Selecting an Appropriate Keyboard for Your Needs

Selecting an Appropriate Keyboard for Your Needs
-Tips by a Keyboard Sales and Rental Associate-
Ms. Michelle Fedorowich

It can be a somewhat daunting task of sifting through the technologies available today to find an appropriate instrument that will serve your child’s needs. There are a few important questions to ask before making that trip down to your local music store (it is beneficial to speak to those who know what they are talking about, verses walking into your local Walmart to purchase a ‘cheap’ keyboard that they may happen to stock and sell there):

• How much money are you willing to spend?

• Does it make more sense to RENT something to try it out before making the financial commitment of purchasing?

• Is branding important, or are you open to playing different kinds of keyboards than you are used to?

• What are the long-term implications of the instrument remaining in your household, and how many individuals will benefit from said instrument?

• If aesthetics and space are an issue, come prepared with measurements and preferences.

• Is it important to have weighted keys, something that sounds and feels like a real piano?

I don’t think many people are aware that it is possible to RENT a keyboard for a period of time. This is a wise decision for those who are unsure of the commitment of a beginner child beyond a one-year period. A small, in-expensive, simple keyboard can rent for as little as $20/month (the same keyboard retails for around $150.) This is also a wise route to take when going away for a short period of time (to the cottage over the summer months, perhaps), in order to keep the interest and habit of practicing during this temporary period.

A 61-key keyboard with TOUCH SENSITIVE KEYS (when you hit the key hard, it produces a loud sound) is more than suffice for a beginner. These keyboards range in price from $150-$300.

A full-sized DIGITAL PIANO is an instrument with 88 weighted keys, designed to sound and feel like a real piano. This kind of instrument would be necessary for anybody who is preparing for piano exams and performances where an acoustic piano would be present. These keyboards range in price from $500-$3000. Some of these instruments are furniture style pianos that come with wooden casing, 3-pedals, and often a bench to match, emulating an acoustic piano in appearance as well as sound.

A WORKSTATION or SYNTHESIZER is a sophisticated machine whose purpose is often for performance or studio recording, featured in many kinds of ‘modern’ music heard on the radio today. This kind of instrument is ideal for students with a music background (have taken lessons before), who are looking to have some fun with what they are doing and taking their music to a whole new level. These keyboards boast a wide range of voices (many sounds, such as guitars, brass, orchestral, sound effects, etc), on-board recording capabilities, and some have mixing and mastering capabilities. These keyboards range in price from $700-$4000.

It is also important to know that you are never ‘stuck’ with a purchase, no matter where an individual’s music career goes. Many instrument retailers will buy back keyboards, and it is common to sell instruments online through sites like Craigslist. I wouldn’t recommend buying your first instrument off of a private seller for warranty purposes mainly. Technology can be somewhat frivolous, and you want to be reassured that the instrument can be repaired and serviced when required.

Happy Music Making!