Hi all!

I'm new to this forum, My name is Marcel and I'm from The Netherlands, I'm 16 years old.
I'm playing keyboard for 9 months now and I enjoy doing it, but most of the time I play piano on my keyboard.
So I think it would be better to take piano lessons instead. And someone told me that it would be better to learn playing the piano first instead of keyboard, because the keys of a keyboard respond different than the keys of a piano.
I don't know what to do!!!
Should I exchange my keyboard for a digital piano?
Who can give me some advice?

Greetz,
Marcel

Welcome to the forum! If you're going to take lessons I would suggest you get a piano... Granted keyboards are nice with all the toys they come with, if you're going to learn piano you might as well do it right.. You'll need the full 88 keys that are weighted.. What you might want to consider too is a nice digital piano... Yamaha has a nice one out that's just over $1000. I think it's the YP121 or something like that.. It has fully weighted keys, 3 pedals.. It looks, plays and feels like a real piano... Plus you'll never have to pay to have it tuned! It will always sound nice..

Squeak

Hi Marcel, WELCOME to the Synthzone arranger forum, I concur with Squeak. I would say if you're serious about playing solo piano, then it would be most beneficial to invest in an acoustic piano, or a digital keyboard or synth which has 88 'fully weighted' keys. The advantage is that you'll have much more control of dynamics, running scales, etc, developing a solid foundation of good pianistic technique which can then be transfered to synth arranger playing. Though you can certainly play piano sounds on a synth action board, you won't be able to accomplish what you can with fully weighted keys. Good luck with your piano lessons. PS: You might consult your piano teacher for a recommendation of a piano (acoustic or digital) to best suit your needs. - Scott

Hello Wazza.

I had a decent spell with 5 octave arrangers myself when deciding enough was enough. I play Piano, and the bouncy action of these arrangers (and Synths) where crippling my piano technique (especially if I spent more time on the 5 octave arranger than the Weighted Piano. So I went and brought myself a Digital Piano. with an arranger built in! (like best of both worlds - even if $6000 was the financial result of it all .

I now enjoy playing a top Roland Digital Piano with Graded hammer action, and escapement. I could never revert to the plasticy/bouncy 5 octave arranger that I once played. I don't gig, so it's ok for me. There are so many digitals out Wazza, that you will be spoilt for choice I guess, no matter what the price range. My piano has GREAT tone as well has a superb Grand piano action. However, I would say go for the better action first, then tone second. If you are buying a starter piano, you can always "upgrade" to a better "toned" one later. But if you have a flimsy action one like say a Roland RS9 (88 key), your technique may suffer for the future. Get the best piano action you can Wazza...it will pay dividends!. If ever I did buy a 5 octave synth again, it would just be used as a "complimnent" to my piano I guess


J5

Hi Wazza,
Even though I started on an "Organ (L100)" If your going to learn "Piano" then it should be done with a piano for all of the reasons stated. However, IMO , it can`t hurt mess`n around with a keyboard from time to time As long as you "stick" with your lessons. The piano is a great way to learn to compose and IMO the basic instrument (along with the Guitar, of course)
O-BTW, "Welcome to our family and the best corner of the web" everyone here is a BIG help so post if you need us (or just to keep in touch) !!
jedi

Hi Wazza,
Welcome to the group. I'm new myself. I agree with the previous postings about the piano. I have both and I still get a better control and response when I am playing my piano. The other keyboards I have played have nice cute things with them but for learning purposes the piano is the best for the basics.

- Brian

Pianos are o.k. but it's hard to carry one under your arm.
Don

Nah, I used to play a grand piano in the marching band. Part of my aerobics program.

I guess it depends on what you want to do with them. In the past when I went to different places it was nice to have a portable keyboard with me since the pianos that were avaialable were not in the best of shape (read good for boat anchors). But even with all the beatings from putting the keyboards in and out of the car it still was fine.

