Decent keyboard/electric piano for a teenager to learn on?

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I've read the other thread on weighted keyboards and thought I'd ask a more specific question. 

My flighty and practice-shy daughter (14 in December) keeps banging on about wanting to learn piano. It's not that long since I shelled out a few hundred on a decent violin, which she has learned for a couple/few years. But she's really only going through the motions on that so I doubt it'll last. 

While I have my doubts that she'll put the time in on piano either, I've always worked on the basis that more instruments surrounding the kids is better than none so I don't mind shelling out again. 

Something sub-£500, decent quality (the best feeling keys available for that money). Ideally not huge and reasonably portable. Doesn't need to have loads of sounds and drum patterns but I'm open to anything really. 

Any suggestions?

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Comments

  • goldtopgoldtop Frets: 6101
    Casio (seriously). Something like the CDP-S100?



    (I ended up with a Kawai ES-8, but that's a notch or two up in price.)
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  • McTootMcToot Frets: 2041
    goldtop said:
    Casio (seriously). Something like the CDP-S100?



    (I ended up with a Kawai ES-8, but that's a notch or two up in price.)
    Interesting - thanks GT. There's actually a Casio CDP S100 for sale in Basingstoke (about 80 mins from me) on ebay for £260 OBO with stool and stand...

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  • munckeemunckee Frets: 12255
    I bought miss munckee a cheap casio as recommended by Andertons, very cheap sub £100 keyboard and it was fine for beginning on.  As she got a bit older decided she wanted piano rather than keyboard and I bought a used Roland Go from this parish and she continues to play it now doing A level music and still perfectly happy with it - has done performances in front of the school with it sounds lovely.  
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  • McTootMcToot Frets: 2041
    munckee said:
    I bought miss munckee a cheap casio as recommended by Andertons, very cheap sub £100 keyboard and it was fine for beginning on.  As she got a bit older decided she wanted piano rather than keyboard and I bought a used Roland Go from this parish and she continues to play it now doing A level music and still perfectly happy with it - has done performances in front of the school with it sounds lovely.  
    Did you go for the 61 key Roland or 88?


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  • djspecialistdjspecialist Frets: 901
    edited October 2021
    Myself and my kids are all learning to play.  After starting with a cheap (~£100) Yamaha, we currently have a Roland FP-30.  I don't have a lot of experience, but I think it's a lovely instrument - nice sound quality (good on-board speakers capable of filling the room) and realistic (if rather heavy) action.  It's a massive step up from the keyboard we had before.  In terms of features it's pretty basic (a metronome, recording, and a few voices), but if like us you're looking primarily for a piano then I think it fits the bill.

    The FP-30 has now been superceded by the FP-30x, but AFAICT the upgrades are minor: some bluetooth connectivity improvements and a few more options for different voices.  It looks like the FP-30 has been discounted as a result, so you might be able to find one within your budget.

    Ours stays in one place, so we bought the solid stand.  From memory the keyboard alone isn't hugely heavy, but if your daughter is going to be carrying it around a lot, it probably isn't the most portable option.

    When we were shopping for the Roland I tried a Yamaha around the same price point (can't remember the model, sorry) but found it both sounded and felt poor in comparison.

    The other one I'd look at would be a Kawai ES110.
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  • munckeemunckee Frets: 12255
    McToot said:
    munckee said:
    I bought miss munckee a cheap casio as recommended by Andertons, very cheap sub £100 keyboard and it was fine for beginning on.  As she got a bit older decided she wanted piano rather than keyboard and I bought a used Roland Go from this parish and she continues to play it now doing A level music and still perfectly happy with it - has done performances in front of the school with it sounds lovely.  
    Did you go for the 61 key Roland or 88?


    It was the 61 but I think she would have preferred an 88
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  • Kawai and casio got nice sounds for the price.  Yamaha and roland both got good models with weighted keys.

