Keyboard Recommendations for Piano Lessons
Congrats on looking into a new keyboard! Keyboards are fantastic alternatives to full-size pianos for piano lessons. They are budget-friendly, portable, and take up far less space in your home. There are few different categories to explore.
We strongly recommend having a keyboard or piano of some kind in the home. This allows your student to practice between lessons, which is when much of their growth happens. It also provides a visual reminder and the option to sit down for a few minutes to play a little music anytime!
For early learners, beginner through intermediate pianists, we believe the best alternatives to a full-size piano are either a simple keyboard or a digital piano.
Simple keyboard
Great for beginners.
Lightweight and small.
Affordable.
Portable.
Digital Piano
Great for any level.
A more permanent fixture, but smaller than a piano.
Piano-like (weighted keys, more acoustic sound).
Investment for longer-term learning.
NUMBER OF KEYS
61 keys = fine for beginners
72 keys = allow almost any music
88 keys = full range, allow for full classical repertoires
VELOCITY/TOUCH SENSITIVITY
Keyboards with dynamic key touch action or velocity sensitivity sound more like a real piano, where a harder press = a louder sound. Most keyboards and digital pianos have this option.
WEIGHTED KEYS
Weighted keys mimic the natural resistance of a real piano key. This feature is more common in digital pianos and at higher price points. It’s not necessary for beginners but is nice for older students with stronger hands and those at more advanced levels.
Simple Keyboards
Beginner: A simple keyboard like this one is a great option that’s budget-friendly, easy to transport/store, and perfectly adequate for a young player’s needs.
A simple keyboard usually has some lower end sound options and additional fun options like playing along to a drum beat or creating accompaniments on the fly or with some presets. Oftentimes these features are not used, but you are left with an inexpensive keyboard that is totally adequate for learning, particularly for a young student. Simple keyboards are not professional level, and the keys are not weighted like a piano. For young hands this is fine.
A keyboard like this would need a keyboard stand like this one. You can also add an expression pedal if it doesn't come with one.
Intermediate: If your student were to continue playing, they would eventually want to upgrade. There are many models like the above one that you can sift through on websites such as the Musician’s Friend website linked above. The Yamaha PSR series is one with many levels, each having more features, more keys, and at increasing price points.
Digital/Electronic Piano
The other major category is a digital/electronic piano. These are usually bigger, have a stand built in (or a required add-on), and are meant to feel and sound as much like a piano as possible. They will have weighted keys and a more acoustic sound. You would not need to upgrade this. It is more like a piece of furniture. It’s less portable - not something you can pack in the car and taking it to the beach with you, for example. Here is an example and here’s another.
You can use the Musician’s Friend site to search through digital/electric pianos and filter by cost or ratings etc.
Synthesizer
High-end synthesizers are another option that are more suited to a more advanced or exploratory learner. The price of a synth includes the ability to manipulate sounds like strings and electronic sounds, which brings it to a much higher price point.
Sources
For shopping locally, Taylor's Music on Gay Street in West Chester is a wonderful option. There you can try a few options out for yourself. Your student can get a feel for things and the sales representative can help with specifications to guide your decision. You can also take home the keyboard day-of, if you wish. The Musician's Friend website another fine option. It is like a Walmart for instruments so the prices are probably a little lower and the transaction will be similar to ordering from Amazon.
There are numerous fantastic options for getting your piano lessons going. We welcome you to reach out with questions any time. Happy shopping and HAPPY PLAYING! 🎹 🎶
