Tag Info

Digital pianos really have come a long way from where they were 15 years ago, when I started playing. I started on an unweighted 61-key touch-sensitive keyboard (touch-sensitivity is, by the way, essential, but implied on the weighted keyboards. You cannot play classical piano music even remotely musically without touch sensitivity. Organ music is a ...

I don't consider the "classical music" criteria to be a determining factor. A piano is a piano is a piano, and though digital pianos generally do have some feature overlap with things like electronic keyboards and synthesizers and midi controllers, the reason for buying a digital piano should only be because an acoustic piano is impractical for whatever ...

I have to say that a household and environment that fosters a love of music will have a large impact on your daughters interest. Likely only piano lessons with an instructor will assess her interest in that particular instrument, but that's really just the tip of the iceberg. There are lots of other instruments, most just as fulfilling, as well as singing ...

The exact height of the keyboard off the floor is less important than the distance between the keyboard and your seat. (Most chairs are too low to the ground to be good as a piano stool) I'd agree with @Jeffrey that forearms-parallel-to-the-floor is a good starting point, also that your knees don't get wedged out of the way by the bottom of the keyboard. ...

Weighted keys offer a different kind of response to the touch of a finger since they have more stationary momentum. This helps connect your physical action to the sound itself, which results in what seems like more expressive piano playing. The other thing you are experiencing is the difference between velocity control for either instrument. If both the ...

Considerations Touch sensitivity (this is a must) Number of keys you usually use Polyphony - the higher, the better if you play anything remotely complex Whether you need lots of sounds or really only piano sounds Size and weight if you plan on traveling with it. Built in drums/accompaniment or not (good for practice, more fun than a metronome) Built in ...

The prevailing stereotype is that Yamaha are the real digital pianos, while Casio makes primarily toys. While this may have been true ~20 years ago, it's definitely not anymore. I'm not sure what you consider "entry-level," but I did a lot of research (both online and in stores) when buying my first piano, and ended up buying a Casio PX-330 for $500, which ...

I think it may not be the best vantage to try and "assess" the amount of interest. Look at it this way. Your child's interest in music is not set in stone. It's a living part of her, and if nurtured it can grow. A bad instructor can bunk her desire to ever touch the instrument. But your own interest and involvement in her lessons are primary. So don't ...

I disliked piano (particularly lessons) until grade 11. Something just changed and now I love it. Some kids will enjoy it right away, but most of the time I hear stories like mine. I was a disciplined kid but most generally aren't, and practising is a drag. A lack of interest may not be a good indicator that you should stop the lessons -- so many people ...

Which piano you should buy is going to be up to your own preferences and price range. However, these are some criteria you can use to make that decision critically: Sound: Entry level digital pianos use what are called samples to generate a sound from a keypress. Each company has spent lots of money recording every individual key of a high-quality piano at ...

Personally I'm rather satisfied with Garageband's supplied piano sounds. However, it's entirely possible that I have cloth ears, and certain that I have very basic piano skills. Have you explored the full range or GarageBand sounds? Note that if you go into the detailed instrument settings, there are more sounds than are apparent in the first menu of ...

For use with a piano I don't think it's particularly necessary to have good headphones. You want ones that can handle a good range of volume without the clarity being greatly affected, so you'd best avoid tinny little earbuds, but other than that you should be OK. One possible exception is if you're playing pieces that go extremely low on the keyboard; A0 ...

I'm going to answer the general question so that this is not a shopping reccomendation per se (61 un-weighted key keyboard with lots of features vs. 76 graded "soft touch" key keyboard with minimal features). Arguments for a 61 key, unweighted keyboard (PSR-E423 in your case): This is simple and easy to play, due to the fact that: There are less keys, ...

I am not sure this is the right forum to ask this kind of question, but here are some forums, where you will be better served: http://www.pianoworld.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/forums/6/1/Digital%20Pianos%20-%20Synths%20&%20.html http://forums.musicplayer.com/ubbthreads.php/forums/18/1/The_Keyboard_Corner

Tim Praskins reviews ALL major models on his Piano News Blog, with a ton of information on "digital pianos and what to know when shopping for one". From a recent (2011/08/17) entry: Yamaha has descriptive words such as Intelligent Acoustic Control (IAC), GRE, Smooth Release, Linear Graded Hammers, and Soundboard Speaker. Roland has SuperNATURAL ...

