Tell me about digital pianos please

[BikeRunSki]

Hello - DD(6) is starting piano lessons next term. We do not have a piano, and the school music service have recommended that we get a digital piano with weighted keys and not too many gadgets.

A professional musician friend recommended the Yamaha Clavinovs range, but they seem to start at about a million pounds.

Can anyone recommend me 1- a model suitable for a beginner and 2- a music shop in W/S Yorkshire?

TIA

[RandomHouseRules]

yamaha auris range are good and not ridiculously expensive.

Also keep an eye on Gumtree and E-Bay as there are often good offers to be had.

[Mendingfences]

We have a Yamaha p 115. Not super expensive, compact size, weighted keys.

[ellesbellesxxx]

I have Yamaha arius.. got it from Norman's instruments online as they price match. Plus went via quidco to get cash back AND did their interest free payment plan!

[Babieseverywhere]

We bought a Casio Privia second hand from Gum tree for £100 !

They have full sized weighted keys and are not very deep, so easy to place in hallway or a smaller room.

We love our piano. We can use two sets of headphones in it and it has midi in and out ports to use with phone or laptop apps.

I am sure the more expensive digital pianos are better but ours sounds like a piano and is certainly good enough to learn on. DH, DD1 and I are really enjoying learning to play simple tunes. :)

Good luck with your search. :)

[disorganisedmummy]

We've bought 11 year old ds a Casio CDP 130 for Christmas which has weighted keys. He has taught himself the basics and it's just to supplement violin which is his main instrument. I've had it out of the box and it looks fab and doesn't have millions of functions which I don't think are necessary at this stage.

HTH

[Callmecordelia]

I have a Yamaha YDP 162. I'm very happy with it - the cheaper version was also good when I tried it in the shop.

[Trumpetboysmum]

We have a Casio celviano I don't think they make them anymore BUT if you see one on gumtree or eBay it would definitely be worth a look: ours is fab yes the keys on some Yamaha are better but this isn't as expensive and sounds like a piano. We got ours from eBay ( and it fitted in the back of the estate car to bring home) . It comes apart but looks like an upright piano so no need for a stand etc .

[Mistigri]

We have a basic Yamaha P-something. Fine for the initial stages of learning but you will need to upgrade at some point. We weighed up the more upmarket digital (Clavinova and similar) versus acoustic and went for an acoustic.

[raspberryrippleicecream]

We have the Celviano too. We've had it from new and been very pleased with it. We bought a 'proper' piano at about Grade 5 stage, but the digital still gets used too.

[BikeRunSki]

Thank you everyone! You’ve given me lots of excellent pointers.

[hertsandessex]

We have a Roland which I seem to remember buying new for about £1000 although cheaper options second hand. It was originally a second piano as back-up to upright to allow two children to practice at once but digital has become the main piano for practice despite various people telling us not to buy one. Kids love practising with headphones on in their own little world without interfering siblings (and parents.)

[lunar1]

I have a gear4music dp10 digital piano, it was around £350 and my children's teacher was really happy with it.

[ArbitraryName]

We’ve got the Casio CDP 130 too. It’s perfect for DS2.

[crazymumofthree]

We've got an ancient Roland donated from my Nan, we were recommended a Yamaha by the music teacher however hoping the Roland will be okay - they are a lot more
Money than the Yamaha to buy new so assuming it's better?!? (I don't have a clue!) DS was 6 in October and is starting lessons from next week! Our other son started Guitar at the start of last year at just turned 7 he is quite slow it doesn't come
Naturally and is quite difficult, he's also learning a lot of theory first as opposed to just learning through songs.