A silent piano from a distance looks like any normal modern upright piano. Up close it also looks like a normal upright piano except their might be a small screen positioned unobtrusively and a spot to plug in headphones. A silent piano starts with all the mechanisms of an upright piano – keys, hammers and strings but it also has electronic functions where it can dampen the acoustic sound and instead pick up the vibrations from the strings inside and convert them into digital sound.
In some ways the silent piano for all intents and purposes is like having an acoustic upright piano and an electric piano combined into the one instrument. Having said this, it is important to note that the digital components are completely different to an electric piano. The silent piano picks up the acoustic sound and sort of translates that into digital signals whereas an electric piano uses a stored digital sampling of piano notes.
From a learning or playing perspective, I think that either an acoustic, upright piano, a silent piano or an electric piano are all more than adequate to play. I think that ultimately the decision as to which is better for the individual is a matter of personal preference.
I prefer an acoustic piano, maybe because that is what I have played the most over many years. I think that for pieces of music that require a certain amount of heavy handiness, I feel that acoustic pianos (and by extension, silent pianos) are built to take the force necessary. I have never experienced or heard of anyone that has not been able to exert enough pressure or having keys on an electric piano malfunction or break. I feel like I can get carried away with the music I am playing on an acoustic upright piano and I don’t have the same experience with an electric piano. As a result of a silent piano being an acoustic piano with electronic parts, I know I would enjoy playing a silent pianos because the only one I have played felt exactly the same as an acoustic upright piano ( and yes, I can feel the difference between an acoustic upright piano and an electric piano).
For those of you that like the look of an upright piano, but like the functionality of being able to plug in headphones so no-one else can hear you, a silent piano would be an excellent option. If you really don’t care about other people hearing you practice, then I would recommend you stick with an upright acoustic piano.