This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Health & Fitness

Piano or Electronic Keyboard? What is Piano Adoption?

Some people want to know
if it’s alright
to purchase an electronic keyboard
instead of a piano.
to start off with.
Is it the same thing?
Will their child still learn
to play the piano?

Now,
there are some piano educators out there
who really are purists.
And for good reason.
They would demand
that a student learn
only from a “real” piano.

To tell the truth,
I’m a bit more flexible.

Really now,
not everyone who takes piano lessons
will become the next great composer.
Not everyone who takes piano lessons
will become a world renowned classical pianist.

One of my adult students
wants to learn how to play
REO Speedwagon
for her own enjoyment.
She’s currently learning
some Beatle’s music.
And she’s learning it
on an 88-key electronic keyboard
with weighted keys.
But here’s the thing:
She’s learning music
and she’s happy about it!

She can read music.
She knows note value.
She knows several scales,
and the major chords
associated with the scales,
which all leads to her goal
of learning some music
she can have with.

I do have great fun
on my electronic keyboard.
And, yeah,
I use it a lot.
I love playing oldies
and I love playing songs
with a bit of Latin flavor. . . .
. . .sometimes,
the two are combined
and the fun never stops for me!

When purchasing a electronic keyboard
I would suggest that,
at the very least,
you purchase one with weighted keys
or scaled hammer action.
These would have more the feel
of a piano.
I would forego the smaller keyboards, though.
Try to find an 88-key,
or 76-key keyboard.

Please be aware, however,
that if you are purchasing
an electronic keyboard
because you think you can save money
on such things as piano tuning and upkeep
you may need to rethink that.
Electronic instruments
can and do go out of tune.
Electronic instruments
do need repair sometimes.
And sometimes
it’s just more cost efficient
to purchase another instrument
than pay for repair.

There’s nothing like
the sound and feel
of a real piano.
Play on a baby grand
and, well,
let’s just say
I love my Baby
more than anything else in my house!

And,
for the more advanced student of music,
an actual piano has a few things
that an electronic instruments do not offer.
Three pedals, for example.
I won’t go into detail
about how those pedals work,
about how they are used in piano.
But let me just say
that as a classical pianist,
I would NEVER
play Rachmaninoff
on an electronic instrument.
The pedal work
just would not allow it.

And on an actual piano
the student will develop
strength in the fingers
much faster
than on an electronic instrument,
even if that instrument
has weighted keys.

Finally,
there is no need
for you to go into sticker shock
because you want piano lessons
for you or for your child,
because you want a piano
but just can’t afford one.
There are pianos out there
that are available for free.
You just have to pay for the move
and for the tuning
once she’s well situated in your home.

There are people
in this world,
even right here
in metro Detroit area,
who will adopt out their piano
to a good home.

Visit the Piano Adoption Website.
I visited a piano listed on this site
just this weekend.
If you do consider adopting a piano,
just make sure you take someone with you
who knows a little bit about pianos
and can check the condition
of the piano.
We want to make sure
the piano you are adopting
is in good shape
and will serve you well.
And remember,
just because she’s out of tune
doesn’t necessarily mean
she’s not a good piano.
Maybe or maybe not.
It may just mean
she needs tuning.
I mean,
just because your car needs an oil change,
that doesn’t necessarily make it a worthless car,
does it?

Please be wary of pianos
that are stored in basements
or in garages.
Humidity
and extreme temp changes
can really wreak havoc
in a piano’s state.

And you know those
old upright pianos?
The ones that most people
don’t want
because they look so old
and take up so much space?
Those pianos
are AWESOME
when it comes
to the sound,
the music those pianos make.
If you can adopt one,
if you have space for one,
please do consider it.
I want one myself,
one with the player action
still working,
which is why I keep visiting
the Piano Adoption website!

And please,
don’t be put off
by a piano that may need
to be refinished.
She may be an excellent piano
who just needs a little TLC.
What she looks like
and what she sounds like
are two totally different things.
When adopting a piano,
please Please PLEASE remember
it’s the music that she can give you
more than her appearance
that is important.

Do consider piano adoption.
. . and then,
do consider lessons!

Contact me here
or on The Little Piano House facebook page
to register for piano lessons
in The Beautiful City of
Wyandotte.


We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?