Would damage the keys if I play too hard or too much on my digital piano ?

[dora96]

I have casio C0P - 100 digital piano. I bought properly one year ago. I use it quite  lots, and I play lots of strong classical music, such Beethoven Pathetique, Moonlight sonata, Chopin Waltz. These music are pretty demanding and very virtuoso. Now I find that the keys in the middle part  appear bit gappy and loose, and it is not as firm as it is used to be. I don't know it is the way it is or it becomes a problem. How should I look after my keyboard? Can I get the keys fixed?

Another thing I would like to know, I  like to play some music in the street (parker) to gain some performance experience, but the trouble where can I get the power supply. I know that there is no way I can use it without having connected into electricity, and I have proposed to my local council, they don't want to know about providing me any facilities to the parker performer. It is very hard that I am eager to learn music and like to share, gain experience,   due to public liabilities, insurance etc.  it  virtually kills the desires to perform. l I thought I bought the keyboard I can at least carry it around to do some performances outside. It is a pain depending on the power supply. Does anyone have any idea to overcome this obstacle ? Please let me know !! Many thanks

[timothy42b]

Another thing I would like to know, I  like to play some music in the street (parker) to gain some performance experience, but the trouble where can I get the power supply. I know that there is no way I can use it without having connected into electricity, and I have proposed to my local council, they don't want to know about providing me any facilities to the parker performer. It is very hard that I am eager to learn music and like to share, gain experience,   due to public liabilities, insurance etc.  it  virtually kills the desires to perform. l I thought I bought the keyboard I can at least carry it around to do some performances outside. It is a pain depending on the power supply. Does anyone have any idea to overcome this obstacle ? Please let me know !! Many thanks

Two options: 

1.  switch to accordion, no power required.  You should double on accordion anyway, any pianist should to increase your chance of gigs.

2.  Buy a small portable generator.  I was really surprised the first time I saw amplified street musicians (buskers) in my town knowing there was no power.  I looked close, and they were running off a tiny generator no bigger than a cooler.  It was quiet enough to be below the hiss of speakers.  Honda makes several small quiet generators, I imagine the other manufacturers do too. 

[ksnmohan]

Hi Dora96,

I am rather surprised - the YAMAHA CDP100 at almost $ 700 is quite a sturdy product and that you find the keys already loose (infirm) within a year is beyond comprehension. If within the Warranty Period (I just saw on the Net Warranties of 2 to 5 yrs for this particular modal), then you must get the keys repaired.

Timothy42b's suggestion of a portable small Honda Generator is what I will also recommend. I am sure that you do not plan carrying the heavy CDP100 for your outdoor performances - you must go in for one of the smaller PSR model keyboards. These run on 9V DC and use only 500 to 750 MilliAmpere current - so a Battery will be sufficient, which you can recharge at home. A Sealed Lead-Acid battery 3 Ah (will keep the PSR going for 4 hours) weighs about 2.5 pounds.

Prof Narayanan
Madras/India

[richard black]

Of course it will wear out, any machine does with use and most toy pianos are made for toy use. If the manufacturers wanted to build them tough enough for 50 years of use they would end up building a Steinway, pretty much.

You can power most keyboards off a car battery, or a batch of sealed lead-acid rechargeables (or a really big batch of Ni-MH rechargeables), which you put in a little trolley. That's what the buskers here in London all do.

[dora96]

Wow!! Thank you for your ideas. Prof. Narayanan said " the keyboard is pretty heavy. I should switch to small keyboard" I will certainly look into this sort of options. Is there anything I should be aware of being buster ?  Being buster at least I have more control what should I play or how should I perform. All friends seem that I am pretty crazy and mad. I am not sure whether it is good idea for me but where I can gain experience if I don't try it. Perhaps I should ask other memebers of the formus as well. Many thanks guys

[timothy42b]

Wow!! Thank you for your ideas. Prof. Narayanan said " the keyboard is pretty heavy. I should switch to small keyboard" I will certainly look into this sort of options. Is there anything I should be aware of being buster ?  Being buster at least I have more control what should I play or how should I perform. All friends seem that I am pretty crazy and mad. I am not sure whether it is good idea for me but where I can gain experience if I don't try it. Perhaps I should ask other memebers of the formus as well. Many thanks guys

The small keyboards don't use much power but they don't put out much sound either.  You will have to use an external amplifier, and if you do much of this you're going to want a generator to plug your amplifier into.

Being a busker requires a different mindset.  You have to get away from being focused on yourself creating classic art, and change to focus on pleasing a paying customer.  You are not crazy at all, this kind of performance is what keeps the relevance and the life in your growth as a musician.  I cannot comprehend practicing without ever using it.  Yes, you have total control over what you play - like Joshua Bell did.  But if you choose incorrectly you will alienate your audience like he did.  Play what makes them happy - that's what music is all about.  This kind anyway. 

[guendola]

You can probably butcher any piano. When I was a child of 10 years, I had a fit from frustration on the piano (upright) and broke five hammers by slamming the keys with my fists. Now imagine a fully grown up person does the same...

