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The advantages of a computer piano for beginners

admin — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 14:44:59 +0000

People who are beginning to learn the piano have a lot of aspects to understand and grasp. Apart from learning the finger techniques, they will also need to understand the different chords and sound output produced by the keys. It takes a lot of effort in terms of quality practice to understand these aspects of piano play. It can take several months before the learners can safely assume to possess some level of expertise. This longer learning curve for the learners is a major drawback when it comes to piano lessons and in fact, this reason also proves to be the cause for learner drop outs during the early stages. This learning curve can be greatly reduced with the usage of a computer piano. A computer piano is a simulated online version of the digital piano and it can produce the same tone and feel of the actual instrument. The computer piano is by no means an alternative for the actual physical instrument but it can help learners in understanding the basics of the instrument, apart from providing valuable knowledge gaining inputs for chord differentiation and recognition. The interactive keys in the virtual computer piano application are exact replicas of the actual keyboards on the instruments. The sound produced by the virtual piano is also the exact replication of the actual sound. So, beginners can play around with the computer piano and analyze the different tones produced by the keys. When the play the actual instrument, they are then able to better recognize the tone quality and chord differentiation. Computer piano is an application that has pre recorded tones assigned to each of the keys on the virtual keyboard. When the user depresses or strikes the virtual keyboard, the sound produced by the computer piano is the same that is actually produced when users strike the corresponding key on the actual instrument. Many piano applications are designed in such a way that the users are forced to use the same fingers on the computer keypad for each tone. This matches the actual finger usage in the real instrument, so, the computer piano is also an effective way to practice finger techniques, along with chord recognition. Computer piano is also a popular recreational pastime with children and aspiring learners. There are many websites that provide the computer piano for users and there are also customizable, specialized applications that can be adapted by users for unique usage.

What is an electronic piano?

admin — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 13:44:59 +0000

The electronic piano is often confused with the electric piano and in fact, the early electric pianos were called and marketed as electronic pianos. The fundamental difference between these two types of pianos is the method of sound production. The electric piano produces sound with the help of electro mechanical components and the sound is outputted as an electric pulse. The electronic piano produces sound with the help of oscillators and are completely manufactured with the help of analog circuitry. Since, there are no semi movable components and heavy components in electronic piano, these instruments are lighter in weight and size. The electronic piano was an innovation that was well appreciated and used in its time but its popularity began to decrease after the introduction of digital pianos. In the present times, the digital piano is also called as an electronic piano because both the types use the analog technology for its manufacture and usage. So, it is not uncommon for a digital piano to be referred to as an electronic piano, however, the differences actually exist.

The actual electronic piano has one major drawback; it cannot produce different types of sound based on touch. The traditional piano produces different types of sound, based on the type of touch given on the keys by the player. A hard touch produces a deeper sound and a light touch produces a lighter sound. But, in an electronic piano, the sound produced is of even quality; all types of touches produce the same sound. This drawback makes the electronic piano untenable for usage by professional musicians but it was still popular during its time because it was cheap and easy to maintain. Electronic pianos were used by most of the training institutes and were also popular with music schools and colleges.

The modern day electronic piano or digital piano, as it must be actually called, are high quality digital instruments that produce polyphonic sounds with the help of synthesizers. They are also extremely portable since they do not contain heavy and movable components. The sound quality of these pianos are also of high standard, however, it must be noted that there is some difference when compared to the traditional acoustic models, especially for touch sounds. The electronic piano is also easily affordable by general people and has replaced the traditional models in modern households. The electronic piano comes in varied sizes and different sound output models.

What is an electric piano?

admin — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 13:42:59 +0000

The electric piano was invented as an alternative to the traditional harmonic piano. The traditional models were bulky and contained numerous movable components. They were also costly instruments and their usage was restricted to the elite few, who could afford to buy one. The electric piano, when it was introduced, proved to be a less bulky and cheaper alternative for the people. It was cheap enough to be affordable to the general public and its popularity and usage increased in the ensuing years. The electric piano was manufactured and marketed primarily for house hold usage but it was also prevalently used in schools, colleges and musical institutions. Since it was cheaper to buy and maintain, the electric piano also became popular with people who were learning to play the piano. Unlike the traditional piano, the electric piano does not produce sound with the help of strings and hammers; the sound is produced by electro – magnetic components. The sound waves produced is converted into electric pulse, which is then outputted as sound. The electro – magnetic components are less bulky than the string and hammer mechanism and they are also a lot easier to maintain. This feature had contributed to the increase in the popularity of the electric piano, right from its introduction until the late 1970s. The electric piano was eventually replaced by the digital and electronic pianos in the early 1980s but of late, a few piano manufacturers have started producing higher quality electric pianos that have movable, electro – magnetic parts, which produce better quality sound.

It is understood that the electric piano does not produce the desired range of sounds when compared to the traditional or even the electronic pianos because the electric sound pulse is evenly produced. There is no touch and feel aspect with the electric piano, so, a soft touch on the keyboard produces the same sound as a hard touch. This lack of differentiation in sound output is the drawback that has always been associated with the electric piano and this aspect has also contributed to the waning popularity of this instrument. However, during the early times, when there were no other options, the electric piano enjoyed high levels of popularity and usage. There were piano players who specialized only on the electric piano and their skills were adapted to the unique features that are available only in the electric instruments.

Information about digital piano

admin — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 13:42:59 +0000

The commercial production and marketing of the digital piano began in the early 1980s and its usage and acceptance as steadily increased over the years. Presently, it is estimated that the digital piano has all but replaced the traditional piano in households and musical realms. In term of the quality of sound produced, the digital piano cannot match the clarity of the traditional acoustic piano but there are many other features that prove to be an advantage with this piano. The primary advantage is the portability of the digital piano – it is lightweight and less cumbersome when compared to the acoustic piano. The digital piano also comes in many sizes and can be modified or adapted to suit various needs and space restrictions. The smaller models can also be carried around by the users themselves, without too much trouble.

The digital piano is also inexpensive when compared to the traditional model and so, is very popular with commercial institutions and music establishments. Since the sound produced by this type of piano is digital, the components and internal parts are totally different in the digital piano. The components are majorly electronic and so, are lightweight. This also enables the instruments to be shaped and sized differently. There are no strings and hammers and therefore the digital pianos do not require regular tuning and maintenance. There are also no pedals and movable components and this is the reason that the sound quality produced by the digital piano is not harmonic but the digitally synthesized and polyphonic sounds have their own unique identity in the music world.

The digital piano is also very popular with training institutions and music schools. These pianos come armed with recording ability, playback, song storage and other features, which are extremely beneficial for learners. Some of the more advanced models also are equipped with specialty training features like keyboard highlighters, headphone output, composition assistance, etc. The digital piano has replaced the traditional ones when it comes to practice and training for learners. Apart from the adaptability and portability, the digital piano is also easily affordable by all people who can buy and use them for home use too. There are many manufacturers who specialize in digital pianos who also conduct research and improvement activities. Modern digital pianos are almost as good as the traditional pianos when it comes to sound quality and output. In the coming years, it is expected that the technological advancement will enable the digital piano to eventually replace the traditional model.