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They sound better than used acoustics in the same price range. 

•            ·          Spinet pianos are generally in the same price range as a new digital piano.
  
•            ·          Spinet pianos average 30-65 years old.  The average lifespan on a piano is 40-50 years in regards to tuning stability. This means most spinet pianos have a hard time holding pitch properly.  Pianos that don’t hold tune properly lead to poor ear training and frustration for the player.
  
•            ·          All pianos get brighter over time so spinets naturally have the brightest and thinnest sound when compared to other acoustic and digital pianos.
  
•            ·          Digital pianos are recorded off of concert grand pianos. (Roland samples a Steinway D and two other leading acoustic piano manufacturers for their piano samples.)
  
•            ·          Digital pianos always hold perfect pitch and never need tuning.  Over the past 10 years, digital pianos have improved a lot in terms of dynamic range and expressiveness.  If you haven’t played a digital piano lately, I strongly recommend it.
  
•            ·          Comparing a digital piano to a used spinet piano will lead you to one overwhelming conclusion: digitals sound better!   
  
  They feel better than a used piano in the same price range. 
  
  
•            ·          Spinet pianos have what’s called an “indirect blow action” which means about half of the moving parts are below the keys.  This makes the action feel much lighter and less consistent when compared to other acoustic and digital pianos.  
•            ·          Most digital pianos keys are weighted to the same specifications as a grand piano action.  And, on some digital pianos, such as a Roland, you can alter the responsiveness of the action.  For example, if you want a lighter or heavier feel you can adjust it with the touch of a button.  Note: Some stores sell less-expensive variations of a digital piano that claim to be weighted, but they are semi-weighted, not fully-weighted.  I recommend asking to make sure the keys are fully-weighted.  
•            ·          Digital pianos also utilize a true sostenuto pedal, whereas most spinets do not offer you this option.
  
  Digital pianos are less expensive to own than acoustic pianos.
  
  
•            ·          Since digital pianos do not need to be tuned, they have a lower maintenance cost than a used acoustic piano.  It is recommended that you tune your piano twice a year and standard tuning rates are between $80 and $120. If the piano hasn’t been tuned in a few years, it will most likely need an additional procedure called a pitch raise and the price is likely to increase by $50 to $75.  
• Digital pianos cost less to move than acoustic pianos and don’t always require a piano mover. They also don’t require to be tuned after moving like an acoustic piano.
  
  Students will learn faster using a digital piano.
  
  
•            ·          Kids are drawn to electronics. If you put a kid on a digital piano they will usually play their favorite song using the piano sound, and then add strings, and then the electric piano, and then the organ, and then the harpsichord. Get the point? They will play their piece over and over again.  These extra sounds also help encourage your students to be more creative and experimental.  
•            ·          Digital pianos can be connected to an iPad, which has dozens of great applications that help make learning fun and engaging.  You can use flashcard apps where the students are forced to find the right note on the piano, which helps speed up the note reading process.  
•            ·          Digital pianos have sources for playing audio files so you can use midi accompaniments. This is very valuable in reinforcing rhythms and melody lines.  
•            ·          Digital pianos have metronomes built in. 
•            ·          Some Roland models have Hanon exercises built in which will actually grade the student on hitting the right notes, and playing consistently.  These exercises can be sped up, slowed down, and you can have left and right hands isolated for single hand practice.  
•            ·          Headphones and volume control allow your students to practice any time of day without disturbing the rest of the family, so there are no restrictions on when they can sit down and practice. 
  
  If you haven’t tried a digital piano built in the last 5 years, I highly recommend it. 
  
  For more information on digital pianos, please contact Josh Stevens at 901-302-3350 or joshstevens@amromusic.com