The music you mentioned can't harm a piano when played somewhat adequately. My Yamaha YDP-131 survived 7 months so far. I am playing up to 5 hours a day, sometimes even more and the keys haven't suffered so far.

As for power supply: If your piano has an external AC adaptor, you can look for an appropriate battery pack that you can connect instead of the adaptor - perhaps a car battery with an electronic gizmo to get the right voltage. And I think there are even converters that can change battery-power into the required 110 or 220 V, depending on where you are. I personally wouldn't like the idea of a power generator, they tend to stink and produce a lot of noise and even if you wouldn't care, the people around you might.

[gerry]

Some choices:

1) As was stated above, get the small Honda generator - smallest and quietest is the EU1000 model - runs about $700-$800 USD new. This will power a full-sized 88-key portable Clavinova if you like + other equipment if you have a small combo. Be aware, though, this option rules out indoor usage (subways, etc.) due to gasoline fumes, etc.

2) If you have a smaller unit that has a DC input - then you can use car/marine-type storage batteries (it's best to go the extra $$s and get a gel-type so if they tip over in your car or elsewhere, you won't have battery gunk all over.) AND you will need to purchase a home battery charger. You will also need to get the cabling (alligator clips for battery and plug for keyboard).

PS: If your unit only has AC input (i.e., a direct AC wiring into your keyboard), you will need an "inverter" (DC to AC). Your unit probably has a DC input with the small AC adaptor at the plug end.

Nitpicking point: The term is "busker" (with a 'k') which means street performer - not buster. Good luck.

[dora96]

Thank you for reminding me the spelling word : "busking". Another question about my keyboard,
the keys become gappy. I went to the shop and asked about it. Basically, they don't want to know
about it, even though I have 4 years warranty. They suggest that I should ring the manufacture.
God knows where the manufacture is in Sydney?. Who has time to take the heavy keybroad in
and out of the manufacture.? The shop refused to do anything about it. I feel I have paid $790 for
this digital piano. It is pretty crook. I don't know anyone could suggest anything? I know that
another the feature I can adjust the weight of the key by pressing the function button. I haven't
got the instruction with me. If someone knows about this feature, could you kindly let me know?
At least I can put more weight in the key stopping the key wobble. My car dealing friend is trying
to get me car battery to connect the keyboard. However, my friends are not convinced that I
should pursuit performing in the street. Do I feel so despised that I need to play in the street
surely there is better place to perform? I am student, I don't have lots of experiences, and I feel
uncomfortable to play in the concert or piano competition until I get used to play in front of
public. Even though, I have performed twice a year in my exam and my piano recital at my
teacher studio. I feel that I need more. Professionals they perform all the time, and get so
proficient about their performance. Even Professionals how experienced and skillful they are, they get stage fright from time to time, alone me without experience I feel more embrassing  than performing in the street.

[gerry]

I apologize as I can't speak to your mechanical problems with your keyboard. I'm not entirely sure about your goals - I assume you are hoping to gain public performance skills in order to perform classically on stage (did I misunderstand?) If so, then playing on anything other than a full weighted 88-key type keyboard can be counter-productive. I'm not sure what you are meaning about playing in the street. Certain venues like subways can be pretty cool, but just playing on street corners or plazas is not very rewarding. Also, be aware that performing this way is not always the best preparation for concert venues because you are usually performing pop music, and playing to the crowd - not always using the same mindset required for concert performance. Others may differ with me but personally I don't think this is the way to get over stage fright. I more or less got over my difficulties in this area by doing lots of serious accompanying (singers, instrumentalists, choral groups) where the spotlight/pressure wasn't totally on you. It's a great way to develop your stage skills. If you're in a college atmosphere, look to accompanying student recitals, etc. Again, I apologize if I totally misunderstood your goals in this thread.

Good luck.

[Bob]

You might be able to buy a new set of keys.  Replace them yourself.

[andric_s]

It is a sad fact that digital pianos aren't made to last.  The action inevitably decays as the metal parts wear away the plastic ones (often there is a flat metal spring that pushes against the plastic key).

There is a chance you'll get casio to fix it under warranty,, but I wouldn't hold my breath wating.  Look for an "authorized service center", which you can probably find on casio's website.  Even if they do agree to fix it under warranty, it's likely to take a long time-- or even if you pay for the work.

I've never taken apart a casio, but my Yamahas have turned out to be relatively easy to open up, once you figure out the trick.  And there are definitely tricks to figure out.  Maybe you can find a service manual?

Replacing the keys seems to do the trick for me (or, more often, switching the worn keys in the middle for the less-used ones on the top or bottom).



I would definitely encourage you to busk!  It's kind of a crazy idea, but often that's what it takes.  Pursuing a performance career is a crazy idea to begin with!   I bet you could rig a car battery, though I wouldn't know how.  Generators are pretty loud, probably louder than your keyboard's internal speakers (if that's what you are planning).  Probably you'd want some kind of keyboard amp or powered monitors, which of course means more power consumption.  How about trying a long extension chord, and asking some business if you can borrow an outlet for a little while?  There's got to be music lovers around somewhere:)