Who is this choice relevant to?

Exam candidate working on technique

You want to practise your touch, dynamics and pedalling at home on an instrument that suits your exam requirements and pieces. EPTA Nederland, Trinity College London and ABRSM each set out their own exam routes.

Home player sharing their living space

You want to practise regularly and decide in advance whether you mainly need headphones, built-in speakers or both. Roland lists built-in speakers for the RD-88 EX; Korg says the D1 does not have them.

Pianist with a home studio

You want to practise exam pieces and connect the instrument to your existing audio or MIDI equipment. Connections vary by model; Korg, Roland and Nord each describe their own connection options.

What should you look for in a stage piano for your exam?

First, check the requirements for your exam route, along with the notes and techniques in your pieces. Then decide how you want to listen, which pedal you need and which studio connections you’ll actually use.

What to consider What should you check? Who is this important for?
Key feel and range Compare the keyboard range, touch sensitivity and weighted action with the requirements of your exam route. Trinity College London and ABRSM each set their own requirements. If I want to practise my exam pieces without making adjustments, the keyboard needs to suit the required technique and include all the notes. Around 33% of consumers prioritise exam technique.
Playing independently or quietly Check for built-in speakers, a headphone socket and the external audio equipment you want to use. Roland lists built-in speakers for the RD-88 EX; Korg says the D1 does not have them. If I want to play at home without extra audio equipment, or practise quietly, my listening setup needs to suit my space. Around 27% of consumers make their listening setup their top priority.
Pedal and complete setup Check which pedal is included with each version and whether it supports the techniques in your pieces. Trinity specifies a sustain pedal where required; Korg says the D1 includes a damper pedal and lists a half-pedalling pedal as a separate accessory. If my pieces require pedalling, I want to know in advance whether the included pedal is enough and what else I need. Around 20% of consumers prioritise the pedal and setup.
Connecting to your home studio Check whether the audio outputs and MIDI connections are compatible with your existing equipment. Roland, Korg and Nord describe different connections for their models. If I want to connect the piano to my existing studio equipment, I need to know which connections my setup uses. Around 20% of consumers prioritise studio connectivity.

Common mistakes when choosing

  • Assuming a stage piano is automatically suitable for exams

    The required key response, range, sound and pedal depend on your exam route and chosen pieces. The product category alone doesn’t tell you whether an instrument meets those requirements.

    Before choosing, compare your exam board’s rules with the full specifications and the pieces you’re practising.

  • Choosing a stage piano without speakers and no way to listen

    Korg says the D1 has no built-in speakers. Without headphones or suitable external audio equipment, you won’t be able to listen to it on its own.

    Decide in advance whether you’ll use headphones or studio monitors at home, and check which connections you’ll need.

    Headphones, suitable studio monitors or the necessary connections may be part of your practice setup.

  • Assuming every included sustain pedal supports the pedalling technique you need

    Korg says the D1 includes a damper pedal and lists a pedal for half-pedalling as a separate accessory.

    Check the pedalling techniques in your pieces and compare them with the pedal supplied with the version you’re considering.

    A separate compatible pedal may be needed for half-pedalling.

Brands to compare

These examples can help you compare models and versions. The features listed apply to the specific models, not automatically to the entire brand.

Roland

The RD-88 EX combines stage and studio features with built-in sound for playing at home.

  • According to Roland, the RD-88 EX has 88 weighted PHA-4 keys, built-in stereo speakers and USB audio/MIDI.
  • The extra sounds aren’t necessarily needed for exam preparation; check which pedal version is included with the set on offer.

Korg

The D1 is a slimline stage piano designed for use with headphones or external audio equipment.

  • Korg specifies that the D1 has 88 weighted RH3 keys, line outputs, MIDI connections and an included damper pedal.
  • The D1 has no built-in speakers; Korg lists a pedal for half-pedalling as a separate accessory.

Yamaha

The CP88 is a piano-focused stage piano with a weighted keyboard and straightforward stage controls.

  • Yamaha specifies that the CP88 has an 88-key NW-GH3 keyboard.
  • According to Yamaha, the CP73 has a different keyboard type and 73 keys. So check the full model name and make sure it suits your listening and pedal setup.

Nord

The Nord Piano 6 88 is aimed at pianists looking for a choice of piano and studio sounds with hands-on controls.

  • Nord specifies that the 88-key version has a weighted triple-sensor keyboard, includes a Nord Triple Pedal 2 and has audio and MIDI connections.
  • A 73-key version is also available. Check which version you’re buying and whether the extra sound layers suit your practice goals.

Stage pianos at Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Can I take a piano grade exam on a digital stage piano?

That depends on the exam board and type of exam. Trinity College London allows digital pianos for Digital Grades, provided they meet the requirements for range, a touch-sensitive weighted keyboard, piano sound and, where necessary, a sustain pedal. ABRSM sets its own requirements for digital pianos in the Practical Grades 2025–2026 syllabus. Don’t automatically apply these rules to an EPTA exam; check the requirements for your exam route and pieces.

Can I still choose pieces from the ABRSM 2025–2026 syllabus?

Yes. ABRSM says pieces from the Piano 2025–2026 syllabus can be chosen for Practical Grades up to and including 31 December 2027. ABRSM sets conditions for the transition period and requires all three pieces to come from the same syllabus. Check which rules apply to your exam.

What do I need to practise at home with a Korg D1?

The Korg D1 has no built-in speakers. You can use the headphone socket or connect the line outputs to suitable external audio equipment; check which connections and cables your setup needs.

What warranty and cooling-off period apply to an online purchase in the Netherlands?

According to ACM ConsuWijzer, a product must meet what you could reasonably expect from it under normal use; statutory rights are not the same as a commercial manufacturer’s warranty. For a standard online product purchase, there is generally a cooling-off period of up to 14 days after delivery, subject to legal exceptions. The cooling-off period and your statutory rights if a product is faulty are separate matters.

What should I check to ensure an electric stage piano is safe?

The Dutch government states that electronic devices sold in the EU must carry the applicable CE marking. Check the marking on the specific product you’re considering, and make sure the included power supply and manual are suitable for how you plan to use it.