I would love to own that Whaletone piano in the photos above, purely for the beautiful aesthetic design! Maybe it's also because I think killer whales are awesome. The reality is, I just don't have the space or budget for a Whaletone in my house.
Many parents ask if their student will need an acoustic piano to practice on at home. I never want to make that an absolute requirement, as I do not want such a requirement to prohibit any child from taking piano lessons. If it is possible for you to own an acoustic piano, that would be the ideal instrument for your child to practice on. For very young students and beginners, a keyboard can suffice for an initial period of time. Once a student progresses, however, practicing at home on a keyboard can be difficult. Also, dynamics and pedaling will be impossible to practice on a keyboard that does not offer those features.
The hope would be that as your child makes progress and shows a sustained interest in studying piano, that you will look for a way to provide your student with the best possible practice instrument. I have had several students whose savvy parents obtained free acoustic pianos by getting the word out to family and friends, and watching for ads. One family had a lovely elderly neighbor who donated her piano to them, as she gave up playing when arthritis crippled her fingers. It was in fine condition, so they truly were blessed. I have heard of many similar stories of other families who were able to provide an acoustic piano for their child from the generosity of another. You can also keep an eye out for used acoustic pianos for sale.
An option to purchasing an acoustic piano would be a good quality digital piano. There are many digital pianos on the market today that provide quite a remarkable alternative to owning an acoustic piano. There are actually a few advantages to owning a digital piano. First of all, digital pianos are much lighter than acoustic pianos, and you will find them much easier to move, and may take less space. Some digitals are portable, which definitely can provide an advantage. Most digital pianos offer a headset jack, which means practicing can be done without disturbing others. Digitals have features like built in metronomes, and a variety of voices. Because the digital sound of the piano is produced by replicating the sound of an actual piano, the piano sound produced by the digital can be extremely realistic, but will vary by brand and model, so make sure you hear before purchasing. A digital piano does not require tuning. Many digital pianos have weighted keyboards that have a responsive touch that is closer in feel to an acoustic piano than an electric keyboard without this feature. This means that students would be able to practice dynamics on a digital piano. A new digital piano may be less expensive in comparison to a new acoustic piano.
So if a digital piano has all of those advantages, are there any disadvantages? Unfortunately, yes, there are a few disadvantages. Digital pianos will just never be able to fully 100% replace the feel, sound and experience of playing an actual acoustic piano. It is usually more difficult to achieve a great difference in dynamics compared to an acoustic piano. For the professional or serious classical artist, there just is no substitute for the real thing. Also, being an electronic device- there is the possibility that you will eventually have some type of malfunction in your digital instrument. In the long run, a well cared for acoustic piano will hold its value much better than a digital instrument. So this is the time to weigh the pros and cons and determine what is best for your personal situation.
If you decide to rent or purchase a digital instrument for your child, I would recommend a quality brand, like Casio, Roland, Yamaha, or a Korg, with 88 graduated hammer action keys. There are differences in the models of each brand, so a more expensive instrument or brand does not necessarily mean a better one. A beginning student will not need a lot of bells and whistles. You can purchase a new digital piano at a very reasonable cost if you skip the fancy cabinet and go with a portable model. Menchey's Music in York is one music store that offers a rent to own plan, which can be used for purchasing either a digital or acoustic piano. If you shop for a used digital piano, just be aware that older digital pianos are like older computers, eventually being replaced with new advancements, and parts eventually can wear out. You will not be covered by warranty with a used digital. With such reasonable costs of new digitals, that would almost invariably be the way to go. You also want to make sure you hear the sound of any piano and give it a "test-drive" before purchasing. If you are shopping online for a digital, go find a local model to test out before you purchase.
Remember that a good quality instrument is an investment in your child's education, and should last for many, many years of playing enjoyment.