OT- Buying keyboard for piano lessons

[nemofans]

I need some suggestions. My DS(4) is starting piano lessons & we don't own a piano nor have room for one. We would like to buy a keyboard & stand to use at home for practice. If he continues w/lessons as he gets older, then maybe we would consider buying a piano. In the meantime though, what is a good keyboard to buy that most sounds like & resembles a piano?

 

[Supermom3]

My DS started piano lessons at 5 years old on a keyboard. He used a Yamaha PSR-275. I don't know if they still make this model (it was 6 years ago), but we got it at Best Buy. I thought that the sound was great for a not too expensive, entry level keyboard.

After a few years, once we knew he was serious about piano, we got a real piano. There came a point where he just out grew the keyboard, and if he was going to progress needed a real piano. He needed all 88 keys and foot petals for one, and the touch of a keyboard is much different from a piano. I think it's a great way to start out piano lessons.

 

[Pirate1+Princess4]

Electronic keyboards are either touch sensitive of not. NOT = cheaper. BUT if it isn't touch sensitive, then they won't understand the difference between pianissimo and fortissimo (soft and loud).

You'll spend much more money on a touch sensitive keyboard. 15 years ago, when DH bought my keyboard, it was a HUGE difference- like $150 vs $600-$800. Not sure of the difference now.

My kids all took a beginning class this past summer. The keyboards used in clase are not touch sensitive. Although the music is noted with "p" and "f", she didn't talk about it. She was most concerned with them understanding notes, finger placement, and rhythm.

We have both a piano and a keyboard now. Keep in mind that your child will play with all the bells and whistles. You should let him get it out of his system, but insist that he use the piano setting for practice.

I also recommend getting a stand made for keyboards; I think they are adjustable. In class, the tables are so high, my kids actually have better hand position when standing. At home we have the keyboard on a TV tray and use a folding chair. It's OK, but not the best.

 

[nemofans]

She taught "p" & "f" the 1st class to him so I guess he would need a touch sensitive keyboard.

 

[cigarboo]

We started with a Yamaha keyboard that only had 61 keys which we bought for around $100. That worked fine for a while, but my son eventually needed something with a few more keys. We looked into buying a regular acoustic piano, but we need a little more time to save up and buy a good one, so we decided to just go for another electronic one for now.

We bought a Yamaha P-85 which is pretty much Yamaha's cheapest full size keyboard with weighted keys and touch sensitive. It comes with a foot pedal and plays really nicely, like a real piano. It was about $600. It should last a while, either until my son outright quits or needs a "better" piano. It's hard to just plunk down thousands of dollars on an instrument you're not sure your child will continue with. We've been happy with our P-85. It sounds great and the price seems fair. It's bare bones keyboard, so it shouldn't take up much space. Just need to buy a stand.