Hello,

I am beginner with keyboard Yamaha PSR 220 which I bought over 10 years ago. The keyboard is technically ok.

When I bought it I was very eager to play, I learned few scores (1 finger though and I was happy it resemble music at all) and I didn't progress further and I stopped learning.

Now, I am seriously motivated to do it in a right way -- so no playing songs from the start, but practicing, learning theory, etc. The problem is I don't have much time to do that, and adding my age -- I know I won't be a musician, I won't play for other people, but I would like at least know what I am doing and learn to play christmas songs properly, maybe some other tunes (correct way = both hands, without odd stops to move fingers).

However, I am thinking if learning on keyboard is a good way? I mean I don't have money to throw away, but I could afford to buy digital piano (I was thinking about Korg SP 250). If keyboard could cause some "defects" in the way I learn playing I would say buying DP would be good investment. But if I only delude myself that DP is a proper way, and keyboard is not, that would be a not wise spent money.

Maybe example from tennis -- you get buy cheap racquet, and play with it, but you will soon get tennis elbow. It is much better to just play once with good, borrowed racquet, and if tennis suits you, buy normal racquet with good dampening system.

Well, playing on keyboard/piano suits me :-)
a) should I invest in DP to fully enjoy playing and minimize effects of "distorted" learning
b) should I stick with what I have, calm down, learn for a year, if I would make progress buy DP then
c) ...?

On one hand I am afraid of learning something which I have to unlearn and then relearn in future, on the other -- spending money too quickly, not too efficiently.

Sorry for my rusty English, I hope my considerations are clear though :-)

Kind regards,

Maybe you could find a shop where you could rent a digital piano and see what happens? Or even if you do get tired of the piano you could sell it and get some of the money back. Another option, if you really hesitate about buying, is to find an acoustic piano to practice on occasionally, in a nearby school, church, friend's house.

Personally I think you'd get bored with the keybourd quickly, and feel limited by not having a pedal and only having 61 keys. You'd likly progress faster on a piano compared to a keyboard just because it sounds better and you notice that you can do more things.

Are you planning on taking lessons? That was something that helped me get going. With a good teacher it can be inspirational, and even if you only take a few lessons at the very start, I think it would be a very good investment as it really speeds up the start process.

Basia, thank you for the answer.

> Maybe you could find a shop where you could rent a digital piano and see what happens?

I would be afraid that "happen" would mean breaking something :-D. I don't want to get into embarrassing situation.

> You'd likly progress faster on a piano compared to a keyboard just because it sounds better
> and you notice that you can do more things.

Thank you. I think you sold that piano idea to me :-)

> Are you planning on taking lessons?

Nope (for sure not in next 1-2 years). I know (from my other activities experience, like tennis) that having teacher boosts learning but I cannot afford it know. I have little time and from day to day my schedule changes a lot. So I cannot make a commitment with anyone.

Cheers,

Hi Maciej,

I'm a teacher specializing in adult beginners. Please check my blog post on digital pianos:
http://fundamentalkeys.com/community/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=2

Maybe that will give you some ideas!

Best wishes,
Rachel

Yes, thank you Rachel, good reading. My situation is a bit different because basically I start, yet I have keyboard already. Mid-piano like NP-30 is not for me for sure, because it is not worth spending money on something that is not that much different I already have -- in other words, everything (Yamaha P85 level) or nothing (sticking with my PSR).

Once again, thank you for the link!

Cheers,

Sure thing!

Rachel,

Although I'm not in Maciej's situation, I read your advice on digital pianos and thought it was excellent and very well written.

Andy

Thanks, Andy!

Insurance!

Good luck!