I need a keyboard to replace a piano - help needed please!

[hellsbells99]

I would like to buy DD1 some sort of keyboard that she can take to university with her. She loves playing the piano and I would like to find a decent substitute and that would also sort her Xmas present out. Most keyboards appear to have less keys than a piano so I assume this may be a problem - are they 5 octaves rather an 7? I know very little about musical instruments as you have probably gathered

Hello OP

The action is completely different from keyboard to piano.
it isn't a case of just fewer notes.
If she is experienced at playing piano and it is part of an ambition/ more than a hobby then you would be better buying an easily transported electric piano.
If she isn't that serious a keyboard would be a good substitute far cheaper, and the difference between keyboard and piano might not bother her too much, if just a hobby.
Hope that makes sense.

Hello morethan. It is just a hobby although she is a reasonable player (grade 7). It is her way of relaxing/distressing! I wanted something reasonably portable that she could take away with her and put it upright in a corner when not being used.

Hello Hells

Its a difficult one, but I'm not an authority. I'm sure there are people on here so just thought this might bump a bit for you.
I do know that you can pick up a good keyboard for far less than electric piano, but if its a piano she really wants a keyboard might not cut it.
There again it depends on what sort of budget you have in mind.

If I was you I would price both up, look at what she actually needs firat and wants second. Then see which you would like to buy.
I know if it were mine it would be keyboard but she isn't very good on piano yet

As far as I know both can sit in a corner. Piano obviously bigger as more keys, but iirc the casing of the instruments is pretty similar.

We have a Yamaha P105.

It's pretty portable, comes with a pedal, and two headphone jacks.

Our children are nowhere near Grade 7 yet though.

Hello. I like the look of the Yamaha - that could be a good compromise. I think we will go and have a look in music shops and have a play. Then look on ebay to see if there are any good second hand ones!
Thanks Norway & Morethan

Gumtree is quite good for secondhand as well. I've been looking for an electric piano.
I have a bit of the same quandary at the moment.
We have so many instruments hanging on walls, standing on floors, and now one of Them has had the temerity to start up with the piano. I just cannot fit one in. But the current Yamaha PSR E303 doesn't quite cut the mustard apparently.

Depends on your budget...
I would suggest looking for a portable or 'stage' digital piano, which will feel more like the real thing, but look like a keyboard, go on a stand, and can be packed away. Yamaha or Casio are safe bets. For added fun, go for one with MIDI capability (most do now) so she can write tracks.

Also make sure whatever you go for has full size 'weighted' keys.

Thanks for all the advice - very much appreciated.
Springlamb - your house sounds like ours! We do have a proper piano and DD2 also has our original 2nd hand Suzuki digital piano in her room - but this still is quite big and not particularly portable.

Yamaha P-series are fairly portable. If you want something lighter (slightly more keyboard feel) the piaggero models are a reasonable compromise.

Or (for kicks) the Korg micropiano....

When I was at university there were gazillions of practice pianos -- in the Union, music department, halls of residence, etc. Are you sure you need to get her a keyboard?

Hi. Some of the unis have practice rooms but some don't seem to. She is not doing a music degree. She will be in the science buildings.
She plays the piano for pleasure and for de-stressing every day - often several times a day, so having some sort of portable piano/keyboard would make her less homesick.
Love the micro piano - but a bit small!

I know, but it's huge fun!