Who is this choice relevant to?

Sonatina student practising piano technique

Wants to learn to play soft and loud passages, so compares the key action, keyboard range and pedal options.

Home player in a shared household

Wants to listen to the electronic sound through headphones while keeping the listening volume comfortable and manageable.

Player who needs to clear away their practice space

Needs to move or store the instrument and its accessories after practising, and weighs up space against key action and keyboard range.

What should you consider when choosing?

First check that the keyboard suits your learning goals and sheet music. Then consider the headphone set-up, available space and pedals you’ll need.

What to consider What should you check? Who is this important for?
Key action and dynamics Compare the type of keyboard, not just the ‘touch-sensitive’ label. Try playing softly and repeating notes on the exact model you’re considering. If I want to practise soft and loud passages on a piano keyboard, the key action is my main concern. Around 33% of consumers put piano-style key action first.
Practising quietly Check the headphone socket and the plug or adapter you’ll need. Keep listening volume and listening time in mind. Anyone practising at home while others are around will want to listen to the electronic sound through headphones and control the volume. Around 33% of consumers give quiet home practice top priority.
Range and storage Compare the lowest and highest notes in your edition with the keyboard, and measure the space available, allowing room for a music stand and chair. If I need to put the instrument away after practising, I want to know whether it will fit in the space available without my sonatina falling outside its range. Around 20% of consumers focus mainly on range, dimensions and portability.
Pedal and set-up Check which pedal suits your piece and what’s included with the exact version. A socket doesn’t mean the pedal or stand you want will be supplied. Anyone who needs a pedal for their piece will want to know what’s included with the version they’re buying and what they’ll need separately. Around 14% of consumers put the pedal and a complete practice set-up first.

Common mistakes

  • Confusing touch sensitivity with a weighted piano keyboard

    A touch-sensitive keyboard can respond to how hard you play without having a weighted hammer-action keyboard. Yamaha describes the PSR-EW320 as having organ-style keys and touch sensitivity, while the P-145 has a weighted GHC keyboard.

    Compare the specified keyboard type and try the exact model if piano-style key action is an important learning goal.

    If you later find that the keyboard doesn’t suit your learning goals, you may need a different instrument for practice.

  • Assuming headphones make practice completely silent

    Headphones let you listen to the electronic sound privately, but they don’t automatically eliminate the physical sound of the keys. The World Health Organization points out that both listening volume and exposure time matter for safe listening.

    Assess the set-up in your own practice space and keep the listening volume low.

  • Assuming the pedal and stand are included

    What’s included varies by model and version. For example, Yamaha describes the three-pedal console for the P-145 as optional, while Casio lists an SP-3 sustain pedal as included with the CDP-S110BK.

    Before buying, check what’s in the box and whether the pedal and stand are compatible with the exact version.

    You may need to buy a compatible optional pedal or stand separately.

Brands to consider

Yamaha

The P-145 is a portable digital piano with 88 keys; the PSR-EW320 is a separate 76-key keyboard. The models suit different priorities.

  • Yamaha specifies a weighted GHC keyboard for the P-145 and lists an optional console with three pedals.
  • According to Yamaha, the PSR-EW320 has organ-style keys. Their action is not the same as the weighted keyboard on the P-145.

Roland

The FP-10 is a portable digital piano with an 88-key keyboard and headphone connectivity.

  • Roland lists a PHA-4 Standard keyboard for the FP-10.
  • The DP-10 half-damper pedal is optional, so check what’s included with the version you’re buying.

Casio

The CDP-S110BK is a slim digital piano with hammer-action keys and a specified headphone/output socket.

  • Casio lists a depth of 232 mm and an included SP-3 sustain pedal.
  • These product specifications don’t tell you whether the key action will feel comfortable for an individual learner.

Korg

The Liano offers an 88-key range for anyone looking for a lightweight model that’s easy to move.

  • Korg lists an LS keyboard, a headphone socket, an included pedal switch and a weight of 6,0 kg excluding batteries and music stand.
  • The touch-sensitive LS keyboard is not specified as having a weighted hammer action.

Kawai

The ES120 is a portable 88-key piano worth considering if headphone sockets and the option to expand the pedal set-up matter to you.

  • Kawai describes a Responsive Hammer Compact keyboard and two headphone sockets.
  • In its 2022 product announcement, Kawai listed optional accessories for three pedals; check which items are included with the version you’re buying.

Joybuy product selection

This selection includes a digital keyboard with 61 keys, weighted keys and a headphone socket. Check that its range covers the lowest and highest notes in your edition of the sonatina.

MLS-931 digital keyboard, 61 keys, black

MLS-931 digital keyboard, 61 keys, black

Could be a good fit if your sonatina falls within the 61-key range and you want to connect headphones.

61 keys, weighted keys and a headphone socket.

Check the range of your sheet music before choosing.

Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Does my keyboard need 88 keys for this sonatina?

Not necessarily: first compare the lowest and highest notes in your edition with the instrument’s range. The Yamaha P-145 has 88 keys and the PSR-EW320 has 76; if you also want to practise piano technique, check the keyboard type.

How can I practise with headphones at a comfortable volume?

Check which socket and plug you need, then start at a low volume. According to the World Health Organization, safe listening depends on both volume and listening time; wearing headphones is no reason to listen loudly for long periods.

Which items should I check before buying?

For the exact version, check whether the pedal, stand, adapter and music stand are included, and whether any accessories are compatible. Yamaha lists the LP-5A console for the P-145 as optional, while Casio lists an SP-3 sustain pedal for the CDP-S110BK.

What consumer rights apply to online purchases in the Netherlands?

For online purchases from a business, you usually have a 14-day cooling-off period, although exceptions apply and the identity of the seller matters. According to the Dutch government, faulty products also affect your statutory rights against the seller; there is no fixed statutory guarantee period for all products in the Netherlands.