Can you learn piano on a keyboard? Absolutely!
Oops, I might get some teachers and students who will disagree with me, but I am going to take a stand and I’ll tell you why.
First, you should know that the piano and the keyboard have the same exact pattern of keys and reading music for both instruments are exactly the same!
Second, you should also know that even though you can learn on a keyboard, there is a recommended minimum requirement that will work the best. You should have a keyboard (any brand or model) that has at least 61 keys, and have the touch sensitivity feature. The touch sensitivity feature is what allows you to play a key and produce a loud or quiet sound, according to how hard or softly you play it. The 61 keys provides enough keys to learn how to play the piano with both hands, and to progress through more advanced music.
Now, let’s take a look at the benefits of learning on a keyboard:
1. I have three favorite benefits. The first one is the ability to use headphones. What this means for me, is that I can practice anytime I choose. Whether it be while everyone is watching TV, sleeping, or studying! No one can hear me! While I am learning a new song, I don’t want anyone to hear my mistakes and so I feel “safe” inside my headphones!
2. My second favorite benefit is the ability to use the different sounds and rhythms that a keyboard has to offer. I can make my music sound entirely different by just changing the keyboard from sounding like a piano, to sounding like a flute, or trumpet, or even a full string section of an orchestra! This benefit gives me a reason to practice even more because as I try different instruments, I am repeating my songs, over and over! Great for teaching kids! When I turn on a rhythm, such as a waltz, it forces me to play the song with correct timing – it’s like having a built in teacher!
3. The third benefit of keyboards is they are portable! You can take them anywhere! Well, maybe not to the bathroom, but almost anywhere else! ~smile~ I take my keyboard with me to events such as birthday parties, and holiday gatherings for sing-a-longs. I have even taken it to the beach and used it around a bonfire. (The beauty of using batteries!) Get the picture?
Well, there it is. My personal thoughts about keyboards, as a user, and as a teacher. ~smile~
With all that said, I must admit, I do love my piano. When no one is around, I love to sit for hours and just play!
Most of the time, however, you will find me hiding in my headphones.. ~smile~
Lisa
For more information about learning to play the piano or keyboard, visit:
http://www.learnpianoonline.com/welcome.html
Start Taking Piano Lessons Right Now with a Free Membership!
Don't forget to Sign Up!
Randy Mitchellson says
Interesting web site and worthwhile contribution. I really enjoy music a lot. I have marked it to come back later. Imagination is more important than knowledge-Einstein
Ken Washington says
Lisa –
I agree completely with all three of your benefits and I as I have enjoyed those same benefits while practicing your lessons.
I would like to add a 4th benefit which is the ability to connect your keyboard to your computer and record yourself playing and save the recording to wav or mp3 files for playback later or sharing with others.
I have mine configured this way and I use it to listen to myself play so I know what I need to work on. This also allows me to send examples of my playing to family members and friends so they can follow my progress. Most importantly this has allowed me to send examples of my playing to my teacher, Lisa, so she can hear my playing and offer me advise for what to work on.
I wrote a detailed description of how to connect your keyboard to your computer on my blog at http://www.kenw.us/kenblog/?p=14