Best Keyboards for Beginner Pianists

As a piano teacher, I have encountered the full gamut of keyboards, from teeny-tiny toy pianos for toddlers to digital Steinway Pianos that come with their very own iPad. As a parent or first-time piano student, selecting the right keyboard for your piano lessons can be a daunting task amidst the wide variety of options available. To ease the pressure of this process, here are some recommendations for beginners looking for the right keyboard to start off their new journey as a burgeoning pianist.

The best fit for many beginners is a digital keyboard. Not only is this a more portable and space-saving option than an acoustic piano, it will also cost a fraction of the price. That being said, many used upright and grand pianos in beautiful condition can be found on platforms such as Craigslist, Ebay, or Facebook Marketplace. These websites are often great places to find a beautiful, gently loved instrument a new home for a price well under its worth.

For those sticking to a digital keyboard, the first and most important detail to look for is weighted keys with velocity sensitivity. This will allow the beginning student to jump right into learning touch sensitivity and dynamics, which are essential in any form of musical education. On many occasions I have been saddened as a teacher when I cannot properly teach my student to play with a variety of different volumes using their touch at the keyboard, simply because many budget pianos leave out this essential element. Although a parent may be hesitant to purchase a slightly elevated instrument from the start, it is well worth the investment. The student will reap more from lessons with the proper instrument experience, and even those who go on to play other instruments will benefit from proper foundations at the piano. In addition, the need to purchase new and more advanced keyboards along the student’s musical journey is avoided as it becomes crucial to experience playing with dynamics.

Luckily there are in fact budget friendly options out there with weighted keys and velocity sensitivity, if you know where to look. The Casio CT-S300 is an excellent option for those looking for a bargain, while also providing the right touch experience for the student. For a slightly higher price, the Yamaha NP-32 provides weighted keys with sensitive dynamics and a more realistic “Concert Grand Piano” sound sample. If your budget will allow for a keyboard with the full 88 keys, the Yamaha P-71 is a great deal, offering fully weighted keys and a sustain pedal for less than $500. This is the keyboard that most of our beginning students have chosen in the past.

For the best in budget digital keyboards, the Yamaha P-125 or the Roland FP-10 are great options for establishing the foundations of great technique at the piano. What Roland describes as their “triple sensor hammer action keys” feels incredibly similar to the action of an acoustic grand piano, and the sound quality is superior. These are just a few options in the budget friendly range that will give your student the full capacity to learn keyboard technique in their lessons.

For more information on pianos and keyboards, or tips and tricks for finding the best fit for your family, never hesitate to reach out to your City Strings teacher. We are here to help you and your student along every step of their musical journey.