Start by choosing a piano with a comfortable place for your sheet music, so you can practise at a steady tempo with a suitable key action. Prioritise a headphone socket if you want to play quietly, or confirmed MIDI and audio connections if you want to connect the piano to your home studio. Check which stand, pedals and cables are included with each configuration; the features listed don’t prove that any one model will help you learn to read music faster.
You practise new pieces from a book or tablet and want to follow the notes without constantly changing your playing position. ABRSM and Trinity College London describe exercises that involve reading music and learning to recognise patterns.
You practise in a shared home or at times when using speakers isn’t ideal, so you also want to listen through headphones. Muziekschool.nl recommends assessing the sound both through headphones and through the speakers.
You want to connect your piano playing to music software or studio equipment. Model information from Casio, Roland and Kawai shows why it’s important to distinguish between MIDI connections and audio outputs.
Start with how you want to read and practise from sheet music. Then check that the connections and accessories suit your playing space and home studio.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Sheet music and tempo | Try out the viewing height for paper or a tablet, and check whether the music rest and metronome function suit your practice setup. | If I want to follow new scores and practise at a steady tempo, this is what I look at first. Around 33% of consumers prioritise sheet music and tempo. |
| Quiet practice | Check the type of headphone socket and, if possible, try the sound both through headphones and through the speakers. | In a shared home, I want to listen privately without disturbing others with sound from the speakers. Around 27% of consumers prioritise quiet practice. |
| Studio connection | Decide whether you want to transmit MIDI performance data, piano audio or both, then check the connections and any features that vary by market or configuration. | If I want to connect the piano to my existing studio setup, the connection needs to suit what I want to transmit. Around 20% of consumers prioritise a studio connection. |
| Space and setup | Measure the space, allowing room for sheet music or a tablet screen, and check which stand and pedals are included with the configuration on offer. | If space is limited, I want to know whether the piano, sheet music and playing setup will all fit. Around 20% of consumers prioritise the space needed for their setup. |
Casio describes viewing PDFs in Music Space on a smartphone or tablet, not on a screen built into the piano.
Check that your device is compatible with the app and that you can position its screen at a comfortable viewing height.
You may also need a suitable device and somewhere to place it while you play.
The LP-5A three-pedal unit is optional for the Yamaha P-145. For the ES120, Kawai lists the stand and triple pedal unit as optional extras.
Compare what’s included with the specific configuration against the stand and pedal setup you need for your playing space.
You may need to buy a stand or a more comprehensive pedal setup separately.
Connections vary by model. Roland also notes that Bluetooth availability for the FP-10 depends on the country of purchase.
Decide whether you want to transmit MIDI performance data, piano audio or both, then check the connections on the exact configuration you’re considering.
If the connection isn’t compatible with your equipment, you may need additional gear.
The CDP-S110 reviewed here is a compact digital piano for anyone who also wants to use their own device to view sheet music.
The P-145 reviewed here is a compact entry-level model with 88 GHC keys, designed for players who want to focus on the basics of piano playing.
The FP-10 reviewed here combines a PHA-4 Standard keyboard with features for practising alone or playing alongside a teacher.
The ES120 reviewed here is a portable piano for players who also value separate audio outputs and studio connectivity.
No, you can practise from paper or a separate device. Casio describes a PDF viewer that displays sheet music on a smartphone or tablet; ABRSM’s practice tool focuses on recognising features and patterns in music.
First, decide whether you want to transmit MIDI performance data, the piano’s audio or both. Then compare the connections on the configuration you plan to buy. Bluetooth or an audio input alone doesn’t confirm that an audio output is available.
For a typical online consumer purchase, you generally have a statutory cooling-off period of up to 14 days after delivery, according to ACM ConsuWijzer. Exceptions apply, so check which terms and conditions apply to your purchase.
The seller is responsible for providing a solution under the statutory guarantee, according to the Dutch government. The Netherlands has no fixed statutory guarantee period of two years; what you can expect in terms of a product’s lifespan depends, among other things, on the product, its price and the information provided at the time of sale.
Follow the manual for your model. In the ES120 manual, Kawai advises you not to use the instrument, to unplug it and to contact the seller if, for example, liquid gets inside, parts become abnormally hot, or smoke or an unusual smell appears.
