Every year, the same question comes up: what can you give a pianist for Christmas?
Another accessory? An instrument? Something useful, of quality... but above all something that will make them want to play even more?
Good news: you’ll find here 5 gift ideas, from the young musician to the more experienced pianist. This selection is based on 10 essential models, each with its own personality and audience. You’ll be able to choose with confidence, depending on the level, age and use of the pianist you want to please!
You want to give an instrument that makes you want to play every day? The Woodbrass XP2 is a safe bet: a complete digital piano that feels very nice under the fingers.
For a beginner or a progressing pianist, it’s one of the best choices in this range.
What it offers:
- 88-key weighted keyboard with hammer action
- 12 built-in sounds (piano, EP, strings, organs...)
- 189-note polyphony
- Bluetooth Audio (listen to your tracks) + Bluetooth MIDI (learn and compose)
The XP2 is a true evolving digital piano. It suits both the living room and a student’s bedroom, and its connections allow you to use it in lessons, home studio or on stage.
For whom ?
- Beginners
- Adults returning to piano
- Pianists wanting a fairly complete and portable instrument
- Users of educational apps or DAW
The XP2 comes with an adhesive strip showing all function combinations. Perfect for learning to use the piano quickly, without a manual.
Yamaha designed a light, sleek and intuitive piano, but with a surprisingly realistic touch.
What it offers:
- New GHC (Graded Hammer Compact) keyboard
- Heavier bass keys, lighter treble keys: like an acoustic piano
- Sounds from the Yamaha CFIIIS, a concert piano
- Damper resonance
- 10 varied sounds
- 50 classical pieces + 303 educational pieces via Smart Pianist
- Built-in Bluetooth Audio
- 11.1 kg: one of the lightest 88-key pianos on the market
The P-145BT particularly appeals to young adults, students or pianists who play with headphones. Its acoustic rendering is very convincing thanks to Yamaha’s sound engine.
For whom?
- Beginners looking for a solid and simple instrument
- Pianists wanting a compact piano for a small apartment
- Users of educational apps
- Fans of the clear and dynamic “Yamaha” sound
The Smart Pianist app unlocks the 303 educational pieces and allows you to easily adjust the piano’s settings (sounds, effects, Dual mode...).
If you’re looking for a gift for a beginner pianist, this Kawai model is an excellent choice. The manufacturer is known for its realistic actions, inspired by their high-end acoustic pianos.
What it offers:
- Responsive Hammer Lite (RHL) action
- Efficient sensors + reduced mechanical noise
- 17 sounds, including sampling of the Shigeru Kawai SK-EX
- 192-note polyphony
- Dual / Split / Reverb modes
- 30 built-in rhythm styles
- Customizable EQ
- Compatible with PianoRemote and PiaBookPlayer
- 2 × 10 W amplification
- USB-MIDI, line outputs, headphone jack
The Kawai ES60 offers a precise and expressive touch. It’s typically the piano made for working on nuances, classical repertoires or sensitive pieces.
For whom?
- Beginner to intermediate pianists
- Conservatory students
- Musicians playing in groups
- Pianists looking for a touch close to an acoustic
The Roland FP-10 is a reference: a compact piano, very musical, and especially ideal for pianists who want to compose, record or use DAW software. Its touch is one of the best in this range, and its DAW connectivity is simply unbeatable. Composers, beatmakers and creative pianists love this model.
What it offers:
- PHA-4 Standard keyboard: graded hammer action
- Ivory Feel coating
- SuperNATURAL sound engine
- 36 voices
- 96-note polyphony
- Reverb + brilliance
- Bluetooth MIDI and USB MIDI/Audio
- Twin Piano, Dual mode, metronome, transpose
- Roland apps compatibility (Piano Partner 2, Roland Piano)
- Pedal input compatible with DP-10 half-pedal
For whom?
- Progressing pianists
- Music students
- Home studio producers
- Mobile pianists (12.3 kg)
: With the FP-10 in USB Audio/MIDI, you can record your piano directly into a DAW like Ableton, Logic or FL Studio, without an audio interface.
You want to give a first instrument to a child? The PSS-F30 is made for that. Small, light, sturdy, full of fun sounds... and above all well designed enough to start a real musical learning.
What it offers:
- 37 mini keys
- 120 sounds + 114 styles
- Smart-Chord mode for easy accompaniment
- 30 built-in songs
- Free digital songbook
- Sustain, metronome, various useful settings
- Runs on batteries or USB
- Weight: 1.2 kg
This keyboard makes you want to play, explore, test sounds and have fun. It’s often the spark that ignites a lasting passion.
