Hello! I am a piano teacher in Midlothian VA who specializes in thorough and proper piano training. I work with over 40 students a week and have a degree in music from Shenandoah Conservatory.

I believe getting the basics right is crucial to success at this instrument, so I put together this article going over suitable instruments:

It is vital when beginning to play piano to make an investment into a quality instrument. While people are used to doing things quick, taking time to save and purchase in a quality instrument is worth it.

Common Misconceptions:

Many people do not understand how important it is to start on a quality instrument. They believe that they can start on a cheap instrument, and if they like it they will make an investment. This is a huge mistake! The most likely way to ensure someone doesn’t like playing piano is to start them on a low budget keyboard or piano. In our experience, the fastest piano quitters are the ones who never were willing to take it seriously in the first place.

Plus, If you or your child do not start working on an instrument with real feeling piano keys, improper height adjustments, or a poor pedal setup, they will not start with good habits. The most common bad habit is flat fingers. To develop strong fingers, a real piano is best, but if that is not possible, a high quality keyboard with 88 weighted keys will suffice.

But wait! What if I know a piano teacher or music educator recommending I start with a cheap keyboard? While some music educators may recommend this, we know this is poor advice. Many of these cheap keyboards are more like toys than actual instruments. They have poor audio quality, the keys may not be the right width or length, or any other number of problems. Avoid these at all costs.

What You Need To Learn Piano:

Proper Setup

88 Keys - You need to buy a keyboard or piano on day 1 that has all 88 keys. Otherwise, you have only bought part of a piano.

Fully Weighted Keys (For Keyboards)- Real piano keys have weight to them. This is because when you press the keys down, you are moving real mechanical parts to strike strings with a hammer. On a worthwhile keyboard, this swill be simulated by having fully weighted keys. NOTE: Be careful when looking at a keyboard to avoid marketing schemes: Many keyboard makers try to sell “touch sensitive” or “semi weighted” piano keys. These are not the same thing and will not suffice for learning piano. If you’re thinking of making a purchase of an unlisted keyboard, have your teacher help so you don’t waste your money.

A Reputable Brand - There are many popular brands. For pianos, look for these: Steinway, Kawai, Yamaha, Baldwin. Baldwin’s made before 2001 are likely higher quality due to their brand filing bankruptcy and being sold to Gibson Guitars. Manufacturing moved overseas and branding markets them as a more affordable option now. Source: The Truth About Baldwin Pianos.

For keyboards, look for these: Kawai, Yamaha.

Music Stand Attached to the instrument - It seems like a small detail, but make sure the instrument you buy can properly display sheet music. If you buy a piano, make sure the stand works properly. If it is a keyboard, make sure that a quality music stand can be attached. Avoid cheap wire stands or ones that do not hold music properly.

A Full sized pedal setup - Avoid cheap square pedals that come with many keyboards and invest in some quality pedals. Many keyboards already include good pedals. Later in this article you will see an example of the bad, cheap, square pedal.

A Fully functional instrument: For acoustic pianos, this looks like being in tune, all keys and pedals functional, etc. Would you want your child to learn how to drive in a car that doesn’t work? Tuning must be done every 6-12 months to maintain good condition.

Piano Tuner Contact: I’m often asked if I know a piano tuner nearby. Reach out here: Jon Poliquin 804.741.3878

Acoustic Pianos

Both upright pianos and baby grand pianos are considered the most ideal for beginning piano. This is because starting with the right equipment allows the student to start with familiarity to the real instrument. It’s important to note that you don’t have to buy new - a well maintained used piano is a great option!

Kawai GX-1. You may have noticed the price… if you see it and sweat do not worry. You can get options for much less.

This is the Yamaha P22. A great option for beginners.

Kawai ST-1. Every piano I have played from Kawai has been excellent.

