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lilacerull0 · 4 years ago

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LITTLE WOMEN FANFICTION

CHAPTER 3: SEVEN

Escapism

"Please, picture me in the trees...

...before I learned civility."

- seven, Taylor Swift

***

one.

- Let's run away.

It's barely a whisper. It's said more to the open sky above them than to anybody else.

- Let's run away.

It's more than a whisper now. It's a call. An invitation for something greater than both of them. And Laurie would gladly buy a ticket for that particular train. He would. But the sun is so wonderful and the clouds are so enchanting in their unusual shapes that even getting up seems like a chore. He wants to stay here. On the grass. But Jo is persistent in her wishes. Jo March never, never, gives up.

- Won't you say something, Teddy? Can't you just see it? We could be anything, do anything, go anywhere! The world could be ours!

She, unlike him, is on her feet. She always seems to be. Gravity isn't very fond of Jo. Or at least that's what Jo will tell you. Laurie doesn't know if that's true or not, but he likes hearing her talk. He finds himself generally attached to sounds. The chipering of birds. The first note you play on the piano. Amy's chaotic laughter. Beth's soft chuckles. Meg's little mumbles. Jo's wild exclaims. That's one of the many reasons why Laurie loves the Marches. It's like these sisters have discovered an utterly fresh, vivid and extraordinary way to be alive. It's a pleasant contrast to what he's used to.

It's always quiet at home.

"What do you say Theodore Laurence, kindest and most noble of knights of this kingdom? Shall we follow the wind and see where it leads us?"

"I wouldn't want it any other way."

"Then you accept my proposal?"

"I sure do, Miss March."

People's faces usually look radically different when lightened up with smiles. They look prettier, more beautiful and somehow truer to themselves as opposed to non smiling faces. Jo's doesn't. She is smiling at him right now and her face doesn't look any different. It's just as true and warm as it was a thousand smiles before. And would Laurie even be allowed to call himself a comrade of Jo's if he didn't gift her with a smile of his own in return? He grins at her with no specific thought behind the expression. This is how people are supposed to be smiling, he thinks. Wide and real. Yes, people are supposed to be smiling just like this.

For a second, Jo and Laurie are the same person. Hair wild, shirts half unbuttoned, cheeks flushed. Laurie's hands are splattered with dirt from the ground whose hostility he was taking advantage of moments prior. Jo doesn't seem to care about that. Once he's up and standing, she grabs his arm a bit forcefully (which he doesn't mind), a bit theatrically (because this is Jo and life is a theatre piece) and they start running, both of them now embellished with dust. There's a lot of stumbling (and stumbling is blamed on the seemingly nonexistent objects that appear and disappear under commands of fairy like creatures) and there's a lot of laughter (laughter that comes in its most natural form and doesn't show any interest in being contained under anyone's wishes, especially not the ones of the world).

"Oh dearest, the world might not be for us, but us we are for the world."

***

two.

Freedom is both the most basic and the most complicated aspect of life to be gained. It is so simple of a concept, one could easily and rightfully so believe how all of thought guardians (more commonly referred to as humans) should have the right to not only experience, but spend their entire lives swimming in shinning lakes of freedom. But it's not how it all works. Some have tiny bits of freedom. Some don't have it at all. Some have loads. Some have just enough. Too much, sadly or sadly not, have none.

Jo sometimes wishes she were a tree. High up in the sky, stretching out her branches towards infinity. She isn't a tree though.

Imagination is of grave help despite what anyone says. To a normal person, the tree is just a tree. Tree and nothing else. To Jo March, a tree is so much more. It's an opportunity. An adventure. It's a solace and a home. A sanctuary. She's climbing up one of her leaf providing friends as she's trying to figure out how to describe this moment the best. Her reflections are interrupted by a voice which surprisingly doesn't come from the bellow, but from the above instead. Once Jo spots the speaker's ground conquerors (or "shoes" if you are of dull old sameness and don't find the pleasure in crafting phrases unlike our Jo), she immediately recognizes their owner. She still isn't sure why Teddy let Amy paint his shoes with images of flowers, but she is mesmerized with the final result. And although she shall never share this with the oh, so great artist, Jo thinks Amy's creations to be exquisite.

