<p>My d would like a keyboard for christmas. She is a junior who hasn't started piano lessons yet. Since neither she nor I know anything about keyboards we turn to CC once again for advice. Thanks in advance.</p>
<p>Do you have a price range in mind and have you made the acoustic vs electronic decision yet?</p>
<p>We bought a keyboard for the college dorm room, for theory practice, for $99. There are keyboards and digital pianos for $1,000 up (as I remember). And then there are acoustic pianos, which most piano students would want to have.</p>
<p>Hi Clarinetmom,</p>
<p>You will probably get better specific advice than I can give from others, but to start your search, here are some general considerations we've learned at our house.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Keyboards and pianos have a very different "feel" affecting the touch that the player uses. Keyboards feel "stickier" (for lack of a better term) and more organ-like. This can adversely effect a beginning piano student. (and may not help an advanced one past at note learning point!)</p></li>
<li><p>To overcome the above problem, consider a keyboard that is "weighted" and designed to have the touch of a piano. These keyboards are likely to be more expensive - possibly significantly so - than more "generic" keyboards. Sorry I can't give brands, haven't shopped for several years.</p></li>
<li><p>Not all electonic keyboards have the full 88 piano keys. Consider the necessary range before purchasing.</p></li>
<li><p>Some keyboards have narrower keys than a standard paino. Pianist teacher friends tell me that really messes kids up when they move to piano to play their lesson material!</p></li>
<li><p>Some piano teachers have very DEFINITE thoughts that a student should not practice/play on a keyboard as their primary instrument. They insist on a real piano. Others are more accepting, but may have concerns/professional observations that you should hear.</p></li>
<li><p>If you have a piano teacher in mind for your D, it might be a good idea to contact him/her and explore the question. You might get ideas for a specific brand - there are a lot and we never found sales people helpful for us classical folks!</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Good luck - it's a great idea to be checking out piano lessons. You D will be grateful she started before college!</p>
<p>One more thought, if you have only 2 years before college and if the keyboard purchase doesn't work, have you thought of asking a church or school if there is an instrument she could practice on - perhaps for a small donation? I've known kids who have done this short term with good results.</p>
<p>When my D started piano lessons, none of the teachers that were recommended to us wanted her to have a keyboard for practicing. I ended up buying a used upright and started playing again myself to help justify the purchase. My D did take her old keyboard - Sam's Club purchase many years ago - to college to help with theory and some piano class composition - that has been a huge help. In summary, I agree about talking to a piano teacher first.</p>
<p>I would like to piggyback on this thread, if no one minds! I am also buying a keyboard for my daughter in college. She is a psych major, but she is taking a piano class next semester as a fun way to fill a "creative expression" requirement. She would like a keyboard to keep in her dorm room, since the piano lab is on the other side of campus. Can anyone suggest how many keys the keyboard should have? For instance, some have 61 keys, and older ones have 49 keys. I am trying to help her save space in her small room, so the smaller the better. But I'm figuring that anything less than 49 keys will not be too useful. I will make sure that the keys are full-size. Does anyone have an opinion? Thanks!</p>
<p>my d is taking piano next year in HS and then as required in college. She would also like the key board for music theory. I didn't really want to invest in an acoustic piano at this time. I wasnt sure if a digital or electronic was the way to go. I figure I want 88 full size weighted keys. Is one brand better than another?</p>
<p>Here's the link to a previous thread about a similar question. </p>
<p>Clarinetmom - If your D is in an apartment or something, and has room for an electronic piano (full size), I'm sure she'd love it. However, for beginners, and/or dorm rooms,you really don't need a full-size keyboard. For more advanced students, chances are they aren't going to be happy practicing on a keyboard anyway, and will seek out a practice room with a piano.</p>
<p>I always tell my piano students' parents to get at least 61 (for those who are "trying it out" prior to committing to a piano) or even 76 if it is to be a long-term substitute.</p>
<p>We have a similar issue. My ds is NOT a piano or even performance major but does use a yamaha stage piano with weighted keys at home to compose/as a midi controller. It is not quite portable enough and a little big for installing under a loft (considering he has other instruments and gear to keep or fit) so we’re trying his school’s recommendation for a M-Audio Oxygen 61 key midi interface.(They suggest it for all the school of music kids…but likely NOT for actual piano students : ) We’ll see how that goes. S and I are hoping to engineer a drop-down/hideaway attachment for underside of loft-configured bed. If that works out, I’ll patent it and let you all know : )</p>