Advice for a 31yr. old beginner please.

[Threeprong]

Hi all,

 

I've recently decided that I want to learn to play the piano, and I have been doing quite a bit of research, and reading this board as well. I'm getting piano lessons from the wife for Christmas and I want to purchase something appropriate to learn on, and I'm hoping for some suggestions.

 

Some background, I was in band in junior high, I can read music, played trumpet and can tap out simple tunes with my right hand, but I want to be able to PLAY! I like a lot of music styles but I have a few songs in mind as "goals" to learn such as "Night Swimming" by REM and a few tunes by Leonard Cohen. I plan on taking weekly lessons starting in Jan and will practice about an hour a night. (Crossing my fingers)

 

My question is , what's the best thing to learn on at home. I think I'll be learning on a digital piano , a Clavinova I think, but I can't afford that at home. My budget is fairly limited as well. $600 max and that means building a stand and chair out of wood scraps.

 

I've looked at digital pianos, synth's, stage pianos, midi controllers, workstations, portable keyboards (never knew there was a difference until lately) and I still don't now what the smart thing to buy is. An actual piano is out of the question because I don't have room for it. What do I want to do with whatever i buy? First off, learn good technique, 2, explore sounds and goof off, 3 MIDI into my Mac for some basic arranging. (I know nothing about MIDI but soon will I guess.) 4) hopefully sing AND play at the same time.

 

What I do know is , the Casio WK-1630 is priced right but I wonder if the keys have bad action, and will hurt my technique.

 

The Roland RS-5 sounds incredible to my hobbyist ears but, do I want to learn on a synth?

 

The local used music store has a few contenders like a XP-10 for a fair price, but is it too much for a beginner.

 

Anyway, hope this is enough information to get some good suggestions. My budget is maxing out at $550 to $600.

 

Thanks for any replies!

 

ThreeProng

 

PS Did anyone on this board learn to play late in life? If so do tell, it will give me hope for my solo album release on my 60th birthday.

 

[b3wiz]

The lessons, I am assuming they are traditional, will be necessary to develop good technique. But, also get some media on improv and playing by ear. There are a lot of good books, videos and software out there.

 

You really should consider getting a keyboard with at least 76 or preferrably 88 weighted or semi weighted keys. Kurzweil makes a keyboard that retails somewhere near that range. Also you could look for a used board such as a PC88 Kurzweil, several different Roland models, Korg and Yamaha would be good picks as well.

 

I am 46 and while I have played on and off since I was about 6, I am always learning. I am probably 3 or 4 times better now than I was 5 years ago. I am always learning new instruments as well.

 

Some of my students are seniors and are progressing nicely. When you are older you have more patience and focus. In my old R&R days, let's face it, gettin chicks was a higher priority than breezin thru the etudes.

 

I went to a Preservation Hall Jazz Band concert several years ago. The Tenor banjo player was 89!! I thought, this dude has been on tour longer since he was my age than I am old!!! That revelation changed my life. I'm going to perform until I can't do it anymore.

 

At 31, you have maybe 50 or 60 years to get good. Guys like Oscar Pedersen aren't going to be around forever...go for it.

[dansouth]

Advice? Be patient. It doesn't happen overnight. But it doesn't take forever, either. Just don't panic if you don't see immediate improvement.

 

Find a good teacher and pay attention to EVERYTHING they say. Even the seeminly inconsequential stuff. Buy a metronome and use it for part of your practice session, but not all of it. Practice a little bit every day.

 

Most of all, HAVE FUN! That's what it's all about.

[surfjunkie]

hey Threeprong, i'd suggest buying a real piano.

 

i think you could find one used (& delivered) for your budget. you may have to ask around.

[jimbyjoe]

threeprong,

 

g'day. btw did you get your name from franz liszt when he described his life as a three-pronged life?

 

well - in my opinion (if that's what you're after). i would recommend getting a piano/digital piano of some sort. i've come to that conclusion because you said you want to learn a good technique, you need a weighted instrument (as opposed to synth-action). another thing opposing getting a portable keyboard is that it could distract you from learning what you want, ie with all the beats, accomps etc. don't get me wrong, they're great to compose or decompose (....) with, but if you want to get a good technique, go for something weighted.

 

i am classically trained and still play it too, as well as pop/rock. i also worked in retail, which has given me good exposure to what's available. (i just went and fished a music store catalog out of the bin). forget casio. go for either roland or yamaha, myself opting for the latter. you have taken a good punt looking at getting a clavinova. i was able to play most of the classical stuff that i play on these clav's (i play really heavy and fast liszt), so the action is fantastic. the australian music examinations board use some clavinova's for lower grade piano exams. check out the yamaha's here the clp-810 and 820 are a good place to start. if you want something with some more sounds, you may be able to get an ok one 2nd hand somewhere. the other good option is a yamaha p-80. that might be a few hundred $ too much, but they are a great stage piano. (as for the building a stool, just start with a good chair if you haven't got a stool).