"I presume you are coming here to put your mind at ease."

"That is correct, my boy, and I suppose you are here for the same cause. "

By the time they exchange these lines, Jo has already climbed up to the place where Laurie is. She finds herself a steady enough branch and rests her head against the surface of the wood. Her friend is positioned in a similar way, his leg gently swaying to a peculiar beat of his own making.

Two figures, who almost seem to be one with the wooden fellow, occasionally take an exceptionally deep breath. Their hands colored with bruises, souvenirs from many extraordinary expeditions, their clothes decorated with leaves. Seemingly they are flowers, nature is their most beloved companion.

It's quite a story how Jo and Teddy, these flower resembling humans, coexist without many syllables shared. The phrases they do sometimes grace each other with can end up being translated as meaningless or lacking in thought. But Teddy and Jo, among everything else, are inventors. They invented a language which only functions for them. What is mean to others represents to them a code. What is strange to some, playful and witty to them it is. What is impossible to comprehend, they understand with little to no effort.

"Language of flowers is the language of flowers for a reason. Nobody, but flowers, thinks it much sense."

***

three.

"I'M ALIVE! LOOK AT ME, EARTH!!! I! AM! BREATHING!"

This is just one of the many declarations that have furiously been shouted at the void today. Young people often have trouble befriending compromises, especially if those compromises are to be made with the creatures you live in close proximity with. Jo has again been fighting with her sisters for reasons she cannot exactly recall right this instant. It's funny, because this always happens to her. Something sparks her temper, she recklessly gives into it and at the end, it's all about the anger she doesn't know how to release. She usually goes on long walks or takes deep breaths. She basically tries to isolate herself from everyone until the storm passes.

Teddy has a different solution for her troubles, troubles that naturally turn out to be his troubles too because they are Jo and Teddy, Teddy and Jo, and they have the same troubles (which is both wonderfully relieving and awfully annoying at the same time). Jo wouldn't even call Teddy's solution a solution. They are both making these announcements of nonhuman frequency and dancing their heads off, and as ridiculous as it is, Jo feels it liberating. They aren't improving anything (just the opposite, screaming random things into the air represents the peak of impulsive behaviour) and the conclusion is: no profitable discoveries in the "containing yourself" department. But who cares? Sometimes you have to let it all out. Dance and shout the worries away. It wasn't a coincidence that Jo met Teddy under the circumstances that she did. They were both of hot tempers, strong wills and free spirits. And they needed to dance it all out out. Despite the absurdity and inappropriate mannerism a foreign eye would most certainly find in their actions.

"There exists no right nor wrong way to express one's self."

***

four.

Laurie is surprised with how much he is enjoying this. It's all very simple. Yet, he feels at peace. He feels like everything inside him has a chance to rest.

It's the fireplace and captivating movement of the fire flames.

It's the soft "click" he discovers every time Meg takes a step. Her shoes are marvellous singers.

It's the chattering of dishes he recognizes somewhere in the background. It must be Beth, cleaning the table after the meal.

It's Amy giggling mischievously after coming up with what Laurie supposes to be some kind of scheme or more accurately, a master plan. He wouldn't know what is it about, but whatever it is, Amy is destined to succeed in it.

It's Jo. This is all because of Jo. He wouldn't have come across the hidden delights of the "uncomplicated" and "boring" if it weren't for her. She takes a seat beside him interrupting the spectacular date he had with the fireplace, rests her head on his shoulder and sighs. It's like this with them. Touching has never been a big deal.

"Beautiful."

That's all Jo says. "Beautiful." He doesn't question it. He understands what she means even though he cannot explain it. He understands.

"Warmth. Choreographed chaos. Lines overlapping. Minds intertwining. Familiarity greeting you "hello". People. Family. Home."

***

five.

