Hi keyboard player out there! Glad that such forum exist in Malaysia context.

I am a Motif XS 7 user. My keyboard sound soooo goood. I am using it mainly to do my arrangement projects. But i am thinking of trading it for XS 6 because going to travel a lot.

If you want to buy a synthesizer, you need to really think through what you want to do with it actually. If you going to play live with it, get a board that can last long and the sound is thick. IMHO, yammy sound is more suitable for studio. But as you know, Japanese technician is really great, after you "tweak" the board, it sound really nice even on stage.

But if you are using arranger keyboard, then the sound is not that tweakable. But arranger makes you sound like a pro! Go and check out the latest yamaha tyros 3, or korg PA2x Pro. It is amazing what keyboard technology can do today.

PJ, so far. I do teach, but only at my house in Cheras. You can go to Yamaha Main Office at Kelana Jaya. All the model is there. They got good teachers as well.

But you need to decide whether are you playing alone or playing in a band. If what you will most likely do is playing alone, then arranger keyboard suite you more.

Otherwise, if you get a workstation, then you need to do sequencing in every song. Not like arranger that it has present rhythm pattern.

If i got money, or anyone can sponsor me, i will get a tyros! Arranger makes your music learning experience fun and exciting! Especially beginner, playing those classical piece some times you will feel dry. Just add some "auto accompaniment" then wala! You are just like playing in a full band or even with a full orchestra.

Many people say arranger sound very cartoon or fake. Go and check out Tyros 2 and hear for yourself. If you are not "that" pro, you won't feel much different. Moreover, now days, these arranger keyboard is programmed with live band. That means they record a live band playing as your background music.

But if you prefer to compose everything from scratch, workstation do give you more flexibility. Like my Motif XS, got thousands of arps and sounds. Sometimes, when i do my arrangement, just to look for the sound took me hours.

Tell you the truth, if you intend to do music in the computer, don't need to get expensive workstation. Now days software synthesizer is really good. If you really want a good workstation, i can sell to you mine .

Anyway, more important is your sound card.

If you are recording from your synth to computer or playing live, my usual practice is a little more than half (6/10). Then boost from the sound card of mixer. Then you will have a good quality of sound, at the same time rooms for you to do crescendo.

Otherwise, if you max out your keyboard, then the mixer will have to tone you down. Then you can't have your crescendo.


For Yellow Pika, I think Mid Valley have a few synthesizer for you to tried out. Personally, i think to be a pro, it will take some time. It takes time for your hand to learn new skills, and your mind to understand. It is like learning a new language. It takes time, practice and understanding.

Many teacher out there can teach or guide you to play music. But to be a pro, you need to be more than that. You need to have "soul" in your music - that's what my teacher said to me. The feel and touch makes all the different between an average musician and a pro musician.

If you are gifted in music, then you might be able to do it fast enough. But if you are not, then hard work and training will slowly build you up.

You need to first in love with the music before you can actually play it with all your soul.

In those jazz and pop classes, the hardest part to learn is the "feel".

Don't rush it, take your time to enjoy music.

'Crescendo' means gradually getting louder. It is a common expression term that you learn in music theory. You will get to know this term very soon (i suppose grade 1 theory cover this).

"A little more than half" i am referring to the volume level on your keyboard. If you plug in your keyboard to a mixer, i suggest you set your volume on your keyboard to half (meaning you turn the volume nob to half, if 1 is no sound, and 10 is loudest, you turn to 6). Get what i mean?

Yeah.. Midvalley showroom. I think no many people go there. So, you can play as long as you want.

Cheers

If you are just starting out, maybe you can consider buying second hand cause even the old model workstation is really good.