Piano Recommendations
The links on this page may contain Amazon affiliate links. If you purchase a piano through one of these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting Gossen Studio!
Per the studio handbook, piano students are required to have a tuned piano. Electronic keyboards are acceptable for beginner piano students only if they have ½” white weighted keys and 88-keys, both of which are vital for building foundational skills required to play the instrument correctly.
Acoustic Pianos
When looking for an acoustic piano, I recommend Steinway, Kawaii, Yamaha, Baldwin, Boston, and Essex. My personal favorites are Kawaii and Yamaha for sound, action, and affordability.
Acoustic pianos come in different sizes:
Spinet: 36-39″ tall; generally your cheapest option but a good beginning instrument if kept in tune. You can probably find a decent one on Facebook Marketplace for $600 or less. Just make sure it has been regularly tuned or else it may have more problems than benefits.
Upright: 48″-50″ tall; longer strings and larger sound board like a grand piano provide a great sound while also saving space. If you can afford this upgrade, the ease of upkeep and resale value usually make it worth it.
Baby Grand: 4’11” to 5’6″; considered the grand piano for most homes, but if comparing with an upgrade from an upright, try to get one at that is at least 5′ long to avoid compromising the length of the strings for quality sound.
Grand: 5’7″ to 7′; longer sound board provides richer tones and more dynamic range, making it the pennicle of pianos
Digital Pianos
All digital pianos are not the same. If you want to purchase a digital piano instead of an acoustic, expect to spend more initially to find one with piano-like action unless you find a gem on Facebook Marketplace. The plus side? You won’t have to worry about regular piano tunings and your student can plug in headphones, when needed.
When looking for digital pianos, I recommend Roland, Yamaha, or Kawaii. My personal favorite is the Yamaha series. Just make sure they include 88-weighted keys (at least 4 touch responses), a sustain pedal and don’t forget the stand and bench. The following are a few of my favorite affordable recommendations.
Gossen Studio 