<p>My old 61 key keyboard has been sitting there for sometime, and I want to know how to play it before I leave for college next fall. How long would it take for basic proficiency? Intermediate proficiency? And would the keyboard I have now be sufficient or do I need to go for the 76 or 88 key piano?</p>
<p>I’ve played for about 10 years now, so hopefully I’ll be able to answer your questions.</p>
<p>Basic proficiency? Depends on what you mean by basic. If by basic you mean learn notes and some scales, learn key signatures, play a couple songs here and there, I’d say about… 3 months to a year. It really varies for a couple reasons: a) Everyone is different. Who knows? You may be someone who’s able to play by ear! If so, it could really cut your time down. Still, even if you do play by ear, you should still learn your notes, etc… which could take from a week to a month and b) It depends on how much time you invest into this new hobby. For instance, if you practice 10 minutes a day, it will take much longer to achieve basic proficiency than if you practiced 30 minutes a day, and so on.</p>
<p>Intermediate proficiency? This also depends on what you mean by intermediate. If by intermediate, you mean the fairly nationalized levels of “Early Intermediate, Intermediate, and Advanced Intermediate”, then you’re looking at a good year or two, once again depending on the factors listed above. The intermediate level is so great, so therefore it is difficult to ascertain a certain length of time that one would reach proficiency in it. For instance, ever heard of the Moonlight Sonata (mvt. 1) by Beethoven? That would be classified as a “Level 7” or “Intermediate-Advanced Intermediate” (according to my teacher, anyways).</p>
<p>And if all you wish to achieve is basic and intermediate proficiency, then a 61-key keyboard should suffice, though if you wish to continue, an 88-key keyboard/piano is necessary.</p>
<p>Just my two cents.</p>
<p>I’ve been playing piano for 10 years, and I’m just getting to the really advanced stuff. Piano isn’t just another instrument you can pick and play instantly. It requires YEARS of serious practicing. However if you work very diligently, you can get to a late beginner stage in 4-6 months. But you have to practice your a** off, to get that far that quickly. </p>
<p>P.S. Sorry for my mini rant, but piano is a really hard instrument that needs to be started when you are young. Your keyboard will be fine for a beginner. Only when you get to semi-advanced material will you need a of keys, for now you’ll probably be using 3-4 octaves (probably even less) :)</p>
<p>^ Same here, actually. I’m just now learning Schubert’s Impromptu in E-flat and it is FREAKING HARD. My head spins whenever I get to the 4th page -_-</p>
<p>Really? That’s cool. I’m learning Debussy’s Reverie and Beethoven’s Turkish March. Have you played any Bach Inventions (I love them, and I can sight read most of them)?</p>
<p>I think I’ve played the first one before…, but I haven’t looked into the other ones. Maybe I should, heard they’re pretty good. And Debussy… love him. Except for the fact that I can’t stand playing slow music.</p>
<p>^I’ve played Reverie, but my favourite Debussy would be the Clair de Lune and possibly the first few pages of Passepied. As for Bach Inventions, I’ve played a few, but haven’t really enjoyed them.</p>
<p>OP, you’ll be fine with a keyboard for a while. How long it takes you to become “good” will change by how much you practice and whether you have any experience with music.</p>
<p>Really you don’t like slow music? It’s my FAVORITE type of music to play. I like fast music too, but usually play it when I’m trying to impress someone who knows nothing about music. You should play the 8th and 13th Bach Invention, they are staples of piano music.</p>
<p>thanks for the input guys. I’ll practice daily on my own while taking weekly (or twice a week) lessons for a few months and see how I like it.</p>
<p>I’m about to start on Debussys fireworks, a Chopin nocturne, rachmaninoffs prelude 5 in g minor, and the second movement of the moonlight sonata, I’m stoked!
And I would agree with what everyone else said, can you already read music? Cuz that’s what you need to learn first. Piano proficiency is roughly a combination of understanding music theory and developing dexterity in the hands and wrists. There are other things, but that’s basically what you have to work on</p>
<p>Good luck with the g min prelude, I usually don’t have the energy to play through it more than once…</p>
<p>Since you’re playing that prelude though, can’t you pretty much sightread the moonlight sonata? I just sightread the 2nd mvt haha…</p>
<p>@oystershelleatme: I like fast music just because well… I guess it fits my personality and what I like to do. I’m kind of the impatient person… so… :)</p>
<p>And thanks for the suggestions! I’ll definitely look into those!</p>
<p>^Have you played the Khachaturian Toccata? It’s a somewhat modern piece, but very fast, and a very good showpiece. Most people won’t even notice if you make a mistake, and it just sounds impressively difficult.</p>
<p>I also played Debussy’s Reverie! I love that song. Left hand always kills me though, lol.</p>
<p>It’s such a beautiful piece!</p>
<p>I can play Twinkle Twinkle Little Star…</p>
<p>I can play mary had a little lamb, lol. 
I am also learning Clementi’s sonata Op 25, No.5, and Beethovan’s sonata Op 14, No.2.
It’s not easy to play well as others suggested here. But it’s a beautiful instrument. I also enjoy playing my fav pop songs like Jar of Hearts. Those cords are hard but once you can play, you can sing along and enjoy yourself.</p>
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<p>To achieve basic/intermediate proficiency, 61 should be OK. Do realize that an electric keyboard plays quite differently from a real piano (though the technique is mostly the same).</p>
<p>anyone can play Appasionita and Pathetique? It was like…goddammit.</p>
<p>@shmluza Have you also played Clementi’s sonatinas? His sonatas are a lot harder then his sonatinas though?</p>