Has anyone seen these?

I cant afford a piano or real digital piano, I have a 61 key electric keyboard.

But I saw this and thought, given my budget and that a 61 key instrument will do...for now (beginner). I find the keyboard is useless when it comes applying it to a real piano (no weight on keys etc).

So I saw this and thought it may help a little with that being touch sensitive...any comments on it? Like I said I know its only 61 keys but its touch sensitive and hopefully will help and be a little more realistic...does anyone have one?

piano

Sorry click "piano" to see what i am talking about lol

61 keys? Nah, I'd recommend you keep shopping. For the same price you can get a Yamaha with 76 keys ( link to musiciansfriend.com ).

The Casio PX110 digital piano is 88 keys, sounds ok, action is weighted, and only $100 more. It's probably a much better simulation of the "real thing" and you'd outgrow it much more slowly.

It's an easy one to find at most larger music stores and you can even buy one through amazon.com. It is widely considered by many here as the best "starter" piano for the money.

Hope this helps.

Now is there a difference between touch sensitive and weighted?

Yes. The term "touch sensitive" simply means that the keyboard detects the velocity with which the keys are pressed and translates that, in the case of the keyboard you are asking about, as volume. "Weighted" means that the keys have a certain amount of resistance that is similar to what a real piano has. Touch sensitive keys will also be found on keyboards with weighted keys so they are additive features, not the same.

Ed

Yamaha NP-30, Battery operated, could be the answer for a piano in an RV. Not in stock over here until in the New Year.

All the information I have seen on the Yamaha NP-30 indicates that it is also not truely weighted. I haven't had the chance to play one yet though.

Rich

In another thread you mentioned that you've
had five piano lessons with your current
61-key portable and are enjoying it, which
shows that your instrument is far
from useless. This Robson 61-key
piano with unweighted keys
will be not much different from your
current piano, so I see no point in getting
it. Furthermore, your current piano
may already be touch sensitive, and even
if it isn't, this won't make a world of
difference as far as playing is concerned.
The only problem with the unweighted keys
is that you'll have to press harder on
the teacher's piano, but that should not
be an insurmountable obstacle to learning.
Several forum members have taken piano
lessons using a keyboard similar to
yours with no problem, indeed, it is
not uncommon today for beginners to start
lessons on a 61-key portable.

One problem however may be the teacher.
Many piano teachers hate digital pianos,
even though we are well into the digital
piano age. Some teachers refuse to
take students with digitals, and those
that do often constantly harass and
discriminate against students with digitals
for not having a "real" piano. So best not
to make a point of mentioning what
you're practicing on, or to ever say that
your piano is in any way causing problems
with playing. By the way, Johann Sebastian
Bach's piano had only 49 keys.

From the listing:

The Yamaha NP-30 is an innovative and ultra-affordable lightweight keyboard featuring Graded Touch for piano-style feel without the heavy hammer action. You get a more realistic playing experience with a heavier feel in the lower end, and a lighter touch in the upper keys.

Personally, I'd hold out for 88-weighted keys, but I'm not sure that can be obtained for $300. Considering the budget, I think the Yamaha NP-30 is a better choice than the Robson one.

Also, on another thread you mentioned that
you're having problems with moving around
on the keys and with counting time. These
are some of the elements that are universal
in keyboard playing and are independent
of the particular keyboard instrument
you practice on (pianoforte, organ, harpsichord,
clavichord, synth, digital, etc.). If
you had a $100,000 concert grand to
practice on, you would still have these
same problems to contend with.

For 300$ one could perhaps get an used Privia PX100/PX110/CDp100, which is by far 88 keys and hammer actions. Somehow better than 61 keys.


M.