How to choose a piano

You’ve made the decision to learn piano. You’ve even found a teacher you really click with. But now comes the big question: how do I go about getting a piano?! Should I buy one? Is my old keyboard good enough? Do I just scroll through Facebook Marketplace and hope for the best? And what if I don’t have much space, I’m on a budget, or I’m not a musician (yet!) and I don’t know what I’m looking for?

Over the years, I’ve been asked this question dozens of times, so I’ve broken down the guidance that has worked beautifully for my students since 2013, and enabled them- no matter their living space or budget- to be able to play at home, without limitations.

It helps to know that there are a few main types of pianos and piano-like options out there:

Acoustic piano – the traditional kind with strings and hammers, giving you the classic sound and feel. They come in two main categories: Grand, like you would see in a concert hall, and Upright, found in the corners of pubs, people’s living rooms, and elementary school halls.

Electric piano – built to imitate the sound and look of an acoustic but more portable and easier to maintain.

Electronic keyboard – lightweight, versatile, and often packed with extra sounds beyond just piano. The type you can push under a bed when not in use!

MIDI controller – doesn’t make sound on its own but connects to a computer or tablet so you can play through software. Not usually suitable for learning.

Silent piano (bonus!) – a real acoustic piano with built-in tech that lets you practice with headphones.

Electronic keyboards are a great entry instrument for children because they often have different sounds, beats and other features which encourage creativity and practice! They also tend to be more budget friendly and are often most prevalent and easy to sell on second-hand platforms. NB: I strongly recommend a “realistic” set up. Piano height, a flat chair seat, a music stand. The idea is that when the student approaches the instrument, it feels like the real deal, and instils a sense of pride!

Electric pianos tend to be suited to people who have the budget, but not the space for an acoustic, or people who rent and have to move more often. Both electric options are also great if you need to use headphones to avoid disturbing neighbours etc.

I would recommend an acoustic piano for people who are not expecting to move, have space, don’t have noise disturbance issues, feel comfortable to pay for regular tuning and service and/or are very committed to learning. A silent piano would fall into the same criteria, but for people who feel that they would benefit from the ability to use headphones from time to time.

No matter what type of instrument, there is one essential feature:

Touch sensitivity

This means that when a note or key is pressed hard, the sound is loud, and when pressed lightly, the sound is soft. Playing with variations in volume like this is introduced within even the very first weeks of learning in most piano tutor books. Without access to touch sensitivity when practicing, students who then come to play on e.g. their teacher’s touch sensitive piano are not able to control the weight they place on the keys, leading to every finger creating a note at a different volume!

Behind this are the following optional features, listed here in order of importance.

1. Compatible with damper (sustain) pedal 

   
   

   This is the right-most (or sometimes only) foot pedal that pianists press with their right foot to create the ‘echoey’ effect. On an acoustic piano, this comes as standard. With an electric piano or electronic keyboard, usually, there is a hole at the back of the instrument labelled “sustain” or “damper”, into which you can plug a sustain pedal which comes as a separate attachment, either included with the instrument, or available to purchase separately for $20-30. From the outset, many pieces use the pedal because kids (and adults!) love the effect.

2. 52 keys or more (you don’t have to count them, it should say in the specifications!)

   
   

   A full size piano is 88 keys. Beginners won’t use all the keys until much, much later.

3. Semi-weighted or weighted keys.

   
   

   Since acoustic piano keys are wooden, they have a certain heaviness to them, which a lot of electronic pianos try to emulate. If an instrument has this feature, switching between playing electric and acoustic/real pianos is much less jarring. It also helps to strengthen fingers.

The final consideration is the purchase options: new, used, or rental.

Rentals

Pros

• You can try and not buy!

• You get a guaranteed working instrument with no problems.

• If there are any problems, the retailer will take care of it for free.

Cons

• Could work out costly in the long run

Used or New

Pros

• May ultimately work out cheaper over a period of time than renting.

• Electronic instruments: if it works, it works!

• Acoustic pianos: depending on the retailer, you can try out different instruments to choose one that you like the sound and look of the best.

Cons

• Any problems, you have to pay for yourself.

• Used acoustic pianos at a retailer are great, but on a resale platform such as Facebook Marketplace, it can be hard to tell if the instrument is in good condition and worth the price.

• If student has a change of heart, you’re responsible for resale.

The final word, (my pet hate): no light-up-key pianos from a toy store! Good luck!