For whom?
- Children aged 4 to 8
- First music lessons
- Educational workshops
- Parents who want a simple and sturdy instrument
If you’re looking for a light, foldable and truly portable gift, the Carry On 88 ticks all the boxes.
Once unfolded, you have an 88-key piano; once folded, it’s no bigger than a backpack. With its rechargeable internal battery and built-in speakers, it follows the musician everywhere: impromptu rehearsals, trips, hotel rooms, quick practice sessions.
What it offers:
- 88 Natural Feel keys
- 128-note polyphony
- 128 accompaniment styles + 30 demos
- Full metronome (6 accents, 30–180 BPM)
- USB MIDI to connect to an app or software
- Stereo speakers 2 × 2 W
- Rechargeable battery + micro-USB port
- Featherweight: 1.6 kg
For whom?
- Globe-trotting pianists
- Students with limited space
- Musicians who want to practice anywhere
- Teachers on the move
The Carry On 88 includes a carrying bag. So you can gift it ready to go, no extra accessories needed!
The GO:KEYS 3 isn’t just a keyboard: it’s a complete music creation tool. It’s designed for those who want to compose, improvise, record… even without solid musical background.
Its ZEN-Core engine gives access to over 1000 Roland sounds known throughout modern music history. And its interface invites spontaneity: turn it on, play, inspiration comes quickly.
What it offers:
- 61 velocity-sensitive keys
- 1000+ ZEN-Core sounds (pianos, synths, orchestra, guitars, drums…)
- 200 auto-accompaniment styles
- Chord sequencer + 300 presets
- Instant recording
- Bluetooth Audio/MIDI + USB Audio/MIDI interface
- “Remix” mode with live variations and effects
- Compatible with Roland Cloud Connect
For whom?
- Musicians who want to compose easily
- Electronic music fans
With Roland Cloud, you can wirelessly download new sounds and styles directly from your smartphone. Perfect for keeping the instrument “alive” over time.
The XPL1 is an excellent gift idea for a pianist who wants a complete and easy-to-transport instrument. Its 2 × 20 W amplification surprises: it can soundfill a room without an external amp. With its 25 sounds and Layer/Split/Double modes, it appeals to beginners as much as stage musicians.
What it offers:
- 88 keys with light touch
- 25 internal sounds
- Stereo amplification 2 × 20 W
- Layer, Split and Dual Keyboard modes (two-player)
- Metronome up to 320 BPM
- USB-B Audio + MIDI
- Line out and headphone jack
- Can run on batteries (6 × AA)
For whom?
- Beginners
- Mobile musicians
- Pianists who play duets or take lessons
- DAW users thanks to USB audio output
The NEK-110 offers a huge creative palette in a very portable format. With 700 sounds, 100 styles, Bluetooth Audio/MIDI and a rechargeable battery, it’s made for total freedom.
What it offers :
- 61 velocity-sensitive keys
- 5 sensitivity levels
- Pitch bend for expressive effects
- 700 sounds + 40 DSP effects
- Triple Voice / Split / 9 user presets
- “Live Music” function with 40 multi-track songs
- 100 styles + auto-accompaniment
- Bluetooth Audio + MIDI, USB Audio + MIDI
- Internal battery over 10 hours
- Weight: 3.1 kg
For whom?
- Curious beginners
- Musicians who want to play anywhere
- Creators on the go
- Pianists who like to test lots of sounds
The CDP-S110 is an excellent entry-level piano: compact, well-made and pleasant to play. It offers a real “piano” touch thanks to its scaled hammer action II, while remaining one of the lightest and slimmest models on the market.
What it offers :
- 88 keys with hammer action II
- 10 essential sounds
- 64-note polyphony
- 4 levels of reverb + chorus
- Transpose ±12 semitones
- Runs on mains or batteries (13 h)
- Headphone out, USB-B, audio input
- 8 W + 8 W amplification
- Compatible with Casio Music Space (remote control, PDF scores, audio/MIDI player)
For whom?
- Beginners who want a real piano touch
- Students with limited space
- Pianists who want a simple and reliable piano
- Users of educational apps
In summary
- For a child: Yamaha PSS-F30, Kawai ES60.
- For a progressing/teen pianist: Roland FP-10, Yamaha P-145BT, Woodbrass XP2, Kawai ES60
- For a mobile pianist: Woodbrass XPL1, Carry On 88, Casio CDP-S110.
- For a creative / beatmaker profile: Nux NEK-110, Roland GO:KEYS 3.
