perhaps if you budget like 2~3k, u can try stage piano like yahama p70, or casio px-200(much improvement over the specification over px-310 or px-110) but not sure too, never seen the real thing too. I try on px-110 before, for the price range i guess it's a good buy.

However most musician said casio only produce toy and not musical instrument, it's up to your preferences end of the day, be sure to feel them before buying.

If you dont need hammer action, perhaps for 1~2k u can get a multifunctioning keyboard instead.

well basically i don't know anything about pianos or keyboards >.<

and the problem is that i've never played it and now just wan to start.. so should i go for classes first? im just worried that after classes, i have no place to go practice.

i don't think i'll be playing mad style musics... just interested in the classics ^^

1 more thing that im really worried is being conned by those sellers because im totally a noob....

still remember the McD commercial, a kid is crying playing piano? forced by an adult (dunno teacher or mum).
I was in that situation too. damm i hated it.

neway it was over. i quit n started guitar. hehe.

If you like the classics (as in classical songs), you should go for the normal piano lessons, like offered in Yamaha. But you'll need a piano, perferrably an acousitc one since you're on classical. Remember when learning the piano (or any other instruments), you have to have patient and practice as much as possible; Also make sure you're really interested.

If you can't afford a new one, you can go for second hand which can get around 3 to 4K if I'm not wrong, many music shop sells it, you can go for larger one for more choices/selections. Test it, feel it before you buy, most important is you like the sound, touch and feeling.

Good Luck!

oh does that mean i can't play classical on a keyboard? its much cheaper..... and the prob is getting a piano... its quite pricy...

btw should i go for classes first then only decide whether to buy a piano?

without a piano it'll be hard to practice since the classes are once a week

classes are useless without practice, unless you have special hidden talent with the instrument.

playing on a keyboard will not train your finger's muscle memory, thus making your progress even slower. Actually i have been learning piano on a keyboard for half year, which cause my progress to be extremely slow. I hope not another one like me.

so what you're saying is that i should play those acoustic type pianos ? not those electronic keyboards?....

i'll try to find alternatives to get myself a piano lucky i have some friends who have pianos at home ^^...

how long would you recommend to practice a day?

You can, but you'll lose some features in Acoustic Piano which the classical course utilise, it's argued that not even Digital Piano offers it... As mentioned by Sky.Live, keyboard without hammer keys are worst, which will effect your finger strength, fingering, etc... If you've touch a keyboard without hammer keys, then you touch a keyboard with hammer keys/digital piano, you'll feel a big difference straight. Not to mentioned the weighted hammer keys yet, and those which simulates the weight of an acoustic piano. When you compare it with a real acoutic piano, you feel another difference again, and the way the sounds are produced by an acoustic compared to a digital.

I think you can go for class first and ask your teacher to recommended, but make sure he/she gives your a few choices and you go and test it out yourself. OR, you can survey and check out WHILE you're registering/signing up for classes. For classical courses, I think the first few lessons are quite easy going, you can start without owning a piano/keyboard, but you might miss out the opportunity to practice and ease your temptation (your hands might get very itchy and wants to play the piano, even just hitting the keys and appreaciating the sound and piano). So, it's recommended to get yourself one first, and play around with it before you go for classes so you already get familiar yourself with the piano.

For classical classes, you're recommended to use those acoustic type pianos... You CAN start off with electronic keyboards and upgrade later, but it's recommended to start off with the acoustic because with keyboards, you'll most probably progress slower, feels a big difference and gaps when you go for classes which use the acoustics... etc... And at later level when you're reaching the imtermediate or advance, you'll need the more features which is not available on the keyboard alone. You can opt for a digital piano, but again, as mentioned, since you're going classical, recommended to go for acoustic.

If you can afford a new one, you can always opt for a second hand refurbished,.. should be able to get around 2-4K, just make sure you go test it out, touch it, feel it, hear it...

Practice is up to you, and when you're new, basically you haven't learnt much, but usual advice, always practice your 'SCALES'... Usual practice would be 2 hour plus minus, it may seem long, but once you're into the piano, it's a different story... Another advice from someone is, it doesn't matter how long, if you find the time, even 5 minutes, 10, 15, before you go to school, while waiting for someone, etc, just practice on the piano....

i really think what ever piano you play, time for a transition for a better piano, either digital piano or acoustic piano to a better acoustic piano, probably it's years ahead.

It should really keep out of your mind for the moment to get acoustic piano as i realised from your post you have some budget constrain. Acoustic piano were difficult to maintain, space consuming and having less feature. A digital piano will pawn the sound quality of a cheap acoustic piano anytime as their sample were recorded from high quality grand concert piano.

By the time you already reach the stage where you think a better piano upgrade is required, at least 5 years or more from my estimation. You will probably buying a grand piano since there is things acoustic upright can be compared with a real grand piano.

For the time being, digital piano is your best bet. How long you need to practise? Only you can answer this question, are you a perfectionist, no single mistake are allowed? or you can play it on as long as you felt good enough..

All the best to you

THANK YOU both!!... you've certainly gave me some idea of what to do. I guess i'll go try out some pianos and feel it first. I'm speechless now, all i can say is thank you ^^.

You're most welcome... we're just giving our opinions/advice/suggestions. Glad that you read and appreciates it. Whichever your choices, hope you're satisfied with it and enjoy! Remember it's your money, make sure you chooce carefully, test and consider carefully, make really really sure you will not feel regret later and will love it despite it having some weakness or imperfections, nothing's perfect right? For acoustic, you should understand about the maintainance cost and especially for second hand quality and possibility damages.

Lastly, good luck and all the best to you! And may your lessons go well and become a profesional soon