Can someone please help me buy an electronic piano

[TheTurn0fTheScrew]

Dc1 has played an orchestral instrument since yr3. She's always loved it, and while not a prodigy she is progressing well. I promised a while back that if she wanted to do a second instrument we'd look at that in yr8, which is now.

She really wants to learn piano. We don't have space for a proper piano, but will be able to squeeze in an electronic one. We are not musical, and I have not a clue where to start. Any advice really appreciated!

I would just buy a keyboard with a stand to start with. Maybe second hand if you can find one. See if she likes it. If she does and is good you can look for a better one with more realistic feel on the keys etc. Yamaha and Roland are good.

The best advice I can give is to find your local piano shop or musical instrument shop and find one your DD likes.

I have an upright but I spent a couple of months debating it and visited the shop twice before I forked out for it.

There are some really great pianos out there. And it entirely depends on your DDs ability/grade/desire to carry on until later grades/preferred sound and touch response.

Yamahas are usually very good. Bright and clear sound.

Kawai are also fantastic. I almost wish I had one of those but I'm old school and imo, you can't beat a real piano.

Also budget wise - are you looking for a very low price or is money no object?

Just to add as well that I had a cheapy keyboard that lasted me all the way to Grade 8 (with plenty of real pianos in between - whenever I saw them I played them)...

I'd recommend starting off with that if shes new to the world of piano...

I'll see if I can find it... or something similar.

Casio CTK-3500AD

Full size
Touch responsive

£140.50 from Amazon

I would say those 2 features are the best to start out with -full size and touch responsive but it's up to you.

A cheaper one would be:

Alesis Melody 61 Mk-II

It's not full size but it is touch responsive and has a bunch of other features.

£99.00 from Amazon.

This is all useful info. She's reasonably musical and working towards G6 in her current instrument, so (naively I'm sure) I am expecting her to progress ok and would like something that will grow with her IYSWIM. Budget - I was prepared to spend up to 1k if it's something that will last. I have no idea what that buys, but will at some point be buying her sister an instrument where I need to spend that amount, so thought that might be fair.

Get the best you can afford because it really does make a difference. At Grade 6 she'll be wanting to get a good tone and play with a nice responsive action. I'd look at the Roland range. There's one around 1K which I've not tried but the cheaper ones in that range are already fairly good. I think Roland sound nicer than Yamaha. Casio keyboards are not serious instruments.

www.amazon.co.uk/Yamaha-Arius-YDP-144-Digital-Piano/dp/B07NRT5C75/ref=sr_1_6?s=gateway&keywords=Digital+piano&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1570099677&sr=8-6

If you have up to £1k to play with this will be perfect and will see her up to grade 8 easily, please don’t get a keyboard with a stand as suggested above you need weighted keys as a minimum.

Just to clarify she's G6 on her current orchestral instrument but will be an absolute beginner to piano.

In case it wasn't obvious piano is two hands / staves so progression is not usually as fast as single voice instruments.
Beyond grade 1 I was led to understand that 88 key, touch sensitive, weighted keys are the basics.
We had similar budget to yourself - started with a touch sensitive yamaha ez220 from argos for g1 then went to a Roland FP30 which I am told will take dd to g5
Main learning so far is that stand makes a significant difference - x stand for yamaha was basically wobbly rubbish - stand for fp30 makes it a piece of furniture.
Secondary - had to knock up a fabric cover for the fp30 - no lid - these things do pick up dust!

Thanks again for all the advice. A quick google suggests that our music shop stocks both the Roland FP30 and the Yamaha Aria 144 suggested upthread as models that will last. DC and I will go and try on Sunday, with a view to getting lessons arranged for after half term.

We've always had Roland pianos but recently I've seen some really nice Yamaha ones with a nice touch. My son finds Yamaha lighter to play (he's more of a pop/musical theatre accompanist type player) wheras dh who is more classically trained likes Roland.

Look for one will full size weighted keys.

This is timely as may well be DD's Christmas present. Thanks!

Whereabouts are you? I'd recommend going to a dealer and discussing your needs and budget. We recently bought a Kawai which I'm pleased with but there are also Casio, Yamaha, Roland in a wide price range. We spent £2k but they do have cheaper. Lots of places do interest free credit options too.

Exciting! I hope your DD enjoys it.

The g6 music theory and aural background will really help.

Am equally unmusical - have found a way to help with practice though - the electric pianos will record a performance - you can put this on a USB stick and transform into sheet music on your pc with museScore or equivalent. you can then compare to the practice score and identify inaccurate notes - really helps with catching bits being learnt wrong - especially in the g2/g3 regime as speeds increase and each hand begins working on independent rhythms.

thanks again for all the advice! we have ended up with a yamaha p145 - basically the equivalent to the Roland F series, but smaller footprint than the Yamaha Aria - we have a tiny house.

particular thanks to Frankiestein402 for the two very practical points - we have gone for the proper, furniture type stand, and a cover to keep the cat hair off. It's being delivered over half-term, and I may even think about getting lessons myself...

As a professional piano tutor I recommend to my students this keyboard. 10/10 can’t go wrong with it.
www.bax-shop.co.uk/digital-piano/yamaha-p-125wh-digital-piano-white?gclid=CjwKCAiAqqTuBRBAEiwA7B66hfRzohzguaNiV-nbbMCPjbi7Q0MQLZ1vaqvH-orjMgM8Q3V1LqmULBoCGiEQAvD_BwE