If you’re looking for the best piano for kids, you’ve come to the right place. In this review and buying guide, we’ll take you through the important things that make for a good kids piano, and look at the different designs and elements of the ideal piano for your toddler, bearing the best age-appropriate options on the market for kids in different age groups in mind.
In a Hurry? Here Are the Best Pianos for Kids
The best piano for toddlers between 1 and 3 years
Baby Einstein Magic touch toy piano
The Baby Einstein magic touch piano combines the young musician’s inquisitive need to touch things with an innovative touch-pad that they call “magic touch”. This is basically a one-octave (8 note) keyboard that is mounted on a wooden make-believe piano-type desktop stand.
The notes on the magic touchpad make a piano-like sound when you tap them – negating the need of having to press a key or note, which is quite hard to do if you’re a very young pianist with tiny hands. To make this toddler-piano even easier to play, the designers at Baby Einstein have left out intricate buttons and knobs – so there is nothing to press except the magic touch notes.
Importantly, it is also child safe and made from durable materials that don’t present a choking hazard. The manufacturer recommends it for the 12-36-month-old baby – so if you’re after early learning piano, this is the ideal one to get.
Baby Einstein is powered by two AA batteries (included in the initial purchase). Battery life is purported to be around 144 hours – which by the way, is more or less how long it would take you to play all the movements of Beethoven’s 9th symphony through… TWICE!
The speakers are of decent quality, and there is a handy volume control that allows you to tone down the volume when your young one’s music starts to make your ears bleed.
When your child is done playing some own-compositions, the Baby Einstein can also play 6 different pre-programmed demo songs. These are all classical melodies (and they’ve included the theme from Beethoven’s 9th symphony, which deserves our applause), and baby Ludwig can play along to these too.
This really is a bantam-weight contender. Weighing only 2 pounds, and small enough to stow away makes this one very a portable keyboard.
we’ve ever reviewed. Coupled with the numerous other benefits it has, this is definitely the undefeated champion and one of the best toy pianos on the market today.
Pros:
- It is cute, and easy enough to play
- The inclusion of a 3-song sheet-book that coordinates playing easy songs on the colored keys
- A long battery life
- One of the very few that can accommodate kids as young as 12 months old.
Cons:
- Not the greatest quality
- Naming it a piano is a bit ambitious. This is a toy – a great one, but none the less.
Vtech Zoo Jamz Piano
The Vtech Zoo Jamz Piano is a fun musical instrument designed with the young pianist between 18 months and 4 years old in mind. This is a toy, with the added benefit of having notes and elements of music that will stimulate the young mind.
Essentially this is a 4-in-1 instrument, that allows you to choose between playing the piano, violin, xylophone, and saxophone. It also has 20 pre-programmed songs and melodies, and a microphone that allows you to sing along with the melodies you create.
One of the fantastic functions is that it is an educational tool. The keys light upon three different learning levels, which is a great aid in learning to play the piano.
The black and white patterns are combined with a zebra character on the top left to make it easy to love. Your toddler wants to give his or her piano a name? Well, what about Zettie the Ivory Zebra?!
The inclusion of a whammy bar and a scratch disc are more than cool add-ons… they will definitely aid in the development of fine motor skills!
The Vtech Zoo Jams piano requires 2 AA batteries for operation. Although this is included, they are not rechargeable, and you will need to replace them from time to time.
Pros:
- The price. The Vtech Zoo Jamz Piano is definitely on the cheaper end
- The colors and little zebra looks like a heap of fun and is bound to draw any young child’s attention
- The lights and learning function adds an educational dimension.
Cons:
- The look and feel don’t resemble a piano at all!
- The need for batteries
- It has a silly, and very annoying, program that kicks in when it is not used. It will keep making noises until you play it again – and listening to this never-ending little zebra-noise right after hearing your child slaughter Beethoven’s surprise symphony really is NO pleasant surprise at all!
Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Silly Sounds Light-up Piano
This piano toy is the cutest thing ever! Suitable for babies from as young as 6 months, it will stimulate artistic development and creativity in every kid who is old enough to lift a finger.
