i agree on this too, but maybe a month or 2 later, you might not even want 2 quit realising how much more you need to learn before you can start self learning

All the best there, although i dont really recommend M-audio as i feel the key were quite jerky, for the price you cant really complain much...

I am very sure you will try to save up more once to upgrade you start to learn..

In your case, i think you were talking you trying to learn keyboards/synthesizer side, which is more towards accompany and creating sounds i think.. A real piano is not cheap.. But a keyboard can play what a piano does too not vice versa.

I am not sure what's the role of a keyboardist in a band, maybe playing chords and accompany? Usually guitar will be the lead?

http://www.telacommunications.com/nutshell...ic/musicres.htm
Cover most useful chords here, should be useful for you to start out.

will be able to last around 1 year perhaps for that keyboard to familiarize all basic theories i think..
I never play in a band before.. not sure about that..

if he is really serious about it, he will upgrade it soon or later..

what if you lost interest or unable to continue.... you might argue it's up to your determination but things like that does happen.. Spending 10k+ on an acoustic piano, + further tuning every few times in a year, parts to be replace in few years once.. A piano can also be described as a rich man toy..

Further more, even ABRSM has recognised significant of digital pianos nowadays even in classical music examinations, i dont think an acoustic piano is a MUST in this case. It's cheaper to buy and maintain, space saving and some even have function assisting your learning path.

The harsh fact is also that to archive level of professional concert pianist, to begin at age of 17 it might already consider too late.

A good keyboard, any stage piano or digital keyboard, having midi input, you can actually connect it to a pc and play almost every sound you want, as well as learning some arrangement..

This could be 1 of the best deal of digital portable pianos i can spot some how
http://www.zzounds.com/item--YAMP70

although absent of midi output, however i felt that the touch feeling is relatively good and priced the lowest too(ignoring casio px100)

Mind that it's a weighted keyboard and it can be quite difficult to get used to initially.. should cost around RM2700 i think..

for your "sticky" key question, keyboard operates in a way to prevent pressing too many keys at a same time for some reason, preventing mis-typing. A musically keyboard doesn't have to be so, however numbers of polyphonic will be the limiting factor.

I own a 64 sound polyphonic keyboard and haven't encounter any situation where my tone is cut off.

But the price gap is huge...
if you can afford that, you might also buy yamaha p140, roland fp-4(i am fan of this). yamaha cp33(stage piano)

personally feel roland and yamaha made good digital pianos

digital piano = trying to imitate a real acoustic piano, looks alike just without the high back(upright)
example : http://www.zzounds.com/item--YAMYDP223


keyboard/synthesizer
a device capable of producing different multiple sounds, some with weighted key(like the feeling when you are pressing a real acoustic piano) some with lighted plastic key. General function a organ except without the foot keyboard and double layer of keyboard.
example electone/organ: http://www.organfax.co.uk/instruments/yamaha/el900.html
example sythesizer: http://www.zzounds.com/item--YAMMOTIFXS8

Controller:
The is a device which only collect your signal(when you press any key) convert into a signal which your computer will output it's sound. Instead of the keyboard storing the sound sample, your computer will take over the job.
Example:http://www.zzounds.com/item--KORK61P

Stage piano:
trying to imitate a real acoustic piano too, except it has no lower body, usually for mobility in order to perform anywhere where it's needed. The pedal is usually different and rarely all 3 pedals were presence. More space saving then a digital piano
Example: http://www.zzounds.com/item--ROLFP4

you can refer here for more info
http://www.zzounds.com/cat--Keyboards-and-MIDI--2666
-Keyboard Synthesizers
-Digital Pianos
-Keyboard Controllers
-Samplers and Drum Machines
-Personal Keyboards
-MIDI Interfaces
-etc..

Since you are traveling to states, i really suggest you buy it there, NOT HERE!!

Just look at those page's price and after conversion.. It's still much cheaper..
basically it's like price In USD x conversion rate + RM1k = price you get in Malaysia.

Not to forget that you get better service, and more choice too. I think you have every right to get a full refund there too if you are totally unsatisfied...

This post has been edited by Sky.Live: Nov 14 2007, 12:54 AM