Hi. I searched on this site but could not find anything related to this. I was wondering does the RCM have any official position on doing exams and/or learning on a digital piano? Do they feel a digital piano provides the expressiveness one needs? If so, do they suggest a minimal model/technical capabilities? I'm asking because I remembered years ago somebody in a piano store had told me that the Roland digital pianos had been approved, but now I'm not sure what they meant. Thanks.

A good quality digital would be fine up to Grade 4 or 5 RCM, however one would need to adjust to the acoustic piano used for the practical exams. Higher grades require an acoustic to be able to express the full range of what is required in the Grade 6 to 10 studies.

This question comes up from time to time. If you use google with site:www.pianoworld.com you will find the various past threads on this subject.

CAVEAT: Any answers to questions regarding exams from any institution, including the RCM, are best answered officially by the institution themselves, in this case RCM. Whatever someone here says is irrelevant to the actual exam, it isn't guaranteed to be based on official policy unless it comes straight from the horse's mouth.

http://www.rcmexaminations.org/contact/index.html

How would they even know what instrument you practiced on? Of course, you would want to make sure that the weeks leading up to an exam that you had lots of practice time on an acoustic piano. The last time I checked, no examining body asks what sort of instrument you have at home (you do need a very good DP though, not a cheapy). Just make sure you have the skills you need when you sit the exam. It's a good idea to play a variety of instruments anyway. It heightens your touch and skill to have to adjust for things.

The important part of the question is if an exam centre can allow the use of a digital piano for the exam. You can practice on a corn cob pipe before the exam if you think it is enough.

I was addressing the "learning on DP" side of the question because I know that they always do piano exams on real pianos. You go to them and use their piano, you don't bring your piano with you.

Yet some exam organizations do allow for a testing center (e.g. at someone's home) to use a digital piano, such as a Roland LX-10F as the examination instrument. Hence this relevant question tends to crop up on the forums from time to time.

Interesting. I guess the examiners don't know how or on what you practice on. I was more wondering what the teachers think of this. I also sent an email direct to RCM to see what they say. A digital until 4 or 5th grade is interesting to hear. Just wondering how expensive of one it would need to be?

- $300 - $500
$600-$1000
$1100 -$1500
$1600-$2000
$2000 plus?

I would say that any weighted key digital would be fine up to Grade 6 --- as long as the student also has access to an acoustic piano every week as well during the lesson and perhaps once or twice a week at school, church, community center, neighbors, etc. It is much easier to learn good tone production from day one rather than going back after four years of lessons and trying to figure it out. With the possible exception of the VPiano, there are very few digital pianos that can match even a cheap acoustic upright in teaching how to train good tone production.

If you are going to spend so many hours of your life and so much money to learn to play the piano, it would be a pity not to learn how to play it well.

I never heard back from RCM re my question on Digitals. Nmaybe tomorrow I will give them a call just to see what they say.

So I talked with somebody at the RCM. They said they do not have an 'official' position on digital pianos vs. acoustics. It's usually at the discretion of the teacher/student/parent. She did say that exams would always be on an acoustic piano and that if the student was always playing a digital at home, they should try to get time playing on a acoustic via lessons, recitals, etcs. Pretty much agrees with what has already been said. Thanks so much everybody for your help.

- Zoe

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A similar question was discussed on the ABRSM Piano Viva Forum.
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Thanks for that link. It was interesting to read the responses there too.