She cut her hair. She cut her hair and everything is supposed to be at least a little better if not completely fine. But she can feel the tears forming in her eyes as she's approaching the house. The money in her pocket is so incredibly present. No, the money is not just present in her pocket. Everything those dusty pieces of paper represent carries weight. A weight so grand Jo could swear there is somebody following her, kind of like the money has taken the shape of a person and is now accompanying her, monitoring her every move. What kind of world sees a green, ugly paper and claims of it a metaphor for greatest treasures? And the tears? The tears she cannot comprehend. Why would she care? It's just hair. If anything, she should be bursting with joy right now. She got rid of the womanly burden. But it doesn't feel right. It's all extremely selfish of her. Selfish and thoughtless.

Her sister is... not well. Her father is out there doing all sorts of heroic things and instead of crying over her sins, she's crying over this. For once she does something right, for once the part of her that's wrong different isn't screaming. And then it hits her. It's not just a part of her that's different wrong. It's her. The moment she realises this she steps into the house. Everyone is either too distant or too close to notice all that is hiding underneath her seemingly admirable actions.

Her body is barely handling the atmosphere. It's barely cultivating the facade. But her body is also covered with Teddy's waistcoat and just as she remembers this little fact she sees her best friend right there in front of her. He is not too distant nor too close. He is right where she is.

They have the same hair.

Jo is pulled towards him because this is Teddy and hugging Teddy is like hugging herself. They stay like that for a few moments, their realities greeting each other like two fellow soldiers, finally reunited in battle.

It doesn't make her feel any less hollow. It doesn't change anything. It doesn't alter the wrongs. But it does make it a little better. It offers an assurance. An assurance embodying validity so present, money can do nothing but hold a candle to. An assurance of rational absurdity. Because that's what Jo and Teddy are.

They are rationally absurd.

"It's a childish belief that all twins look the same. There exist many ways to be somebody's twin."

***

six.

She is holding his hand.

He has just told her how he doesn't fit within himself. He has just told her that and she is still here, laying on the floor with him, covered with blankets. She said it made sense. She must have been too tired or something. She must have misheard. She must have.

"Jo, are you there?"

She does not respond. She only squeezes his hand. It's not about the gesture itself. It's about everything the gesture holds.

Promises. Lifetimes. Daylights. Midnights. Setting suns. Growing spirits. Flowery Youths.

She is holding his hand.

" Mutuality sure is a wonderful creation. What is more wonderful though is mutual understanding. Mutuality means the returning of the same. Mutual understanding means accepting and loving of the different."

***

seven.

"I could run away for real this time. Explore the unknown, unravel the mystical. Encounter the miracles. Touch the heavens..."

Her words are empty. They don't mean much. They are empty and desperate. Empty, desperate and meaningless.

Her sister got married. Meg got married and she is talking to herself about running away. The wind is dancing with her again long enough hair, tangling its fingers into her rough curls, reminding her of the countless times it has done the exact same thing before. Mocking her with its endless supplies of stability and comfort. Jo is leaning over the wooden fence, despite the wishes of her dress which keeps complaining about her unlady like methods. Jo honestly does not care about the fancy bridesmaid dress and its wants. If one has the will to climb fences, one shall enjoy the act of doing so, no matter what some piece of fabric might have to say. She is trying to hold back rivers her eyes miserably wish to let flow. She cannot cry. She must not. She has an ongoing bet with Teddy about this. He was daring enough to assume she will turn herself into a paddle today and she ought to prove him wrong.

"What might a lady like yourself be doing here instead of enjoying the jolly ceremony out there in the open?"

"I am no lady Teddy, my being is in no need of such chains."

Laurie doesn't pressure her into answering the question (she would have answered it in the first place if she had the intention to) and steps on the fence beside her. He starts humming a random melody, rhythmically moving his fingers to the sound. He must be composing something again, thinks Jo and silently envies his creative range. It's been too long since she's written anything worth sharing.

"What are you thinking about?"

"Everything."

"Isn't that a bit too much of things?"

"Oh, it's just a little over the top Teddy, but I believe I can handle it. This mind is no stranger to overcrowding."

