REVIEW - BEST Beginner Piano Keyboards - What to look for in a LOW PRICE digital piano keyboard

Casio AP250

UPDATED REVIEW - March 10, 2013 - Best Beginner Digital Pianos under $1000 - People from across the US and around the world ask me all the time what I think the best beginner piano keyboards are in a lower price range (under $1000). My answer is that they should first have 88-keys piano type fully weighted keys to truly be a "piano" keyboard and the sound and key action need to be at a reasonable quality level that helps the student instead of hurts them. There are a lot of "cheap" keyboards and digital pianos in all kinds of brands out there but when you boil it all down, there are only 3 brands that I recommend right now that will be acceptable in the lower price range under $1000 and that is Yamaha, Casio, & Korg. 

Casio offers 6 2013 models including the basic CDP120 ($399), the Privia PX150 ($599), PX350 ($799), PX750 ($799 - lower left pic), PX780 ($999 internet discount price) and AP250 ($999 internet price). Yamaha offers 5 models including the new P105 ($599 - left pic), as well as the DGX640 ($699), YDPS31 (same as YDP135R but in compact cabinet), P155 portable piano, and the YDP135R ($999). I recommend all of the Casio's and Yamaha's mentioned here. Korg offers three models under $1000 including the SP170S ($499), SP280 ($699), and LP350 ($999), but I only recommend the LP350 although it has been out for about 8 years and uses older technology (you can read my blog review of this piano). So really the best options are either the Yamaha or Casio pianos.

All of these brands & models are the piano style weighted 88-key digital pianos although the key action movement will be slightly different from one model to another. They all have built-in speakers although the power and quality vary, and the piano sound itself will be better from one model to another, but overall, all of these recommended pianos are acceptable depending on your musical goals and experience. Stands, benches, pedals, etc are options for some of these models. But all can be had even with the accessories added on for under $1000 internet discount price down to about $500. There are other brands and models out there in the lower price ranges as well, but I recommend against them because they are not up to my student practice standards for key action, piano sound, and pedaling or they are much too complex and not meant for students.

Yamaha YDP135R

I have done reviews on my blog on many of these models mentioned here so you can look them up in the search bar on the upper right side of my blog when you have time. Of the three brands in the lower price range incl Yamaha, Casio, & Korg, I believe Casio offers a more noticeably realistic piano playing and sound experience than Yamaha or Korg, although Yamaha has some great models above $2500 where Casio does not. But ultimately, all of these models I mentioned here could work fine, just some would offer more additional educational features as well as more realistic piano tone & touch than others. And with regard to piano beginner students and their music education, as a long time private & group piano and keyboard teacher, that is something I know a lot about after having taught thousands of students over many years. If you want good info on the best way to proceed as far as lessons go as well as wanting to be sure you're getting the right instrument, please contact me and I'll be happy to answer your questions.

Casio PX150

If you want more info on these and other pianos and lower prices than internet or store discounts, please email me at... tim@azpianowholesale.com or call me direct at 602-571-1864