Hi all,
I plan to learn Keyboard soon
Some discourage me from learning Keyboard but Piano instead
GoD.. of course i know Piano sounds better
But due to many factors that I only be allowed to learn keyboard

There are few things that I wanted to know
1) Is it necessary to get a tutor?
2) Should/Must learn TauGe? ( previous I learn guitar by myself so i dont bother much about that ;P)
3) What actually different in Grade?

Thanks.

1)no if you are playing casually or playing for fun. Normally one learn keyboard to play chords and synchronize themselves in a band or vocal/choir team. unless they are playing keyboard like piano, instead of chords they play songs.
2)Not necessary if you are playing for fun. I knew alot of keyboardist played by ears thus its not necessary although I will recommend you to grasp an understanding about it. also, if you planned to play keyboard like piano, you will find notes(tauge) reading to be useful.
3)the higher a grade is, the harder one can pass that grade. people go to exam to examine themselves and see which levels they are.

conclusion, if you want to play songs, its better for you to look for a teacher and learn the notes. If you just want to play chords and assist a band/vocals/choir.... you can learn yourself from various source such as youtube/music books etc. oO there are also teachers that specialize in keyboard only.

those who discouraged u from electronic keyboard are not doing it becoz of the sound, they are saying it becoz of the control and expression that are lacking in most keyboards

1) up to yourself, u can learn karate from books and youtube, but would u?

2) up to yourself again, u can learn to act in a shakespeare play without learning how to read, but would you?

3) its like belt in karate, u start off with white, then yellow, then all the way to black. a black belt can generally kill a white belt with KI alone. in piano u go from grade 1 to grade 8...

For me, I learnt organ.

If you have tutor, probably will let you know how to follow beats, set rhythm, and pedal control.
and remember, learn theory. so that you wont suffer urself on reading note when play the songs.

ermmmm.... i am afraid u need to spend much more than RM 350 for a keyboard. its is way way way too low of a budget

pianoforall, duno about it, cant comment. what kinda music do you wana play?

Hmm what is mean by Playing Keyboard like Piano, Instead of chords they play songs?
I thought both Keyboard and Piano can play Songs?

normally we play chords and accompaniment in keyboard (the actual function of keyboard lol) and songs with piano.

but that doesnt mean you cant play songs with keyboard and chords/accompaniment with piano.

So for Grade it is just to test ourself which levels we are at?

yes

Btw, do you guys know is there any Musical School in Setapak?

wangsa maju ss2 got 2 music school... athilia music school and friends of string music school iirc...

and How much should I spend for the Keyboard?

good keyboard range from RM2.5k-10k

Because my budget is only about RM350+/-

try to go and take a look at yamaha music store that sells keyboard.....shold at least be RM800 and above...juz go and take a look first.

Thanks guys.

my 2 cents.

It is not encouraged to learn the piano with YAMAHA..

Mostly piano teachers are not hard to find unlike other instruments like violin, saxophone, clarinet, trumpet, trombone, flute because piano don't require so much skills like other instruments example trumpet, your buzzing must be stable. Therefore, your lungs' volume must be trained and the muscle of your diaphragm must be trained too so that you can hit high notes and low notes.  And also there is one thing called intonation which require your buzzing and your air to produce appropriate.

Just practice and practice and practice in front of the piano for hours.
Who knows you can finished grade 8 in years of time ?
Good luck in finding a good teacher.

And just a reference for you,  my first month of learning the piano is RM75 which has 4 lessons per month and each lessons are 30 minutes long.  I don't know if you can find such cheap and good tutor and I don't know if the price has hiked.

What do you think about the Schools there?

I dunno about friends of strings, but I heard Athilia music school produced decent piano students and good theory students. about friends of string... I heard it was opened by a group of friends who graduated from MIA and Athilia music school's piano teacher had experience over 20 years in piano and she teaches keyboard as well iirc. 

Normally they learn at Musical School can get certificate?

nope unless you go for exam. if you get a cert for learning in a music school. the cert should be pretty worthless at most of the time.

But I wonder why some sellers are selling those keyboard ranging from RM300 - RMxxxx

Those are for kids or people who play the keyboard for fun....

What is the main different between those?

more expensive keyboard got better piano-like touches. meaning your whole finger wont sink into the key when you press on it....the key will be heavier than the cheap keyboard. this is better as you can control your finger strength and different force you release on the keyboard give you different volume and tone (normally you can easily get this effect in a piano but it also has the same effect for a good keyboard). the better a keyboard is, the more piano feel the keyboard is able to produce where cheap keyboard give you nothing. just a press and get sound instrument.

oO...and also the higher price a keyboard is, usually the more features it has got.


What keyboard do you think that is recommended for a beginner to start off?

I am not good at keyboards...so you should take a look at some good keyboard shop such as yamaha in mid valley. just tell those promoters you prefer keyboard with piano touch. or you can visit some of the keyboard store in LYN i posted in page 1 of this thread. and inquire about them from those sellers.

Lastly, Is it advisable to get second hand keyboard?

yes if the second hand keyboard still sounds good and working. 

Sorry for so many questions

no problem, this is what forum is for and this is the reason i am here

and Thanks for your reply

you are welcome

Wow ... Piano don't require so much skills   You are totally wrong, dude. Do you know these? Balancing tone, passing of thumb, arpeggio, singing top note, clean and clear running notes, broken octaves, octaves, trills, double trills ...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KU-5u2dmXdM
This is technique.