digital piano?

[handmademitlove]

My DD is off to Uni next year and we are thinking ahead! She plays piano around grade 7-8, and uses it for stress relief. We are hoping to find something she can take to halls with her, so would need headphone socket and to be fairly portable, but still good enough to play for her. does anyone have any suggestions?

I would go for something with weighted keys, definitely and at least 5 octaves (a piano is 8). You can skip things that have a million different sounds on them, they are keyboards, not digital pianos.

In my day there were pianos in some halls, the student union and of course the music department that you could just go and play.

Gear4Music has a really good selection of digital pianos at various price points, including very portable ones designed for gigging musicians that need to take something with them
They have weighted keys, pedals and aux sockets but sit on stands which can be easily packed away

Maybe that would be a good option as uni rooms are never huge

I have no idea what else is out there, but a quick Google threw this up:

www.gear4music.com/Keyboards-and-Pianos/SDP-3-Stage-Piano-by-Gear4music/1ORF?origin=product-ads&campaign=PLA+Shop+-+GENERIC&adgroup=GENERIC&medium=vertical_search&network=google&merchant_id=1279443&product_id=78747d1&product_country=GB&product_partition_id=314424968598&gclid=CjwKCAiAksyNBhAPEiwAlDBeLF3vJ920m8vIyKHvgBQEr6iBOJSHM85K4ztsBf9dAfEOM7yLoEHusBoCeU4QAvD_BwE

It looks reasonably good for what you are asking for. Might be able to get one cheaply second hand.

We are thinking similar. Ds is autistic and will be studying music but he will need something in his room.

He already has a Roland Juno DS88 but it is really heavy and the RD800 heavier still. For the money the Yamaha P45 is pretty decent (he really want a Korg Kronos but her can dream!)

We have recently bought one for DS (he is only at grade 3 though) but the sound has resonance and depth and it's smaller of course than a standard acoustic piano whilst still being a good play - weighted keys etc.

www.gear4music.com/Keyboards-and-Pianos/Kawai-KDP120-Digital-Piano-Premium-Rosewood/3T8Q?gclid=CjwKCAiAksyNBhAPEiwAlDBeLDcX42_tMxDFT4LWJt-zVsWeiMm6A7yJHtTt671I8lsOApJ0lVELJxoCeDoQAvD_BwE

I recommend this website:

www.ukpianos.co.uk/

I bought a Classenti digital upright from them about 12 years ago and it's still going strong. Has a headphone socket, full sized keyboard with weighted keys. It's pretty simple but everything you need.

The guy who owns this business is a fountain of knowledge so you can also email him with what you need and he will give some advice.

Kawai are nice but you won't get one of those in a typical halls room (ds has been measuring for piano space in the ones we have visited.

You need one that could be put on a desk if need be. They are typically called Stage Pianos rather than Digital Upright

I have a Yamaha, I love it, it was weighted keys and feels very 'real.'

@Comefromaway my DD is also autistic... trying to plan ahead to think of everything that can make halls more like home.. She won't be studying music but when she is stressed that is what she turns to so need to get it right! We haven't had a chance to get in to any halls yet but I think you are right about the desk.

Thank you to everyone for your advice.

DD has a Casio CDP S-100. Its been brilliant. Very affordable, light and weighted keys. Only has basic sounds. You can plug headphones in and power it with batteries if they want to busk or something. DD has taken it to orchestra. We had the collapsible stand and chair at first as no space, DD would fold it and slot it between the wardrobe like an ironing board. We upgraded to the nicer piano looking stand and she loves it.
Her piano teacher is very happy with it too.

I have a Yamaha p125 88 keys- fab sound weighted keys, and brilliant on head phones! ( am a grade 6 ) highly recommend!

We have a Yamaha p45. It has weighted keys, headphone socket. Sits on a folding stand or could sit on a desk. It’s excellent

We've got a Kawai. I can't remember the model sorry but it was one of their less expensive ones as we really just bought it as a stand in whilst our piano was away being restrung. It's not bad though, and DS has quite a bit of fun with the different modes etc. DS has it in his bedroom now and it fits comfortably, but his room would probably be classed as a double bedroom and I agree with a PP that it might be a tight squeeze in the average student room - especially as halls quite often have fitted furniture so you always can't move things around. In terms of performance per £ I've been pleasantly surprised though, and I'd say they're worth a look.

We have a clarinova with weighted keys and earphone dock and the sound is lovely. It is a full size.

At uni we had sound proofed music rooms free for all to use, with pianos - it was a nice escape place for when tired of partying!