Hello. I'm new to the forum and to music. I am learning how to play the piano using Alfred's Adult Course books. I'm currently using a Yamaha EZ-30 keyboard, which I purchased when I decided I wanted to learn the piano. I intentionally got something that was not too expensive, yet gave me the capabilities I was looking for, because I did not know if I would like playing, or would quit after a few months, etc. I did not want to make a large investment in something that might end up collecting dust. I really like the LCD staff that shows the notes on it as I press them. It's a valuable learning aid. I still need to get a sustain pedal. I do have access to an upright piano (at our church) that I occasionally use just to familiarize myself with the weighted keys and the difference in touch and response. Any thoughts?

Keyboards have their places--space, travel, capabilities--but in my opinion trying out piano is not one of them, espcially if it is a cheap one. If you don't like piano after all you *are* out money because you'll never be able to sell it for what you paid for it. If you decide you do want to stick with it you are still out money because now you have to buy a better piano. Allow me to suggest an alternative.

My wife, before I married her, thought she might like to learn to play piano. She bought a used upright. After 6 months she decided it wasn't for her and so she sold it for what she paid for it. She wasn't out one cent. And she had a real piano to try it out on, not something with poor quality keys.

Just my $.02

i have talked about the different feel playing either keyboard or piano in another thread, see here:

another thread

Thanks, signa. I found that post very informative, and I will set the 'Touch Response' of my keyboard to the on position. I should have done a better job of reading the existing threads before starting my own.

Jerry

no problem, Jerry! this is the place to share information. i learned it hard way, and wish i knew what i know now.

I'm using a inexpensive digital to learn on. I may have to upgrade soon, at my lesson the touch difference throws me off. But at this point it is nowhere near the limiting factor. I keep touch sensitive turned on, and I keep the master volume low, so I have to hit the keys hard. This makes it more equivalent to the real piano. To me, either the Yamaha Clavinova or the Casio Previa feel real, or very close to real.

I bought a pedal, I think it was about $10 US at Radio Shack. This does make a lot of difference, otherwise I would have no clue when I get to my lesson. A pedal is just a switch, it plugs into a jack that you can program for various effects, but I leave it on sustain.

Thanks, Tim. I've turned on my touch response option, and I will be buying a sustain pedal immediately.

Hi Jerry, I'm new to music and this forum too. This is my first post. What a coincidence I'm also learning to play on EZ-30 and Alfred's basic adult book. I bought the EZ-30 because I figured I can write-off the $150 if it turns out that piano isn't for me. Since I'm still in the note-finding stage of learning, the unweighted action doesn't bother me. I'm taking lessons in my local community college, we use CVP-202/301 in class. I don't have much trouble switching between the unweighted and weighted actions, except that the weighted one feels much better and easier to play.

I found the MIDI disk that can be ordered for Alfred's book is very helpful. I made a MIDI interface from scrap parts and downloaded the songs to EZ-30's memory, and have the keyboard show me how a song should sound like. On the EZ-30 you can easily turn off the accompaniment and listen to the piano parts only. Having something to imitate helps my progress more than the guide lights and LCD on the EZ-30, IMHO.