 

money is unfortunately the thing that holds us all back!! a lot of stores have used digital pianos, as well as acoustic pianos. dude, if you find a good one at a good price, MAKE SURE THE DEALER IS REPUTABLE. i won't go into all the issues with buying a used piano. you just have to go somewhere good.

 

so my verdict is either a new or used clavinova, or a p-80. if you are worried about having a 'used' item for Christmas, don't. most of my music gear is used, though i bought it in good condition. but if you do get something used, make sure it is ok, that the dealer is established and don't take any salesman crap to get you there and then!!!! one last thing:

a new acoustic piano will last your lifetime and probably outlast you(i am reminded of my 4 year old yamaha downstairs in this humid weather ). a well-looked after digital will last for many a year as well. basically, it is worth getting something decent, even if it costs that little bit more.

let us know how you go dude.

 

as said by nowak in another thread:

"This forum is like a good drug habit. You'll keep coming back for more and more, and more and more, and then some more."

 

pray for peace,

kendall

[cg1155]

Just to put my $0.02 in-

 

I agree that if you are going to learn piano you should really do it on a piano-weighted action keyboard, either a real piano or a fully weighted synth like the P80 or similar. You need to develop the finger strength on the full action or you will stumble a lot when moving over to a real piano. Once you have that finger strength built up it isn't a big deal what you play on.

 

I really think that the Yamaha P80 would be the right board for you or possibly the technics model that is similar (because it is a bit older and might be cheaper). Both these models have excellent piano sounds and action and will give you the feel of really playing a piano (well, almost). I think that it's better to stretch your bisget or (God forbid) wait a bit until you can afford one of these than to go and buy something that will actually hold you back in learning piano.

 

On the other hand, if you don't care about ever being able to play on a real piano proficiently then a non-piano weighted keyboard would do just as well.

 

-Casey

[Felix_dup1]

The P80 is a great stage piano - but keep in mind that it doesn't have built-in speakers.

 

The Yamaha YPP200 has 88 keys, but they're non-weighted. It comes with a stand included, and it has built-in speakers. It sells for about $700 new.

 

There are Digital Pianos (that look like an acoustic upright) that sell new for under $1000 with weighted keys (the Casio AP-21 comes to mind). IMO, the advantage of these over an acoustic is MIDI, headphone jacks, and no maintenance (acoustics have to be tuned regularly). I'm not sure of how much they sell for used.

 

If budget is a concern, I know that many major music retailers are running no interest no payments financing deals right now, as well as free shipping promotions, which may or may not factor into your decision.

 

The Casio CTK-1630 is a popular choice. If you're beginning, it should serve you well for a while. Perhaps it's a good idea now, and you can make plans to upgrade to a Digital Piano or an Acoustic Piano later.

[cg1155]

As far as buying a keyboard without speakers, it's usually a simple thing to hook it up to your stereo at home or to just play through headphones and then get speakers when $$ permits.

 

-Casey

[Jazzman]

Hi Threeprong, just to let you know, I'm twenty years older than you, and picked up my first keyboard(Yahama Clavinova-CPV7) 18 years ago. Still works fine, simi-weighted keys, with all of the works of the time including midi connections. Paid over $3,000.00 new for it. I have other keys too.

 

I walked into a local music store in indiana while working on an engineering project, talked to the salesman and stated to him... "I want a keyboard that a dumb-shit can play". He said "Here's the one for you sir!

 

Well needless to say after about two years, I felt that I was ready to spread my wings and started to put a studio together. My wife never saw the humor in it at all!!

 

I now use the Clavinova keyboard as a controller. Still use it today and have a bunch of synths connected to it.

 

FYI........

I started playing drums when I was 7 years old. I now have a full blown studio, play drums, program drum machines, play bass, 6-string guitar, keys, have over 1000 songs that I composed and produced myself of my own work, a hundred on DAT, have clients that come into the studio to do demos,etc. Do all of the graphics for cassettes and CD's. Putting my first two albums together now.

 

So........ if I can do it, so can you.

 

Oh, BTW, I also play by ear, and can't read music, play all types of Jazz(cool, acid, gospel, etc.), R&B, Soul, Hip-Hop, House, as well as others. I love it, can't be without it either.

 

Take the advice given here on this fourm, all good advice too. You must have a love for music, eat sleep and s**t it to!

 

That's the only way to learn. If you take lessons stick with it, don't give up, practice,practice,practice!!! Hey were all getting older, but what the hay.........

 

My fade out.........

 

Jazzman