My First Keyboard: Buying a child’s first electronic keyboard instrument
December 9, 2007 by Andy
I believe that the buyers’ guide I wrote a couple of years ago still stands as a good introduction to buying a keyboard instrument
However, in this feature I want to look specifically at buying a child their first “serious” electronic keyboard.
My Story
Every child is different, but let me tell you a little of my musical upbringing as it will give you a better idea of where I’m coming from, and hopefully give you some ideas on the way forward for your child / potential musical genius. 
I was lucky enough to grow up in a home with an acoustic upright piano, which I started playing and picking out tunes on from a very young age (say 3 or 4). I think from this my parents realised that I had musical aptitude/talent, and I began taking classical-based piano lessons from around age 5.
I enjoyed this, and was incredibly blessed to have access to the piano (it’s probably why I love the acoustic piano, or as near as I can get to it, to this day). However, from the age of about 12, after seeing someone on stage playing some amazing synth lines and creating sound textures, I wanted to get into electronic music.
My parents agreed, and bought a fairly entry-level keyboard. However, it was enough to get me started in trying out new sounds, rhythms, and even doing some basic sequencing work on my computer.
The point to this is that, whether or not your child shows some interest and aptitude for music, and in particular a keyboard, it’s worth starting with a basic set up and building on that, rather than splashing out on an all-singing, all-dancing keyboard, digital piano, or even an acoustic piano, only for it to be a costly mistake.
Don’t force them – see the interest
I fell in love with keyboard instruments because that’s what was around, but I wasn’t forced to play.
Fashions come and go. Guitars are cool, and many kids want to play them. Don’t force them to play one type of instrument they’re really not interested in. Having said that, if they show interest in a piano (I’ve seen a great many children who love to try to play things on the keyboard, and it’s (arguably) an easier instrument to begin learning/experimenting on than the guitar, especially for small fingers) then go for it.
Make it fun
Though you may pay a bit extra, or sacrifice a bit of sound quality, by getting a keyboard with plenty of functions on, it will make it fun for your child to play, experiment, and learn about music.
If they really get a taste for playing seriously, and when they’re a bit older, they’ll probably find out what kind of things they want their keyboard to do. In fact, if they’re anything like me, they’ll be down at the local music shop every Saturday eyeing up the next model, getting the specifications and the price, and working out how to introduce the concept of a new keyboard to you.
In reality, even today’s relatively inexpensive keyboards do absolutely amazing things, and sound fantastic.
Which manufacturers are best?
While this is a rather subjective question, my personal believe is that Yamaha make some of the best sounding, feature-rich, value-for-money electronic keyboards around. (View a range of Yamaha Keyboards
Casio also make decent enough keyboards, though for some reason they’ve always had a bit of a rough ride in the reputation stakes (at least, they were always joked about – maybe it’s because Casio makes calculators, I don’t know). (View a range of Casio Keyboards
Other manufacturers include Roland
Some features to look out for
Here’s a non-exhaustive list of features that can be found on modern electronic keyboards, with a brief explanation. Generally, the more features you have, the more expensive the keyboard. However, even quite basic keyboards have a large number of features.
- Number of keys
Most home keyboards come with either 49 keys (4 octaves) or 61 keys (5 octaves). More keys equals more room for playing, or for splitting the keyboard between accompaniment and melody.
- Type of keys
Most home keyboards use thin plastic keys with a very light touch. This doesn’t mean they’re not durable, but they’re not heavy or hard to depress like the keys of a piano.
- Touch sensitivity
This determines whether hitting a key harder produces a louder and/or different sound. A lot of home keyboards do have some kind of touch sensitivity built in, though very cheap ones are “fixed velocity”.
The advantage of touch sensitivity is that it gives the ability to play with greater expression.
- Sounds
Most keyboards come with a wide array of sounds, including real world acoustic and electric sounds, synthetic sounds, and sound effects.
Check the acoustic piano sounds if this is important – Yamaha in particular put a decent enough grand piano sound even on basic models though it will never sound as good as their thousands-of-dollars Clavinova.
Some acoustic sounds may not be great (horns in particular usually sound awful, guitars are often dubious) but may serve as a good introduction to making music. Strings are usually fairly good, and synth/sound effects are fun.
