| Many people who want to learn how to play the piano | | | | When buying a keyboard touch sensitivity is a |
| don't have the money to buy an acoustic piano right | | | | necessity for the piano student. On an acoustic piano |
| away. A great inexpensive solution to buying a piano is | | | | when you press a key harder, the sound gets louder. |
| starting out with a digital keyboard. Keyboards range in | | | | Conversely, when pressing the key softer, the sound |
| price anywhere from 100 dollars to thousands of | | | | gets softer. Some of the most inexpensive keyboards |
| dollars. With all of the different options available, it can | | | | do not have touch sensitivity in this way. This means |
| get pretty confusing. When buying a keyboard for a | | | | that no matter how hard you play the keyboard, it's |
| beginner, you should consider the following categories. | | | | always going to stay at the same volume. Not having |
| Number of keys | | | | a touch sensitive keyboard could be a huge detriment |
| The number of keys is one of the most important | | | | to a student's progression. Always make sure that the |
| factors in buying a keyboard. A full acoustic piano has | | | | keyboard you are looking at has touch sensitivity |
| 88 keys, but keyboards can have as few as 25. So | | | | before you buy it. |
| how many do you need? Everyone progresses at | | | | Built-in Speakers |
| different rates but a keyboard with 76 keys should last | | | | Some keyboards don't come with a built-in speaker, |
| through a year or two of piano lessons. 61 keys should | | | | meaning you must plug the keyboard into an amplifier |
| be the minimum when buying a keyboard to begin | | | | in order for it to make sound. If you don't want to |
| learning piano. | | | | spend extra money on an amp, make sure it has |
| Weighted vs. Non-weighted keys | | | | built-in speakers. |
| Keyboards aren't acoustic pianos. With acoustic pianos | | | | The Stand |
| when a key depressed a felt hammer hits a metal | | | | Most keyboards don't come with a stand. Are you |
| string causing it to vibrate and make a sound. There | | | | going to play your keyboard on the floor? If a stand |
| are no hammers or strings on an electric keyboard. | | | | doesn't come with the keyboard, make sure that you |
| Therefore there isn't any sensation of weight when | | | | factor it into the price. |
| you press down a key. Keyboards with weighted | | | | Another option |
| keys, also sometimes called "hammer action keys", | | | | Another option would be a Digital Piano. Digital Piano's |
| attempt to simulate the feel of a real acoustic piano, | | | | are keyboards that attempt to simulate an acoustic |
| making the keys harder to depress. This is a huge | | | | piano in every way possible, including appearance. |
| benefit to anyone trying to play serious piano music, | | | | Digital pianos often have wooden stands and almost |
| but it does add quite a bit of cost. Don't worry too | | | | always have built-in speakers. They do however get |
| much about it for now; the benefit of weighted keys | | | | more pricey. |
| doesn't really manifest itself until the student reaches | | | | Don't miss out on piano lessons just because you don't |
| an intermediate to advanced playing level. Beginners | | | | own a piano! With the advancement of technology |
| won't be negatively affected by keys that aren't | | | | today, you don't have to spend thousands of dollars on |
| weighted. | | | | beginning piano lessons. |
| Touch Sensitivity | | | | |