Buying a Piano

Key action is very important!

Non-weighted: No weights, may still have touch and velocity sensitivity.

Semi-weighted: Combination of spring and weights on each key, easy to depress, slow to rise back up, makes quick repetition more difficult.

Fully-weighted: More resistance, equal weight on all keys (same heaviness across all keys), strong return springs, helps pianist develop endurance

Fully-weighted with scaled/graded hammer action: Closest to acoustic piano key action, built with hammer actions and weights to create a more realistic touch, more resistance/heavier in lower notes, less resistance/lighter touch in higher

Importance of hammer action

• Muscle development, difficult to play with speed without this development

• Closer to feel of acoustic piano, difficult to play on an acoustic if you are not used to the touch

• More subtlety of sound – dynamics and articulation variation

Nice article here: https://www.pmtonline.co.uk/blog/2018/06/27/weighted-keyboards-weighted-keys-matter/

Number of Keys

Ideally 88 keys (same as an acoustic piano), some will come with 61 (missing around 14 keys from top and same from bottom) or 76 keys (missing around 5-7 keys from top and from bottom)

Beginner music will be fine with 61 keys, but will limit the student down the track

Polyphony

Suggest at least 128 (number of sounds keyboard can hold simultaneously)

Nice article here: https://www.digitalpianoreviewguide.com/how-much-polyphony-do-i-need-for-my-piano/

Other Inclusions

Stand and stool included

Pedals - having an attached pedal (not loose on the floor) is strongly preferred

Upright Pianos

Good Quality Refurbished: Can start at $2000, but generally $5000-$7000 for good quality

New: Generally $8000-16000

Recommended Brands: Kawai (if new or second hand), Yamaha (second hand)