the upright piano every now and then after you buy a grand piano, because of its differing tone makes her get more used to other types of pianos! in addition, you should add weights to the piano so that she has more power in her sound and a better tone!
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While on the one hand (given financial limitations) it makes sense to wait until a childās commitment and their ability to recognize nuance in playing are assured, on the other hand a superior instrument has an obliging sensitivity to subtle alterations in technique. That should encourage the studentās development of a refined and expressive technique, hastening their progress while still malleable. The better instrument opens the door to a better musical experience that will reinforce your childās desire to continue practicing and evolving while their brain and body have the greatest plasticity.
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Michael Thanks! That's exactly what my wife is thinking and that's why she asked me to buy a grand piano. Of course, I need to work much harder :D
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Thank you all so much for your detailed insights! As someone who is new to the world of musical instruments, I have learned a great deal from each of you. Here are my thoughts:
- Steinway: It seems like a long-term goal for us. Iāll be curious to see how far my daughter can progress.
- Affordable Options: For a more budget-friendly choice, Iām considering quality options like the Kawai GX3 or Yamaha C3X. They have excellent performance and durability, making them worthwhile investments.
- Practice on Upright: Even if we decide to purchase a grand piano, I believe it's beneficial to continue practicing on an upright occasionally to refine various techniques.
Thanks again for all your valuable advice!
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I'll start right off stating that I am a full on Yamaha fan since the the X-series was introduced. Yamahas now have a balanced fundamental and wonderful transitions section to section from the top to the bottom of the piano. The C3X model is a perfect practice piano for any age. It is very well built with excellent materials; And, I'm told there is a lot of hand work that goes into the building starting at the C3X model on up the Yamaha lines. And yes, I believe them.
As was stated in an earlier post, use a skilled piano technician. It makes a huge difference.
Please let your daughter know that we are all very happy for her. I was well into my thirties before I discovered the joy of piano playing.
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Dave B Thanks a lot! I'll surely let her know. I didn't have chance to learn any instrument. Although I love music very much, I don't want to force my daughter doing anything. So I'm really blessed that she has already shown great interest in piano in such young age. Better yet, she enjoys watching some Tonebase videos with me as well.
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Another thought: Some piano dealers advertise a liberal trade-in policy that allow serial upgrading of pianos purchased through them, aimed at clients with your scenario.
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Michael Thanks for your info. I guess this is something like car trade-in :)
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Sunny Exactly! Hmmm, coming to think of itā¦I wonder if the Bƶsendorfer dealer would accept my BMW as a trade-in.
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