Starting on synth/keyboard vs piano (for a kid)

[cosmicevan]

My 8 yr old daughter is really jazzed about wanting to learn piano and has been bugging me about it. I have a MIDI controller that I can hook into an iPad and run some virtual instruments that sound pretty good...but I have heard that it is bad to learn on non weighted keys. We tried 2 beginner lessones on youtube w the controller and she dug it...and now plays hot cross buns anywhere and everywhere she can.

If I invest in something nicer I have no idea if she will get bored with it in a week or a month or if this will be the beginning of a life long love affair with music. Curious what the thoughts are around starting on keyboard/controller vs something more authentic feeling...and also curious if anyone has any recommendations for a basic bitch device with weighted keys. My only requirement would be MIDI out on the board since if this goes nowhere at least I can use it to control virtual instruments. Obviously would be amazing to have some powerful synth and piano sounds in there but I am definitely not looking to spend 1000s let alone thousand for this experiment. Is there anything reasonable out there for a hundred or a few hundred worth looking into for this?

[spacelordmother]

Maybe you're the basic bitch?

Seems like a worthwhile investment to me.

[qersty]

Yeah its probably "better" if you want the real feel from the start. Though I think what's important is that its velocity sensitive really. That's what fucked me over when going from playing in Ableton on a computer keyboard going over to real hardware. The weighted keys things is probably sprung from people trying to make their kids classically trained virtuosos. Just let her play that's important

[JonnyAngle]

I’d say it depends what she’s into.

If she wants to learn the classics, Jazz, etc then I’d say get weighted keys.

If she’s into Aron Chupa, Britney, synthesized Music, then I’d say get a new school keyboard

[coldbrightsunlight]

I agree with the others that it probably depends on what she wants to play! No harm in learning initially on synth keys unless she definitely wants to learn to play the piano rather than keyboards more generally. And in that case even weighted keys still aren't the same as a proper piano because the instrument just doesn't respond the same way. There are high end digital pianos that do a good job of this but they're too much money for a child just starting out.

That said if anyone is aware of a small cheapish keyboard with nice keys and midi then I would also like to know about it.

[crochambeau]

Synths are FAR more portable than a piano.

You can probably find a piano for free, but then you get to pay for moving and tuning.

Responsiveness in a keyboard goes beyond weight. If the concern is training the fingers for a deeper interaction I would look for something that responds to dynamics of playing and aftertouch (if in synth realm), I think most self respecting instrument companies do offer weighted or semi weighted keys in their nicer offerings of electronic instruments.

The point is probably to NOT just buy a $20 garage sale keyboard from the 1980s, because those keys are usually just ON/OFF switches.

Performance keyboards usually have a somewhat reasonable piano sound as well, if that's her thing. Upside is that with MIDI it really does not matter what sounds are within, because you can buy an external synth module and run that from the main keyboard.

Welcome to hoarding! haha. Sorry, I think I'm probably being little help (I've very little first hand experience with most of what's available today, my stuff being old and curmudgeonly).

[coldbrightsunlight]

Yeah. Touch sensitivity is just as big a deal as weight for the feel of playing piano. Forgot to mention that

[DOSS BS-1]

I just helped my 7 year old nephew with this exact situation. Personally I would say to start your daughter out on the midi controller for a few months to see if she likes it and to help her get used to the finger spacing. If she takes to it then you can get her a weighted keyboard. The cheapest weighted keys are around $300 new. The "basic beyotch" is probably the Williams Allegro. You can find a used one for around $150 or so. I just found my nephew a used one at GC for $119.
I also learned that "touch sensitivity" is not the same thing as "weighted keys", it just means that if you press the soft key harder it will play louder. But the feel is totally different. Any keyboard with weighted keys will be touch sensitive.
If you're in the NYC area, and if you have space, you can get a real piano from Craigslist free. There are always some on there.

[Blackened Soul]

They have been making weighted action controllers for a long time, something like a Yamaha pf80 is a pretty good benchmark for a older one, you might find so ing used if you look around. Also some of the newer Casio digital pianos are pretty good.

[coupleonapkins]

Honestly, if you have the space and means, an actual piano is a world of difference, in terms of how she'll experience the sounds available in the physical in response to her playing, as well as how the actual instrument can resonate with her directly. As a kid, what I remember most is how our piano was physically bigger than I was, and how I could surround myself within that space and control it, however feebly, with my hands, as well as beginning to understand how the mechanics of it was more important than my skill level, over time. And the 88 keys, which is like another world in comparison to any smaller controller. But I've heard good things about the Yamaha P-125 for smaller spaces that an upright can't go, but I'm sure there's a comparable sub-$300 controller with 88 keys (older Yamaha KX series, maybe?) if you want to go that route. Like most people already said, go with what works for her (and your space/pocketbook situation), and eventually, she'll be able to move toward what's important in terms of upgrading into what she wants, over time.

I think Neko Case was collecting free pianos for a while, but she eventually stopped at eight

[coldbrightsunlight]

If the p125 is like the P45 I have then it's probably pretty decent for the money. But it's still no piano.

[ognoy]

Honestly, if you have the space and means, an actual piano is a world of difference, in terms of how she'll experience the sounds available in the physical in response to her playing, as well as how the actual instrument can resonate with her directly. As a kid, what I remember most is how our piano was physically bigger than I was, and how I could surround myself within that space and control it, however feebly, with my hands, as well as beginning to understand how the mechanics of it was more important than my skill level, over time. And the 88 keys, which is like another world in comparison to any smaller controller. But I've heard good things about the Yamaha P-125 for smaller spaces that an upright can't go, but I'm sure there's a comparable sub-$300 controller with 88 keys (older Yamaha KX series, maybe?) if you want to go that route. Like most people already said, go with what works for her (and your space/pocketbook situation), and eventually, she'll be able to move toward what's important in terms of upgrading into what she wants, over time.

I think Neko Case was collecting free pianos for a while, but she eventually stopped at eight

And a real piano has less distractions than something digital, and it is easier to just sit down and start playing/practising. And it is a piece of furniture as well.

[Dowi]

Keeping and eye opened on this thread, could be useful for me too.

[tabcantab]

The Yamaha P-[number] series is great for realistic piano-like feel. Sound is good enough if you stay on the piano settings. I still miss the real piano I had as a kid, but it's apartment-friendly, and being able to switch to headphones if I want to play at weird hours is a useful benefit.

[coldbrightsunlight]

And plug straight into a computer or pedals and get a decent piano sound.

But yeah in am ideal world I'd live in a big place with a proper piano