- Brian

Hi Marcel,

It seems to me that most of the replies you've had up to now are from current keyboardists who graduated from piano. They surely came to a time when they wanted to reduce the hard work of accompanying a melody with the left hand , which on a piano is damned hard work
As you are only 16 (I don't think I was ever 16 and it's too painful to try and remember) , I would suggest that you have a good beginning with your keyboard to play music. The question you need to ask yourself is 'do I want to become an accomplished pianist? or do I want to make fantastic music in the easiest possible way?
It would be of course extremely helpful if you learn independently all about the theory of music but it isn't necessary to have to play the piano (as opposed to keyboard) to achieve that.
Hope this helps
cheers
Eddie

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Eddie from Rotherham
www.yamahakeyboards.info

Hoi Marcel,

Welcome to the forum !
I myself started playing organ at the age of 10 (I'm 46 now ) and play keyboards since 15 years.
The Ketron SD1 has a great piano-sound and the keys are 'semi-weighted' so I too like playing 'piano'..... I wish I had started with piano lessons.

To be honest, I'm a (so called) Autodidact and tought myself playing organ after 5 years of classic trumpet lessons.

Anyway : Glad you joined this family !

Frieslan boppe !

Roel
Coevorden

Hey die Marcel,

I started following keyboard-lessons four years ago (I was 14 at that time). I really enjoyed (and still enjoy) playing. Now, however, I really wish I had learned to play piano first. Because if you can play piano, you can play keyboard, but if you can play keyboard, it doesn't mean that you can play piano.
I would choose the piano if I were you, but this is a decision you have to make yourself.


Maurice

Thank you all for your help, I think I'll take piano lessons after the vacation,But I don't have the money to buy a (Digital) piano yet, so I'll just have to use my keyboard.
But can someone tell my what to buy (when I have the money), 'cause I don't know much about digital piano's.


Thanks,
Marcel

Hi Marcel,
Here is a link that might help
http://www.yamaha.com/cgi-win/webcgi.exe/DsplyModel/?gPSP00005P120S

I`m not sure of the price. but I don`t think it is to pricey.
Best of luck with your lessons, and have fun
jedi

Marcel,
There are MANY fine digital piano options out there to choose from (Yamaha, Kawai, Technics, Roland, Korg, etc) and I'm sure everyone here has their favorite, but like I suggested earlier, I think it better to FIRST find a good piano teacher to study with who can evaluate your individual musical needs & goals. They can then 'work with you to find the most appropriate keyboard for YOU. - Scott

Marcel,
If money will be tight, I would suggest a few things for you to consider. The Korg SP200 sells right around $800.00 in the US and has 88 weighted graded hammer action keys and over 40 sounds. The Yamaha PA80 is about $100.00 more ($899.00) and add a few more features. Both of these need powered speakers but that can be a home stereo or computer type powered speakers which can run as little as a few dollars.
At the next level would be as Squeak mentioned the Yamaha YDP121, but this has been discontinued and a new model the YDP113 will be replacing it at around $1000.00. The difference between the YDP series and the others I've mentioned is the YDP look more like a real piano with less voices and features than the SP or P series I've mentioned first.
If you would like a great feeling piano with arranger features take a look at the Korg SP500 for around $1500.00. It has everything an arranger keyboardist wants except for a floppy disk drive. This is a lightweight alternative and a "best of both worlds" keyboard. Piano/Arranger and inexpensive.
There are some $500.00 options as well from Yamaha with 88 keys, but these are not hammer weighted type and feel more like a "keyboard synth" action. Yamaha YPP200 is one model and coming out later this year is the DGX500 for about $795.00 that will be an arranger/88key Light Action/disk drive, built in speaker model.
Roland also makes some nice digital pianos, but they start above $1000.00 for 88 weighted keys. A new model from them just shown at the Summer NAMM show for under $700.00 only has 76 keys and light action (model is EP760). Two new pianos with graded hammer actions have been introduced by between $1200 -$1800.00
This is a start at what I would be looking at.
George Kaye
Kaye's Music Scene
Reseda, California

Marcel,
Over the past few years, at least once a year, someone I know tries to give their piano away. Recently someone at work mentioned that they had a fantastic piano but their wife had passed away and they no longer wanted it in the house. I posted it to my friends and within 24 hours I got a few responses and now the piano is gone. But if you ask and look around there are cheap or even free pianos around that may be in good enough condition just to learn and then go from there. Check out the want ads in your area. Good luck and follow your dreams.
- Brian