Find what’s right for you, your space
and your budget

So what type of keyboard will you use? It’s an important decision. Learning to play piano is one of the most valuable things you’ll ever do for yourself. Fortunately, you have a variety of choices and I want to give you my best advice.

Different types of keyboards

There are 3 main categories to choose from:

• Traditional piano (upright or grand)
• Digital piano
• Electronic keyboard

TIP: No matter what type you choose, I recommend going with the one you think you’ll love, even if it costs you a little more, as this will become a feature of your life & home for years to come. Personally, I prefer a standard piano but I also own a full sized digital piano that has excellent sound and action. Ok, let’s break the types down.

If you don’t have access to one but would prefer to play on this style of piano, there are a couple of ways to go – new or used, depending on what you want and your budget.

Buying New

If you choose to buy new, go to a reputable piano dealer and try out a number of them for tone (strike some high, middle and low keys) to find the one most pleasing to your ears and your eyes. My favorite brands in a modest price range are Yamaha, Kawai and Young Chang.  

As you move up in price, there are a number of excellent brands from which to choose.  One of my favorites is Mason & Hamlin. 

Buying Used 

If you choose to acquire a used piano, you can go to a dealer (they often sell used as well as new) or you can check out sales sites on the web like ebay, craigslist, Kijiji and others.   Often you can find a good piano at an excellent price on these sites. One of my favorite brands for quality used pianos is Heintzman.

Of course, before you buy any used piano, have it checked out by a reputable technician.  I would also avoid really old pianos.  Often the action (moving parts) is antiquated and they can be hard to keep in tune.

The quality is generally very good and they are within almost everyone’s budget.   You can usually find a good one (new) from $750 to about $1500.00   If you decide to go this way, I recommend you get one with a full 88 keys. The keys should be “hammer action” and weighted.  This makes it feel and respond just like a regular piano.

The most common brands are:

-       Casio
-       Roland
-       Yamaha
-       Kawai
-       Williams

These brands are all good, proven quality digital pianos and each brand has a range of models and prices. I tried a number of them when I bought mine and I think Casio has the best value.  The model I particularly like is Casio PX-770BK Privia, available on Amazon.

Tip: I recommend you buy only a new digital piano.  Used ones may not have the latest sound technology and features, or a problem with the electronics.

Most of the brands mentioned in the section above offer electronic keyboards in addition to digital pianos, but the model I particularly like is Casio CT-S400 61-Key Ultra-Portable Keyboard.

Regardless of the type of keyboard instrument you want – regular piano, digital piano, or electronic keyboard, you have excellent choices that won’t break the bank. 

A Quick Note About Benches

Besides the piano/keyboard itself, the bench or seat you use is very important as well.  It must be comfortable and the right height for you.  We share how to determine your correct bench or seat height in Lessons One & Two of your course.