The good part is, it won’t feel like work to them. Mommy and daddy can sit back, relax, and enjoy the performance. The laugh & learn silly sounds piano HAS silly sounds – so don’t be surprised if you hear duck and cow sounds intermingled when you attend your baby’s first soiree.
The folks from Fisher-Price have programmed a learning mode – which introduces kids to different instrument sounds, tones and colors of music over the full octave range of this keyboard piano reach.
The 8 numbered keys on the laugh & learning piano activate lights, sounds, and songs. Switching between these sounds and songs are easily done by moving the slider – and it is big enough and light enough for tiny hands to operate.
The durable plastic casing of the piano – if we can call it that – has an easy-grab handle. It operates on the same power source as most toys worldwide: 2 AA batteries, which is supplied with your original purchase. So, provided you have batteries, this is for a road trip or a visit to grandma’s and a VERY easy musical instrument to commute around. It only weighs 1.45 pounds… so even a baby can carry it!
The multicolored notes are sure to draw attention from the inquisitive mind, and the clever way in which this piano is designed makes it ideal as an instrument to kick-start early music appreciation and creativity. At the price (it is retailing for just over 10 dollars on Amazon), it is a steal!
Pros:
- The multi-colored keys
- The price
- It is a toy – but it will help with music education so well that it ALMOST qualifies as a real piano.
Cons:
- It doesn’t have a long usable life. Most kids will outgrow it after a few months.
- We didn’t expect the instrument sounds to sound legit, and we weren’t disappointed.
- This is probably the piano with the biggest potential to annoy out of all the pianos on our review. Duck doing their do-re-mi’s could just drive you to insanity!
The Best piano for toddlers between 3 and 6 years old
Korg tiny piano
The Korg tiny digital piano was built with the 3-6-year-old wunderkind in mind.
Featuring twenty-five built-in sounds and fifty demo songs, this tiny piano allows young kids to sample and learn different sounds and songs with ease. Because of its small size, it is easy to transport, and best of all, it will operate anywhere, because it is powered by AA batteries.
The built-in speakers negate the need for you to hook it up so this really is a carry-along toy that will keep children busy for hours on end, without the need for additional speakers or accessories.
The Korg Tiny Piano is available in three colors – black, red and white.
It doesn’t require any assembly, and weighs only 10.36 lbs – so it’s easy to use, and easy to pick up and store away when the show is over.
The piano will operate continuously for up to 6 hours on the AA batteries supplied.
The sound quality is fantastic, and the pitch is accurate. Another thing that counts in its favor, is that it really resembles the look of an upright piano – so your child will feel like he or she is performing in Carnegie hall when they play on it.
This is a fantastic piano for your toddler, and an excellent first buy!
Pros:
- Looks like a real piano
- The Korg factory is known to produce durable, quality instruments.
- Great sound quality
Cons:
- The AA batteries are not rechargeable, and buying batteries could become quite an expense
- The price. This little piano carries a premium price.
Best Choice Products Miniature mini baby grand piano
The Best choice mini grand is exactly that – a grand piano designed for kids! The solid wood structure is finished to a high gloss, and you have a choice between buying one of three colors:
- Black: which accords with the world-standard of grand pianos, and looks closest to the real thing
- Pink: for that little Barbie-pianist in your house
- White: which looks really elegant. There is a small surcharge (two dollars or so) if you want this piano in white.
Once you have chosen a color and you have received your purchase, its time to follow the simple assembly process and place this grand piano in the new music room or play area.
The fact that this really is a scaled piano, means that it LOOKS really good – so go ahead and place it somewhere where it will be the centerpiece of the room.
This little kiddies piano comes with all the accessories you’ll need – including a keyboard stand and a matching piano stool.
The 30 keys have a nice action, and they’re very playable. This is the perfect instrument to stimulate initial music interest and development in toddlers – and at the price, it’s a steal!
The piano is quite small and measures 17” (L) x 20” (W) x 20” (H). The manufacturers recommend it for kids between the ages of 1-5 years, but in our view, this is the perfect first piano for 3 years and older.
Pros:
- Realistic look that will make your kid feel like they are playing the real thing.
- Because of its size, it will fit in any little kid’s room
- Having 30 keys means that it covers just over 2 octaves, so most melodies can be played on it.
