Frustrated about Key Weight

[drkz4ck]

First of all: I don't want to sound a complet newbie, even though I might just be one.

I've been playing the piano for around a year and a half now. Not too long time I guess.
Unfortunately, my family does not value music as much as I would like and therefore I don't get too much support at home. I don't even have the actual instrument, just a cheap keyboard which is better than nothing at all.
It can get me nervous quite easily. I can't get it or the bench to be at a good height and, because of that, I can't get a good posture. This has caused me some injuring, but I've already worked on that and it's better now. Still not quite good -yet again, better than nothing at all.

But by far, the thing that bothers me the most is the total absence of weighted keys (better than no keys at all, hahahahah! - sorry, I had to do this one ]= ). It was nearly impossible to play on my teacher's piano at first but I eventually got used to it's weight. She's got an upright one.

Her piano keys still feel a lot heavy. I've talked to her about it seveal times and she told me something about the instrument beig a "top line piano" or something of the sort (I don't think there is an equivalent translation from my language to english), and supposedely the keys are as heavy as piano keys could be. Seriously, they're dead heavy! She's also said something like "preparing concertists for the hardest situations possible".

Even though I might be used to it by now, sometimes - like earlier today - it just feels impossible. I don't think the actual problem is the piano itself because my teacher can play it wonderfully, as opposed to myself. I've played on three other pianos aside from hers, and none1s keys weight could ever be compared to my teachers.
I MEAN IT! IT'S LIKE HELL!! >.<

Well... this matter gets me a little too concerned about the weight of the keys. I am going to buy a piano somewhere araundo July this year - a digital one, though, since I couldn't ever afford an acoustic one within the next few years. It worries me to think that no digital piano could prepare me for concert grands or even regular grands (if there's a difference that I'm totally unaware of).

So, I would like to know the oppinion of you guys, regarding weighted keys, concert grands, digital pianos, "finger strength" and anything else that might be relevant to the facts and situations I'm describing here now.

I would also like toa ask you not to take me too serious when I say the keys are weighted like hell. I mean... they're a lot heavy, but I don't think it goes that far.

Thank you for your time! 

[zeroblackstar]

Hi there, I had a similar problem when I started, no space for a "real" piano plus too noisy to actually play.

I ended up buying a Roland ep880 which is fantastic, it's a digital 88-key keyboard but has full mechanical keys meaning it feels just like a real piano. The sound is also extremely good, has brilliant dynamic response as well as other features that are invaluable (sustain pedal, metronome, recording function).

Sadly they don't make these any more but you might find one second hand or an equivalent model with similar features. Cost me around £750 when I bought it brand new a few years back. Seems like the ideal solution for you, well it was for me anyway.

 

[drkz4ck]

Gah! I'm not too fond of Roland, though I've never tried it before. 

Thank you for your advice! I'm looking into this Roland's model Key action in more details to know if there's anything really special about it or if it's just "Regular" Hammer Action like many other Digital Pianos. Until then...

I feel i should emphasize about my concern that no digital piano could prepare me for the real thing - talking more on a technichal sense than on a acoustic sense. My teacher tells me I'll be just fine, but I don't think she's really well acquainted with Digital Pianos.

Now that I wrote it, it seems kind of a stupid question.  I feel a little pessimistic now, but I still need to get to the end of this, hahah!

[zeroblackstar]

 A digital piano can never replace an acoustic one, well certainly not at the moment anyway, but it'll do for practising! 

[richard black]

If you want to learn piano, buy a piano. Not a synthesiser. Second-hand pianos don't cost very much in most countries of the world.

[ongaku_oniko]

Is it a petrof?

My piano's a petrof, and it's FREAKING HEAVY. I think petrofs are one of the heaviest pianos available.

So I guess you don't really need to worry about being able to play REALLY HEAVY pianos, since grand pianos usually are not that heavy at all.

But I agree with richard, buy a real piano. My friend's piano is like 500 bucks canadian. That's not much more than a synthesizer.

[zeroblackstar]

Obviously not a synthesizer. The sound on the recording isn't great but I bet 90% of the people on here wouldn't be able to tell the difference if they heard this compared to your average acoustic piano in a live setting just by ear.

The one I have doesn't have an enclosure and so is very portable for gigs or just moving around in general. Also not needing to tune it and having a whole bunch of other features is also very useful for practising and convenience in general.

Of course if getting an acoustic piano is a viable option then go for it! But I learn't on a digital piano and I now give piano lessons, so it certainly won't hold you back any

[richard black]

Obviously not a synthesizer.

Er, yes, it's a synthesiser. Pianos don't have all those display bits and loudspeakers and stuff, you know...

I'm not denying that synths have their uses. I own one myself (ironically rather similar to the Roland in that YouTube vid) which among other things I find handy for late-night note-bashing practice, but all the same, if you want to learn piano you're better off learning on a piano.

[zeroblackstar]

Oh absolutely go for the real thing if possible, no argument there. Just saying that a digital piano with weighted keys is excellent for practice and is very comparable to the real thing in terms of developing muscle memory and even sound nowadays. A viable alternative for those who don't have the space for an acoustic piano.

Modern digital pianos are definitely not synthesizers. The are actually very complex mutli-samplers if anything. Each key of a real piano will have been played at precise velocities countless times and the digital piano reproduces the sound with the desired dynamic in response to your playing, which on weighted keys gives you a lot of options. In fact I've heard real pianos that sound awful compared to my digital piano.

I learnt faster by having a digital piano as it afforded me more time to practice (just plug in some headphones), record and listen to my playing to see where I can improve (built in record function), metronome built in, can plug the piano straight into a pc to record a piece as well as countless other features. After learning on my digital, when I came and sat down at a real piano I had absolutely no trouble playing as there was minimal adjustment needed.

Defo go for a "real" piano if possible, but a digital is a perfectly viable option thanks to modern technology and can actually help you learn quicker if anything.

[drkz4ck]

Tahnk you, everyone!

Yeah, I just can't have and acoustic piano right now. That will still be true for a few years to come and it's already past the time I got to practise more seriously (Just as I would like).

The reasons I can't have an acoustic upright are: It's very expensive - believe me. Even a second hand one. I just can't afford it in my conditions; My family hardly would apreciate the necessity of regular maintenance; I might just move next year into a new apartment all by myself (plus roomate(s)). No way in hell a piano would go upstairs and trough a tiny window  .

Perhaps there are a few more reasons that I just don't recall right now. 

Is it a petrof?

I'm not sure, sorry...  I've never really paid much attention to the brand, excepet at last class. I kind of overlooked it though. The only thing I remember is "August 'something'" - but I'm not entirely sure about it.

So I guess you don't really need to worry about being able to play REALLY HEAVY pianos, since grand pianos usually are not that heavy at all.

Oh, god!! That makes me feel much better

Just saying that a digital piano with weighted keys is excellent for practice and is very comparable to the real thing in terms of developing muscle memory and even sound nowadays.
[...]

I learnt faster by having a digital piano as it afforded me more time to practice (just plug in some headphones), record and listen to my playing to see where I can improve (built in record function), metronome built in, can plug the piano straight into a pc to record a piece as well as countless other features. After learning on my digital, when I came and sat down at a real piano I had absolutely no trouble playing as there was minimal adjustment needed.

Defo go for a "real" piano if possible, but a digital is a perfectly viable option thanks to modern technology and can actually help you learn quicker if anything.

That's also quite pleasant to know!! 
After all, it would just be some sort of temporary solution (compared to a whole lifetime).
I wish I could go for a real thing - and I definitely will someday! But now is just not the right time.