Keyboards - The musical journey

If you have the room for it- buy a used upright piano...

My daughter was very interested in learning to play piano, but just was not happy with our large digital keyboard. So, before Christmas 2010 I began perusing the local Craigslist ad's and found a beautiful 1960's era upright for $350. It was in such nice condition that I didn't even try to get a better price.
We had it moved to our house by pro piano movers and we got her weekly in home piano lessons on her own piano. Well, it's a year and a half later and she still looks forward to her weekly lessons- she's gone through three books so far- and can now compose and play her own original score. I strongly believe that she would have lost interest if she was still using the digital keyboard, but the real piano has such a nice feel to the keys that it's just a pleasure to play.

Once an a while she goes back to play the digital keyboard- but quickly shifts back to the real piano because of the feel of the real keys and the gorgeous sounds it produces.

Take a look at your local Craigslist- you'll be amazed at the low prices of uprights.

 

Please tell me, what's your budget?

Generally, I don't recommend purchasing a "toy" keyboard (those that typically sell new in the $500 range) even for beginners. A frustrating experience will make it difficult to learn. If you are unmotivated by your equipment, it's going to hinder your learning. If the sound and feel isn't right, forget about it. If the keyboard isn't even 88 keys, forget about it. Ok I know this sounds snobby, but it's not - piano sellers will tell you the same thing. I've had some experience over the years.

Like all things, you get what you pay for. Yamaha makes good keyboards and great keyboards, and then - no offense (!) - but keyboards like the one you have. I would recommend for you the Yamaha Arius line. They sell for around $1200-$1800 new. Prices are always negotiable at the store, keep that in mind.

The reason I recommend the Arius is because it is Yamaha's "entry" level digital piano. The Arius pianos look like real pianos with a full 88-note keyboard and fully weighted keys. The technology in these have many of the same features seen in the more expensive Yamaha Clavinovas, which sell for $2500+. (Just to give you an idea, I'd say an Arius is sort of like a Toyota, but the Clavinovas are like the Lexus or BMW. Most of the time, it's the same engine and parts - just adjusted/tuned differently and maybe nicer materials, newer technology in the Clavs. Also, Clavinovas are the standard in teaching institutions/universities. Arius' are more for elementary schools, etc.)



To buy an Arius, you can go to Guitar Center or find it online with the prices shown. For the Clavinovas, however, you'll have to go to an authorized Yamaha dealer (usually most piano stores) as they don't show the price unless you walk into the store and talk with them. Ok so you don't want to pay for an Arius. That's fine. There are other options, like Kawai. I'm suggesting that you should get something like this.

My point is, you want something that you are happy to play on - which is going to be something that's nice. If that means saving up some money, do it. It's worth it. You'll probably have to spend at least $1000 for something that looks, feels, and sounds like a real grand piano - or close to it. The Arius does a good job at that. The Clavinova is even better. There are other options too, like Kawai's CE series. The point is though, I would definitely look for something with:

- Fully weighted keys
- Full 88-key
- AT LEAST 128-note polyphony ("polyphony" means how many keys are you can have sounding off at once - probably nothing for you to worry about, but it makes a difference)

The advice you received that you want to "grow into" a piano, is spot on. Consider it an investment. My final advice is to try out the keyboards in the store (whether it is like a store like guitar center, or a fancier piano dealer). This is critical. Descriptions of technology are nice but without getting the feel of the piano, it's impossible to make a judgement. Everybody is different, everybody will like something different.

 

Hahaha wow. $5000? Ok I think I need to get your story straight again.

You said "a big part of my slow moving is the fact that I need to save up the money to purchase it" so I thought we weren't working with a lot of money here, my bad. $5000 is a lot and you have a lot of options with that. I forgot what you really wanted was a "workstation", which isn't really what Yamaha classical pianos (Arius, Clavinovas) are used for or can do. $5000 would have gotten you a pretty nice Clavinova...DARN! Hahaha.

Speakers? Sorry I'm not an expert in speakers or electronics for that matter. I am much more into the classical-style pianos (not necessarily classical MUSIC, however!) which have great speakers built into them, already meant to amplify a room and simulate grand piano sound.

For the type of keyboard you want you definitely need to go to a music store like Guitar Center to demo the models, if you haven't already.

 

Ok I'll add something else I forgot to say:

Given that you're "still learning" piano, I still think I'd recommend a full size real piano or something like it. You don't have to go all out and buy a nice piano, but I don't think a Workstation is as good of a learning tool for basic piano. Maybe it is, I never learned on one. I would learn the traditional way, then take your talents to a workstation.

If your goal is just to hammer a few notes or sounds to accompany your songs, a workstation serves that purpose. If your goal is to really learn piano though, you gotta go with a full sized keyboard. It seems to me like you're "jumping" steps. I might be wrong though. Maybe you could elaborate on your situation more...

 

I would certainly recommend the Motif. I use a combination of Nords, Korgs, software synths and a Motif. The Motif is probably my favorite for stand alone applications with the Nord coming in at a close second. Go to any music store that sells the line and try the different options- some are better weighted than others. You can get an XF8 for around $3K, which IMO is a nice round price for a workstation that will last for years. There are also less expensive options with decent keys, but stand one side by side with a Motif and you will see where your money goes.

 

Guess they've never heard of Keith Emerson, Tony Banks, Herbie Hancock, Rick Wakeman, etc... then :rockon:

 

Well, I feel sorry for them then... cause they're missing out on some fantastic music!

Sometimes I pose the rhetorical question to my kids "imagine a world without music?" to me- it would be unbearable....

 

Well myself being classically trained, I don't mind the electronic keyboard voice at all. It's a perfectly good style of music. I just don't want to play it on my piano - I think it sounds gimmicky when I try it.

Even the higher end Yamaha Clavinova CVP series with instrumental accompanies and drum beats are just too much for me. To me, they are outsanding pianos simply because the key response is improved and grand piano voice sounds better over the lower models, but I personally don't care for all the buttons, switches, and dials that allow you to play techno-style music.