How to Choose a Piano or Keyboard for Beginners (Quick Guide)

If you or your child have just started piano lessons and don't yet have an instrument to practise on at home, choosing the right piano or keyboard can be overwhelming. Here’s a breakdown of the three main options: Acoustic Piano, Digital Piano, and Keyboard.

Acoustic Piano (Upright or Grand Piano)

An acoustic piano is often the most preferred option for many piano teachers. It's great for practising technique, touch, and gives you the true feel of real key action (how the hammers strike the strings, etc.). If you don't have to worry about your budget and have the space to accommodate it, I would highly recommend getting an acoustic piano for your home.

Digital Piano

A digital piano is my second recommendation and is ideal for being neighbour-friendly. If an acoustic piano isn't suitable due to limited space or concerns about disturbing your neighbours, a digital piano is a great alternative. Digital pianos are designed to closely mimic the feel and key action of an acoustic piano, including pedals, and most have 88 keys, just like upright pianos.

The prices for digital pianos can vary greatly, ranging from A$500 to over A$30,000, so it’s important to find one that suits your needs. Brands like Yamaha and Kawai are my personal favourites, and you can be assured that any digital piano from these brands will provide a solid experience. Other brands like Casio and Roland also make quality digital pianos.

If you purchase a good digital piano, most students won’t need to upgrade until they are beyond Grade 6 (up to Grade 8 is still okay, but after Grade 6 would be ideal). At that point, an upgrade to an acoustic piano may be necessary.

Keyboard

Keyboards come in various sizes and price ranges. They typically have 49, 61, or 88 keys. While I don’t recommend a keyboard as the first choice for a piano student, I understand that many beginners might already have a small keyboard at home or receive one as a gift. If that’s the case, it's better to have something to practise on during the early stages.

For younger children, especially those aged 3-6, starting with a keyboard is perfectly fine. However, for children aged 7 and above, it's best to consider a digital piano, as they will progress quickly and will likely outgrow a small keyboard within a year. If you’re unsure how long your child will stick with piano lessons, a keyboard can be a more cost-effective starting point.

What to look for when buying a piano for beginners ?

When choosing a piano or keyboard for a beginner, here are the key features to look for. Depending on your budget, if you can find a piano that meets these requirements, it would be ideal:

• 88 keys (standard for pianos)

• Weighted keys (for a more realistic feel and better technique development)

• Full-size keys (to replicate the feel of an acoustic piano)

• Sustain pedal (essential for developing musical expression and practising pedal technique at home, as it's more than just holding the pedal throughout the song/piece).

• Touch responsive (so the volume and tone change depending on how hard or soft the keys are pressed)

• High number of Polyphony (the higher, the better. It refers to how many notes or sounds the piano can play simultaneously).