Start with a stable spot where you can see your sheet music clearly, and a keyboard that suits the pieces you’re practising. A portable piano is practical if your attic has other uses too. A fixed home piano suits a permanent playing area, but whichever you choose, allow space for the music rest and pedal, and check what sound can be heard elsewhere in your home.
You want to play new pieces from paper or a tablet, following the notes, rhythm and your hands without constantly changing your playing posture. ABRSM describes recognising features and patterns in music in advance as part of sight-reading.
You want to practise regularly in the attic and are weighing up using headphones against the sound that may be heard elsewhere in your home or by your neighbours. The Dutch Government advises people dealing with neighbour noise to try agreeing on a solution together first.
You need to balance the space for your piano, music rest, bench and pedal with the attic’s other uses. A portable model may be appealing if you need to keep your playing area flexible.
A good fit if: you use the attic for other activities too, or want to be able to move the piano.
Consider: the stand and pedal system may need to be chosen separately, so measure the complete set-up, including the music rest. Yamaha, for example, lists the three-pedal unit for the P-225 as optional.
A good fit if: you have room for a permanent, stable playing area. The Online Music Academy describes console pianos as models with a cabinet.
Consider: a fixed set-up is harder to move, so also allow space for the bench, sheet music and pedal.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who should give this more weight? |
|---|---|---|
| Sheet music and rhythm | Try the music rest with your own sheet music or tablet, check your line of sight and test the metronome controls. | I don’t want to keep adjusting my posture while reading, and I want to practise rhythm with focus. Around 33% of consumers put sheet music and rhythm first. |
| Quiet practice | Check the headphone socket and volume control; also listen for the sound of the keys and pedal in your own space. | I want to be able to practise with headphones while knowing what sounds can still be heard in my home. Around 27% of consumers put quiet practice first. |
| Attic set-up | Measure the available width and depth, and allow for the music rest, stand, bench and room to move. | I need to fit a playing area into an attic that’s also used for other things. Around 20% of consumers put making the most of their space first. |
| Keyboard and piano technique | Play passages from your own repertoire and test soft, loud and repeated keystrokes. | I want to judge whether the range and touch suit my lessons and repertoire. Around 20% of consumers put piano technique first. |
With the Yamaha P-225, the stated depth changes when the music rest is in place. This means a piano that fits based on the body alone may take up more space once fully set up.
Measure the space with the music rest and stand in place, then check from your seated position that you can see the sheet music clearly.
Yamaha lists the three-pedal unit for the P-225 as optional. The exact accessories may therefore vary by version or bundle.
Before you buy, check what’s included in the package and whether the parts you want are compatible with the model.
You may need a separate stand or a compatible pedal system for the set-up you have in mind.
A headphone socket doesn’t automatically stop the sound of the keys or pedal being heard around the home.
Try the instrument in the space where you plan to use it and, if necessary, agree arrangements with your neighbours. The Dutch Government advises people dealing with neighbour noise to agree on a solution together first.
The Easypianos & Guitars list is dated 2025. A model’s position on that list doesn’t, by itself, confirm that it’s still available.
At most, use an old ranking as a starting point for comparing models, and check the version and current product information separately.
The portable P Series is worth considering when both space and piano playing matter.
According to its manual, the portable FP-30X offers features that are useful for different ways of practising.
The portable ES120 is worth comparing if both the keyboard action and portability matter to you.
The Privia PX-S1100BK is worth considering if the instrument’s depth is a key factor.
The B2+ is a portable model to consider if connections and basic accessories are important to you.
This selection includes digital pianos and 61-key keyboards for practising with sheet music and rhythm.
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Suited to practising from sheet music if a music rest and metronome are important to you; check whether 61 keys are enough for your repertoire.
The product name lists weighted keys, a headphone socket, metronome, music rest and recording function.
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Could suit sheet music and rhythm practice if you’re looking for a keyboard with a music stand and metronome; check that the number of keys is right for the pieces you play.
The product name lists a MIDI controller, recording function, speakers, metronome and music stand.
A metronome can be useful if you want to focus on rhythm while practising. The Roland FP-30X manual describes this feature, while ABRSM recommends recognising features and patterns in music in advance when sight-reading. Having a feature doesn’t, by itself, prove that it will improve your learning.
Measure the space, allowing for the music rest and room to play. Use a suitable stand and, while seated, check that you can see the sheet music clearly and reach the pedal. The Roland FP-30X manual covers the stand and music rest separately; Yamaha gives separate dimensions for the P-225 with and without its music rest.
According to ACM ConsuWijzer, the retailer is responsible for the statutory guarantee if the product doesn’t meet your reasonable expectations. Depending on the circumstances, the retailer must put things right free of charge, for example by repairing or replacing the product, or refunding your money. A manufacturer’s guarantee doesn’t replace this statutory right.
The Dutch Government advises trying to agree on a solution together first. If that doesn’t help, the Government lists the landlord, local council, residents’ association or enforcement officers as possible next steps. What’s appropriate depends on your home and circumstances.
