Most of us love pianos but space and portability often rules them out. Basic electronic keyboards have become very good and will be extremely useful for pianists and non-pianists alike. The things to look out for are full-size keys, touch sensitivity and the ability to connect to computers.

If you do have a piano, or have the chance to buy one, make sure it is regularly tuned. Your piano tuner will also be able to guide you on general maintenance for the piano. Pianos can be bought very cheaply in auctions and, so long as you have someone available to you to check that the instrument is working properly, represent fantastic value for money.

There is more information on pianos and keyboards in the 'Learning with instruments' section of this website.