If you currently have a digital keyboard, and are curious about trying an acoustic piano, but feeling apprehensive about the cost, you may be surprised at how many options there are for getting a piano for nearly - or completely -  free! Please note, these options are primarily for folks in the USA, Canada, and the U.K.

1. Thrift Store

Hello, my name is Hugh, and I am a thrift store junkie! I mainly hunt thrift stores for kitchen utensils these days, but I've been amazed to find some pretty good pianos from time to time. Here's one I saw just a few days ago at one of the largest Impact thrift stores in Bucks County, Pennsylvania:

I played it through for a bit and was surprised at the good quality of the instrument. All the keys seemed to work and were actually reasonably in tune! And here's a picture of the $599 price tag. Not bad at all for a piano on a budget.

2. Craigslist

Craigslist is to the Internet what the classified ads used to be to newspapers, but on a much, much bigger scale. If you're looking to buy or sell anything locally, then chances are you'll want to be using Craigslist in some capacity. But did you know that there is actually a "free stuff" section in Craigslist? When I recently checked the free stuff section in the Philadelphia region, I found no less than 18 pianos available. Of course, you'll have to arrange to pick these pianos up yourself, but hey - you can't beat free! Visit http://craigslist.org for more info.

3. Adopt A Piano

If you dream of owning a piano like some folks dream of owning a puppy or kitten (or a child), then you'll be delighted to discover a website called PianoAdoption.com. You'll find an incredible array of pianos looking for a loving home listed by state in the USA, and even links to free pianos in Canada and the U.K. - all completely free!

I have to admit - this video of pianos being heartlessly thrown into landfills that PianoAdoption.com posted on their site made my stomach wrench:

Keep in mind that - in a sense - you will "get what you pay for", but you may be surprised at how good of a condition these free or nearly-free pianos can be in if you know what you're looking for. You'll also need to have some way of picking up the piano yourself (some thrift stores will offer delivery services for large furniture items like pianos, but you might have to pay something extra for that service). It's also a good idea to try to find someone who knows something about pianos to come along with you to make sure you aren't getting stuck with an unplayable instrument. You may also want to check out The Piano Book by Larry Fine, an incredible resource for understanding pianos and making informed purchasing decisions (or in this case, informed pick up decisions!)

So there! Go out, rescue a piano from the landfill, and experience the full expressive capabilities of an acoustic piano!