Steinway Upright Piano. Steinways are excellent pianos, however be wise. They are priced very high. They are the “Rolex” or “Rolls Royce” of pianos. A high end Kawai sounds just as good and does not cost as much.

Other Brands…

There are plenty of other good piano brands out there, however these are the most common to have consistent quality. Talk to your teacher about finding a piano right for you.

Spinets/Console Pianos -

the affordable beginner acoustic option

Telling Them Apart

The bigger, the better the sound. PLUS, bigger pianos have more room for better parts. Source: https://familypiano.com/blog/spinet-piano-not-bad/

Facebook Pianos

The most common place I see people look for pianos to get a deal is Facebook Marketplace. This can be a place to find a great option, but please be VERY CAREFUL. Here are some things you should know:

1) There is a common piano scam where scammers will get you to pay them for shipping without you seeing it. If you see a “too good to be true” option, tread lightly. Do not buy a piano yourself without seeing it first.

2) You can find free pianos, but usually they are free for a reason. Check with them about the condition: Is it in tune? Where has it been stored? Why are you giving it away?

3) You can sometimes find really good deals on Facebook Marketplace. Sometimes people give away pianos if they are in a bind, but you have to move quickly. Also, often times people sell good pianos for a cheaper rate than you would buy at a store.

Seating

All people should have some way of adjusting the height of their piano bench. Correct sitting height is vital to proper piano playing. Here are examples of some adjustable piano benches:

Bad Seating:

Wooden Bench: Uncomfortable because there is no cushion, Non adjustable for growing kids.

X Bench: barely adjustable, unstable, ugly.

Good Seating:

Notice the “car jack” type mechanism that can be adjusted with the handle on the side. This is what you want to look for. This bench also has storage.

This bench can be adjusted in 1 inch increments, making it good for adults and kids.

Height Modifications: Pedal Extender

While I haven’t tried this one with a student yet, I intend to. This has the highest respect among other piano teachers. Plus, it doesn’t slip across the floor. The plastic ones do.

If your child cannot reach the floor, they will need this. Note: This will not work with all pedal setups. Talk to your teacher about how to setup their pedals and feet properly.

Keyboards

If you cannot afford an acoustic piano, an electric keyboard is okay to get started. You are looking for a keyboard with 88 fully weighted keys. If you purchase a keyboard, please only consider it a stepping stone toward buying a proper instrument. Proper music education requires proper equipment. Talk to your teacher before buying a keyboard. Most keyboards are terrible!

Kawai CN301

Kawai KDP120:

Yamaha P225B:

Yamaha P45:

Bad Pedal!!! Do not use! We did not link this photo to purchase because it is a bad pedal.

Here is an example of good pedals:

Good Pedal! Use something like this! We did not link this photo to purchase because not all pedals work with all keyboards.

Height Modifications: Piano Stand

Avoid “X shaped pianos stands” when working with little kids. If you’re older, then you could get away with one. However, this type stand has much more control over keyboard height. Having the keyboard at the correct height is important for correct playing.

Keyboard Recommendations:

Most of you are probably looking for a keyboard, and there are good keyboards. But keep in mind, that a quality piano is always the best option. That being said, a good keyboard is better than a bad piano. You can click the images to visit the link for purchase. These are NOT affiliate links, so I make no money on your purchase.

Why the drastic difference in cost?

Just like cars, there are options for every budget. For acoustic pianos, construction varies greatly between brands. Some are more focused on building them quickly where as others are more focused on craftsmanship. For keyboards, the difference is mainly about the action and sound quality. Action on a keyboard is the word used for the way the keys feel and work in the hand. When you have it in the budget, you can invest in better action.

The best out now is referred to as “hammer action” - where manufacturers actually install hammers with sensors inside keyboards to mimic the action of a real piano. What this means is that your keyboard will strike a sensor with a hammer rather than a string like a real piano. That is what you have in this KDP120 which uses plastic hammers and actions instead of wooden ones.

What Instrument Should I Choose?