- Pitch bend/modulation
A lot of home keyboards have a pitch bend wheel, usually located to the left of the keyboard. This allows notes to be “bent” up and down in pitch.
Some have modulation, which changes the colour or effect of a particular sound, though this is less common on entry-level keyboards.
- Sustain pedal
Many home keyboards have a jack input for adding a sustain pedal, used to hold the sound of played notes. Not all do. Some come with a pedal, others it’s an optional extra. Worth having particularly when playing piano sounds.
- Polyphony
Polyphony measures how many sounds the keyboard can play at one time. The higher the polyphony, the less risk of notes being cut off, and also the more detailed accompaniments can be played. Every note of every sound, including those being sustained, counts towards polyphony. 32 is a decent entry-level value to look for.
- Drum Pads
Some keyboards come with extra drum finger pads, located above the keys. They’re fun for playing or sequencing rhythm.
- Auto-Accompaniment
Most home keyboards have at least some kind of automatic accompaniment. This usually includes drums, bass, guitar, or other accompaniment instruments.
Some have different patterns for song intros, outros, bridge, verse, chorus, etc.
Others allow you to record your own accompaniments, though this is usually on more expensive instruments.
Often seen just as a bit of fun, they can be quite useful for developing an initial appreciation of rhythm, and playing with other instrumentalists, even though they’re all pre-recorded and can be rather “staid”.
- Interactive Learning
Many keyboards now come with some kind of built in learning system which can teach beginning players how to play notes and chords.
Though this adds to the cost, it can be useful for getting kids to learn the basics without having to pay for tuition, which could be expensive and wasted.
- Recording/Sequencing
Some home keyboards offer basic recording of notes, accompaniment, and so on. Sequencing (recording multiple tracks and being able to edit notes) tend to be found only on more expensive keyboards, though it is often possible to connect cheaper keyboards to a PC or Mac via MIDI or USB, and use computer software to record and edit music.
- MIDI/USB connection to computer/other instruments
Most keyboards have MIDI connectors. MIDI is a well-established standard for connecting musical instruments to each other, and to PCs.
Some newer keyboards also have USB interfaces, allowing direct connection to a PC or Mac.
This can be great for using music software, updating sounds, downloading material from the Internet to play on the keyboard, and more.
Possibly not essential for a young child, but does open up more possibilities.
Buy new or second-hand?
My personal preference would be to buy new, even if you buy a slightly older “end of line” model at a discount. Though keyboards can last a long time, you’ll get the best technology and pristine equipment by buying new.
If buying second-hand, be very sure what you’re getting and paying for. If possible, check the instrument out for yourself. Ensure all the keys and buttons work, and there’s no damage to the casing. Remember that these instruments depreciate in value quickly, so don’t be tricked into paying significant money for a keyboard, even one that’s just a year or two old.
Try before you buy
Though you often get the best deals on the Internet, it really is worth checking out a selection of keyboards at a local music store so that you can hear them, play with their features, and decide which one you like best.
What’s around now?
Bearing in mind that music technology advances very quickly, here are some of the latest, entry-level keyboards available (December 2007).
Yamaha YPT-210
This is a new version of the Yamaha YPT-200 (which retails for under US$100).
Features include 61 full-size touch sensitive keys, 32 notes polyphony, realistic grand piano sounds, Yamaha Education Suite (Y.E.S.) with a 9 Step Piano Lesson Suite, stereo speakers, auto-accompaniment, headphone jack, sustain pedal input, 375 instrument voices, and MIDI.
Yamaha PSR-E203
Retails for around US$120.
Features many similar but slightly more advanced functions as the YPT-210. Often can be picked up with a “survival kit” featuring DVD, headphones, AC adapter, sustain pedal, and so on.
Yamaha PSR-E213
Features more advanced functions than the PSR-E203, but for just a little more money (around US$160).
Yamaha lists the best features of the PSR-E213 as the Portable Grand sound – the “industry’s best piano”, the interactive Yamaha Education Suite version 5, a sound effect Kit for cool sounds and grooves, computer connectivity using General MIDI, stereo sound quality, 32 note polyphony, 9 digital reverb effects, 102 internal songs, chord dictionary, and built-in metronome.