If the person is traditionally trained, which means, he/she started playing on an actual Piano, either a Grand or Upright Piano, it may affect the person's performance. Here are some points that should be checked when buying an electric piano for a traditionally trained pianist: As much as can afford, go for the most number of keys. 88 keys is the ...

For best ergonomics, I was always taught that my forearms should be parallel with the floor, with the fingers resting comfortably on top of the piano keys - so, the arms should be a little above the level of the keys, not reaching up or reaching down. I'd adjust the piano so that the correct piano-playing posture (seated on edge of seat, heel on floor to ...

All children are extremely responsive to music; it's simply part of who we are. No special interest is required unless devoting yourself to one particular thing. As a music teacher for children I recommend singing first with simple percussion occasionally, because this helps your child internalise pitch, pulse and so on without struggling with the fine motor ...

You say that the purpose of your piano is practising at home, yet you finish by saying a real piano may bring a [better] sound to performance. I think you need to think some more about the purpose of the instrument you're buying. I am no piano expert, but I have played on: The upright piano my parents bought second-hand for £50 in the 1970s My piano ...

You may want to consider the distinction between open backed and closed backed headphones. Open backed are usually considered to give better sound quality, and better bass response, but won't block any noise in the environment, and allow bleed-through if you end up recording via a microphone. Also, the fact that they allow air flow can make them more ...

I played a semi-weighted MIDI keyboard for years, and usually play piano and organ sounds. When my keyboard failed, I replaced it with a hammer action one and boy, was there a difference in what I heard from Piano synths. The playing had so much more dynamics, and it was an audible difference. Even though the weighted keys are supposed to be harder to ...

PSR-E423's keyboard is way way too small. If you are starting piano then you won't need all those knobs and bells, just the keys, so I would concentrate on key quality. Also, 88 keys is preferable for learning — it would be impossible to play e. g. Für Elise on a 5-octave keyboard. If it is possible with NP31 to plug it in as MIDI input into a computer, I ...

You need to decide what your goal is. If your goal is to be a general keyboard player, then a more general keyboard might be your best choice. A keyboard like that: Might have fewer keys than a piano Might have smaller keys than a piano Might not have weighted keys Will have non-piano sounds as "first class" features, not just an afterthought Will have ...

Did one key always sound louder than the others, or did the problem develop recently? When did you purchase the keyboard? Is it under warranty? Have you checked with Kurzweil to find out where you can take it in your area for Kurzweil-authorized repair work? Where do you live? It is doubtful that there is anything you can do to repair it on your own; you ...

You don't mention what model you have, but if I read your question correctly, the volume of the sound on a specific key is louder than the sound from other keys. Often in digital midi equipment, one can manually adjust midi triggers such as minimum velocity and gain. If you increase the min velocity on a specific trigger, the device might see a "soft press" ...

I am not recommending this instrument over the many similar instruments available from other manufacturers, but the Korg SP-200: measures 1328 x 285 x 122 mm weighs 18.5 kg has the full 88 keys strives to imitate the sound and feel of a real piano accurately Instruments like this are designed to be a professional performance and practice instrument for ...

Yes this is due to low quality stands and often the weight of the keyboard but also the resonance effect. When you hit the keys at the left or right end in a certain rhythm you increase the wobbling. What you can do is attach the mount to a wall with some cheap brackets or just build your own frame from wood which is based on triangles. You won't have any ...

I just sold a 20 year old Roland 3500 digital piano for $175. Should I have asked more? Had a good feel with weighted key action. Two notes played slightly louder than the rest. Just didn't play it often enough to justify moving it again. For the ease of moving this type of piano (only 95 pounds) over the traditional type, my husband was glad when I gave ...

I would choose the digital piano, assuming it has 88 weighted keys and a good pedal. The new digital pianos sound very close to acoustic pianos, upright or grand, and generally have more than one piano sound setting. The old upright will require regular tuning, and most likely, not all the notes will have the same sound and not all the notes will have the ...

Have you asked a professional piano tuner to check out the old upright piano you are considering buying? It may need a great deal of expensive repairs and maintenance to get it to operate correctly. First there is frequent tuning. But it may also need to have the mechanism regulated, the hammers re-felted or replaced, or it may need new strings, and so ...