<p>Mine is NOT a music major, but loves our piano. But that sure doesn't go to college. So, what would? Suggestions on very good keyboards for a dorm room - piano feel and ability to mate with a computer are the prime abilities. It's (possibly) the big graduation present, so start by telling me what the best would be and I'll work down in price as need be.</p>
<p>My daughter dragged her Casio keyboard to college for her freshman year in a dorm and used it with a headset. We actually found it on eBay and it was used, but the quality was good enough for small gigs, too. It was less than $400. She bought rack raisers for her dorm bed and stored the keyboard and many other things under it. Now she’s in an apartment (okay, a tiny studio), and while she prefers to use the good music room pianos which are nicely tuned during the day, she can practice anytime she has the urge in her apartment.</p>
<p>My D has a Yamaha ypt-320 keyboard, which has 61 keys and is a reasonable portable system. We paid around $150 for it at the Guitar Center. Be sure you are getting an AC adapter because that is sometimes sold separately. He’ll probably also need a keyboard stand and bench.</p>
<p>Yamaha keyboards have a good reputation and there are many different models that come with many different price points with many different features. My experience has been that the"piano attack" is a relatively expensive feature. But my son says that was one of the most important considerations for him. However, music will be his major, and will be his future, so we opted for the a more expensive keyboard with the piano attack.</p>
<p>I would certainly recommend the yamaha P85, or the newer version the P95. You can find it for about $500. It has 88 keys and an excellent hammer action. I have used it for everything from practicing in my room, playing rock gigs, classical, recording, and as a midi controller (it has midi in/out). The action is as good as it gets on a portable keyboard, unless you want to spend $2000+. The sound quality with good headphones is incredible, so certainly good for practicing in a dorm. Just make sure you get a good case. ;-)</p>
<p>My son has, and loves, his Yamaha YPG-235 and plans to take it to college in the fall. The stand that we bought folds flat so it should fit under his bed, in a corner, etc. My advice to you would be to do what we did. We decided on how much we were willing to spend, told him that amount, and then let him loose in a store that has lots of brands and models (in our case, Sam Goody). He played, felt the keys, scoped out the features, and spoke to a knowledgeable salesperson. Since some of the models were on sale (including the one he chose), he got a “better” model than he had hoped for. He also left the store happy.</p>
<p>We have a Casio PX-800 digital piano in our living room that I love - it has midi and recording capabilities - probably more furniture-like than your daughter wants, but the quality is excellent. Casio does the weighted keyboard very nicely, and I am sure they have something comparable in a more portable model.</p>
<p>^I second the Yamaha P95 – enough attack for the price (reasonably grade/weighted keys), reasonably portable. It’s a stage piano. We were advised that in our son’s case, the midi capability trumped the effects (eg YPG has many more effects). But it really depends on what the student wants to use it for or how the student wants to use it – and whether the student also LIKES playing keyboard/synth as opposed to “piano.”</p>
<p>So, OP, if your student wants “piano” (and you home piano is similar) that model would be a good one; if your home piano is heavily multifunction, a different model might suit better.</p>
<p>Our home piano is a grand - not multifunctional at all! Son really likes just piano and I think basic midi/recording abilities would be sufficient. A P95 looks like a reasonable place to start. I’m also looking at the Casio PX-330. Might look at the smallest of the ROlands too.</p>
<p>When I was shopping, the Casio seemed liked it offered the most versatility for the money. It also included some software and the built-in metronome and recording abilities are really nice to have. I’m no great player, but I had to study in college and still enjoy it. My daughter has picked up a bit from just having it sitting there.</p>
<p>I ran out to our local mega-store and did some looking in advance.
I can see why the Yamaha P-95 is so popular. It’s a very nice size, and looks like it would stand up to dorm life. ANd the sound and feel are nice. The next model up , the P-155 is a fair big larger, but seems to have some nice options.
Casio Privia line is in the running as well.
Korg SP-250 really has a great feel and a super tone too. I like the plain design but I’m not sure if it would have the right options.
So, time for more researching around…</p>
<p>I am not sure how popular my next suggestion is going to be, but I’ll try it anyway…</p>
<p>I like to go on Amazon and read the reviews. Sometimes the person writing the review really knows what he/she is talking about and therefore takes a lot of guesswork out of buying something that you are not that familiar with.</p>
<p>The Amazon reviews are a mixed bag…so don’t take everything literally. From my own experience with the P85, which is the older version of the P95 I can say that it’s as good as it gets for that price range. The sound with good headphones is amazing or you can connect it to a computer via MIDI and get even better sounds if you have a sample library. The action is in my experience much better than the Casios. Though the Casios tend to have more bells and whistles. Don’t know if you want, or need any of that. I wanted a keyboard to practice at night in my room. It certainly does a great job at that. Keep in mind I’m a piano perf applicant. I have also taken it to a few gigs without any problems. In the end though you might want to take your S/D (did you mention?) to a store with a GOOD set of headphones and have him/her try them out. Choosing a keyboard is a very personal decision.</p>
<p>I read Amazon too - mixed bag to be sure. But it can be good for finding out what people care about and how things last. Didn’t think of bringing headphones to the store but we’ll do that when we involve son.
Do all headphones work with keyboards? We’ve all got noise-cancelling Bose which we use on flights and are very comfortable with.
For myself, I would go with the best key feel and piano sound, as along as it can connect via MIDI fairly easily.</p>
<p>^Actually, nemom, if you’re liking the feel of the yamaha p95, I should tell you that you’d be able to do a pretty excellent deal on a second-hand p85 if you’re looking to save $$$. The 85 has everything you said you’d need and the stage pianos last forever – gig-rugged. Any Hphones will work, but you’d likely really enjoy something like a studio Koss with 'em. Cheers!</p>