One of the questions I am most frequently asked is 'what is the difference between the piano and the keyboard?" it is an extremely good question, well asked!!
WHAT IS A KEYBOARD?
In essence
1. Non 'weighted' keys, easy to press
2. No need for difficult to co-ordinate left and right hands. Keyboards have functions which allow for the left hand to be mostly stationary whilst providing a backing track which is as good as the model of keyboard you have purchased
3. No examinations required. Most traditional music examination boards will not examine the electronic keyboard as it is not deemed to be a 'real' instrument. Interestingly Trinity College WILL examine the keyboard providing it has two keyboards and a footboard, like a church organ.
4. A wealth of technological gizzmos which make us sound 'really good' without all the tiresome scales/finger exercises
5. Allow us to create loops, record one hand whilst playing another
6. Will take us through probably grade one of a traditional examination board,
7. Will not really give us many UCAS points
8. Allows us to create music using chords ( a little like strumming on the guitar) learning four chords will take your almost anywhere if you love pop/rock
9. Is a great 'instant' way to create contemporary music styles
10. Gives us a really good 'musical knowledge' of chords and harmony and everything needed to write our own music
11. STILL allows us to play popular classics ( the string sounds on the keyboard are usually excellent) so anything by Vivaldi the four seasons will sound amazing..as will cello/piano pieces and any string quartet style.
12. Not being judged by 3 pieces alone (the way we are examined by traditional examination boards)
13. General musicality taking a whole hike up as regards to traditional examination grades, where after 2 years we may have played 6 pieces over, over and over again (and probably only 6 pieces) less emphasis on simply 'copying' classical pieces, more emphasis on our musicianship.
WHAT IS A PIANO?
1. a fabulous feeling sitting in front of it
2. traditional western style examinations which show your progress
3. Weighted keys which require a great degree of finger exercise and physicality to actually 'play' the keys
4.Usually piano music is based on left and right hand and needs a huge amount of co-ordination required for reading both left and right hand staves
5. As we move through the grades will give you so many UCAS points, you may give them away freely to your friends
6. If you choose to study the Piano, know that you will probably need to spend at least an hour a day practising, most of that hour will be scales/excercises and three songs per year.
7. to bank off the horrendous 3 pieces of music a year you will learn to play, your ear will becvome so developed you will wonder how you can 'harmonize' when other folk are singing
8. You willl learn about how to use chords and play contemporary music, but you will have no clue why and it you will probably have taken at least grade 3 before you realise
9. You will sit at the piano, play and create, sound amazing and thank the lord you did all that hard work
