If you have decided to start taking Piano lessons and have found a tutor, but are wondering what instrument/Brand/Model to buy, then you have come to the right place!

This article will help you narrow down your options, and guide you to make a decision that suits you best.

Say your child dreams of becoming a great cricketer one day, you will not just give him a plastic bat and ask him to keep trying. Instead you would find ways and means to give your child a good coaching and buy cricket bats and gear that will help him to acquire skills early in life.

It is same for a student who wants to learn to play the piano. A good beginner piano is ideal for students to begin their Piano Education. The quality of Piano will play a vital role in the student getting the techniques right at the very beginning but it will also serve as an inspiration to explore with the sound they hear from the piano.

So what must you look for, to make sure you buy a good piano?

Factors that influence your decision

Choosing the right instrument will depend on,

1) Your budget

Pianos are available over a wide price range. Beginner pianos are available from 35 thousand rupees to 8 Lakh rupees. If you find the pianos to be expensive, you can get an Electronic Keyboard for the first few grades/levels and then upgrade to an Acoustic/Digital Piano. You can choose the one that best suits your budget.

2) Space at home

If you have the budget and enough space and wish to have a long term relationship with the piano, you can invest in a Grand Piano. If the space is limited, acoustic upright pianos (2 lakh to 6 lakh rupees) and digital pianos (35 thousand to 4 lakhs) are a good option.

3) Age of the student

If the student is young and you are unsure if he/she is going to continue to learn the piano, then I recommend investing in a lower budget Digital Piano or an Electronic Keyboard and then eventually, upgrade to an Acoustic Piano. If the student is older, choice can be made based on how serious he/she is in pursuing their piano education.

4) Genre

There will be slight changes between pianos, in the way they sound and the way they feel on your fingers. For example some Pianos have keys that are less weighted than the others and are more suitable for Pop & Rock than for the more challenging genres like Classical & Jazz. So, buy depending on the genre you want to learn, Classical, Pop & Rock, Jazz etc,

Best Pianos in the market

Now that you know what a piano should have and what factors will influence your decision, what are your options as a beginner?

Acoustic Pianos

If you have the space for it and the budget, there is nothing like the feel of an Acoustic Piano. Acoustic Pianos are those that create a natural sound from the hammer hitting the strings. There are Grand Pianos and then there are the Upright Pianos. The Upright Pianos do not need much space and are more suited for beginners. The 2 most popular brands in upright pianos are Yamaha and Kawai. The models, Yamaha U1J and Kawai ND 21 are priced at around 4 lakh rupees and they make for a good learner piano.

Digital Pianos

 Korg, Casio, Yamaha are a few of the digital piano brands in the sea of options available. Some of the models that we prefer for early learner’s are Casio’s CDP-S100 (36000 rs), CDP-S150 (40000 rs), & Privia PX-160 (44000 rs). In Yamaha the Yamaha P-45B (39000 rs), Yamaha Arius series (80000 Rs to 110000 rs) and Clavinova CLP series (120000 rs to 4 Lakh rs). Clavinova CLP will top our list in quality (Sound & feel), then comes Yamaha Arius then comes the other Casio and Yamaha pianos.

Electronic Keyboard

Electronic Keyboards provide a decent alternative when the student is not sure whether they will continue learning the piano or not. To start off, the keyboard should have a minimum of a 61 keys and must be touch sensitive. Yamaha and Casio are again popular Keyboard brands. Our favourite models, Casio CT-X700, Casiotone CT-S300 and Yamaha PSR-E373 range in price between 10000 Rs to 120000 Rs.

The Pianos and Keyboards suggested above are easily available in Chennai. So choose the keyboard/Piano of your choice and begin your musical journey!