Practising with minikeys

[miguelgonzalez]

Hello, I am a self taught beginner in piano playing. I've been playing for 6 months. However, there's a issue that's been bothering me. Right now I've playing with a keyboard with minikeys (keys are like 3 milimeters thinner than the usual standard). I've been saving money to buy a decent electric piano but it still will take me some time to get it. I have a decent precision with the pieces that I am practising with but it happens to me that a lot of times I slightly press notes that I don't have to and I don't know if it is because I just need more practice (which doesn't worry me) or because I am supposed to be playing with standard measured keys (which worries me).
Are there some benefits when practising with small keys? Or I am losing time?ra Should I just quit until I get a better electric piano or my practising will still be beneficial in some way?

Thank you.

[indianajo]

Inaccuracy with what you own is lack of practice or ineffective practice.  
I wouldn't waste time trying to learn pieces on your toy keyboard, because you are going to have to unlearn the movements you did learn to play the pieces again on a real keyboard later. But, getting control of your third, fourth, and fifth fingers is a major goal of the first year of piano study.  This can be achieved on any keyboard, even a guitar.  I reccommend until you buy a standard sized keyboard, you concentrate on the Schmitt & Shekt exercises, Op 16. These are 5 finger exercises, don't have much range over the keyboard, and are what taught me to use my "extra" fingers. Mother bought me the G. Schirmer edition.  I was 8 or 9 and had a high tolerance for boring repetition.  The alternative then was 3 channels of boring black & white afternoon television.    
Meanwhile, check the charity resale shops.  Spinet wood pianos can go for $50, can be easily carried upstairs or in the trunk of a full size car.  Certain brands can sound pretty good.  Around here there are a plague of "Acrosonic" spinets, which were made by Baldwin, sound good, and are very compact.  They aren't as fast as a 39" or taller console, but it would be   4th year or later repretoire that would test that limitation. I checked out a Mason & Hamlin spinet at Goodwill last year, that sounded decent - $40.