We are digital piano & keyboard specialists, based in Banbury, Oxfordshire. Stay up to date with the latest news, reviews, tips, and offers by joining our FREE newsletter (unsubscribe at any time).
If you’re thinking about learning the piano, chances are you’ve already been given a lot of advice.
Some of it’s brilliant.
Some of it’s… well… complete nonsense.
There are a few myths that seem to get repeated over and over again, and honestly, I think they put people off learning before they’ve even played their first note.
So let’s clear a few of them up.
Myth 1: “You have to learn on a real acoustic piano.”
This is probably the biggest one.
No. You don’t.
In fact, I’d often recommend a good quality digital piano over a cheap acoustic that’s been sitting on Facebook Marketplace, hasn’t been tuned in years, and has keys that all feel different.
I actually learnt on a Yamaha YDP over 15 years ago, and today I’m a professional musician.
Did I eventually reach the point where I wanted something more? Absolutely. But that digital piano gave me everything I needed to build solid technique, enjoy playing and, most importantly, actually spend time at the keyboard.
The funny thing is, looking back, some of the biggest advantages had nothing to do with the piano itself.
I could plug headphones in and practise late into the evening without worrying about annoying the neighbours. Because it was a digital piano, it was also much easier to move, so it lived in my bedroom rather than downstairs.
That meant whenever I had ten spare minutes, I’d sit down and play. Ten minutes often became an hour… and an hour often became three.
I honestly think I practised far more because it was a digital piano.
At the end of the day, the best piano isn’t necessarily the “most traditional” one. It’s the one that makes you want to keep playing.
Myth 2: “You need an expensive piano to learn properly.”
You really don’t.
Will a better piano feel nicer to play? Usually, yes.
Will it magically make you a better pianist overnight?
Unfortunately not.
There are some fantastic beginner digital pianos that give you everything you need to build proper technique without spending thousands of pounds.
If you’re just starting out, I’d look at something in Yamaha’s P Series. They’re designed with beginners in mind, give you a full 88-note keyboard with weighted keys and, most importantly, feel like a real piano to play.
If your budget stretches a little further, I’d also have a look at Yamaha’s Clavinova range. They offer a more furniture-style design and an even more authentic playing experience, making them a brilliant option if you’re planning to play for years to come.
And don’t forget about pre-owned pianos either. You can often get a much higher specification instrument for the same budget by buying used, making it well worth checking out the selection before making your decision.
Personally, I’d always prioritise a full 88-note keyboard with weighted keys over hundreds of sounds and flashy features you’ll probably never use.
A piano that feels good under your fingers will help you much more than one with 800 instrument voices.
Myth 3: “I’m too old to start learning.”
I wish this myth would disappear forever.
Some of our happiest customers are people who’ve always wanted to learn and have finally decided to do something about it.
Nobody is standing behind you with a stopwatch saying you missed your chance.
Learning as an adult can actually be an advantage. You’re choosing to learn because you want to, not because someone has told you to practise.
Progress might look different to someone starting at seven years old, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be incredibly rewarding.
Myth 4: “I need to practise for hours every day.”
Please don’t think this.
Most people have jobs, families, university, school or busy lives.
A consistent 20 or 30 minutes is far more valuable than forcing yourself to play for three hours once a week.
Some days you’ll play for five minutes.
Other days you’ll completely lose track of time.
Both count.
The important thing is building a habit that you actually enjoy.
Myth 5: “I’ll know if I enjoy piano once I’ve bought one.”
I’d actually argue it’s the other way round.
You’ll enjoy learning much more if you’re playing on an instrument that feels satisfying.
That’s why I always tell beginners not to underestimate things like weighted keys, a proper pedal and a piano sound that inspires you to keep coming back.
If sitting down to play feels enjoyable, you’ll naturally want to practise more.
And that’s how progress really happens.
My Final Thought
The biggest lesson I’ve learnt isn’t that you need the most expensive piano or the fanciest features.
It’s that you need a piano that fits your life.
For me, that was a digital piano in my bedroom with a pair of headphones. It gave me the freedom to practise whenever inspiration struck, and I genuinely believe I became a better musician because of it.
So don’t let myths stop you from starting.
Find a piano you’ll actually enjoy playing, sit down, and begin.