Product page | View the Yamaha PSR-E213 Keyboard
Yamaha PSR-E313
The step-up model from the PSR-E213 additionally features more expressive piano touch, backlit LCD screen, 2-track recorder, 482 voices, more effects, 106 accompaniment styles, dual voice and split keyboard functionality.
Costs around US$260.
Product page | View the Yamaha PSR-E313 Keyboard
Yamaha PSR-E403
This is one of Yamaha’s more “synth focused” entry level keyboards, meaning it is geared more towards creating synthetic sounds and dance rhythms. It also features a six-track recorder, and more advanced sounds and effects. It also comes with a range of music educational tools.
Costs around US$199.
Product page | View the Yamaha PSR-E403 Keyboard
Casio SA-75
Very definitely an entry-level keyboard for little hands! While it costs just $60, it has 37 mini keys, built in speakers, 100 sounds, some accompaniments, four note polyphony, headset with microphone, and on screen musical display. It runs from five AA batteries.
Product page | View the Casio SA-75
Casio CTK-496
This keyboard offers 61 full size keys, 100 tones, 100 accompaniment rhythms, 100 pre-installed tunes, an LCD display, dual (not stereo) speakers, transposition and tuning functions, and microphone input.
It also has a Music Information System, which graphically shows note fingerings, keyboard keys and notes to be pressed. It offers up to 12 note polyphony, MIDI, a sustain pedal input, and AC power input.
Priced around US$130.
Product page | View the Casio CTK keyboard range
Casio CTK-800
A step up from the CTK-496 and Casio’s other $130 keyboards, the CTK-800 offers 61 full-size keys with touch response control, 500 tones, 32 notes of polyphony, 120 accompaniment patterns with variations, 3-step lesson system, Musical Information Function, sing along mode, metronome, sustain jack which can also be assigned to other functions, and USB connection.
Priced around US$180.
Product page | View the Casio CTK keyboard range
Casio CTK-900
Another step up from the CTK-800, this keyboard offers 61 full-size keys with touch response settings, 824 tones, 176 accompaniments with variations, 32 notes polyphony, 200 types of effect with user-definable settings, synthesizer function allowing greater control of sounds, mixer function, and MIDI.
Priced around US$230.
Product page | View the Casio CTK keyboard range
Other keyboards
The above keyboards are the main entry-level instruments from both Yamaha and Casio. Below are links to other keyboard ranges from Yamaha and Casio.
Casio
Mini keyboards
Portable keyboards
Workstation keyboards
Lighted keyboards
Privia digital pianos
Yamaha
Entry-level keyboards
Synth-focused keyboards
Piano-focused portable keyboards
Lighted keyboards
Arranger workstation keyboards
Digital pianos
Clavinova Digital Pianos
Popularity: 69% [?]
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I definitely recommend buying a keyboard for your kids instead of an upright piano. For several reasons,
1) kids love to try new things, a piano will bored them out really quick, whereas a keyboard have many features for them to play around with.
2) a keyboard is most of time cheaper than a piano.
3) you don’t need to tune your keyboard
Agreed.
While I enjoyed playing the piano a lot as a child, I went through a phase of being bored with it.
Having the keyboard actually made we appreciate the piano more. Now I have a digital piano and some synths, and they both serve specific needs and styles.
I think your site is great and I am using the info on keyboards to buy one for my daughter.
Cheers,
Kim
I have the same experience as a child. My exposure to music was way back before I started formal school education.
I also like the fact that you featured the keyboard I have currently, which is the CTK 800.
Hi,
I enjoyed reading your article. I have recently obtained a 49 key Stereo
Electronic Keyboard, the only marking on it is : MC-5149 with no indication of make. It does not have an LCD display. Unfortunately I have no User’s Guide for it. Have you any idea where I can find one?
Regards
Robert
Hi Robert.
Sounds like the Victory Multimedia MC-5149, but I don’t know anything about the keyboard and I can’t find anywhere that still stocks it.
Where did you buy it from? I’m not sure, is it a USB instrument that can be plugged in to your computer?