Cons:
- The build quality is not great.
- The manufacturer charges more for a white finish. Like… what?
- The piano SOUND is not realistic – but, it would probably not be realistic to expect it to be?
Melissa & Doug Learn-to-Play Classic Grand Piano
For three decades, Melissa & Doug have created products that NBS News calls “The gold standard in early childhood play.”
The Melissa & Doug Learn-to-Play Classic Grand Piano is a great example of their approach to childhood development, and its features and look attests to the amount of research and development they put into every new toy and instrument they put on the market.
Styled to resemble a classic grand piano and equipped with 30 hand-tuned keys makes this the ideal instrument for the young beginner. They are just the right size, and the piano is manufactured to be at the ideal height for young musicians between the ages of 3 and 6.
Safety was clearly a major concern in the design process – the hinged piano lid is sturdy and opens and closes effortlessly without undue weight or tension that could cause it to slam shut in-play. The non-tipping piano bench is made from high-quality wood, plastic, and metal – so it is sturdy and will support even the busiest child in front of the ivories.
Assembly is easy, and it seems like the workmanship is of superior quality. The manufacturers offer what they call a 100% happiness guarantee – if you’re not happy with the delivered product, phone them and they will replace/refund your purchase!
Pros:
- The wood is shiny and sturdy
- Durability – this piano can survive the Rachmaninov-style that most young boys adapt, and should still be working after the keys have been banged a few times.
- The easy-to-play songbook is really cool!
Cons:
- Some screws can get dislodged easily – and you might need to screw those legs tight every now and then.
The best piano for kids between 6 and 12 years
Pyle 49-key keyboard for kids
This portable 49 key electronic musical karaoke keyboard is a strong competitor in the best keyboards for children category and our top pick. Its layout is fun, and it’s easy to master.
The eye-catching drum pads, instrument, and song selectors and microphone add to the carnival atmosphere, and the one we’re reviewing is encased in bright pink that screams LOOK AT ME!
This is a smart electronic piano that works with smartphones, laptops, and tablets. Connecting is easy, and the aux (3.5mm) jack and mic input allows you to just plug and play – be it a microphone for a karaoke party, or a device to stream audio with for the sing/play along.
This stunning little keyboard also comes with multiple pre-set keyboard sounds, tones, rhythm styles, and demos. The keyboard comes packaged with the portable piano keyboard, a wired microphone, a USB charge power cable through which the 110/240V (DC 5V) power runs the keyboard, and an audio cable.
The Pyle 49 key keyboard for kids has a teaching function, that teaches kids learning to play with a key-lighting system. The action isn’t great, but the four-octave range kind of makes up for it, and you can expect quite a performance from this keyboard.
It weighs just 2.62lbs, so it is a portable instrument that can travel along on holidays, or be stored away in a cupboard, effortlessly.
Retailing at ridiculously low prices coupled with the fact that you will never have to buy batteries for it makes this one of the best budget-friendly kids pianos.
Pros:
- Runs on DC power
- The range of available sounds, coupled with a microphone to amplify the young voice makes this a great karaoke keyboard
- The inclusion of drum pads – especially in this price range – is a nice feature.
Cons:
- The key action doesn’t accurately mimic that of a piano.
- Because both the casing and the control knobs are the same color, it is sometimes hard to make adjustments in-play without needing to take a closer look at them.
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Schoenhut’s piano has 61 keys, and is not that small at all!
It is ideal for kids 6 years old and older. It should last them quite some time too, as the keys are full-sized – meaning they have the same size and spacing as a real upright piano. They are also velocity-sensitive, meaning that the amount of velocity a note is played at will determine the volume that it is played at.
It has a sustain pedal that will allow your kid to play legato sounds the way that Romantic composers such as Brahms intended it. How Else would he play the composer’s famous Lullaby to his smaller sister?
The sampling is phenomenal, and it emulates the sound of an acoustic piano accurately. The Schoenhut My first piano Tutor also has other instrument-sounds available: The Electric piano, Harp and Organ.
It is a smart instrument with full connectivity options – there is an audio jack and a USB port that allows it to interact with other apps.