You might be surprised where those first few notes eventually take you.
Enter your email address below to receive our free weekly newsletter containing the latest piano, keyboard and organ demonstration videos, breaking news, special offers, invitations to our live video events, technical support articles and much more.
These items are sold on behalf of Yamaha, and are sent to us on a per-order basis, typically within 5-7 working days, unless an ETA is otherwise stated.
We'll contact you the moment your purchase arrives with us to organise delivery, based on your selected option.
Example products: Yamaha DGX670, Yamaha P-525, Yamaha YDP-S55, Yamaha Clavinova.
These items must be sent with a heavy-goods courier (typically APC or FedEx). On occasion, depending on which is fastest, we will drop-ship directly from Yamaha to your address via Dachser.
Tracking will be provided by the haulier, with a typical arrival time of 1-2 working days.
*If you have included the optional £180 "Yamaha Premium Service" home delivery & setup option offered on selected products, we will contact you regarding arrangements after purchase.
**The Yamaha CSP Series, Yamaha CVP905 & CVP909, Yamaha CLP875, 885 & 895GP, and Yamaha NU1Xa are all sold on behalf of Yamaha and arrive with us on a per-order basis. As soon as your piano has arrived, we will contact you to organise the appropriate dispatch method. ETA for stock is shown on the product page for those items.
***If you have included the optional £99 home delivery & setup option offered on selected products, we will send your details direct to the installation team, who will contact you within 48 hours to make arrangements.
Depending on which option is most appropriate, we will either contact you to discuss a bespoke ePianos delivery surcharge for goods we can’t package for a 3rd party courier, or otherwise dispatch goods via FedEx or APC.
If a courier is used, tracking will be provided by them directly, with a typical arrival time of 1-2 working days.
Example products: Yamaha PSR-SX920, Yamaha P-225, Yamaha NP-15.
These items will be sent via courier (typically APC or FedEx). On occasion, depending on which is fastest, we will drop-ship directly from Yamaha to your address via UPS or Parcelforce.
Tracking will be provided by the courier, with a typical arrival time of 1-2 working days.
Smaller items, such as books, discs, etc, will be dispatched via Royal Mail second class.
After purchase, you can download the file either from the order confirmation page or the "Downloads" tab in "My Account".
If you have selected the option to receive a pre-loaded USB stick, then this will be dispatched via Royal Mail.
We will contact you regarding any pre-ordered items, and let you know when they arrive so as to arrange delivery with you at a convenient time.
Used items can also be purchased using either of the following options (minimum loan amount of £250 after deposit):
Total amount payable: £893.32
Available finance options are displayed at checkout. Alternatively, please get in touch and we’ll be happy to discuss the options, or email a finance application to you. Find out more by clicking here
Our seasonal opening hours are as follows:
We are closed on all bank holidays, therefore the processing of sales and deliveries will be delayed.
For orders of any stock displaying a 7-10 day lead time, we will contact you as soon as the item arrives with us to schedule a delivery with you.
Occasionally, there may be availability issues with our suppliers, in which case we'll get in touch with you to see if you're happy to wait, or if you'd like to cancel the order and receive a full refund.
This is a special order "agency" item, and comes to us directly from Yamaha on a per-order basis.
It typically takes 7-10 days for this item to arrive with us, whereupon we'll contact you to discuss the arrangement of delivery.
For any pre-orders, we will contact you as soon as the item arrives with us to schedule a delivery with you, and update you with an ETA.
Occasionally, there may be availability issues with our suppliers, in which case we'll get in touch with you to see if you're happy to wait, or if you'd like to cancel the order and receive a full refund.
*Cashback amount varies product to product, as indicated.
Comments:
I’m a young 80 year old semi-pro pianist/Genos/guitarist, and I can assure everyone that having just read the sbove information regarding myths on starting to learn the piano , (hand on heart) is absolutely spot on. It is so very accurate in its info. Well done epianos. You are a credit to the music industry. 👏
Thank you so much, that really means a lot to us, especially coming from someone with so much musical experience! It’s brilliant to hear you felt the advice was spot on. Keep enjoying the piano, Genos and guitar! 🎹🎸
If you enjoy our content, you can also join our Saturday newsletter here: https://www.epianos.co.uk/newsletter/