Any tips on what type of keyboard to get for a dorm? For a vocal major taking piano ( not a pianist ).
You should get one with 88 weighted keys and volume control. Korg makes really good ones, but there are other brands as well. I recommend just going to a music store that sells keyboards, and playing a few of them to try them out and see what you like in your price range. I’ve seen much better selections of keyboards at stores that also sell guitars and drums, rather than piano stores.
My D (primarily vocalist) has an 88 key weighted that she uses for gigs and then a little cheap thing she keeps under her bed in her room at home - think it’s only a 61 key. I assumed we’d send whichever one fits best in her dorm when the time comes. Now that you bring it up, I wonder if you should check with the school to see if a smaller one will be sufficient. Personally, I’d rather send a cheap / small one if it will get the job done!
For my d she has to have the 88 key because her range is above 61 key. So I’d recommend the weighted version.
Good point Sguti40. My D most often practices voice a cappella or with her guitar. Since she performs with guitar regularly, she will need 2 guitars while at college and I am very much hoping a small simple keyboard will get her through despite it not having the very top of her vocal range. Again, I’m not sure how basic 1st year keyboarding is for a college student whose primary instrument is not piano. My D is also able to transpose music fairly easily, but I guess this is something else we will have to look into! Ugh!
You can buy a decent 88 key weighted for around $500 on Amazon. It should include bench, pedals, free shipping, etc. I paid once for all four years. Helps with plunking out keys and her piano lessons.
Can somebody throw out some brand names and model numbers that they would recommend? I want to buy one of these for my daughter as her 18th birthday present. The weighted key action is important as well as the MIDI capability for composition on a MacBook Pro. She is a vocal major, so piano is not her major instrument although she is at an intermediate level. Price limit roughly $500. Thanks!
I would not venture to buy one for my daughter. I took her to the store (Guitar Center) and she tried a lot out before deciding. I would give a card with a picture of a keyboard on it or a gift certificate 
I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that it’s really not necessary for a VP major to have a keyboard of their own at school while in the dorm. Dorm rooms are small , space is tight and things can and do go missing. There are pianos in every practice room and often in the dorms too, so finding a piano isn’t usually a problem, but transporting or storing a large keyboard over breaks and summer vacation can be a pain. We waited until D moved out of the dorm for her sophomore year to take her keyboard to her new apartment.
I’ll second that saying I’ve never heard of bringing a keyboard to a conservatory dorm (for a performance major.)
DD had a small one in the dorm that she could plug in a headset and pick out her music when she was learning it. It was not full sized, weighted or anything like that. She got one of those larger ones when she moved to an apartment.
I’ve had good results with Yamaha’s keyboards / stage pianos. The P-45 is in your price range. From the pictures I think it’s the same model my voice teacher has. The piano sound is fairly good for an electronic instrument and the action is decent (electronic keyboard actions can take some getting used to). M-Audio and Korg also have a few models around $500. I have no recent experience with their products so I can’t offer any opinions on them, but I hear good things about the companies in general.
I second compmom’s suggestion. Your best bet is to go to a music store and try out as many models as possible. In particular the feel of the action can be a very personal choice.
Thanks for all the suggestions! That went on a tangent I hadn’t anticipated, but made me realize I’m probably just trying to throw money at a problem without much forethought. Maybe I should start a new thread about what to get for a musician’s 18th birthday when you are definitely not going to buy a car!!! I’m not one of those moms who is planning weeks in advance for a beautiful birthday cake, perfectly wrapped presents and a surprise party. … in fact I inevitably disappoint her with my total lack of planning, so I need help. I would like to at least get it halfway right for her last birthday at home… cry (And of course, her birthday is a week away…)
Well…she will need a nice gown sooner or later. And a black cocktail length dress would be nice as well! Her birthday gift could be a lovely shopping day with mom!!
Oooo! Gown shopping! One of our favorite activities. I miss it.
As for the car, check out the car services located at the U she goes to. We used zip car and it gave my D the flexibility she needed to have a car on occasion for a day once or twice a month of running errands. Small or no membership fee. Cars available right on campus. And about $8 an hour to use.
Well we have to go prom dress shopping and I’m pretty sure she won’t want to count that against her birthday present. Ha ha.Thanks guys!