There's
More to Playing Piano Keyboards
than Learning How to Read Sheet
Music Notes
The
Instrument Makes a
Difference
When you
ask them for advice about how to
learn the piano, most people talk
about learning notes on the
keyboard, studying how to read
music, taking theory classes and
diligence in practice. They
emphasize the importance of
playing music scales, getting
lessons, practicing songs over
and over again until you perfect
them, and in general being a
disciplined student.
The one
thing people forget to mention
sometimes is the importance of
your instrument. If you don't
have the proper piano keyboard
with which you are comfortable
playing, you will not learn to
play well.
Nowadays,
there are many different kinds of
piano keyboards. They vary from
small, inexpensive mini keyboards
to full-sized grand pianos and
everything in between. Selecting
the one you want depends on how
much money you have to spend and
what you want to do with your
instrument.
If you just
want to goof around and make
special effects, you might as
well just go to the store. You
can usually find old Casio units
that will get you neat sound
effects and allow you to do some
single note leads and simple
chords.
Then again,
if you plan on actually becoming
good at the piano, it makes a lot
of sense to invest in full sized
instruments. Keyboard keys are
the size they are for a reason.
Over hundreds of years of
experimentation, piano builders
figured out the perfect size for
most fingers. A keyboard that is
too small will be more difficult
to play and will make your hands
cramp when you are playing
demanding pieces.
Another
concern is the feeling and flow
(called action). Just because a
keyboard has full-sized keys does
not mean that it will have an
authentic piano feel. If you have
the money, you should invest in
one with weighted keys. These
will feel just like a real piano,
and will be much more satisfying
to play. Roland used to offer a
really good one but check around
for other name brands.
If you get
touch sensitive keys – keys
that will respond differently
depending on how hard you push
them – that will help you
out too. Playing classical music
pretty much demands touch
sensitive keyboards.
Then again,
if all you want to play is
electronic music or rock 'n roll,
you might want to get a nice
piano synthesizer keyboard.
Synthesizers do not necessarily
have touch sensitive keys, but
for many types of music you don't
need them.
Before you
go out and buy an expensive
instrument, listen to some music.
Think about what kinds of tools
are required to play that
particular music, and pick out
your piano keyboards accordingly.
Also, try out a good variety
before buying.
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More
Piano
Clues
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Learn
the History of Piano
Music
-
Taking
piano lessons and
learning how to read
sheet music is one of
the best pieces of
advice I can give. The
joy of music will stay
with you for a lifetime
as you'll learn in this
short piano history
score ..
Read
more
...
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The
Many Faces of Piano
Music
- It's no big secret
that piano music has
evolved tremendously
over the years to become
what it is today. Take a
journey into the past,
present and future. Note
the
sound.
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