    With midi, you can also use it as an 88 note master keyboard for soft synths. 
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  • MusicwolfMusicwolf Frets: 3627
    I bought myself a Casio CDP S100 a couple of years ago when I retired.  The first unit developed a fault and was replaced, very promptly, by Casio.  I’ve been very happy with the 2nd unit and would buy again without hesitation.
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  • joeWjoeW Frets: 459
    If of interest I have a Yamaha P105 that am going to be moving on.  It has a decent key action and sounds good as a piano, but has limited other sounds. I have used it for theory mostly but recently got a prophet 6 so am getting tight on space. Might be a great cost effective option. 
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  • thomasw88thomasw88 Frets: 2316
    Get an 88 key board. 73 is ok as well but 61 is rather limiting. 

    Yamaha p range are excellent
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  • McTootMcToot Frets: 2041
    joeW said:
    If of interest I have a Yamaha P105 that am going to be moving on.  It has a decent key action and sounds good as a piano, but has limited other sounds. I have used it for theory mostly but recently got a prophet 6 so am getting tight on space. Might be a great cost effective option. 
    PMd.

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  • TeleMasterTeleMaster Frets: 10103
    I use a Roland FP30 and it’s excellent. 

    @joeW i just got a Prophet 6 too. Great isn’t it!
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  • joeWjoeW Frets: 459
    I use a Roland FP30 and it’s excellent. 

    @joeW i just got a Prophet 6 too. Great isn’t it!
    Yeah - it’s a weapon! Can’t wait to get some proper time on it. 
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  • hubobuloushubobulous Frets: 2352
    Although a bit left field, if you got a MIDI keyboard, it could also open up the possibility of soft synths or any other instrument you fancy through VSTi. The reason I mention this is that sound sculpting is an art in itself and if your daughter tires of piano, the whole concept of song creation through a DAW is a new angle for her to explore. There are loads of free/cheap/excellent soft pianos and synths out there
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  • JMS96JMS96 Frets: 135
    Pianos are great instruments to have in the house. It can be a focal point for the family but aside from this, is great to learn music on as it’s all there in front of your eyes and hands. I appreciate the need for portability, but my advice, FWIW, is sacrifice a corner of your living room for a decent piano. Electric probably because if space is an issue, you’re going to want to play with headphones. They devalue heavily so a second-hand Clavinova would be my recommendation.
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  • thomasw88thomasw88 Frets: 2316
    Jhubobulous said:
    Although a bit left field, if you got a MIDI keyboard, it could also open up the possibility of soft synths or any other instrument you fancy through VSTi. The reason I mention this is that sound sculpting is an art in itself and if your daughter tires of piano, the whole concept of song creation through a DAW is a new angle for her to explore. There are loads of free/cheap/excellent soft pianos and synths out there
    MIDI keyboard don’t feel like a piano. They are excellent in their own right, but it’s not the same experience as a piano
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  • McTootMcToot Frets: 2041
    Thanks for everyone's input on this. And thanks too to @joeW, whose Yamaha P105 I am going to buy as soon as I can shake off the double whammy of Covid and Norovirus (in almost consecutive weeks). 

    I had a beer last night. Things are looking up. 

    The next issue, once I pick said Joanna up, is where to hide the damned thing until Ms McToot's birthday...

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  • goldtopgoldtop Frets: 6101
    thomasw88 said:
    Jhubobulous said:
    Although a bit left field, if you got a MIDI keyboard, it could also open up the possibility of soft synths or any other instrument you fancy through VSTi. The reason I mention this is that sound sculpting is an art in itself and if your daughter tires of piano, the whole concept of song creation through a DAW is a new angle for her to explore. There are loads of free/cheap/excellent soft pianos and synths out there
    MIDI keyboard don’t feel like a piano. They are excellent in their own right, but it’s not the same experience as a piano
    Except ... Kawai VPC-1!

    Well done @McToot - I'm sure you'll be 'best bloke ever' for quite a few weeks with that. :)
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