5 Recommendations to Help You Find the Best Entry-Level Keyboard
In today’s blog post, I’ll recommend my top 5 entry-level pianos or keyboards that you can be sure will get you on your way to learning how to play the piano.
So you’ve finally decided you want the benefits you’ll receive if you just learned to play the piano. Benefits such as improving memory function and exercising arthritic hands are just a few of the benefits of playing the piano. But with so many options out there, how do you find the perfect piano or keyboard to ensure you’re not wasting time or money in purchasing one?
If you or your child is considering learning the keys, you’ll find many choices out there, from home keyboards to more basic piano-like instruments and everything in between. To avoid confusion, I’ve selected what I believe are the best keyboards for beginners that are sure to kickstart anyone’s musical journey.
If you want to check out my top picks, you can head straight to the full round-up below. If you need more guidance to help you select the right beginner keyboard piano for your needs, keep scrolling to get to my comprehensive buying advice section.
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Below are my 5 best keyboards for entry-level students that will jumpstart anyone’s piano-playing journey.
Yamaha Piaggero NP-12. The Yamaha Piaggero NP-12 is truly a streamlined and slick instrument. It may not provide the frills of other home keyboards, but what the NP-12 lacks in features, it makes up for in its excellent piano-like feel and stellar sound. In addition to being a versatile keyboard, it won’t break the bank.
Along with the sound buttons, there is a Metronome button, which sends out a clicked tempo of your choosing that can be set faster or slower, depending on your practice preference. You can set the meter of the metronome to different count-rates too, such as ¾ where the measure repeats itself after three clicks or beats, instead of four as used in 4/4. The recording function allows you to record your part with or without using a metronome, and you can actually play an accompaniment over your initial recording. It’s always fun to hear yourself played back on a recording, so this is a great feature to have. Ten demo songs come preset on this keyboard for enjoyment or learning.
The NP-12 is compatible with a sustain pedal. This is standard for nearly all keyboards and isn’t a big surprise, but it’s still important to mention. The speakers are loud enough for home and studio practice. However, you’ll need an amplifier to perform with this keyboard on stage; the onboard speakers will not be enough to compete with louder electric instruments.
Casio CT-S300. On the other end of the scale, there’s the Casio CT-S300, which features 61 velocity-sensitive keys, an incredible 400 sounds and even comes complete with a 60-song songbook! It’s everything a beginner player needs to get started on a budget, and so much more. It also has a sustain pedal input, USB, Power, Aux input and 77 built-in rhythms. The Casio CT-S300 is a fun and practical beginner keyboard that offers players a plethora of voices and rhythms. Pair that with its lightweight, compact build and battery operation and this keyboard quickly becomes a contender for one of the best keyboards for budding players looking for a keyboard to kick start their playing career.
Casiotone CT-S1: In 1980 Casio released a revolutionary beginner keyboard, that for the time, offered state-of-the-art sounds, full-sized keys, and eight-note polyphony – not to mention it was incredibly affordable. The original Casiotone was a monumental success, but it hardly holds up to today’s standards. Luckily, Casio has brought the Casiotone into the modern-day, with the release of the CT-S1. Building on the legacy of the original Casiotone, the CT-S1 is a fully portable keyboard with 61 built-in voices, 61 full-size, touch-sensitive keys and now 64 note polyphony. We feel the simplified control layout results in a sleek, uncluttered look, while the range of colors – red, white or black – means you can find a keyboard to fit your personal style. At the heart of the Casiotone is the AiX Sound Source. This sound engine delivers dynamic and expressive tones, perfect for beginners and professionals alike. The Casio Casitone is easily one of the best Casio keyboards on the market right now.
Roland GO:Keys This compact, 61-key digital keyboard from Roland features Bluetooth connectivity so it can communicate wirelessly with online piano tuition apps and stream audio through its built-in speakers so you can play along. It can also be battery-powered if you’re on the move, contains a huge variety of over 500 piano, electric piano, and organ sounds, and comes with a music stand for supporting a tablet on the top. Throw in a digital metronome, an onboard Loop Mix function, and a recording facility to capture your practice sessions and you’ve got almost the perfect partner for your online music-wellness piano lesson. We also have to mention just how good this little keyboard sounds – not that we’d expect anything less from industry leaders, Roland. We found the voices to be rich and warm, especially when using headphones.
Yamaha P-125 Digital Piano Deluxe Bundle with Furniture Stand and 3-Pedal Unit,:
In my opinion, you can’t go wrong with a Yamaha product. I personally own a Yamaha CP300, but if you’re on a budget, the Yamaha P-125 is a perfect fit for your piano playing. This piano is fully weighted, and digital with the 88 full-sized piano-style keys. Just like an acoustic piano, GHS weighted action is heavier in the low keys and lighter in the high keys. The pure CF sound engine faithfully reproduces the tone of the acclaimed Yamaha 9′ CFIIIS Concert Grand piano. Tempo Range: 5 – 280. It comes with 3-Pedal units for Yamaha P125B Digital Piano. The Yamaha L125B Wooden Furniture Stand is required for use. With this Yamaha P-125, I bet you’ll be playing the piano for hours at a time!
