In the 90s I had a Roland EP7 in addition to my acoustic piano. I used the EP7 for silent practice. I eventually concluded that practicing on the EP7 was actually doing damage, and that I'd be better off not practicing at all!

Digital pianos have come a long way since then (and even in the 90s there were much better digital pianos than the EP7 available!). Previously I owned a Casio PX-330, and a few years ago I replaced it with a Kawai ES920. With both of these I can work on my technique on the digital and the skills I develop transfer nicely to the acoustic. The experience of playing is more satisfying on my acoustic piano, but for learning piano skills, at least at my level of playing, I think the digital piano works almost as well as the acoustic. It's really nice to have the flexibility to practice anytime without disturbing anyone!

    Practicing on a digital doesn't seem to hurt David Lai. Although he's obviously got a great foundation.

    Make a joyful noise...
    Jane - expert on nothing with opinions on everything.

      I’ve had a Yamaha P515, NU1X and now currently a Kawai NV10S. I think all worked well as practice instruments for even advanced classical repertoire. Learning notes esp works well on these digitals and hybrids. I did not think it was difficult to go between acoustic and digital.

      1890 Steinway C (Piano Craft), 2019 Grotrian 208 Charis, Kawai Novus NV10S
      Southern California

        Assuming the digital piano is good and has a relatively heavy/realistic action, I think it only matters if you don't also regularly practice on acoustic pianos. I often get memorizing or sight reading done on a digital piano.

        I find it uncomfortable to practice anything involving finger action or in the f/ff dynamic range on a digital piano. Technique practice is better done on an acoustic. Gaining control over subtle pedal and "color" issues also requires an acoustic.

          I have a kawai cn29. It always takes some time to adjust to my acoustic upright piano.

          Last year I played a kawai grand a few times and the action felt the same as my digital piano. I didn't have to adjust to the grand piano at all. But playing dynamics on the real grand piano was easier compared to my digital piano.

            I own both a DP and an acoustic grand. They do feel quite different, but I don’t think there’s an issue with bad habits. If I’ve got something coming up where I’ll be playing someone else’s piano, sometimes I play the DP just to get sense of playing on a different instrument, and it helps me feel more confident that I will be OK on another piano 🙂.

            What I would recommend is thinking through whether you will actually use the DP. I bought the DP first, and after I bought my acoustic grand, I just find that I enjoy playing the grand so much more. I’m rarely in a situation where I need the silent practice. So I almost never play the DP. However, if you are in a situation where you can really take advantage of a DP, I don’t see any major issues.

              Josephine I have a kawai cn29. It always takes some time to adjust to my acoustic upright piano.

              Last year I played a kawai grand a few times and the action felt the same as my digital piano. I didn't have to adjust to the grand piano at all. But playing dynamics on the real grand piano was easier compared to my digital piano.

              You make a good point. I also find that the difference in touch between a digital and an upright is bigger than between a digital and a grand. I suppose the makers of digital pianos are trying to emulate grand pianos more.

              A few years back I went into a store and tried a DP that felt much more like my mom's old upright and was surprised by that. Unfortunately, I don't remember what brand or model it was.

                I recently read somewhere (can't recall exactly) of a performer who if the venue didn't provide a grand to practice on backstage preferred to use a digital rather than use the venues practice room upright. He wasn't referring to a specific venue and their quality of practice room uprights, it was a broad generalized statement.

                Sydney Australia
                Retired part-time piano technician

                A few thoughts,

                Until a hand full of years ago, it would be common for a young person right out of music school to go into debt and buy a nice quality grand piano. Now, so much more often, I see them choosing a hybrid, most commonly the Yamaha N1x. This could be because a number of area universities now own them, but I also think these fine musicians are familiar with technology. They usually walk in and know quite a bit about options before we even discuss them.

                Also, Frederic Chiu made this video for us on his preferences for practicing on a digital piano:

                Rich Galassini, Owner
                Cunningham PIano Company

                  I have a Kawai VPC1 and it’s been excellent for me to practice on.

                    Decent electronic keyboards are getting to be quite good. Yeah, there is still some junk out there that I wouldn't really wanna spend all that much time playing. Quality isn't going to be cheap, acoustic or electronic.

                    In my own travels, I have found that many of the acoustic pianos that I run into are in way worse shape than ideal, both tuning and regulation, and I would give the preference to the electronic. For someone who is used to playing on a well tuned and well regulated grand piano, they might think a little differently. Context kinda matters.

                    In the small town I'm in, I can't think of a single grand piano that I would prefer playing over my Roland RD-2000. If it's here, I haven't seen it yet and have been to numerous public performance venues. Were I closer to a larger city, there might be something to challenge that.

                      I bought a Roland digital about 6 years ago to relieve my family of practicing on the acoustic grand. I don’t use it that often, but I agree with others that it won’t produce bad habits. I use the Roland mostly for starting a new piece, learning the notes and coming up with fingerings. I also use it to record sections I’m working on. (I use a Zoom recorder with the acoustic).I’m working on some 2 piano repertoire and record my partner’s part and play along with it so I know how the parts fit together. So, for me, the Roland provides some added value to my practice sessions.

                        My favorite thing about digital pianos are the HEADPHONES! My wife and even the cat agree. Not only does the piano sound fantastic but you can practice away in your own little world right in the same room with anyone doing just about anything: Meditation? Sure! Reading? YES! Watching television? OF COURSE! Hot yoga? Well, let's not get crazy here!

                        I've had a digital for a while now. I bought an Kawai ES110 several years ago to go along with my grand. I sold the grand and knew I'd be without an acoustic for a while so I upgraded to a Yamaha P525 so that's all I have at the moment but I think they compliment an acoustic marvelously as long as you get a good one with a great action.

                          Rubens great! I’m debating between the Kawai es920 and Yamaha p525. I can practice on my acoustic during the day.

                            twocats That’s great to know. My plan is to only practice on the digital at night. Our family bedtime starts at 9. So being able to have a digital for silent practice will give me an extra hour or two practice time.

                                rogerch i’m so glad to hear that. I am a late beginner, and still learning basic skills. That’s why I was worried about forming habits on a digital that can hurt my playing on the acoustic. So glad to know that the newer models nowadays can actually help improve techniques. I’m sure my family will be happy that they no longer have to listen to me repeatedly playing scales 😂

                                  cheeeeee That’s great to know. My plan is to only practice on the digital at night. Our family bedtime starts at 9. So being able to have a digital for silent practice will give me an extra hour or two practice time.

                                  You should take note, however, that some digital pianos have pretty loud keys. My Roland for instance makes so much noise just from the keys that it would annoy someone trying to sleep in the room next door.

                                      Jane That is amazing. Thanks for sharing. Great pianists can sound beautiful playing on anything, can’t they!

                                        APianistHasNoName Thanks! I’m considering between Yamaha p525 and Kawai se920. Haven’t been able to try either though.

                                            Pallas Tuner Hot yoga? Well, let's not get crazy here!

                                            Hot piano sounds like a terrible class. 🤣🤣🤣 I have yet to play my piano while sweaty and I'm not eager to try.

                                            That reminds me of a funny anecdote. When I was working on a contract a couple of years ago I had lessons during lunch time on Thursdays and would tell my project manager that I was unavailable at that time. She always joked that I must be having hot yoga classes on Thursdays during lunch. I think I never told her the truth and for the several months I was there I was known to be taking hot yoga classes on Thursdays. 🤣