Crippled by Electronic Keyboard

[Siberian Husky]

well heres the deal..im a beginner of only 2 month or so...im using a 61-key NON-touch sensitive keyboard...will this cripple me in the future?..i understand i wont be able to practice dynamics and other important elements with my keyboard...i didnt realize all this up until recently...should i switch to an acoustic piano ASAP to ensure propper learning?..i dont want to pick up bad habbits...acoustic pianos are SOOOOOO SOOO expensive though..is there a medium?..like half acoustic half digital?...good sound and range of dynamics at a reasonable price?..or should i just start saving every penny now?..thanks in advance

-Luis

[Brian Healey]

In short, yes, playing on a keyboard such as that will prevent you from learning properly how to generate sound on a real piano. Even if it was touch sensitive, it would be an improvement, but still a bad idea. The mechanics are SO much different between the two.

I know pianos are expensive, but you can usually get a decent used one pretty cheap (or free). Check the want ads in your local paper. People often sell their old pianos when they move and stuff and they're usually pretty cheap (although probably has gone years and years without a tuning). Sometimes people will just be giving one away in order to be rid of it, in which case you just pay for moving it and any maitenance it may need.

Another option would be a high-quality digital piano. Digital piano manufacturers are coming closer and closer to the piano experience, but there's still a world of difference. Plus, getting a real piano with the method above would be much cheaper.


Peace,
Bri

[will]

im using a 61-key NON-touch sensitive keyboard...will this cripple me in the future?

To a degree yes. As Brian said the mechanics as "SO much different" between the two.

i understand i wont be able to practice dynamics and other important elements with my keyboard...i didnt realize all this up until recently...should i switch to an acoustic piano ASAP to ensure propper learning?

If you want to become a good pianist then the ealier you start playing and practicing on the piano the better. Playing on your type of keyboard you can make any motion to depress the key and no matter what the sound will still be the same. This is not at all good for your coordination between your musical imagination and physical movement for when you want to play the piano. When you change to the piano, be vigilant in thinking of what sound you want to make and then playing and trying to match the sound of the piano to what you imagined.

is there a medium?..like half acoustic half digital?...good sound and range of dynamics at a reasonable price?..or should i just start saving every penny now?..thanks in advance

Yes. In general there are many stages between a keyboard and a piano. If your goal is to play the piano it is probably best to save up and buy one. 
   In the meantime, try find access to a piano whenever you can...at relatives/friends homes, at music stores, at school/church....wherever.

[mound]

I played on a 61note non-weighted yamaha keyboard for my first 2 months of lessons.

then I moved a 100yr old upright acoustic piano into my house, and soon found out it would require $1500 worth of labor and parts to make it "playable"

so I spent the money instead on a high-end digital piano, 88 fully weighed, touch sensitive hammer action keys.. My technique development, according to my teacher, "has been nothing short of astonishing" -  but there are limitations even to that.. I am saving now for a grand piano, probably won't have the cash or space for it for another couple years, but I am progressing nicely anyway..

in short - yes, ditch that 61key toy as soon as possible.

-Paul

[stormx]

I also started my lessons 2 months ago, and i have bought a CASIO PRIVIA PX-300 digital piano. I beleive it is UNBEATABLE given its price.

In the States, you can buy it for 600 dollars. I think it is a very good option for a beginner student. You can play for a couple of years on it, and then, if you are motivated and serious enough, you can go for an achoustic one. Even after that upgrade, the digital will be useful for some occasions, so the money is not wasted at all.

Unless you have lot of money, i firmly beleive that a DIGITAL PIANO is the best option for a beginner (and the CASIO is the cheapest one, but still very good IMHO).

Keep in mind that "digital pianos" and "electronic keyboards" are different beasts...Digital pianos, nowadays, really do a good job imitating the feeling and action of a real achoustic piano (and have 88 keys, like a real piano).

Hope this helps,

[jazzyprof]

I agree with stormx on the Casio Privia PX-300.  You can't beat it for the price...$600.  It has very good piano sounds and 88 nicely weighted keys.  If you go that route be sure to buy a good sustain pedal and ditch the little flimsy toy pedal it comes with.