So, once you’ve decided on the best keyboard for beginners that suits your needs, the next step is to kit yourself out with all the essential piano accessories that will make your learning experience much easier.
Keyboard stand
A sturdy keyboard stand is one of the first and most crucial accessories to grab. Make sure the stand you go for is appropriate for the size and weight of your keyboard. You will most likely get away with a single-braced stand for non-weighted keyboards, but for instruments with weighted keys, you are better with a double-braced stand for added security.
Bench
A solid and high-quality piano bench will not only ensure you are comfortable while sitting for hours and hours practicing, but it will also ensure you play in the correct position with the optimal posture.
Now, benches come in various styles, which you choose depending on your specific needs. The most popular types are adjustable benches, which allow you to set a particular height to ensure the player is comfortable, and storage benches with a hidden compartment for housing your books and learning materials.
Headphones
A good set of studio headphones will go a long way to helping with your practice. Not only will you be able to practice in relative silence, but you’ll also get to hear your new keyboard piano in all its glory.
Sustain pedal
While some keyboards come with a sustain pedal, they aren’t always the best. We highly recommend upgrading to a piano-style pedal. If your keyboard didn’t have a pedal included, it’s worth investing in one – you can’t play modern pop songs without it.
Music Stand
Got lots of books and sheet music? It’s worth picking up a good-quality music stand to keep all your pages in order.
Now that you’ve got everything you need to start, I’ll come in here. My piano lessons are aimed with ear training in mind; no sheet music to memorize. I’ll take you step-by-step, reproducing pieces of music you hear without seeing it notated in any form of sheet music.
We’ll practice ear training, musical perception, and tonal memory and learn new musical skills along the way. My teaching techniques will guide you through learning your favorite songs easily and quickly, in weeks and months instead of years.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), over 1 billion people experience some form of disability, temporary or permanent.
If you’re still on the fence about even buying a piano or keyboard, here are a few reasons the piano is revered:
Playing the piano is entertaining. Even if you’re not a piano player, you never know which of your guests may be able to dazzle you with their skills. Having the instrument in the house provides the potential for some great live entertainment.
Playing the piano is good for your mental health and mood. Separate from #4, the actual act of sitting and playing causes a large release of serotonin, much more so than just listening. Though there is certainly a most efficient way to play the piano, you don’t have to learn any embouchure or fingerings – press the keys – which makes the piano one of the easiest instruments to learn how to play and will give you a way to healthily regulate your moods (as opposed to turning to prescription drugs).
How playing piano is therapeutic
Studies show that time spent on the keyboard improves mental health: people who make music experience less anxiety, loneliness, and depression. Playing the piano has also been shown to be a great source of stress relief and provides ample opportunities to bolster self-esteem.
Research shows that learning to play the piano might enhance mood and certain aspects of the quality of living indicators in older adults. Those over 65 years who played music reported improved self-esteem, greater independence, and fewer feelings of isolation. Playing music also created a temporary escape from the stress of daily life. Playing the piano can decrease psychological distress, depression, and fatigue. The article says that a single episode of playing the piano was beneficial for a 91-year-old female patient who previously played when she was young and was currently experiencing psychotic and depressive symptoms.
How playing piano can help with arthritis?
As someone with rheumatoid arthritis, I’ve not let this stop me from playing the piano. And it never, ever will! The piano is such a beautiful instrument that brings me so much joy!
Here is a list of how playing the piano with arthritis can actually help:
- Strengthens the joints and muscles in your hands
- Keeps your hand muscles developed
- Avoids the weakening of small bones
- Alleviates some of the pain associated with arthritis
- Releases endorphins
- Improves dexterity
How to strengthen fingers for playing piano
- Use a piano with Hammer or weighted action
- Stretch the fingers before you play the piano
- Practice piano for shorter periods
- Be consistent with piano practice
- Choose easy songs
- Practice away from the piano
In summary, learning how to play the piano is an incredibly rewarding experience. Not only does it provide you with a creative outlet, but it can also help to reduce stress and anxiety, increase your self-confidence, and even improve your memory and concentration. With the right acoustic piano or keyboard, anyone who wants to learn can learn how to play the piano. Whether you are a beginner or have some experience playing the instrument, many benefits come from playing the piano today. From developing musical skills to improving your mental health, playing the piano has numerous advantages that can help you in all aspects of life.
Disclosure: Some of the links in this article may be affiliate links, which can provide compensation to me at no cost to you if you decide to purchase a paid plan.
