Many people want their children to learn to play piano, but few have the physical space for a piano or the budget to purchase one. While there are several styles of piano, even the smallest ones take up a good amount of space.
However, keyboards are much smaller and can easily be moved around. Parents often ask piano teachers if it’s okay for their kids to learn to play piano on a keyboard or on a digital piano, and the answer is absolutely! Many people learn on a keyboard, but it is important to note the ways learning piano on a keyboard or digital piano differs from learning on a true piano.

Weighted Action Keyboards Are Best

One of the most important things to look for in a keyboard is that it is a weighted action keyboard. These keyboards are designed to replicate the feeling of an acoustic piano like what music students use in their piano lessons in Atlanta.
The keys are weighted and respond differently depending on how much pressure the player uses. If they press down on the key with a lot of pressure, the keyboard will play a louder sound than if they used a much softer touch.
If students don’t learn on a weighted action keyboard, they may find that they play too softly or too hard on an actual piano. They also won’t be able to learn to play with a dynamic range that uses complex keystrokes on certain parts of a song for more excitement or softer touches on more melancholy sections.
Weighted-action keyboards also help students develop the right muscles they need to play with the right technique on an acoustic piano. If they use a non-weighted keyboard and then later switch to a piano, they may actually have to unlearn the bad techniques they’ve picked up.

Keyboard Size Is Also Important

In addition to playing on a weighted keyboard, it’s also important that you look for a keyboard or digital piano that’s the right size. Those who live in an apartment or in a small home without space for a piano may also find that they don’t have a lot of space for a full-sized keyboard. Others may opt to purchase a small keyboard for their kids to learn on because their children have small hands.
However, it’s important that you don’t buy keyboards that are too small. Learning on a keyboard that’s significantly smaller than a piano can actually make it difficult to play on a full-sized piano later.
Just like playing with a non-weighted keyboard, it can lead to students learning bad techniques that they later have to unlearn. Many smaller keyboards are actually non-weighted, too, so your child would pick up two types of bad playing practices.
It’s always best to learn on a full keyboard that has all 88 keys. This will let your child learn the entire range of the keyboard and all of the sounds available. While it may be tempting to get one of the cheaper options, if your child is going to play piano for years, it’s worth the investment. This is especially true if your child is going to play in recitals, concerts, or other places where they will be playing on a piano instead of the keyboard.

Finding a Great Keyboard

There are many different places you can purchase a keyboard but remember that you can often rent them from a local music store. This may be the more affordable option for those on a budget. Some places also have a rent-to-own option.

Sign Up for Lessons

Once you have found the perfect keyboard for your child, it’s time to sign up for lessons! We offer piano lessons in your home, so there’s no need to worry about going to a studio or classroom. We come to you instead! Contact us today to learn more about our in-home piano lessons.