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The Right Instrument = Successful Start!
Top 10 things to think about when selecting an
instrument to practice on
1.
Are
you taking PIANO lessons or KEYBOARD lessons? If you are taking piano lessons, getting an electronic
keyboard doesn't make sense.
Keyboards have 61 or 76 keys, they have a plastic non-weighted
touch, they typically don't come with a
pedal. Consider Digital: a high quality digital piano will have 88
keys like a piano has.
2.
Why 88 keys? Most students will have music in the
first few lessons where they experiment the full 88 key range of a
piano. Even if you are only playing
in the middle of the piano, your peripheral vision will see all 88 keys. If you practice on less, then go to your
teachers piano, it can be confusing and disorienting to the student.
3.
Weighted touch? It is extremely important to have a
fully-weighted-hammer- action to teach proper technique from lesson NUMBER
ONE. Good (and bad) habits are formed from day
one.
4.
Touch Sensitive (Touch Responsive)? If you choose electronic, the question
to ask here is “How many levels of sensitivity?” A keyboard may be touch sensitive, but only
on a scale of 1 to 7, while an acoustic piano has a touch sensitivity of 1
to infinity. A Roland HP-series
digital piano has a touch sensitive scale of 1 to 128, which a human can
not detect a limit of.
5.
What about a used piano? Always hire a tuner to evaluate a used
piano. He looks past the cosmetics,
deep into the inner-workings of the piano.
A small fee for a professional opinion could save you
thousands. Generally speaking, a
used piano under $2000 is rarely going to get you a very good piano. A good used piano will only be a few
years old. If older than 25 years,
it needs to have been refurbished or rebuilt.
6.
What about a hand-me-down piano or a piano advertised
“Beautiful” or “Antique” or “Free”? A piano might look beautiful on the
outside but might need hundreds or thousands of dollars spent on the inside
to make it a decent piano. Good
intentioned family members probably have no idea how much work the piano
they are trying to pass down to you really needs. Always pay a tuner to assess the condition.
7.
What is the maintenance? An acoustic piano should be tuned at
least twice a year and needs voicing & regulation about every five
years. It has over 12,000 parts
which include, for example, leather straps and felt that wear out and
deteriorate over time. Most acoustic
pianos need to be rebuilt every 25 to 35 years. Even the best piano in the world,
Steinway, says this. A piano is a
fine precision instrument that needs to be properly cared for. If you do not intend to maintain a piano,
then you should consider a digital piano since it never needs tuning and is
maintenance free.
8.
Is silent practicing important? It may be
if you have younger children with naps, early bedtimes, or if mom or dad
had a stressful day. Some children
are self-conscious about practicing.
A digital piano with headphones allows practice any time.
9.
What is a Roland Music Tutor? Since a
typical piano lesson occurs once weekly, the Music Tutor is an essential between-lesson “practice partner.” It interactively helps students play correct notes and
rhythms, allows them to adjust tempo, and focus on “mess-up
spots.” The Tutor instills
correct practice techniques thereby helping students learn more
efficiently. It works with any acoustic or digital piano.
10. Want
an easy solution? Rent a high quality Roland Digital Piano
for as low as $39/month. Take the pressure
off purchasing a piano until you see how your child does with piano
lessons.
Capital Music Center offers the best
Roland pianos for sale or rent.
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What Piano Students CANNOT Learn
on a Portable Keyboard
·
The foundation of piano
technique
·
Posture & Seating position
and optimal hand/arm alignment
·
Musical expression and
sensitivity
·
Learning how to produce a
beautiful tone
·
The concept of weight using
hands, arms and shoulders
·
Arm drops and cushioning with
the wrists
·
Approach and release of chords
·
Legato, staccato and portato touch
·
Finger dexterity and evenness of
touch
·
Finger muscle development and
large muscle motions
·
Finger, hand and arm strength to
develop dexterity, endurance and stamina
·
Balance between melody and
accompaniment using finger pressure
·
Dynamics of sound
·
Phrasing and voicing
·
Pedaling: una
corda (soft), sostenuto
(bass sustain), & damper (sustain)
·
Effective practice habits
·
Performance confidence and
competence
Much of the practice of younger students is devoted to
learning proper piano technique, which
cannot be
practiced and developed on
a portable keyboard.
Studies show that children who practice on portable keyboards do not
progress and develop as fast as those students who practice on acoustic or high quality digital pianos. Because practice is the foundation to the development of any
skill, it is important that we equip our children for success by providing
them with a quality instrument for learning. The end depends on the
beginning. Playing the piano should be fun and exciting…creative and
expressive, giving the player feelings of musical joy and deep satisfaction.
It’s difficult to become excited about playing a toy piano if they
enjoy the piano that they are playing and the music they are studying.
Having a quality piano at home for practice will help your child develop to
their full potential and enjoy a much richer musical experience.
“I can think of no better way to make a child quit piano lessons
than by having him/her practice on an old and out of tune, poor quality
upright piano or portable keyboard.”
- Josh Harper, piano tuner and pianist
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