Although it is a little more expensive than some of the others under review, we think it is well-priced. It is clearly a sturdy piano, that was made to last. The price also includes a piano bench, a microphone, a USB cord, various learning aids, and a keyboard stand.
Pros:
- Excellent workmanship
- Full-sized keys
- The USB port connects computers and iOS devices to teaching apps and music libraries (including those with Karaoke tracks that will allow you to sing through the microphone) seamlessly.
Cons:
- It is delivered without any documentation or user-manual. Good luck with that assembly!
- The price does seem inflated. Sure, we’re not buying a Steinway, but it costs.
- Although the design would suit a kid’s room, it would look out of place in your lounge or in a common area frequented by the adults in the house.
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Alesis Melody 61 MKII
The Alesis Melody 61 key keyboard piano is a great keyboard for kids who aren’t sure if they will eventually take to learning to play the piano. At the price, it is a cheap experiment and a whole lot of fun.
The Melody 61 MKII comes with a bunch of accessories that include everything you need to get started on your musical journey – and they’re all included in the bundle when you make a purchase on Amazon.
This includes a stand, a bench, headphones, a music rest and a power adapter. As if that’s not enough, they’ve thrown in a microphone that’s permanently attached to accommodate the amateur piano-vocalist too.
The 61 keys on the keyboard are designed to be similar to a piano’s keys – and they action 300 built-in sounds with optional layering and split modes.
There are 40 demo songs that demonstrate the keyboard’s abilities, in case you’re unsure which sound to pair with which song. These sounds replicate a whole lot of different pianos, strings, brass, woodwinds, percussion, guitars, synths and many more – 300 to be exact. There are 300 pre-programmed beat banks to make accompaniment a breeze.
The Alesis Melody 61 also has a recording function – which is handy to have since it doesn’t have any connectivity options such as a USB port.
The fact that the stand and seat are adjustable, means that this is a great keyboard for kids who will grow and keep using it over the next few years.
For the price and all the hooh-haah, this is a must-have for the experimental kid who wants to practice piano and experiment with different sounds and backing beats. Someone needs to compose melodies for all the features that will still hit the silver screen – and it might just be your little superstar for all we know!
Pros:
- Tons of features
- Excellent price point and “free” bundle of accessories
- Alesis is a well-known brand who produces quality keyboards – so you’ve got proper backing by a big brand manufacturer.
Cons:
- The sound of the piano is not very realistic
- No Midi or USB hookup options
FAQ
What is a piano for kids and why does my child need one?
A piano for kids, for the intents and purposes of this article, is an instrument with piano keys on. These are usually tuned and used to play the notes of a scale.
Some pianos have more keys than others, and the sounds of these pianos differ greatly – but if it can play music and it is designed to be played by kids, we’ll consider it in our quest to find the best piano for children of all ages.
Why should you be interested in buying one?
Well, it is a scientific fact that music & piano lessons – and essentially making music – help children to develop the brain and cognitive ability of young children. So if want to fine-tune your kid’s motor skills or help to develop their patterns of logical thinking, music is the answer.
We haven’t mentioned fun yet, and ultimately, fun is a BIG contributing factor when it comes to the reasons why people buy pianos that are designed for kids: To see a huge smile on their little one’s face!
The creative process while learning to play and figuring out music notes is a great way for your child to deal with stress or anxiety too – so even a toy piano plays a huge role in developing the young minds EQ.
Many of the greatest musicians started making music at an early age. No, we’re not talking Justin Bieber here. We’re talking Beethoven. We’re talking Mozart – who composed his first Minuet at the age of five! What’s good enough for Mozart, surely, is good enough for you.
How does a piano for kids differ from a full-size piano?
A piano that is designed for kids, is usually smaller than traditional acoustic pianos. While digital pianos are sometimes considered a great option for kids, we differ from that notion.
A digital piano has weighted keys that are hard to play for young children and has many different buttons and settings that could be hard to operate when you are a young kid who just wants to bang out a few notes. So it is generally smaller in size.
It is is also cheaper. Even the best ones are usually offered at prices that don’t come close to the prices that – even terrible – full-sized pianos are sold at. The fact that you don’t need to make a massive investment, makes them a viable option for most parents.
