Learning Piano...

[Turkish]

When I was a kid, I used take keyboard (the instrument, not your PC keyboard ) and I enjoyed it back then... I quit after I got into Junior High because I had more interest in sports teams, etc...

Now that I am getting older, I want to experience new stuff... I don't like guitar that much, I tried it for a while and didn't enjoy it...

So I decided to get started on Piano... I really haven't done much research to see what type of classes are offered in this small city (50,000 people), but I am hoping I can find lessons for decent price. My biggest concern is, I don't own a piano, so it will be hard for me to practice it, and I don't wanna waste my money on lessons if I can't practice/learn without a Piano...

What do you all suggest? Don't say "church" cause I am not religious..

Any recommendations?

 

[StageLeft]

You could look into buying a capable keyboard. It won't be a piano, but as long as you get one with the full range of keys and put it on something like grand piano mode, the sound of it will be good, and all except the cheapest of keyboards have analog keys. The feedback won't be the same, but it would more than suffice, I'm sure.

 

[Descartes]

Well, I am going to say church, because sometimes they sell old pianos for every cheap Personally, I really think you should invest in a piano, because a keyboard just never feels the same. You can get digital pianos that have the same hammer action of a baby grand, but those are considerably more expensive. I have an upright and a digital piano, and compared to even some of the better keyboard there's no comparison, imo.

Good luck with learning. It's a fantastic instrument, and it will be well worth your investment.

 

[amoeba]

Its really not the same between keyboard and Piano. The weak feel/feedback of the keyboard will ruin your fingers for when you do get a piano. Also, a good keyboard will run the same as a used piano.

I would recommend getting a ~10 year kawaii/yamaha studio....should be around 1500 if you can find a good deal.

If this is a problem, you can try practicing in any nearby colleges with a school of music, usually their practice rooms are open to public and usually not completely filled.

 

[bandana163]

Schools (primary schools?) tend to have pianos.
At least they do where I come from.

 

[AEnigmaWI]

you can get a good hammar action digital piano for about $800 bucks.


I have a perty decent Roland one, and it feels a lot better than many a beat up upright.

 

[Turkish]

Thanks for quick replies guys

Yeah I have my big ass Roland keyboard from 10 years ago, it had a fully analog piano as I remember and I remember paying more than $4K to that... maybe a little cheaper. But like you mentioned, it really didn't feel like a piano...

amoeba: I am in college right now (Virginia Tech), so I'll go and check out the music department tomorrow... if they have a practice room open to other majors, I'll definetly try that

Thanks again!

 

[amoeba]

if you are thinking of taking lessons, take them from a local community college or something. These lessons are usually a lot less than private lessons in somebody's home.


Granted, the quality of the private teacher is usually better but since you are starting in your adulthood, you are likely pursuing this as recreation, thus the community college tutelage would be more than adequate.

 

[amoeba]

Originally posted by: Xiety
Thanks for quick replies guys

Yeah I have my big ass Roland keyboard from 10 years ago, it had a fully analog piano as I remember and I remember paying more than $4K to that... maybe a little cheaper. But like you mentioned, it really didn't feel like a piano...

amoeba: I am in college right now (Virginia Tech), so I'll go and check out the music department tomorrow... if they have a practice room open to other majors, I'll definetly try that

Thanks again!

I played for 6 years throughout junior high and high school and played occasionally in practice rooms in college ( UT austin).

I'm not sure if Vtech is the same, but its very likely they have many practice rooms available. I think most universities have open practice rooms but music majors have first dibs. I'm sure you'll find one empty at almost all times though perhaps not the grands as the Piano majors usually hog those.