Can I Use a Piano Keyboard for Successful Lessons

November 2, 2020 Leslie Young

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You might have considered buying an piano keyboard as opposed to an acoustical (wooden) piano. If the keys are the same size as those of a piano then a keyboard can be the initial instrument. The width of each key should be equal to or very close to the 7/8th inch standard piano key width. This will allow for a smooth transition to a piano in the future. I would not recommend a miniature keyboard, as the keyboard transition would not be similar enough.

Weighted or semi-weighted keys would be preferable, as they would feel most like those of a piano. How many keys? A standard length for a keyboard is 61 keys, and this is plenty long enough for a student. The student will rarely use the highest and lowest keys anyway.

You will want your keyboard to have a sustain pedal attachment. This is a box-like or metal pedal for sustaining and blending the individual key sounds. The pedal attachment usually comes with the keyboard, as well as the AC adapter cord, but the buyer should determine if it is to be ordered separately. The introduction to using the foot pedal is in Level 4 of the six-year-old to adult series.

Bench or Chair?

It is better to have a bench because it is totally horizontal. The line of the keyboard and the seat need to be parallel. I do not recommend using chairs as they are more difficult to position correctly. For example, consider how odd it would feel if the student was using a traditional folding chair where the seat slopes up. It creates a tension in the body to maintain a parallel position relative to the keyboard, which is not only uncomfortable but a major distraction. The student loses attention quickly having to fight gravity when slipping on a sloping chair!

What Would the First Lesson for a Young Student Look Like?

What Would the First Lesson for a 6 to Teen Look Like (video)?