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Welcome to Pianist's Compass

Your trusted resource for piano inspiration, education, and reviews.
At Pianist's Compass, we're here to guide pianists of all levels - from beginners taking their first steps to experienced musicians seeking fresh insights.

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Latest articles and reviews

Casio Celviano AP-S200 at home

Casio AP-S200 review: True Celviano but much cheaper

March 13, 2025

Casio’s flagship Celviano series includes gorgeous digital pianos, but many are too expensive for the average student. The AP-S200 is Casio’s new entry-level model, bringing Celviano quality to a more affordable instrument for the first time.

Piano keyboard layout with keys labeled

Piano keyboard layout explained: Labeled notes and patterns

March 7, 2025

The piano can be a little intimidating for beginners; with lots of keys that look the same, it might seem difficult to distinguish one note from another. But there are simple repeating patterns that help us make sense of it all, and I’m going to talk you through them.

Kawai ES60 digital piano

Kawai ES60 review: Flagship grand piano tone on a budget

February 10, 2025

I’m a massive fan of Kawai digital pianos, and the ES series has long been a great source of value for money. Kawai is stretching that value for money even further with the release of the ES60, the most affordable model so far. In this review, I’ll discuss whether or not the new ES60...

playing a classical solo piano piece

The 12 best classical solo piano pieces of all time

February 7, 2025

Piano pieces from the Baroque era’s complexities, Viennese Classicism’s elegance, and the Romantic era’s intensity represent some of the best, most beautiful, and famous classical solo piano works ever written. As a pianist and composer of over 20 years, I’m certain the pieces...

Studiologic Numa Compact SE

Studiologic Numa Compact SE review: Lightweight powerhouse

January 28, 2025

Studiologic is one of my favorite manufacturers for a few reasons, not least because it’s drastically undervalued. Despite being undervalued, in my opinion, Studiologic has a habit of over-delivering value for money. The Numa Compact SE is an affordable stage piano, and in this review...

Roland RD-88 EX playing

Roland RD-88 EX review: Affordable RD for performers

January 27, 2025

The Roland RD series has produced some of the best-loved stage pianos of the last few decades and continues to introduce cutting-edge, performance-driven innovations. Roland’s RD-88 EX is the latest generation of the mid-priced RD model and an upgrade to the original RD-88.

scale degrees

The most common chord progressions, and how to use them

January 27, 2025

Chord progressions are the key to unlocking all your favorite songs (well, lots of them, anyway). Countless songs share the same chord progressions, and in this article, I’ll discuss what they are, why they are so common, and how you can use them.

Steinway Model B grand piano

The world’s most iconic piano brands that you should know

January 24, 2025

Steinway, Yamaha, Blüthner, Kawai, and Fazioli – these brands define excellence in piano craftsmanship. But is there a single best brand? Not quite. Each builder has a unique tonal character, touch, and heritage, making the ideal piano a deeply personal choice.

keyboards and digital pianos in store

Digital piano vs keyboard: Which is better for your needs?

January 22, 2025

There’s an eternal debate among aspiring musicians over which is best, a digital piano or an electronic keyboard. The simple answer is that it depends on who’s buying; both are better in the right context, but that only leads to more questions.

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