If you want to practise piano technique and have room for a full-size keyboard, choose a digital piano with 88 weighted, touch-sensitive keys. A shorter keyboard can save space if it covers all the notes in your sonatina and exercises; touch sensitivity does not automatically mean the keys are weighted. Also measure the whole setup, including the music stand, stand, seating area and pedal.
You want to practise phrasing and touch on a piano-style keyboard, and have room for a portable 88-key model. The ABRSM piano syllabus for 2025–2026 allows the use of a digital piano with weighted keys and a sustain pedal under certain conditions.
You first want to find out whether a full-size keyboard will fit, or whether your sheet music and exercises can be played on a shorter keyboard. Measure the space before choosing based on cabinet depth alone.
You want to be able to move the instrument or practise with headphones. So take the stand, seating area, pedal space and connections into account when making your choice.
First, decide whether the instrument’s range and touch suit your sonatina and learning goals. Then measure the whole playing area and check which connections and accessories you need.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is it important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Piano-style touch and range | Check the number of keys, the action type and whether your sonatina and exercises fall within the instrument’s range. | If you want to practise piano technique, you’ll want a keyboard suited to that goal; around 36% of consumers prioritise piano technique. |
| Space for the setup | Measure the available width and depth, including the music stand and the space for the stand and seating area. | If your playing space is narrow, you’ll want to know whether the complete instrument will fit before you choose; around 29% of consumers prioritise where it will be placed. |
| Practising with headphones | Check whether the exact model has a headphone socket and whether it will be accessible in your setup. | If you share a room, you’ll want to be able to practise with headphones; around 21% of consumers prioritise quiet practice. |
| Pedal and accessories | Check which pedal and stand components come with the exact version, and what you need for your setup. | If you want to create a complete playing area, you’ll want to know which parts are included; around 14% of consumers make a complete set of equipment their top priority. |
A 61-key keyboard with touch-sensitive keys does not automatically have a weighted piano action. This distinction matters if piano technique is your learning goal.
Check the action type of the exact version and, if possible, try the keyboard before deciding.
A music stand can affect the depth you need, while a stand, seating area and pedal also take up space. A shallow cabinet does not mean that a full-size keyboard is any less wide.
Measure the complete setup and check the size of your chosen stand and the space needed for the pedal.
A similar model name does not prove that two versions are identical. You could end up expecting specifications or accessories from a different version.
Check the full model code and the features of the version you want to buy.
Yamaha offers both the piano-focused 88-key P-145 and the 61-key PSR-E383.
The portable FP-30X is a piano-focused option with 88 keys.
The CDP-S110BK is an 88-key digital piano with a slim cabinet depth.
The B2+ combines an 88-key NH keyboard with built-in speakers and a headphone socket.
The portable ES120 is a piano-focused option with a Responsive Hammer Compact keyboard.
These products have 61 keys and are designed for a shorter keyboard setup. Before choosing, check that their range covers the notes in your sonatina and exercises.
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A shorter keyboard may suit you if the notes in your sonatina and exercises fall within its range.
The product name lists 61 keys and 300 sounds and rhythms. The product description mentions USB-MIDI, speakers, a headphone socket, a metronome and a music stand.
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A 61-key layout may be suitable if the notes in your sonatina and exercises fall within its range.
The product name describes a weighted keyboard. The product description mentions touch sensitivity, USB-MIDI and a headphone socket; check that the action type suits your learning goals.
That depends on the notes in your edition and the exercises you do alongside it. Compare the highest and lowest notes with the keyboard’s range; 61 touch-sensitive keys do not automatically mean it has weighted piano keys.
Measure the available width and depth for the whole setup, not just the cabinet. Yamaha gives the P-145 a depth of 268 mm without the music stand and 320 mm with it; a stand and seating area also need their own space.
It varies by model and version. Casio lists an SP-3 pedal as included with the CDP-S110BK; Korg lists a damper pedal as included with the B2+, while the PU-2 unit is sold separately. Check what’s included with the version you want to buy.
According to the ABRSM Practical Music Grades piano syllabus for 2025–2026, a digital piano may be used if it has, among other things, a recognisable piano sound, full-size weighted touch-sensitive keys, a suitable range and a sustain pedal. These are requirements for that syllabus, not general requirements for buying a piano in the Netherlands; a new syllabus applies to exams from 1 January 2027.
Applicable European product safety requirements apply to electrical and electronic devices placed on the Dutch market. The Dutch government’s Ondernemersplein describes the required CE marking and EU declaration of conformity as obligations for the manufacturer; the applicable requirements also depend on the device and any radio functions it may have.
