Finding and setting up: the instrument matters
You need access to a piano or keyboard with weighted keys. An unweighted keyboard teaches bad habits from day one, and the touch response of weighted keys is how you develop finger strength and dynamic control. Every other choice is secondary to this.
A digital piano with weighted keys (if you don't have an acoustic)
£0 (acoustic access) to £300–600 (entry digital piano)A good digital piano (Yamaha P-45, Roland FP-30, Casio PX-S1100) costs £300–600 and is sufficient for several years of learning. 88 weighted keys are required. Avoid 'keyboards' (unweighted, 61 keys): they're wholly unsuitable for learning piano technique. Many churches, community centres, schools, and music societies have accessible pianos for members or small fees.
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Piano stool or adjustable bench
£20–80 for an adjustable piano stoolSeat height is technique. The forearm should be roughly parallel to the floor, with the wrist neither dropped nor arched. A stool that can be raised or lowered matters: a fixed chair at the wrong height causes tension in the wrists, arms, and shoulders that limits technique and causes injury over time.
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A beginner method book
£10–15Alfred's Adult All-in-One Piano Course (Level 1) and Faber Adult Piano Adventures are the two most used beginner methods in UK music teaching. Both introduce notation, technique, and repertoire in a structured, progressive order. Either works. The choice matters less than sticking to one.
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The best time to practise
Daily practice of 20–30 minutes produces far more progress than a single two-hour session per week. Skill acquisition in piano is about repetition over time, not volume in one sitting. Early morning, before the day makes other demands, is often the most reliable time slot for adults.
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