learning keyboard or piano?

[ernest]

I want to learn an instrument. I hired a clarinet. I love the deep tones, but it's a pain, inasmuch as I need something instant, that I can just pick up and play & put down when the kids start to kill each other, not something that I have to asseble, clean & dry, take apart etc.

So I want something instant and ideally silent.

I thought keyboard, but someone said to me digital piano. I am torn cos it looks lovely, BUT I understand there's a real chance I don't stick at it

Looked into hiring, but it's min. 1 year hire, and I might not even be about that long

SO do I just buy a dig. piano and force myself to stick to it, or get a keyboard say for £300?

Is it really such a world apart? The keyboard is still good to play and I could splash out on a posh dp later if I stick with it? Does anyone know? Or able to advise. I need somthing to do all my up coming long oenly nights .

Plus dh just sent me sms from London saying he's soon to get big golden handshake and what would i like to get for myself (apartenlt price no limit so tempted again to get piano, but then I know I'm mega crap

Would love to play something tho.

If you go for keyboard many are not the same range as the piano

I have a yamaha silent piano. It's a real piano - but you can put the middle pedal down, put on your headphones and it plays you a digitised version of a yamaha concert grade (which because it's going straight into your ears sounds amazing).

It's serious money - but you would get an awful lot of it back if you sold it - and the kids might like to play it too.

I love pianos myself - they're a nice piece of furniture even when they're out of tune and you're not very good.

But you can get keyboards that are weighted so you get a piano feel when you play. And they do take up a lot less space. Treat yourself to a morning at an instrument shop, trying out a few keyboards & pianos. (And then I'd have a look on ebay!)