How to practice when abroad for a long stay?

[_nisa_]

Hi,

I will have to go abroad for professional stays (from 3 months to an entire year) several times in the next years, and wonder how to continue practicing.

I thought about buying a portable digital piano. Is this a good idea?
Are they easily transportable (flight, ...)?

Any other suggestions?

Thanks,

_Nisa_

[oxy60]

Find a music school/shop that has down time from lessons and rent studio time. (I've done it and it works!) Or rent a digital locally (done that too..) Sometimes you might get lucky and there will be a piano in the house you are renting.

Sometimes there will be a piano in the music room of the hotel. Clear the room first with scales and exercises so people won't think you're the house pianist. If you start to draw a crowd go back to the scales or repeat a passage over and over. I did this at the Mission Inn, Riverside.

Good luck but don't stay away from the keyboard too long. It's a long way back!

[thalbergmad]

I suggest you buy a banjo.

Thal

[Bob]

If it's that long it gets into the debate of digital vs. acoustic.  I think acoustic is almost always better, even with an upright.

A portable digital is nice for not having to worry about neighbors.  A good one is expensive ($2-3 grand) and if you're travelling, you have to get a hard shell case which are also more expensive.  And it's one more thing to lug around... one big heavy thing to lug around.

I'd go for renting an instrument or a place to practice.  For what it would cost to ship a digital piano there and back... unless you bought it there and sold it to someone there.... It just sounds easier to find something already there, use it, and leave it there.

Although if you're doing that several times in the next few years, if you could even buy something and leave it there... Maybe a host family would hold onto a piano for you.  Or find a host family who (well one who already own a piano of course) but one who would buy one or split the cost with you, so you're renting it from them and you leave it there when you're back home.

I'm wondering how you pack a digital piano up for shipping.  I'm thinking digital pianos and airline handlers aren't a good mix.  Even if you've got it tight in a box, the inside gutes could move.  You could put it in its case and surround it by packing material in a box.  Or even double box it.  Walk around with a giant box and tell people "It's not a body if that's what you're thinking.  It's just a piano."

[_nisa_]

Clear the room first with scales and exercises so people won't think you're the house pianist. If you start to draw a crowd go back to the scales or repeat a passage over and over.

I love it! 
But don't you get pushed away by the hotel employees?

Good luck but don't stay away from the keyboard too long. It's a long way back!

Hell, yeah! I already experienced it and don't want to do it again.

If it's that long it gets into the debate of digital vs. acoustic.

Even for 3 months?

Agreed with the transport argument, i was thinking too lightly at it!

Although if you're doing that several times in the next few years, if you could even buy something and leave it there... Maybe a host family would hold onto a piano for you.  Or find a host family who (well one who already own a piano of course) but one who would buy one or split the cost with you, so you're renting it from them and you leave it there when you're back home.

I think i will not often go to the same place... So i can't afford buying something or deal with a host family (i'm likely to get it in a residence or a small appartment, so no host family but a lot of neighbours... ).

So you both advice me to rent an instrument over here or find a place to rent. But how much does the renting of a piano (digital/acoustic) cost (there must be transport in and out) in average?
And how much about renting a studio?

Thank you, your answers will be very useful,

_Nisa_

[oxy60]

There are a lot of factors involved in how much anything costs, including the renting of studios and instruments.

One touring band I knew didn't bring much along because they were appearing in various countries with various customs laws. Their manager rented the complete setup, drums, keyboards, etc., for every gig locally. When the band arrived on the stage for the sound check, they just sat down and played.  Everything was adjusted and ready to go.

Renting of instruments is not what it was in the past. In the above example it was cheaper to NOT bring anything along.

Another band had to post a "customs bond" just to get their instruments into Canada from the US!

[soitainly]

 I would buy a digital piano such as a Yamaha P155 for about a little over $1000 and ship it where you are traveling. When you buy the piano it will be boxed with foam and bubble wrap as it is shipped to you or the store anyway, just keep the packing materials for when you ship it around the world. I wouldn't ship it on the airline you travel on, they are known to abuse things a bit, I would use FedEx or something. You can always have them hold for pickup if you aren't sure how to recieve delivery. As long as you insure the piano, the worse case is you have to buy a new one and have it shipped wherever you are. If you have access to an acoustic piano, then that's fine, but the digital is cheap and handy to have around anyway for late night practice.

[oxy60]

Anyone bringing anything of value into another country whether as accompanied baggage or as shipped items should always be aware that they may need to pay sales tax (BTW/VAT) on the item whether new or used at the rate of the new price of the same item in the country of destination. TIP! Read this twice..