The Great Debate.
Over the years I have had many parents that want their child to take piano lessons, but only have a keyboard at home to practice on. I am often asked- what is the difference between a keyboard and a piano? Do i really NEED a piano?
My opinion is YES, students NEED a piano. I understand that a piano is a financial investment and probably not one worth making if a child is not fully committed to the piano, but a keyboard should never be a long-term solution. After a few months of taking lessons, a student should know if they want to continue and if so, it is definitely a good idea to make the room, find the money and buy a piano. Taking piano lessons without a piano at home to practice on will only hinder the process substantially- meaning taking lessons longer...and paying for them longer.
Here are some good reasons students need to practice on a piano rather than a keyboard.
1. Our fingers have muscles! And, it takes finger strength to press the keys of a piano- not so much for a keyboard.
I have often taught very young students whose fingers could not even press a key without all the other fingers of the hand rising up to help! This is because the finger strength has not yet been developed. After a few months of practice, they can easily keep all their fingers in perfect position, fingers "glued" to the keys and press each key with a single finger. Even older children and adults beginning lessons will need to develop finger strength, just not to the degree of a very young student. Practicing on a keyboard will not strengthen the muscles as quickly, if at all, and students struggle when they come to lessons and try to play on a real piano.
Finger strength is developed when the fingers are exercised on the piano keys. The keyboard just doesn't have the resistance and "stiffness" that a piano does. This to me is the main reason to invest in a piano. A student will learn quite a bit slower and will have more frustration and difficulty if they are not practicing on a piano every day. I have seen amazing improvement in students when they switched from a keyboard to a piano.
2. The keys of a keyboard are smaller and there are not as many.
A lot of playing the piano is done by "feel" and muscle memory. Often on a keyboard, the keys are smaller in width. Because of this, a student practicing on a keyboard will have difficulty when they come to lessons or play on a real piano because their fingers are not used to the distance between the keys.
Along with that, there are not as many keys on a keyboard and as the student progresses, their music will require more keys than a typical keyboard has.
3. Keyboards cannot play dynamics!
Dynamics are the "louds" and "softs" of music. This is a main component of a good piece of music, they add the drama! Who would like to listen to music that never increased in volume at a climatic point, or was not so quiet at an emotional point?!
Pianos keys are made that when pressed lightly, the hammer hitting the string hits it very softly and creates a very soft tone. And reversely, when the keys are pressed firmly, the hammer hits the strings hard and creates a very loud tone- and everything in between. This is one of the most exciting elements to playing a beautiful piece of music! If a student doesn't get to experience this, not only are the listeners missing out, but the student is too! It brings so much satisfaction to a pianist to be able to express the music with feeling created through the dynamics of the piece. Most of learning to play the piano is learning to move past just pushing the keys and adding the emotion through dynamics.
4. Keyboards do not have damper pedals.
A damper pedal is a pedal that sustains, smooths and carries the tones. When the pedal is pressed, it moves the dampers away from the strings and allows the strings to vibrate freely. A keyboard does not have one. The damper pedal adds to the overall technique of playing and is a very important part.
So, there you have it! My opinion on "the great debate". I'm sure you can see the many differences between a keyboard and a piano- and the importance of an actual piano. Hopefully I pointed out a few things that you didn't even know, or hadn't considered before!
Now, with our technology these days, I'd say there are some amazing keyboards that have all the functions of a piano- these are often called "electric", or "digital pianos". I have no problem with them if they meet the same criteria as a piano. If you are wanting to go that route, things to look for would be- if they have "weighted keys", a "full keyboard" and a "damper pedal". Also make sure the key width is similar to a piano key width. I hear the main reasoning for buying a digital piano is often "the smaller size"- when in reality, it's probably the weight of the digital piano that makes it appealing, because if the keyboard is a full size, it's not going to be any smaller really. :)
So with that, happy piano hunting to all those students that are still practicing on keyboards! If your budget is tight, go check Craigslist and Yard sales! Or run over to a music store and check out their "rent to own" options.
