Portable Keyboard for Piano Student

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My son (6 yr) started lessons about 9 months ago. He is making quick progress and has asked for a second hour of lessons each week in the summer. He will be in programs and at a baby sitter from 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM for most of the summer (away from his beloved piano). We are ready to rent a Yamaha real feel keyboard to keep at his babysitter's house. Our piano in our house is a spinnet. We have to put an addition on our house before we can buy a piano bigger than the one we have, right now it is in his bedroom. I have been told over and over that he needs a good piano. We are working on it. In the meantime would I be doing dammange by letting him play on the keyboard for the summer?

Thanks

-- Della Cardella (dcardella@glpf.com), June 03, 2003

Answers

Just for the summer is probably fine, especially since you do have a regular piano for him to practice on at home. BTW, the size of the upright piano is usually a height issue, not a width one. Maybe a little depth. I'd say go for the bigger piano as soon as financially possible.

-- Arlene Steffen (asteffen@fresno.edu), June 03, 2003.

A portable keyboard is no problem at all when it is a supplement to a real piano. It's good to learn to adapt to the differences in "feel" of various pianos and keyboards. My daughter had a small portable keyboard she carried around everywhere when she was young, in the car or wherever. She learned to play by ear and sing in tune with it, all in addition to her regular practice and lessons. I think it's Fantastic that you are providing music for him at his sitter's house!!!

-- anon (noname_poster@yahoo.com), June 14, 2003.

A portable keyboard should be OK for short term work. At least your son has a piano at home to practice on.

-- Dianne Winters (cwinters@paonline.com), June 17, 2003.

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