Learning music/piano

Armature. That's what it takes, Beth. Peter and the Wolf. A recorder is just a flute turned sideways.

Frankly, I am dismayed at the musicians who are missing from this forum.

The musicians; the poets; the seals; Even the penguins who are at risk because of the same iceberg that sank the Titanic.

Missing from this forum? Peoples are out a shoppin' in.

I haven't the money or the space right now. If I discover that I can teach myself, then I'll probably spend more.

Is 61 keys "full size"?

No, but it's what I play on stage and I find it has plenty of range. The main difference between the piano and the keyboard is the size of the keys and the action.
A piano key moves a hammer, which takes some force whereas a keyboard just makes a contact so there's no force involved. If you start with one you'll find it hard to play the other.

There are more expensive keyboards that have weighted keys and are more like a real piano.

You should also look for an instrument that has full size keys.

61 keys is fine just make sure they are full size. Weighted keys are also very useful because they feel a lot more like a real piano.

The starting point though, is being able to read music.

Then come the scales and arpeggios.....lots and lots, of scales and arpeggios.....

Hmm, I found something interesting. It's a MIDI keyboard that hooks up into a computer.

What interests me is that it has interactive lessons this way.

I think it may well be the fastest way for me to learn by myself.

I think you're right...and the midi interface gives you great learning tools.

This is interesting. Anyone know this method?

Join me. The learn new **** program works mo betta when mo peeple are in it (the tennis thing kinda depended on it).

Have you looked into renting a piano? There are places here in CT that "rent to own"--you can rent an instrument for a year or two and then put some of your rent payments towards a purchase if you so choose. Full-size electric pianos are available for purchase here in the price range $1500 - >$10000; electric pianos are a bit closer to the "real thing" than many portable keyboards, yet they are still small enough for most apartments. Additional advantages are that they are quite commonly MIDI-compatible, and they never need tuned.
I definitely agree with the others in that you should get 1) full-size keys (first priority) and 2) touch-sensitive keys (if affordable).

Piano Nanny

Craven de Kere, do you want ot learn the piano or the keyboard? Because those are completely different instruments!
The sound is different, but what is worse is the size of keyboards (much smaller than pianos), and the "touch": it feels completely different between a keyboard and a piano.
Being a piano player, I can tell you that Piano is better (of course! ), and that if you want to approach the sound and the size of a real piano with a keyboard, well, it would be more expensive than a piano!
I also advise you to start with a real teacher: it is fun to play little stuffs alone at home, but it's really great to play, and to learn technical stuffs, and to see progresses, etc...

Welcome Rad

_-=-_,

Thank you for the link.

Radical Edward,

I understand that many see a big difference between a keyboard and a piano but not to the degree that it precludes being able to play.

Right now the differences are not significant enough to me to make the keyboard the worse of the two.

Of Course, Craven, but as you said that you wanted to learn piano, I just wanted to warn you.
With a keyboard, you will not be able to learn the piano! Even if you do not make the difference, your hands will, when trying to play on a real, large piano, after being used to a small keyboard! :wink:

I think he can get over that, especially if he fools around a bit on a real piano once in a while. <Craven is fairly adept>

Or if he trys those keyboards that are weighted, wide, more like pianos' keys. If C. ends up liking it and still being interested, he can rent one, should he ever have room, or sign up for classes and use the practice pianos. I used to do that at UCLA.... walk into the music department and find empty piano rooms. True, I was a u/student and we could do that. But I think there are a lot of hidden pianos out there... sitting quiet.

Looks like the best way for me to do this is to buy a MIDI keyboard and interactive software.

I'm shopping around but will likely keep this buy as a low financial priority.

Prioritizing for features:

1) MIDI controller (so that I can have a software coach).

2) Full size keys.

3) Touch sensitive.

4) Number of keys. What are the upsides and downsides here? The 88-key keyboards are huge and more expensive.

61 looks more managable but what would an 88'er be able to do that a 61'er couldn't?

I will ask a friend for you Craven.

Result from friend:

here are some answers for your friend. These won't be definitive so I am happy for some sort of dialogue to be a continuation.
On 27/12/2004, at 8:02 AM, dlowan wrote:



A friend has decided to learn piano via computer - get a keyboard and software to hook up, and learn via a teaching program.


MIDI has allowed music making to happen in all sorts of circumstances, giving access to musical activity in a wide range of situations. I think it would be important to have on the agenda an opportunity for performance, even if it is only for one's family or close friends. Performance gives the opportunity for both emotional feedback and technical feedback. A big round of applause gives the former, and a friend who already plays an instrument can give the latter.


"Looks like the best way for me to do this is to buy a MIDI keyboard and interactive software.


Have a look at these:- http://pianoeducation.org/pnomhpc2.html
http://pianoeducation.org/pnodiskb.html

These should be a good start in terms of focussing on a smaller number of options. I have had no specific experience with these but would be happy to comment once your friend has made a 'short-list'.




I'm shopping around but will likely keep this buy as a low financial priority.


This I think means that the decision has to be 'right first go'??


Prioritizing for features:

1) MIDI controller (so that I can have a software coach).


A 'MIDI Controller' is usually the keyboard itself, not the software as such. The software coach would be sold separately. Could be some terminology issues to become aware of here. A MIDI controller doesn't always include a sound module as well and may require an extra module to be purchased. Be careful here.


2) Full size keys.


Vital. You must have full-sized keys.


3) Touch sensitive.


Definitely needed. Could go for 'after-touch' as well but not vital.

4) Number of keys. What are the upsides and downsides here? The 88-key keyboards are huge and more expensive.

The greater the number of keys the greater the cost. What also increases incrementally are the features... which means you sometimes get features you don't really want. So the idea is to see where those curves intersect. 61 should be enough though. I have a Yamaha DX7 which is a 'classic' synth. It has 61 keys and I've never run out but I mostly just program rather than perform. the 88 Key model will probably have weighted keys which give a more acoustic piano feel, but yes they are expensive... a second hand one may be an option though but don't pay much more or less than $1,000.

61 looks more managable but what would an 88'er be able to do that a 61'er couldn't?"


Can you answer the keyboard question?


I hope I have already?


Also - as a by the by - do you know anything about the Suzuki method - and how good it is - and whether an adult could teach themselves piano using that method????


Don't know anything about the Suzuki method but I know where to ask.
Give me a week or so (at this time of year) to research it.