What to Look for When Shopping for Digital Pianos

We often get asked by students for recommendations on which piano to purchase. Our answer is that there is no substitute for an acoustic piano, especially when playing classical music repertoire. However, we recognize that there are situations where an acoustic piano isn't a viable solution for our students.

In general, Yamaha digital pianos will be a reliable choice, with a variety of price points to choose from. We highly recommend their Clavinova series.

Note: This post provides product recommendations that may contain affiliate links.

Here are characteristics to look for in a digital piano:

Weighted Keys

Choosing a piano with weighted keys will help you get used to the feeling of playing on an acoustic piano.

Attached Score Holder

An attached score holder is a great convenience. As a student, you will almost always have a score in front of you.

Attached Pedal

Another convenient feature to have - you will find that you will be using the pedal regularly as you progress into more advanced repertoire.

88 Keys

You may be surprised to learn that not all digital pianos will have the traditional 88 keys. There are even acoustic pianos that have less than 88!

Here are some digital pianos to consider:

Under $1000:

Yamaha YDP103 Arius Series Piano with Bench, Black Walnut

Yamaha P125 Digital Piano Deluxe Bundle with Furniture Stand and 3-Pedal Unit

Under $3000:

Yamaha Arius YDP-181 Traditional Console Style Digital Piano with Bench, Rosewood