Sorry I can’t be much more help. Hopefully it’s simple enough that you can get some good use from it by experimenting, even if there isn’t a manual. It can be tough to find manuals online, particularly for makes of keyboard that aren’t as well know as, say, Yamaha or Casio.
Hope you get on OK with it.
Hi Andy
I got it quite cheap on French ebay but the bod couldn’t help me with a manual. It is not a USB instrument which can be plugged into the computer. What I like about it is that the keys are full size.
Thanks for your help.
Robert
No problem, Robert. Finding manuals for slightly more obscure things (and even some not so obscure) can be very tricky.
Sorry if my question is not directly related to the content of this blog entry, but it is somewhat related. I am a 40 year old man who never studied music, but always loved music if that makes sense. I am intending to buy an instrument and a friend of mine sells me an old Clavinova (10 years old, in good shape as far as I can tell) for about $300-$500. At the same time, I see some great keyboards for little more money like the Yamahas or the Casio Privia series. My question is then, would an older Clavinova be preferable (since it is a digital piano) to a new keyboard, specially considering that I am new to learning piano? Thank you for your help!
Hi, I was wondering if anyone would be able to help me. My 10 year old daughter has a 54 key keyboard and is teaching herself to play it. She is already mastering the songs from Mary Poppins along with some current chart music using her own ear.
My problem is that she wants me to be able to label the keys for her with the letters & numbers, but I know nothing about this and from what I have found on the internet it just confuses me further. I have spent a long time reading stuff on the notes & octaves but got no further.
Any help on this is greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Hi Alejandro,
Sorry it has taken me along time to reply. My advice would always be to buy a newer keyboard. Not only might the build quality be better but also the sound generation technology will have improved so you’ll get a more realistic piano sound.
Having said that, the Clavinovas are very good, but I’d still look at getting a new one. Be careful with secondhand ones that they are in good and complete working order.
Hi Karen,
It’s great that your daughter is so into playing and long may that continue. In my experience if she can play by ear she’s more likely to retain interest and experiment with songs even beyond learning to read and play from printed music.
It’s hard to explain the layout of the keys here but I’ll try to cover this in an article very soon, hopefully this week. Labelling the keys can be useful. I presume she wants to learn to read from sheet music?
Hi and thank you for getting back to me so soon.
My daughter wants them labelled so that she can write the keys down as she goes, that way she can keep track of where she has got to with the songs.
So far she has memorised about 10 songs that she plays by testing each key til she gets it right herself then adds the notes together. But it would be easier for her to write them as she goes so to speak.
It bugs her when she forgets the placement of a key and hits the wrong note. She has no sheet music to go by as her keyboard did not come with any. Everything is by ear.
Ahh, I see what you mean. Well, I’ll try to come up with something that will be easy for you and your daughter to use. Watch this space
Hi Karen,
You might want to take a look at this guide: How to label and write notes on the piano keyboard: a basic guide.
I hope it’s fairly self-explanatory, but feel free to leave a comment if you want any more clarification. I think it will be a good start for your daughter to be able to record what she is playing. It might spark her interest in learning more about ways of writing music down. At very least it should help jog her memory – if she plays a lot “by ear” anyway then this is often all that’s needed.
Good luck!
I was hoping this was actually useful article but alas it is not. Came to look for a comprehensive list of keyboards with more than 3 octaves, mini-keys and midi. You have none, this article is a god damn joke.
Actually you’re the “joke”, ‘ac’. I don’t usually get personal but you come here with an anonymous “name”, no way of contacting you, and completely insult an article that it took me a good deal of time to write and has helped a number of people already.
If you’d contacted me looking for some information I would’ve happily helped you out, but as you’ve acted like a compete prat (toned down word used for the sake of politeness, not that you deserve any but the rest of my readers do) I won’t bother.
You’re nothing but a sad little TROLL. In fact, if you take a look around you’ll see there aren’t any mass-produced keyboards with mini keys that also have more than three octaves. Casio comes the closest (as this article clearly states, though you obviously didn’t bother to read it properly.)
