Keyboard or Piano? Selecting an Instrument for Home

As a piano/keyboard instructor, I frequently get asked about the topic of choosing an instrument for home practice – Keyboard or Piano? Do I need all 88 keys? Should the keys be fully or semi-weighted? Will practicing on a keyboard affect my ability to perform on a real piano? Will practicing on a piano limit my abilities as a keyboardist? I wanted to share some advantages (and disadvantages) of both options in relation to tone, feel, cost and, frankly, physical space.

Acoustic Pianos

There are so many great things about owning an acoustic piano for home practice. One of the first considerations is size. When searching for an acoustic piano, you will be presented with a choice between a “Grand Piano” and an “Upright Piano.” There are, in fact, even more choices regarding size ranging from “spinet” (just slightly larger than an 88 key keyboard on a stand) to “concert grand” (up to 9+ feet long). In most single-family home/apartment living situations, there will likely be enough space for at least a small upright piano or spinet.

Aside from the physical space, there are a couple of additional considerations – moving a piano requires professional piano movers, and can present you with difficulties (or deal breakers) such as fitting the piano up tight staircases, or even fitting through the front door of your house – careful measurements should be taken before purchasing any piano. One other thing to consider is the wall your piano will be positioned on – ideally, an acoustic piano should not be placed on an exterior wall, nor should it be exposed to direct sunlight. Finally, pianos at every price-point may not be well regulated, may have not been tuned for many years, and could have major issues such as cracks in the soundboard.

PROS

• Looks beautiful in most any space, and is somewhat of a “furniture” piece.
• Has a very rich sound – full of overtones and sympathetic string resonance.
• Students will develop a feel for weighted keys, and real mechanical feel that will translate more easily to other acoustic pianos.
• Students will develop a greater understanding of room acoustics, dynamics, and articulation.
• Cost can range from free (+ moving costs) to very very expensive.

CONS

• Larger than most digital keyboards.
• Needs to be placed on an interior wall away from direct sunlight.
• Needs tuning (at least once per year), regulating and voicing by a professional piano technician.
• Piano moving will likely cost $300-400+ even for local delivery. 
• No additional sounds that may be found on a keyboard (synth, strings, brass, organ, electric piano etc.)
• No guarantee that the piano (especially a free one) will be in good mechanical condition, unless looked over by a certified piano technician.

Digital Keyboards

Many students and parents decide to purchase a keyboard for home use, and there are a number of reasons why this may be a better choice for some folks. There are a variety of keyboard sizes, and much less maintenance required on a regular basis. Is there something missing here? Can you achieve your goal of becoming a “concert pianist” using a keyboard for the majority of your practice? Let’s explore.. 

PROS

• Does not need to be tuned.
• In most cases, maintenance can be done without the need of a professional technician.
• Usually contains a variety of “sounds” aside from just “piano” – (synth, strings, brass, organ, electric piano etc.)
• Variety of sizes can fit even the smallest of rooms.
• Students may get a better feel for “sound design” and for performing in situations where a variety of tones are needed.
• Can be used with headphones or at a low volume for practice applications (playing at night/early morning, not disturbing neighbors etc.)

CONS

• Requires a larger investment to achieve a comparable feel to a real piano “action”. 
• Usually can not replicate the sound of a real acoustic instrument in a given space – the tone may not be as “rich” or “dynamic” as that of an acoustic piano. Overtones/sympathetic string vibrations are sometimes modeled, but can not fully reproduce the sound of real string resonance.
• Usually made of plastic as opposed to wood, and may not look as decorative in your home. 
• Requires additional investment in stands, stools, cases and pedals.
• May not translate well to performing on a real piano (especially if the keyboard has unweighted or semi-weighted keys)