Please feel free to comment with questions or tell us your number one reason you've been holding off on investing in a piano! :)
My opinion is YES, students NEED a piano. I understand that a piano is a financial investment and probably not one worth making if a child is not fully committed to the piano, but a keyboard should never be a long-term solution. After a few months of taking lessons, a student should know if they want to continue and if so, it is definitely a good idea to make the room, find the money and buy a piano. Taking piano lessons without a piano at home to practice on will only hinder the process substantially- meaning taking lessons longer...and paying for them longer.
Here are some good reasons students need to practice on a piano rather than a keyboard.
1. Our fingers have muscles! And, it takes finger strength to press the keys of a piano- not so much for a keyboard.
I have often taught very young students whose fingers could not even press a key without all the other fingers of the hand rising up to help! This is because the finger strength has not yet been developed. After a few months of practice, they can easily keep all their fingers in perfect position, fingers "glued" to the keys and press each key with a single finger. Even older children and adults beginning lessons will need to develop finger strength, just not to the degree of a very young student. Practicing on a keyboard will not strengthen the muscles as quickly, if at all, and students struggle when they come to lessons and try to play on a real piano.
Finger strength is developed when the fingers are exercised on the piano keys. The keyboard just doesn't have the resistance and "stiffness" that a piano does. This to me is the main reason to invest in a piano. A student will learn quite a bit slower and will have more frustration and difficulty if they are not practicing on a piano every day. I have seen amazing improvement in students when they switched from a keyboard to a piano.
2. The keys of a keyboard are smaller and there are not as many.
A lot of playing the piano is done by "feel" and muscle memory. Often on a keyboard, the keys are smaller in width. Because of this, a student practicing on a keyboard will have difficulty when they come to lessons or play on a real piano because their fingers are not used to the distance between the keys.
Along with that, there are not as many keys on a keyboard and as the student progresses, their music will require more keys than a typical keyboard has.
3. Keyboards cannot play dynamics!
Dynamics are the "louds" and "softs" of music. This is a main component of a good piece of music, they add the drama! Who would like to listen to music that never increased in volume at a climatic point, or was not so quiet at an emotional point?!
Pianos keys are made that when pressed lightly, the hammer hitting the string hits it very softly and creates a very soft tone. And reversely, when the keys are pressed firmly, the hammer hits the strings hard and creates a very loud tone- and everything in between. This is one of the most exciting elements to playing a beautiful piece of music! If a student doesn't get to experience this, not only are the listeners missing out, but the student is too! It brings so much satisfaction to a pianist to be able to express the music with feeling created through the dynamics of the piece. Most of learning to play the piano is learning to move past just pushing the keys and adding the emotion through dynamics.
4. Keyboards do not have damper pedals.
A damper pedal is a pedal that sustains, smooths and carries the tones. When the pedal is pressed, it moves the dampers away from the strings and allows the strings to vibrate freely. A keyboard does not have one. The damper pedal adds to the overall technique of playing and is a very important part.
So, there you have it! My opinion on "the great debate". I'm sure you can see the many differences between a keyboard and a piano- and the importance of an actual piano. Hopefully I pointed out a few things that you didn't even know, or hadn't considered before!
Now, with our technology these days, I'd say there are some amazing keyboards that have all the functions of a piano- these are often called "electric", or "digital pianos". I have no problem with them if they meet the same criteria as a piano. If you are wanting to go that route, things to look for would be- if they have "weighted keys", a "full keyboard" and a "damper pedal". Also make sure the key width is similar to a piano key width. I hear the main reasoning for buying a digital piano is often "the smaller size"- when in reality, it's probably the weight of the digital piano that makes it appealing, because if the keyboard is a full size, it's not going to be any smaller really. :)
So with that, happy piano hunting to all those students that are still practicing on keyboards! If your budget is tight, go check Craigslist and Yard sales! Or run over to a music store and check out their "rent to own" options.
Please feel free to comment with questions or tell us your number one reason you've been holding off on investing in a piano! :)
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