Cool Piano Keyboards for beginners...

How do you pick the one that is right for you?

So if you're a beginning piano player and you don't want to shell out the big bucks for a real piano, what kind of piano keyboard should you buy?

You could just buy on cost alone, but you'd be missing out on some crucial features you might want as a beginning piano student.

So what are the things a beginning piano student should consider when you're choosing from among the various piano kebyoards out there?

• Consider your current needs: Are you truly committed to learning the piano?
• Number of keys: For instance, a real piano has 88 keys, but some keyboards only come with 61 keys. If you're pretty committed, you probably want to check out a keyboard with 88 keys.
• Weighted keys: I once bought a really cheap keyboard to practice on, but when I got to piano lessons, I found the keys on my instructor's grand piano were much "heavier" than I was used to practicing. This made it harder. So I finally bought a Casio Privia keyboard with weighted keys which made it feel like I was practicing on a real piano (actually, the keys were a bit heavier than a real piano which made playing a real piano seem like a breeze).
• Sustain pedal: Playing piano often calls for the use of a sustain pedal, which when pressed, allows notes to ring out longer after your finger has stopped pushing the corresponding piano key. You can get some nice harmonious effects by doing this.

Is there a keyboard out there with all these features for a beginner?

The answer is yes. The one I use is a Casio Privia. There's a series of different models (such as this Casio PX-330) and pricepoints depending on your needs. But the important thing is they are perfect for the beginner. They have 88 keys like a real piano, weighted keys, and a sustain pedal.