A parent’s guide to digital pianos and choosing the best instrument for your beginning piano student.

Your child has started to show an interest in the piano or keyboard — and that’s fantastic. In addition to making beautiful, expressive music, keyboard-based instruments provide the perfect foundation for learning to read music, understanding music theory and other essential musical skills.

But does your child need to take “piano lessons” or “keyboard lessons”? In this article, we’ll survey the differences between pianos and keyboards, and discuss the best instrument options for your budding musician.

Let’s dig in by covering some fundamentals. 

Piano vs. Keyboard: The Basics

What Is a Piano?

The piano is an acoustic instrument that generates sound when the player presses down any of its 88 keys. This movement triggers a mechanical system that causes a small hammer to strike a steel-wire string inside the instrument. As the string vibrates, it creates a tone that is amplified by the piano’s soundboard. Each of the piano’s keys corresponds to a different pitch, and those pitches move from low to high along the keyboard, left to right. When a key is pressed, a felt damper is lifted off the string, allowing it to vibrate; when the key is released, the damper falls back onto the string, stopping its vibration and silencing the sound.

There are two main categories for acoustic pianos: the larger and more expensive grand piano, which offers a richer, more full-bodied sound; and the upright piano, which is more economical, with a smaller footprint.   

What Is a Keyboard?

The term “keyboard” typically refers to an electronic instrument that, like a piano, requires the player to press down a key in order to make a sound. In “keyboard” instruments, however, the system that generates the sound is electronic rather than acoustic and mechanical.

Here are some terms to familiarize yourself with as you explore different keyboard options.

Digital Pianos

Digital pianos are instruments whose main purpose is to feel and sound like a genuine acoustic piano. Their sound comes from a process of carefully “sampling,” or recording, each key on a great concert grand piano. Digital pianos often feature a full-range keyboard with 88 keys, as on an acoustic piano. The keys on these instruments tend to be “velocity sensitive,” or touch sensitive, meaning their volume and tone respond to how hard and how fast the player presses them down.

Many of these instruments also feature keys described using terms like “weighted” and “graded hammer-action,” which means they emulate the feeling of resistance and responsiveness of a real acoustic piano. Digital pianos may also feature pedals, as on an acoustic piano, to help the player control the sustain, tone and overall sound of the instrument.

Digital “console” pianos are intended for home use, with built-in speakers and elements of furniture design. Digital “stage” pianos are designed to be easily transported from performance to performance, and may or may not have built-in speakers. Whereas a console piano might remind you of an acoustic upright piano, a stage piano will better resemble an electronic “keyboard” instrument.

Synthesizers, MIDI Keyboards, Arranger Keyboards, Keyboard Workstations & More

These and other terms refer to instruments designed more for music production, convenience or creating exciting and experimental tones. These advanced instruments have had a profound influence on the sound of modern music, from pop and hip-hop to thrilling advancements in classical music.

They are not focused on recreating the playing experience of an acoustic piano. Unlike digital pianos, these instruments frequently have smaller-range keyboards comprising fewer than 88 keys. Often, their keys fall under the category “unweighted” or “synth action,” meaning they don’t feel like a real piano to the player.

To learn more about the differences between various keyboards, check out our beginner’s guide.

Why Piano Lessons Are the Perfect Starting Point for Kids

When it comes to music lessons for kids, and the question of piano vs. keyboard for beginners, the piano remains at the core of it all. At Music & Arts, enrolling your child in music lessons means they’ll be taking “piano lessons” — not “keyboard lessons.” No matter what keyboard-based instruments your child might want to play later on — such as the synthesizer or electronic organ — the skills they’ll need to develop are rooted in the acoustic piano.

Is It Possible to Learn Piano on a “Keyboard”?

Breathe easy: Just because your child wants to play the piano, you don’t need to rush out and spend thousands of dollars on a concert grand. Affordable digital pianos are a terrific option. In fact, Music & Arts Lesson Studios come equipped with high-quality digital pianos that offer the acoustic piano’s full 88-key range, as well as the touch and sense of play, or “action,” you’d find in an acoustic piano.

Digital Piano vs. Acoustic Piano: Which One Is Right for Your Child?

If you’re lucky enough to have an acoustic piano in your home, cherish it! The classic feel and room-filling resonance of an acoustic piano create a wonderful experience for your child as they progress.

But modern digital pianos also offer a number of benefits. Let’s unpack a few of them.   

Why Digital Pianos Are a Great Choice for Beginner Piano Students

Digital Pianos Are Easy to Maintain & Don’t Require Tuning

One major advantage of digital pianos is their ease of maintenance. Unlike acoustic pianos, which require costly regular professional tunings, a digital piano is always in tune.

Digital Pianos Are Portable

While it’s a major undertaking to move an acoustic upright or grand piano, digital pianos are easy to set up and relocate. Digital pianos also take up less space in the home.

Digital Pianos Have Adjustable Volume

The volume on a digital piano is fully adjustable, ensuring quiet practice that won’t disturb siblings or neighbors. Most digital pianos come equipped with a headphone jack as well, for silent practice.

On the other hand, a digital stage piano can easily be hooked up to an amplifier, which is crucial if your child excels to the point where they’re performing solo or with a band and need more volume. 

Digital Pianos Have Modern Features & Wide-Ranging Sounds

Many digital pianos include a wide variety of sound options in addition to acoustic piano — from organs and clavinets to guitars and futuristic synthesizer tones. Kids love to play around with these; often, these sounds remind them of the music they hear in movies, TV shows and video games, and on social media and Spotify. Remember: Any line a child can draw from music they already like to the act of making music will inspire enthusiasm and practice.

Even entry-level digital pianos come packed with impressive features — built-in metronomes and recording capabilities, Bluetooth audio and MIDI, USB connectivity and companion apps that let you further customize your sound. These tools not only enhance the playing experience but also support learning through interactive programs and audio playback.

Digital Pianos Are Affordable

There’s no way around the fact that acoustic pianos are expensive. A used piano in decent shape from a reputable manufacturer will still set you back thousands of dollars. If your child is just starting out in music and there’s a chance they’ll lose interest, spending that much on a piano can be a hard sell.

Want to check out more options? Shop digital pianos online or stop by your neighborhood Music & Arts.