The same tree they used to climb when they were younger is now observing them, representing an eternal and haunting reminder of everything that once was. Jo is frightened. That silent way in which Teddy is looking at her is frightening. He is looking at her in ways she longs for to be different and his eyes have too many freshly discovered stories to tell. She is frightened she won't find those stories to be very pleasant.

"Do you remember that day when I told you how I wanted to run away?"

"How could I not?"

"I need to run away again."

Laurie doesn't need to hear it twice. He jumps over the fence and starts running, his arms widely spread, his tie and jacket long forgotten. It isn't real. Jo knows they will never go anywhere. The sun is setting and the lines of separation are clearing up. The sun is setting and challenges, struggles and complications lie ahead. She knows all of this. Yet, she hikes up her skirts like she's sixteen again and follows the path her boy has chosen for as long as she knows how to. Jo and Teddy run through the endless fields of gold, specks of sunlight meeting their bones. Teddy and Jo, Jo and Teddy, high in the sky for one last time before nightfall.

They keep falling over each other and eventually end up wrestling on the grass, occasional screams and consistent laughter adorning the air around them.

The last song of Meg's shoes. The last symbol Amy will ever paint on Jo's hands. The last wide smile of Beth's. The last understood conversation of birds. The last fellow of the trees. The last arrangement of flowers.

The last.

"Oh, to live in a world where there are childhoods, fields of gold and raging hearts."

"Grab a coat, leave a note and run away with me."

- William Chapman

#louisa may alcott #little women 2019 #little women fanfiction #laurie laurence #jo march #amy march #my writing #beth march #meg march #taylor swift #folklore #evermore #jo × laurie

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renegadehymnal-blog · 7 years ago

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Adventures in Digital #2

The Theory and Practice of Podcast Opera : part 2 (of 3)

An expanded transcript of a Composer Commentary podcast, by Martin Ward, exploring the creation of the digital opera serial Road Memoir.

Whilst changing the Road Memoir podcasting schedule from two to twelve weeks meant that each episode would need to be longer (a choice which afforded the opportunity to explore a secondary character narrative) it also meant that, from originally planning to complete all the writing, recording and mixing before the series began, I would now create and record the opera whilst it was running. I had four episodes written and recorded (but not mixed) before the podcasting began on July 24th and from then on I spent twelve weeks juggling the three jobs of writing, recording and mixing, whilst having to meet the weekly podcasting deadline. This was also the school summer holidays, which put a family camping holiday in the middle of the series, meaning the podcasting of two episodes had to be managed, along with website updates and social media, from my mobile phone (I was determined to leave the laptop at home) on a French campsite with very patchy wifi. They were a couple of stressful days.

In advance, I had made a detailed multi-colour spreadsheet planning the three months work. This changed a little but not much during the creative process and over time the production of each episode settled down into a basic routine that went like this ...

1. Write the libretto.

2. Compose the music.

3. Input into Cubase and edit at the same time, just using piano sounds for now and finalise the tempi.

4. Create Vocal Score in Sibelius.

5. Email VS and an mp3 to Billie Robson, the singer. Giving her as much notice as possible, ideally at least 5 days.

6. Recording session with Billie (in which she sang with the Cubase file and a click).

7. Vocal editing session, sorting through the different takes.

8. Designing and placing the sound effects.

9. Arranging and "orchestrating" the musical accompaniment.

10. Mixing.

11. Mastering (via 3 sets of headphones of differing types, price points and qualities).

12. Mixdown and Data Stamp the mp3 metadata to iTunes standards.

13. Upload and Publish Podcast in Blubrry.

14. Make a pdf of the episode libretto and text.

15. Update my website with podcast widget and libretto pdf.

16. Social Media and email promotion.

This timetable, duplicated twelve times, was organised to dove-tail so that on any one day I might be working on three different aspects of three different episodes. By the midway point it had become second nature as to what was needed and what came next and the spread sheet was more or less redundant.

Planning work flow like that is important to just get the job done but I think it's as important to plan the artistic and creative goals and methods before you begin. As an inexperienced librettist, I'd devised a four-point method for the libretto (the sung words) of each episode, which I hoped would bring balance to the content and allow for poetic character insight - which is essential and unique to opera - whilst keeping the story moving forward. To that end, this is the checklist I printed at the top of each scene as I was writing...

