Adult piano beginner -which keyboard?

[HaveringWavering]

I’m hoping some musical Mumsnetters will be able to give me some advice. I’ve always wanted to play the piano and feel like now is the right time to give it a try. My plan is to get a keyboard with a stand that I can listen to through headphones, then take lessons via Zoom and maybe in person when lockdown finally ends, with a bit of You Tube self-tuition thrown in.

My aim is to be able eventually to play a few pop songs/singalong type things, not classical pieces. Purely for personal pleasure and maybe to inflict on my husband and son. My son is 4 but I’d like him to have the chance to learn when he is older too, if he’s interested.

We don’t have room for an upright piano.

Getting a keyboard is obviously the first step- my plan was eBay or similar as I know they often are bought and not used and people are looking to get rid.

Can anyone advise what brand/type I should look for, and roughly how much I need to spend?

Thanks

If you're looking long term, I'd recommend something like a Yamaha Portable Grand. It has weighted keys so feels like a piano (if you strike the keys hard, they're louder than if you tap gently - just like a 'proper' piano.
New, you can get them from about £400 but if you're lucky, I've seen second hand ones go for £100 or so on eBay / Gumtree / FB Marketplace.
If you just want something cheaper to get going with, then anything with full size keys would do. Casio and Yamaha are decent brands. Again, buying second hand is worth considering - can always find a bargain!

Thanks @cautiouscovidity. When you say “long term” what do you have in mind. I’m 47, I guess I have 20 years or so till my hands seize up completely?

I guess if my son takes to it we’d want something that he’s be OK working through the usual school-level grades on over the next 10 years or so.

I was in the same position, zero knowledge of music though.

I bought the cheapest Rockjam keyboard on Amazon so not good sound quality but cheap was important. It was under £40 but it's not there now.
It came with a free trial of Simply Piano.

Problem for me, I live in a flat and the one I bought doesn't have the connection between the ipad and the keyboard. The app needs to hear you to play to work at all.

The lowest setting is way too loud in my opinion, though I got my sister to stand outside the flat door and she said she can't hear it.

But I cover the speakers and play that way in case I annoy anyone. I am hugely misophonic though. I then got a book so I can follow that with earphones plugged into the keyboard.

I find it fun. Good luck. Let me know what you get.

PS I'm 44 so I hope to have something I can learn forever...!

Thanks @AcornAutumn, good luck!

Another question- do I need a stand or is a normal desk or dining table any good? I kind of figured that the playing position was really important and might be lower than a standard table?

If you want to learn the piano and have an authentic experience then weighted keys are needed. A keyboard without doesn't have the same feel or equip you for playing the piano. If you don't have those then you will learn where the keys are but not get a feel for how it is to play. A stand is useful for the right position and an adjustable stood is nice so the height can change according to who is playing but isn't essential.

@HaveringWavering

Thanks *@AcornAutumn*, good luck!

Another question- do I need a stand or is a normal desk or dining table any good? I kind of figured that the playing position was really important and might be lower than a standard table?

Yes, it probably is but I have no options but to use the chair and table I have. It's not like I play for a long time though.

If you have space for an adjustable stand and proper stool etc, I totally would get those.

@HaveringWavering

Thanks *@cautiouscovidity*. When you say “long term” what do you have in mind. I’m 47, I guess I have 20 years or so till my hands seize up completely?

I guess if my son takes to it we’d want something that he’s be OK working through the usual school-level grades on over the next 10 years or so.

More than a year or two really (depending on progress). A keyboard isn't quite the same as a piano. They keys feel different and there aren't enough of them on most models once you reach a certain standard. For a child learning, I'd say that beyond grade 3, you'd need a model with weighted keys and, ideally, pedals. The Yamaha Portable Grand does have both of these. But if you just want something cheap and cheerful to test the water, then a keyboard would be fine to get started. You will need a stand - a desk or table would be too high.

Thanks @cautiouscovidity- so am I right in thinking that 88 keys are needed rather than 61 if you want to do musical grades?

@HaveringWavering

Thanks *@cautiouscovidity*- so am I right in thinking that 88 keys are needed rather than 61 if you want to do musical grades?

Ultimately, yes. But not for the first few grades. I can't remember exactly (it's been a LONG time since I did piano grades or even played it much at all) but probably grade 5+

I would get a keyboard with 88 weighted keys and a good pedal. I was looking at second hand for a while when I was trying to buy and always kept missing out on the good bargains! In the end I got a Yamaha P45 for £309, it was my Christmas and birthday present that year.

You probably do need a stand as you should sit slightly higher than the keyboard. Your hands should drop down onto it iyswim.

Update- I’ve decided to buy new and just pressed the button on a Casio S100 which has 88 weighted keys and good reviews. It seems to be in the same bracket as the Yamaha P45 you mention @Chicchicchicchiclana. I got a bundle with a stand, stool and headphones for £350. Happy with that!

Well jel!

I was a bit flummoxed at first because it's literally a foreign language but such fun! I would be so excited to have a proper bit of kit like that! Enjoy.

I would have reined myself in a bit if it had not been for my DS potentially using it in future, but I got a little bonus at work recently and I haven’t been on holiday for a while. It arrives on Monday - cannot wait to get stuck in. I need something to occupy my brain that is not Mumsnet . The only problem is that I really need to find more time to do exercise and I have now just invested in a time-consuming new hobby!

New sedentary hobby..

@HaveringWavering

New sedentary hobby..

I'm doing lots of working out so maybe you'll get into that too.

Though I'll grant you that small flat + shit freezing weather are probably connected to the workout urge!

I find learning keyboard has used bits of my brain I didn't know
I had. Would be lovely if you tell us what you think when you start.

Hi, just wondering how your getting on, thinking of getting into this myself? any recommendations or tips?

Ah, this thread came up in my "I'm on" and I forgot it was me who had started it!

I enjoyed doing some basics with online learning via Pianote at first but life guy in the way of my reply tin to do regular practice so I haven't really progressed very well. I then moved it to another from where it was more out of sight out of mind, and haven't played for about 6 months now. Did buy a proper dust cover ha ha.

I don't regret it, think I will pick it up again and DS will also be able to use it soon.

Thank you for the quick reply I wasn't expecting one as it was from a long time ago. Haha.
Mine turns up tomorrow so just been watching some of Bill Hiltons lessons on YouTube, he seems pretty good and keeps it simple. I'm sure it will take me a year just to work out the keys though 🤓
Good luck in your future playing, if not I'm sure your son will have great fun with it