The right size
A guitar has to fit the player. Children’s guitars come in smaller sizes, such as half size and three quarter size, and a child moves up as they grow.
Buying guide · Long Bay, Auckland
Choosing a first piano, keyboard or guitar
This is what I tell parents who ask me what to buy. I am Adam Whybro, and I teach piano and guitar one to one at my studio in Long Bay, Auckland, for $35 per half hour.
No brands, shops or instrument prices on this page, and no size chart by age. Those change, or depend on the child.
The short answer
- Piano
- A real piano is the better instrument, if you have the room for one.
- Keyboard
- A digital piano with 88 weighted keys, a stand, and a stool that adjusts.
- Guitar
- The right size for the player, and nylon strings for a child.
- Left handed
- Nothing to buy before the first guitar lesson. A left handed student plays one of my guitars.
- Before you buy
- Ask me. Text 021 162 3447 with what you are looking at.
For piano students
A first piano or keyboard
Piano lessons are on the upright in my studio. At home, a piano student needs a piano or a keyboard to practise on. If you are buying one, this is the order I give parents.
- A real piano, if you have the room. It is the better instrument. Whether to buy one now depends on how serious your child is about learning, and it can come later.
- If not, a digital piano with 88 weighted keys. Look for both in the listing: 88 keys, and the word weighted. That is what makes it feel like a real piano.
- A stand, and a stool that adjusts. A slab style digital piano, the kind that is only the keyboard, comes without a stand. Set the stool so the forearms are level with the keys.
- Then ten minutes most days. Five short goes across a week beats one long session the night before.
For guitar students
A first guitar
This is what I tell parents who are buying a guitar for a child.
I teach acoustic and electric guitar, and the lesson is on whichever one you own. Guitar lessons
Nylon strings for a child
For a young beginner I tell parents to buy a nylon string classical guitar. Nylon is gentler on young fingers than steel.
Not the very cheapest
Avoid the very cheap unbranded ones. They will not stay in tune, and they are hard to press down.
Then bring it along
Once you have a guitar, bring it to a lesson. I will tune it and check the setup.
Left handed and right handed
Do you need a guitar before the first lesson?
It depends which hand. I play left handed, and every guitar in the studio is strung left handed. Tell me which hand when you book.
Right handed: bring your own
A right handed beginner needs their own guitar before the first lesson. I have none to lend.
Left handed: nothing to buy yet
A left handed student plays one of my guitars in lessons. When it is time for one at home, ask me first.
Common questions
Questions parents ask before they buy
Does my child need a piano at home to start lessons?
They need something to practise on between lessons, so yes: a piano or a keyboard. Ten minutes most days is plenty at the start, and that cannot happen at my studio once a week.
How many keys does a first keyboard need?
If you are buying, I tell parents to get a digital piano with 88 weighted keys, so it feels like a real piano. If you already have a keyboard at home, tell me what it is before you replace it.
What size guitar does my child need?
The right size for your child, and that goes by the player, not the birthday. That is why there is no size chart by age on this page. Ask me and I will tell you which size to look for.
Can I hire a guitar instead of buying one?
Yes. Hiring one is the cheapest way to start and commits you to nothing.
Which brand should I buy, and how much should I spend?
I do not name a brand or a price here, because listings and prices change. Send me the one you are looking at and I will tell you if it is a good one. It usually costs less than people expect.
The common questions page covers fees, times and the rest.
Before you buy
Ask me before you spend anything
Ten minutes of my advice is worth more than most of what a shop will tell you. Text me what you are looking at and who it is for.
Texting is fastest. I will not pick up during a lesson, but I reply within a day.
Lessons are one to one at 24 Westerley Place, Long Bay, and cost $35 per half hour, $70 per hour. How fees work
Book a lesson or text 021 162 3447