How to choose a digital piano, taught by a former music store clerk: How much should you spend?
If you’re looking for a digital piano, broadly speaking,
- People who have a child attending lessons, or who need it because their child will start attending soon
- Adults considering it as a personal hobby (among them, beginners and experienced individuals, and further divided into those who will take lessons and those who will not)
I think it will come down to these two possibilities.
Since each person’s intended use is different, the budget and appropriate price range will also differ.
Here, to help those who are thinking, “I’m buying for this reason—what price range is best?”, we’ll recommend the ideal price ranges by purpose.
By the way, if you have high ambitions—such as aiming for a music conservatory—please do not choose a digital piano.
Let's go look for a grand piano without hesitation!
1.
Purchase for children
I recommend choosing a model priced at 100,000 yen or more.
If your child is taking lessons and will be using it for practice at home, I’d like you to choose at least from the 100,000-yen class. (For example, Yamaha YDP-163, Kawai CN27.)
There are many more affordable digital pianos, but starting from the 100,000-yen range, the key action and sound quality are designed with a grand piano in mind.
Stylish models like Korg’s LP-380 don’t take up much space and aren’t too expensive, so there’s a kind of reassurance in thinking, “Even if I end up quitting because I’m not sure I’ll stick with it, losing about this much wouldn’t hurt.”
However, most piano schools use grand pianos for lessons.
And yet, if the piano you practice on at home is very different from that grand piano in touch, sound, and even appearance, then even if you practice diligently (though it varies by person), your progress will be slower—and above all, it will be half as fun.
Of course, you can practice properly even on an affordable digital piano, but you may find that while you can play it at home, you can’t play it on a grand piano.
In that case, you might end up feeling down, thinking, 'This isn’t how it was supposed to be.'
And I think that leads to a drop in motivation to practice and makes you want to quit.
There are other factors that can make you want to quit, but to avoid losing the sense of the “fun of playing” the piano and giving up, I would like you to set a budget of at least 100,000 yen.
Recommended models
If you want something that keeps the price down yet still feels like a real piano, the Yamaha CLP-635 or the Kawai CA17 would be good options.
At around this price range, it should be easier to make a purchase decision, don’t you think?
2.
Adults purchase it for their own hobbies.
There are many ways of thinking about playing the piano as an adult hobby.
- A.
Since I’m a beginner, I’m going to take lessons (these days there are more and more classes and courses aimed at adults, such as piano lessons for adults).
- B.
I learned it as a child and can play to some extent, so I won’t go take lessons.
- C.
Precisely because I studied it in the past, I want to go back and learn it again so I can play even better.
someone who …; a person who …
There’s a recommended price range for each person.
A.
Recommended for beginners who are going to take lessons
Basically, I think it’s fine to consider it the same as someone who needs it because their child is going to lessons.
However, once you start learning, precisely because you’re an adult and it concerns you personally, you may find yourself becoming particular about certain things.
Therefore, I think around 100,000 yen would indeed be best.
In the 100,000-yen price range, I recommend Kawai’s CN27; its slightly heavier touch gives it a more piano-like feel.
B.
Recommended for those who learned as a child and can play to some extent, so they don’t feel the need to take lessons.
People of this type tend to think of it as “just a hobby,” so many choose something affordable.
If you’re not particular about the touch or sound, go with the Casio PX-760 or the Korg LP-380.
If you want to enjoy at least a good touch even as a hobby, I recommend Roland’s F-140R or DP603.
C.
Recommended for those who, precisely because they learned in the past, want to go back to lessons and become able to play even more.
Please be sure to choose a good one for this person.
Spending money on yourself isn’t a bad thing!
Shopping isn’t about “good or bad”; it’s about whether you’re satisfied with it.
I recommend the Kawai CA67, the Roland HP605, or something above the Yamaha CLP-645.
Popular among adult women!
If you're an adult who wants to enjoy the piano as part of your lifestyle, the Roland KF-10 is definitely recommended!
If you’re hesitant to spend that much, I recommend Roland’s DP603 instead.
Lastly
It’s truly fun and delightful to practice with something good.
If playing the piano becomes enjoyable, going to lessons will become enjoyable too.
Especially for adults, I hope you come to know the joy of the piano and go beyond treating it as just a hobby—may you embrace the piano as something that enriches and brightens your life!