The archive contains posts with teaching tips for playing and notating keyboard music. Plus, there are posts that deal with traditional music theory and also the theory of micro tuning keyboards.
Do you want to know how to choose an electronic keyboard instrument?
A keyboard is a device that contains keys, such as the one I am typing on now. However, in music the term keyboard gets used from keyboard instruments. The name comes from the black and white keys that control the sound making part of the instrument.
Instruments such as the piano, organ, and harpsichord get termed keyboards instruments. Nevertheless, these days when someone talks about a keyboard, they mean an electronic keyboard.
The forerunner of the electronic keyboard is the electric organ (such as the Hammond organs) at least in its function within popular music, if not in its structure.
A few classes of keyboard exist:
The first group I called budget instruments, because I thought that sounded nicer than cheap instruments. In fact, budget keyboards come in a wide range of quality and price. They serve an important niche as low cost, beginner level instruments suitable for lessons and practicing.
Instruments adequate for lessons will have 40 to 60 keys, touch sensitivity (plays soft and loud), built-in speakers, and a plug-in pedal. Avoid instruments that have the mini keys as students will develop the wrong feel for the keyboard with the smaller keys.
The next level up in sound, playability, and price, digital pianos as a rule have a full 88 keys. They also feature touch sensitivity, weighted keys (feels more like a piano), and built-in speakers. Often, they include a frame that may, or may not, mimic the piano’s outline, as well as having built-in pedal(s).
However, more often than not digital pianos have a limited number of internal sounds. Also, the cost for these instruments vary considerably. Some are high quality with the higher price tag that goes with it. While other digital pianos clearly cater to the budget market.
The workhorses of professional players, stage pianos usually have more sounds, higher quality sounds, and higher quality playability. Designed to be plugged into an amp or PA, they do not come with built in speakers.
Basically, synths are like stage pianos, but they have the means for making new sounds. Synths create sounds programs in a number of ways, such as sampling, FM synthesis, and subtractive synthesis, to name a few. This means that a player can make one-of-a-kind sounds for either recording or live concerts.
What you plan to use the keyboard for will decide what type of instrument you get.
© 2021 Geoffrey Keith
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Have you ever wondered, “Why do minor keys sound sad and major keys sound happy?” Has this phenomenon been hardwired into us, or does culture impact how we perceive scales? In fact, it’s a little bit of both. Read more to learn how this works. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.
Do you want to learn how to read music, but just can’t? Are you a teacher that has students with good ears who struggle with reading? Having a good ear can be a two-edged sword. The student can pick up music quickly by ear. However, the same strength can create challenges for score reading. Read more to learn why it’s so hard for someone with a good ear to learn to read sheet music. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.
Do you feel terrified about playing for people? Do you want to know how to overcome the fear of performing in front of an audience? We know from psychology that our fears can be blown out of proportion through self-talk. However, a simple mental exercise can short circuit self-talk. Read more to find out how to defeat self-defeatism. Estimated reading time 2 minutes.
So, are there really ways around the difficulty of playing the piano due to short fingers and small hands? Yes, it can be done. This post will help musicians, music students, and music teachers alike. Read more to learn how it works. Estimated reading time 4 minutes.
How does your brain learn to play the piano with two hands? Daniel Coyle, in “The Talent Code,” tells us generally how the brain acquires skill, and I’ll give you specific tips for two-handed playing. Read more to find out how it works. Estimated reading time 4 minutes
Frustrated with your out of tune synth chords? Do you want your brass, woodwind, and string programs to sound better? It’s not only the program you select which controls how your synth sounds, the tuning has an impact as well. I created Supplemented Equal Temperament (SET) to produce chords that sound better in tune than equal temperament (the piano’s tuning). Read more to learn how SET minor keys work.
Estimated reading time 5 minutes.
Have you tried retuning your synth, but gotten frustrated by the limited number of keys? Do you want your keyboard’s chords to sound stronger when playing brass, string, and organ sounds? Supplemented Equal Temperament (SET) is a new and powerful tuning system that allows your chords to sound stronger and more in tune. Kurzweil’s PC3K synth also makes it a breeze to switch keys while using SET. Read more to learn how to change keys in Supplemented Equal Temperament. Estimated reading time 7 minutes.
What are sharps and flats, where did they come from, and how can we make it easier to read them? Read more to learn how to color code key signatures. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.
Are you passionate about singing? Do you have a hard time singing or playing in tune? Learn the 10 Elements that Impact Singing in Tune. Estimated reading time 14 minutes.
Does your student confuse the notes on the instrument? Learn how color coding musical instruments leads to LD and special needs success. Estimated reading time 4 minutes.