Yamaha Piaggero NP-15 and NP-35: the lightweight beginner keyboards

01Who the Piaggero range is for

The Piaggero range is aimed at beginners, at children, at households with little space and at anyone who moves or carries their instrument often. At around 5 to 6 kilograms, a Piaggero tucks under your arm, stores in a cupboard and can even run on batteries if you want.

The sound comes from Yamaha CFIIIS full concert grand, stored as a sample. For the first years of playing, for the occasional session in the living room or for accompanying singing, that works well. If, on the other hand, you are seriously working towards a later move to an acoustic piano and want a piano-like feel from the start, read the section below on the digital piano.

02NP-15 or NP-35: the difference

The most important difference is the key count. The Yamaha NP-15 Piaggero Portable Piano has 61 keys, the Yamaha NP-35 Piaggero Portable Piano has 76 keys. 61 keys are enough to get started and for many learning pieces. 76 keys give more room at the top and bottom once you play more demanding piano literature, without needing the full 88 keys of a piano.

Both share the same sound base: 15 voices, 64-note polyphony and the CFIIIS sample. The NP-35 additionally has a so-called Graded Soft Touch keyboard, slightly heavier in the bass and lighter in the treble, plus stronger speakers for more volume. The NP-15 is more compact and a touch lighter still.

Yamaha NP-15 Piaggero Portable Piano

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Yamaha NP-35 Piaggero Portable Piano

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03Keyboard or digital piano: when the step up is worth it

This is the real buying decision. A Piaggero is a lightweight keyboard with unweighted keys. A digital piano has a hammer action whose keys offer real resistance and come close to the touch of an acoustic piano. That feel matters as soon as someone is learning classically, practising touch dynamics or planning to move to an acoustic piano later without trouble.

Rule of thumb: if mobility, low weight and a tight budget come first, the Piaggero is right. If serious piano learning with a teacher comes first, the better path is a digital piano with weighted keys. For the models that fit, see our selection of Digitalpianos Einsteiger. Our articles on the individual digital piano ranges go deeper into the different hammer action levels.

04In practice: accessories, connection and app

Both Piaggero connect to a computer or smartphone via USB Type-B, which covers USB audio and MIDI. They do not have a true Bluetooth connection. Yamaha free Smart Pianist app lets you control sounds and settings comfortably from the screen and play along to songs from your own music library.

For a more piano-like feel, a sustain pedal on the pedal input is recommended; a half-pedal capable model such as the Yamaha FC3A makes full use of the sound engine. For a fixed setup, add a stand; to stay mobile, run it on batteries when needed. Find the whole selection in our category Digitalpianos.

In short: the Piaggero is the right instrument when light weight, a small footprint and a good piano sound matter. Between the NP-15 and NP-35, the key count is the main deciding factor. If instead you want a piano-like feel from the start, a weighted digital piano serves you better.

Frequently asked questions