| I remember when I was a kid taking piano lessons. We | | | | "weighted keys" or not. This simply means, "Does it |
| had an old upright piano that weighed a ton, looked | | | | feel like a piano when you play it?" Normally piano |
| awful and never seemed to stay in tune. Not exactly | | | | keys are harder to press than most electronic |
| what you would call inspiring to a beginning piano | | | | keyboards, or organs due to the mechanical action |
| student. But who could afford a grand piano? Or who | | | | used to produce the sound. Most electronic keyboards |
| had room for one if they could afford it? | | | | come with a "weighted keys" option. This is an |
| Fortunately today things are a little better. There are a | | | | important consideration if the instrument is to be used |
| variety of cost effective electronic solutions. The main | | | | for child piano lessons. Weighted keys will allow the |
| advantage of choosing an electronic piano is price. In | | | | transition to a real piano to come much easier when |
| addition to price, an electronic piano never needs to be | | | | the child gets ready to perform that first concert at |
| tuned. Most are light weight making them easy to | | | | Carnegie Hall on the beautiful Concert Grand Piano. |
| move, and they can be purchased in a variety of | | | | Fourth, does it have a full 88 note keyboard? A real |
| furniture style to match your home decor. | | | | piano has 88 notes. While some electronic pianos have |
| Still there are a few things to consider when making | | | | 88 notes, some do not. Be sure to check with the |
| your purchase. | | | | sales professional at your store, or read the |
| The first seems to be a "no-brainer", but "does it sound | | | | specifications carefully if purchasing online. While a |
| like a piano?" With all the "bells and whistles " available | | | | beginning student may be able to get by with an |
| on electronic pianos today it is easy to overlook the | | | | abbreviated keyboard for some time, they will outgrow |
| obvious being enamored by the cool drum sounds and | | | | it soon. Often times lower priced versions may not |
| realistic orchestral sounds that these new instruments | | | | have full sized keyboards. |
| are capable of producing. Along with this consideration | | | | Fifth, does the instrument have built in speakers or do |
| it is important to evaluate the other sounds. Some | | | | you need to connect it to some kind of sound system |
| models may make the traditional keyboard sounds | | | | to be able to hear it? Many stage pianos need to be |
| such as piano, electronic piano, organ and harpsichord. | | | | connected to external amplification to be heard. While |
| That's great if that's all you're looking for. However | | | | the sound quality may be a lot better, the cost of the |
| today's versions are capable of the traditional | | | | external sound system must be considered. Also the |
| keyboard sounds and a lot more. Some models are | | | | intended use must be considered. If you are planning to |
| capable of producing every instrument in the orchestra | | | | play with a band, you are better to choose the |
| as well as many modern synthesizer sounds. Normally | | | | external amplification system. If you are planning to do |
| the more sounds it makes the more it costs, so weigh | | | | all your playing in your home living room, you are |
| your options carefully. Most models also include drum | | | | probably better off going with built in speakers. |
| sounds. | | | | Sixth, how does it look? Electronic pianos come in a |
| Second, along with a lot of really cool sounds, many of | | | | variety of styles and cabinets. You can get the cool |
| these new instruments have an onboard midi | | | | black stage piano look if you are playing in a band. If |
| sequencer. This is an electronic counterpart to the old | | | | you intend to do all your concerts in your living room, |
| fashioned tape recorder. You simply select an | | | | styles range from the traditional spinet piano look all the |
| instrument sound, play a part and the sequencer | | | | way up to the look of a "Baby Grand". Unlike traditional |
| records what you play. You then play that track back | | | | pianos, their electronic counterparts may also come in |
| while recording a second instrument. Record enough | | | | a variety of colors other than wood tones. |
| tracks and you have built a very nice multitrack | | | | While it is true that there is something unique about |
| recording of your song complete with drums, bass, | | | | sitting in front of a real piano, by weighing your options |
| piano, strings or whatever else you choose to include. | | | | carefully and using the six tips above you can have a |
| In essence you have your very own recording studio. | | | | satisfying piano experience at a fraction of the cost by |
| A third thing to consider is whether the instrument has | | | | choosing a quality electronic piano. |