The keys are smaller too – which help young children with small hands to easily play different notes and hold a five-finger position. On full-sized pianos, doing even minor stretches between notes can be quite difficult if you have a tiny toddler hand – so if you are a 3-year-old showman, a piano specially designed for your hand’s size is a must-have!
How to choose the best piano for children?
Buy the right size
The design of each piano is different. The notes on an acoustic piano are all universal, but that is not the case with pianos for kids. Each manufacturer uses different dimensions, and there isn’t really a standard size that they conform to.
Also, consider the size of the piano or cabinet. Does it suit the young pianist’s height and size? We have grouped our reviews in different age groups to make it easier for you to make the choice – but it is imperative that you make sure that your child will be comfortable in front of those ivories, and still have a level of maneuverability in order for him or her to access all the notes.
Choose a piano that suits your kid’s developmental stage
In other words, make sure that you don’t buy a piano that is above your child’s capacity. A child that is 1 and a child that is 5 does not think on the same level, and they’ll have different needs when it comes to creative stimulation. Also, consider their ability to move their fingers independently (fine motor skills) and whether they will want color-coded keys.
Buy the right amount of keys
Full-sized pianos have 88 keys – but no toddler needs that many. Some only have 4 notes, and some of the more serious ones for older toddlers and young teens have as many as 61 keys. Generally speaking, more is better, but don’t buy one that will confuse a very young child.
Other features and extras
Some keyboard pianos have features that will amaze your child. These include built-in sounds of other instruments, demo songs, backing tracks, and other electronic sounds.
Some of them have microphones built-in, which is great fun for the young piano-vocalist or karaoke fan. If you’ve ever heard your kid sing in the shower, you should consider one of these models.
Some have keys that light up or other lights that can make learning the piano a fun pastime.
Some manufacturers have developed excellent teach-me-to-play programs, and they’re usually included in their instruments.
It makes sense to buy a piano that conforms to your requirements and has most of the extras you’ll need. Buying these as aftermarket add-ons can become a costly expense, so its best to avoid having to do so if you can.
Get the right piano for the right person
Are you buying a piano for a young boy to bang on? A pretty one for a young girl to tinker on? A beginner’s musical instrument for the young virtuoso who needs to have a realistic looking – and feeling – piano?
At the same time, it might be great to think about what the main use will be. If you want a small toy-piano that you can take along on school-runs, it won’t be a good idea to buy a mini-grand piano that is heavy to lug around.
Battery or A/C power?
The best pianos for kids run on both, but some only run on battery power which can be a huge expense. Pro-tip: Look for a piano that has rechargeable batteries, and a charger that comes with it.
Consider how much you want to spend
Buy a piano that suits your pocket. It is also worth remembering that not all children will take to play the piano – so you should be comfortable being able to write off the amount you spent on your kid’s first piano if he or she stops playing piano it after a week or two.
Safety
This is probably THE most important thing that you want to consider. Is the one you’re buying kid-proof? If it presents a choking hazard, or the manufacturers build quality is not up to scratch, walk away.
Conclusion
That concludes our review of the best piano for kids available today. There are many more options out there, and there are quite a few similar – and knock off – products out there. While they are probably worth a look-see, we advise you to keep our review in mind and to compare these with the ones we reviewed.
While it probably isn’t fair to compare kids toy pianos manufactured for babies to the ones for children who are older, we did, and the Pyle 49-key keyboard for kids came out trumps.
Its range of functions and its great price, coupled with the great reviews that mention its excellent build-quality and user-friendliness on Amazon makes this the ultimate must-have for kids of all ages.
If you do end up buying the Pyle 49-key keyboard for kids, we hope that your kid masters music so well that you soon hear the most astounding melodies being played on it. That you get to be the karaoke host, using its microphone. That the drumming pad instills a sense of rhythm in your young musician. That you use this keyboard as it was intended – to create musical moments of pleasure and to develop the talent that has always been in your kid.
If you end up buying an entirely different musical instrument, good on you. A review and buying guide is exactly that – a GUIDE.
We hope that you found this article informative and that you will use this information to make a young musician’s birthday, Christmas or day special.
Happy buying, and happy playing.