Buying your first
keyboard nowadays is quite straight forward.
Technology has advanced so much that even entry level models now have the basic criteria for beginning
keyboard lessons.
This basic criteria is as follows:
- 5 Octave Keyboard (61 Keys)
- Full Size Keys (as opposed to mini)
- Touch Sensitive Keys
- A Reasonable Palette of Sounds & Rhythms
More advanced
keyboards will have plenty of other features, but these are only of use to the more
experienced player. Of course you can look at your purchase in two ways: As a short term purchase, whereby you will upgrade the
keyboard later on when you become more experienced; or as a long term purchase, buying into features that maybe won't be of use until further down your
playing career.
For
children, it is wiser to purchase short term, so that financially you are not hit too hard should they decide not to continue with
keyboard lessons. For the more mature
student, the extra features found on more advanced
keyboards can be an added incentive to keep focused on learning, with short term goals set in
mastering the ability to utilise these features.
Keyboard manufacturers generally bring out new
keyboards every two years or so. So what might be a new
model one week, can fast become an old model within a matter of months. Don't worry about this, this is
technology for you. Manufacturers can't afford to stand still, they must always be seen to stay ahead of the
competition with new and improved
models. Quite often, the new models are nothing more than repackaged older models. They've been given that new chic look, but
internally nothing has really changed!
Therefore don't worry if a model is being discontinued or is old, if it is the right
keyboard for you at the right price, don't hesitate in purchasing it. Spares and parts are widely available should they be required. But in reality, today's
keyboards are extremely reliable, and if looked after properly, will serve you well for many
years to come.
There are three main
keyboard manufacturers in the UK market:
Yamaha are a well known company for making all manner of things from
musical instruments to motorbikes. Their
keyboard range covers everything from basic entry level models up to state of the art flagship
keyboards and
synthesizers. Their home
electronic range of
keyboards is generally prefixed with the letters 'PSR'. The number following this represents the
model of that particular
keyboard. It does not follow that the
bigger the number the better the
keyboard, as many years have passed and what once might have been a high-end model with a big number, will now be superceded by a more recent
model with a lower number.
Roland are a music specialist company who deal mainly with high end
electronic instruments. As a major player in this arena, they have a somewhat smaller range of
home keyboards compared to that of Yamaha and Casio. Not to say that these
keyboards aren't any good, they are excellent, as they derive many features from their more
advanced counterparts. But as the range is limited, it would pay to
evaluate models from the other manufacturers.
Casio are a well known brand in the home, their
home keyboards like that of Yamaha's have been around for a long time and cover everything from
entry to
intermediate level. In a similar fashion to Yamaha, all of Casio's keyboards are prefixed with three letters, this time 'CTK'. Again this is followed by a number which denotes the model in question. Casio are seen as a
budget offering compared to likes of Yamaha and Roland and can be a good starting point for short term purchases. Whilst their more advanced
keyboards contain some impressive features, they don't quite have the same
sound quality as their competitors, who no doubt draw on resources from their
professional range of products.
For short term purchases, the secondhand market is well worth considering. You can normally find good examples of keyboards which aren't necessarily too old. As mentioned previously, repairs are very rarely required if the instrument has been looked after. And even if required, spares and parts are readily available, making a repair very easy for any reputable engineer.
Most keyboards will have the option of running from batteries or a mains power supply adaptor. Always go for the power adaptor option, as keyboards eat batteries rapidly! Don't worry if the keyboard you want to purchase doesn't come with a power adaptor, they are readily available and are generally not unique to that keyboard. Yamaha has two power adaptors currently in use in the UK (KPA-3, KPA-6), one of these will fit your Yamaha keyboard. Casio has three power adaptors (AD-1, AD-5, AD-12). Roland tend to supply power adaptors with their keyboards, but are again readily available as a spare should it be missing.
The reason being is that most keyboards will fix onto a stand for stability reasons. The fixing screws and holes used to accomplish this are by no means standard and are manufacturer specific.