Piano Guidance
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Why do people like weighted keys?

WHY ARE WEIGHTED KEYS BETTER FOR BEGINNERS THAN THOSE OF A KEYBOARD? Weighted keys will bring the beginner pianist closer to that of an acoustic piano, helping them feel the sensitivity required to push down the keys with different levels of control, as opposed to those on most keyboards that are unweighted.

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Weighted keys are a feature that digital pianos (and some keyboards/portable pianos) include in their design to help mimic the action of an acoustic piano. You can see from the example above that by pressing a key on an acoustic grand piano, a series of mechanical parts are set into motion with the aim of throwing a hammer at the string(s). This creates the familiar sound of a piano and provides a pianist with the level of control that is required to produce an array of expressive possibilities.

WHY ARE WEIGHTED KEYS BETTER FOR BEGINNERS THAN THOSE OF A KEYBOARD?

Weighted keys will bring the beginner pianist closer to that of an acoustic piano, helping them feel the sensitivity required to push down the keys with different levels of control, as opposed to those on most keyboards that are unweighted. Unweighted keys do not provide the resistance that is needed to develop piano playing skills. To make a good start in developing their piano technique, the learner needs to feel that they are pushing against they key to play a note, and also experience the sensation of the key pushing back up when returning to its resting position. On a larger scale, this is a little like the sensation of being sat on one end of a seesaw. The unweighted keys that you get on many keyboards, don't provide this sensation, and will result in a pupil practising on an instrument that doesn't resemble the key resistance of an acoustic piano. This often presents them with quite a shock when they start to play for their teacher on a weighted action for instance. The evenness of their playing can be affected due to their fingers not building up the strength to move from one key to another, which in turn will also affect the dynamic level and tone they produce from the instrument.

WHAT SORT OF PIANO WOULD BE GOOD FOR A BEGINNER ON A BUDGET?

For beginners who are on a budget, and/or may be limited for space, they may like to consider an instrument that is portable like a keyboard, but includes the type of weighted action that has been spoken about above. Many manufacturers offer a beginner 'entry range' of portable, weighted keyed instruments that provide a good basis for building a piano technique. One such instrument (at a very affordable price I might add) is the Casio CDP-S90. See the short video below for an overview:

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Which is easiest musical instrument to learn?

If you're looking for an easy instrument to learn, any of these options fit the bill: HARMONICA. One of the easiest instruments you can take up, which is also very popular in a variety of styles, is the harmonica. ... GUITAR. ... UKULELE. ... KEYBOARD. ... DRUMS.

Learning an instrument can be one of the most rewarding experiences in life. Save The Music donates instruments to students and teachers across the country so that they may experience the joy and power of making music. These students who are just starting to learn music may choose to play the flute, trombone, recorder, or guitar. We hear from teachers that their students get better and better and continue to play into adulthood. Playing an instrument helps to build confidence, it gets your brain working in more complex ways, and makes you practice hard work and determination. Picking up an instrument for the first time is exciting and the musical skills you learn will last for a long time. Whenever you decide to learn an instrument, it will surely make a positive impact on your life. It’s not only a fun activity you can enjoy but also an opportunity to meet others and create music together. But for any of that to happen, you need to find the best instrument to learn for your situation. Even though there are many easy instruments to learn for you to choose from, other factors for deciding what to play exist as well. So, if you’re asking, “what instrument should I play?” or if you want to consider the available options before committing, you’re at the right place. We’ll explore the key factors to consider when selecting instruments to learn, go through a list of the easiest instruments to learn, and explore a few helpful tips for mastering the instrument you end up choosing.

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