In earlier posts elsewhere on social media, I have talked about the topic of why it could still be useful for new piano students to keep their electronic keyboards, even if they have upgraded to an acoustic piano for the sake of piano studies.
An acoustic piano will never be as portable as an electronic keyboard, for one thing. You won’t be able to tote it along to do a show at a venue’s open mic. Yet there are more reasons to keep your electronic keyboard, especially if you have even a remote interest in playing contemporary music and in ever singing to your piano playing.
If you, as a piano student, or your child who is studying the piano, should ever happen to get into singing while playing from lead sheets, you really won’t be able to transpose music at the acoustic piano without plenty of theoretical training in transposition first.
Whereas on a keyboard, you will be able to transpose music effortlessly, and this is a huge time-saver and a compelling consideration for singing piano playing students who need to be able to find their most comfortable keys in which to sing quickly, as they sing and play through different songs.
In addition, today’s keyboards have leveled up their sounds and game and not only include weighted keys, but also offer options for the addition of drum machines and different keyboard voices that enhance a player’s experience. For example, you can play in a charming “strings” or “harpischord” mode or create your own one-person band.
While it’s easy to understand how traditional piano teacherly advice clings in favor of the acoustic piano, let’s not be too quick to discard the earlier keyboard. Does it have to be either or? Why not keep both keyboards?
The electronic keyboard can still make for a great back-up keyboard. My piano students, for instance, have told me that they like to play on their acoustic piano in the living room during the day, and maybe play on their electronic keyboard on headphones in quiet mode at night so as not to disturb others. Consider that headphones may not even be needed for nighttime playing, since you have a volume control button on an electronic keyboard that you won’t ever find on an acoustic piano.
Depending on the repertoire, the loudness of an acoustic piano, furthermore, is certainly capable of competing with, or taxing and drowning out altogether, a singer’s vocals (especially that of a female voice or that of an older senior piano student), unless some kind of sound system (such as a mic and amp) is set up separately alongside the acoustic piano. Whereas an electronic keyboard’s volume can be easily modified to better support a singer’s voice.
Not to mention that an electronic keyboard is also a great help when a young student is going on a vacation with the family and heading out to play a little something live for grandma or grandpa several states away. A piano student of mine took her keyboard out with her on her camper and practiced her homework faithfully while out in the wilderness. She must have had great views to inspire the senses!
Having an extra electronic keyboard comes in handy, too, when you have multiple piano students in a household, and playtime on the acoustic piano can sometimes be a bit scarce or even fought over.
So let’s continue to keep in mind the needs of singing piano playing students and of all students who need as much versatility as possible in their practicing lives. Consider keeping your electronic keyboard around on an as-needed basis, at least for a while, because you never know when it might come in handy.
Hi! I’m Isabel Marcheselli, an artist teacher. If you liked this post, please “like,” “favorite,” leave a comment, or “share” it with others to show your support – it really helps me to reach others out there – thanks! Also follow this blog and visit my links at: https://linktr.ee/marchesellimusic
