Who is this choice for?

Piano exam candidate

You’re practising exam pieces and technique at home, and want the touch and pedal use to suit your piano exam. Check your exam board’s syllabus.

Electronic keyboard candidate

You’re practising sound selection, chords and backing. The features you need differ from those of a digital piano.

Home player with limited space or room to make noise

You’re looking for an instrument that fits in your home studio and lets you practise through headphones if needed, without losing sight of your exam subject’s requirements.

What should you look for when choosing?

Digital piano for a piano exam

Choose this option: if you play piano and want to practise touch, dynamics and pedal use at home. For its practical piano exams, ABRSM specifies, among other things, full-size weighted, touch-sensitive keys and a sustain pedal.

Keep in mind: with some compact models, a suitable pedal or stand is an optional extra.

Electronic keyboard for a keyboard exam

Choose this option: if you’re taking an electronic keyboard exam and need to practise sounds, chords and backing patterns. Trinity includes these skills in its exam pathway.

Keep in mind: touch-sensitive keys don’t automatically make a keyboard suitable for a piano exam that requires weighted keys and pedal use.

What to consider What should you check? Who is this important for?
Piano touch and pedal use Check the full keyboard, touch sensitivity and which sustain pedal is supplied or can be connected. Compare these with the requirements of your exam. If I’m taking a piano exam, I want to practise the piano technique and pedal use required by my pieces at home. Around 36% of consumers prioritise piano touch and pedal use.
Sounds and backing Compare the instrument sounds, backing styles, chord input and controls with the pieces and requirements for your grade. For my keyboard exam, I want to practise the sounds and backing patterns required for my exam pieces. Around 29% of consumers prioritise keyboard features.
Practising with headphones Check whether the exact model has a headphone socket. If needed, agree on when you can practise audibly. In a shared home, I want to practise without unnecessarily disturbing others. Around 21% of consumers prioritise quiet practice.
Set-up and equipment Measure the space available and check which pedals and stand are included with each package. If I’m setting up an instrument in a small home studio, I want to know whether it can be set up to fit and whether it comes complete. Around 14% of consumers prioritise a compact set-up and the necessary equipment.

Common buying mistakes

  • Confusing touch-sensitive keys with weighted piano keys

    A touch-sensitive keyboard is not the same as one with full-size weighted keys. For the ABRSM piano pathway described, the syllabus specifies full-size weighted, touch-sensitive keys.

    Start with your exam subject and check the full keyboard specifications against your exam board’s syllabus.

  • Assuming a pedal or stand is included as standard

    Yamaha, Roland and Kawai list optional pedal or stand accessories for specific models. So the name of an accessory doesn’t automatically tell you what’s included in the package you choose.

    Compare the contents of the package with the pedal technique and set-up you need for your exam pieces.

    You may need to add a separate pedal or stand to complete your playing set-up.

  • Choosing a digital piano for a keyboard exam just because of the number of keys

    The keyboard pathway also involves practising with instrument sounds and backing patterns. A piano keyboard doesn’t automatically offer these features in the way you need for your exam subject.

    Check the controls and features you need against the pieces and requirements for your grade.

Brands to consider

Yamaha

Yamaha’s P-145 is an option for piano playing, while the PSR-E383 is a touch-sensitive keyboard with backing styles. These are different types of instrument for different exam subjects.

  • According to Yamaha Netherlands, the P-145 has 88 GHC keys; a three-pedal unit is optional.
  • The PSR-E383 has 61 keys and automatic backing, but these features alone don’t establish whether it’s suitable for a piano exam. Also check which pedal comes with the version you choose.

Casio

Casio presents the CDP-S110 as a compact digital piano for practising at home.

  • Casio lists a weighted hammer-action mechanism for the CDP-S110 and says an SP-3 sustain pedal is included.
  • These manufacturer specifications aren’t an independent comparison of the touch with an exam piano. Compare them with your exam board’s syllabus.

Roland

Roland describes the FP-10 as a portable digital piano for piano-focused practice at home.

  • Roland lists an 88-key PHA-4 Standard keyboard and headphone listening.
  • For half-pedalling, Roland lists the optional DP-10 pedal. Check which accessories come with the version you choose.

Kawai

Kawai describes the ES120 as a portable digital piano with connections that may also be useful in a home studio.

  • Kawai lists a Responsive Hammer Compact keyboard, two headphone sockets and stereo Line Out.
  • A stand and three-pedal unit are optional. Kawai’s specifications aren’t an independent performance test.

Joybuy products

Related products will be available soon.

Frequently asked questions

Are 61 keys enough for my graded exam?

You can’t tell from the number of keys alone. For electronic keyboard, Trinity describes skills specific to the instrument. For ABRSM practical piano exams, the syllabus specifies, among other things, full-size weighted keys and a sustain pedal. Compare your grade, pieces and exam format with your exam board’s syllabus.

Which ABRSM piano pieces should I practise for a 2027 exam?

The ABRSM 2027–2028 repertoire lists apply from 1 January 2027. ABRSM says that pieces from the 2025–2026 syllabus may still be performed up to and including 31 December 2027. Before entering, check the exact repertoire requirements for your exam. This does not automatically apply to other exam boards.

How should I set up my instrument for practising at home?

Check that the instrument, stand and stool create a stable playing set-up, and connect the pedal and headphones according to your model’s instructions. Before ordering, check which components are included with the version you choose.

What are my rights when shopping online in the Netherlands?

When you buy online from a business, you generally have a 14-day cooling-off period, with some exceptions. Products are also covered by a legal guarantee; in the Netherlands, there is no fixed statutory guarantee period. If something is faulty, contact the seller. The Dutch government provides guidance on these rules.

Can I practise audibly at home at any time?

Based on the national guidance consulted, there is no general permission or single nationwide time for playing the piano. The Dutch government advises speaking to your neighbours first if there’s a noise disturbance, and lists your landlord, owners’ association and local council as possible next steps. If necessary, check which rules apply to your home.