Still, if you want to blame ME for something that THE INDUSTRY ITSELF lacks then fine. Continue to act like a self-righteous idiot. If you had left a proper email address then I’d have been a lot blunter in my reply, but as you’re too pathetic to even leave a valid way of contacting you, I can’t. At least if you’re going to be insulting, have the courage to do it as yourself. I know you’re in FInland somewhere.
Thank you so much for this information. Have successfully labelled the keyboard using small round coloured stickers, using a different colour for each set of notes.
Honestly, this guide makes it far more simpler to understand, the other ones I had read just added to my confusion. The diagram helped big time.
I appreciate the time you have taken to help us in compiling this post.
Regards,
Karen
AC – your post was out of order. T
hese people have went out of their way to help me with my daughter’s keyboard problem.
You could have asked for advice rather than slamming them for not knowing what you where looking for.
It would have been quicker to actually ask them rather than type the nonsense you wasted your time spouting.
My children are more respectful than that.
THANK YOU! I am considering going from acoustic to digital and your guide has made it so much easier to make the leap. Now I just have to go and try out the brands in person but I shall keep all your tips in mind.
@ ac? Suck it.
FB @ FabulouslyBroke.com
I am considering the purchase of a Yamaha PSR-E313 for my grandson,9 years old. For almost two years he has expressed the desire to learn how to play a piano. I would appreciate your opinion on which model is reflecting best the piano acoustic and any training book. Nahum is very intelligent,caring and shy.Your reply would be appreciated.Thank-you
I have sent a e-mail yesterday seeking some advice on best model for my grandson. Please could you reply as soon as possible. Thank-you.
Hi Paolo,
Sorry for the delay in replying to you.
If you are after an entry-level keyboard with a good enough acoustic piano sound, then the Yamaha models such as the one you suggest will do the job.
It’s worth bearing in mind that there are a number of factors which determine getting the most authentic piano experience from a digital instrument. It’s not just the sound, but also the feel of the keys.
You won’t get the feel of an acoustic piano with the sort of keys found on these smaller keyboards, though they do offer touch response (absolutely essential).
If, after a while, your grandson really takes to playing the piano (above playing the keyboard in general), it would then be worth investing in a proper digital piano — you’ll get a very similar feel to an acoustic piano, and the full range of keys (88 notes). Again, Yamaha is a good make, easily available, with a wide choice, but also worth looking at is Roland or Korg.
However, it’s probably not worth investing much money in that until you’re sure whether he takes to it.
I hope that helps, but please come back to me with any other questions you might have.
Hi Andy,
My parents-in-law want to buy our toddler a keyboard for Christmas. We don’t have room for an acoustic piano in our little flat, but want to give him the opportunity to play a ‘real instrument’ instead of the silly ‘my first keyboard’ gimmicky numbers that they sell in children’s toy stores.
Our toddler loves playing with pianos when we happen upon them at friends and relatives houses.
I will have a thorough look at the links above, but I wondered if you could recommend anything basic and inexpensive, that would not ‘date’ too quickly.
Our toddler is only 18 months – so we are hoping he will get many years use out of this keyboard!
Many thanks,
Rochelle
Hi Rochelle,
Personally I would look at one of the lower end Yamaha keyboards. They have full-size keys (which might be a bit big for your 18-month-old now, but that’s what I started on, and saves transition later when hands do get bigger), touch response, a good piano sound but also lots of fun features as well (rhythms, other sounds).
Perhaps see if you can get one with Yamaha’s educational system built in, as it can then teach how to play simple songs.
Keyboards have moved on in the last two years since this article was written, but the basics are still the same.
I would take a look at Yamaha Entry Level Portables (direct link to Yamaha’s site).
The PSR-E223 looks like a very capable instrument. It looks like a professional keyboard rather than a child’s one, which may or may not be an advantage for your child. You could always decorate it with coloured stickers and the like…
I’ve seen the PSR-E223 sold on Amazon US for around $90. I don’t know what budget you are looking for. I wouldn’t advise going for anything cheaper especially if you think there’s a good chance he’ll enjoy playing it. If you want to spend any more, just work down the list of entry level keyboards on the Yamaha site.
I hope that helps for now. The keyboards are light, fairly compact, and so can be stored away when not in use, and they can be used on a tabletop or a proper keyboard stand.