Every episode should contain each of these in some small part :

1. STORY : move the development of the story forward.

2. MEMORY : contrast present experience with past experience (as the story is set in the near future, remember that character "past experience" is "everyday experience" for the audience – play on that).

3. REFLECTION : allow time for pause and poetic musing on changes in predicament and/or surroundings.

4. ACTION : character must take action that moves her story forward.

And in a further note :

Also bear in mind that each of these narrative elements should also occupy a slightly different sound and music world, with unique palettes of sound and music for each – helping the audience in navigating different types of story-telling at a subconscious level.

In retrospect I'm pretty pleased with how the libretto plan turned out and that each episode does demonstrate elements of each of the four forms. It keeps moving forward through the characters actions, with a speed that ebbs and flows (which I like) and there are also moments for poetry and reflection, which, as I've said, I believe is an important aspect of any work that calls itself "opera".

My musical plans ended up taking a slightly different course though. Whilst I made certain to mark the changes of purpose in the text with changes of tone or tempo or colour in the music, my plan to accompany the four types of text with four different, defined sound and music worlds didn't really play out. I think that this was largely due to the addition of the spoken Investigator text, which required a very different sound world to the sung sections. That meant that those sung sections required less contrast within them. Also, once I got into the nuts and bolts I decided that I wanted each episode to explore different groups of sounds, with the piano as the constant instrumental voice. This was a decision in reaction to the sometimes confined musical palette of live chamber opera (where budget always restricts performer numbers). I wanted to explore the far wider range of colours that might be possible with a work such as this. This is clearly the opposite of what my initial plan suggested but it also reflects the conclusion that I came to whilst working on the piece, that what was most important at those moments of change in the text : from Story, to Memory, to Reflection or to Action, was that there was simply a coordinated change in the sound and music. What the sound or music changed to was not actually that important in the grand scheme of things and a freer approach in fact allowed the music to keep moving forward into new ground, as the story and the main character evolved and did the same. I did identify some musical motifs early on but without making explicit connections between them and character or narrative. Instead I used their occasional returns to loosely bind the accompanying material together. With this approach, rather than by recycling a coded palette – which the audience may, or (more probably) may not pick up on – I believe the piece feels more creatively fertile.

Throughout the creative process I entirely avoided listening back to podcast episodes and in fact I didn't re-listen to anything until two weeks after the work was complete. This was primarily because I wanted the music to keep moving forward and I wanted to avoid past musical ideas invading my current thoughts. The story itself is about making decisions in the moment, living with them and moving on. I'm quite into the idea of exploring ways of mirroring story elements in the creative processes I use, so it seemed an apt approach to try to reflect that constant forward story movement in my methodology. Truthfully, I was also a little bit scared I might not like everything I'd done and I couldn't afford to be worrying about that whilst I was writing - with any other piece I would have had the chance to go back and re-write or edit but with this one, once I'd clicked on "publish podcast" it was out there and there was no going back.

By moving away from traditional opera methods it was easy to feel like I was breaking new ground but contemporary culture exists in so many forms that no sooner have I stepped out of "opera" than I'm tripping into another existing genre or artform. With an aural serial like Road Memoir comparisons with radio plays are obvious but, though there are definite similarities, I feel that Road Memoir is a freer artistic expression and I'm particularly glad not to have had a specified episode duration to work to, as would certainly be the case with a radio play.

I really didn't concern myself with episode durations when I was creating and it's pretty clear to see as the episodes range between 5'39 and 14'05 in length (although the latter was an intentional double-episode rather than a massive over-run) and most episodes are between 6 and 9 minutes long. It was my intention from the start to make the most dramatically important episodes, at the beginning and the end of the series, double-episodes. The first episode had to establish the two voices, both in themselves and in how they fit together; it had to do the same with the sound and music; it also had to explain the Real World history and relevance of mobile phone evidence, the facts of which underpin the whole story; it then had to establish the woman's character and starting position in the narrative before throwing her headlong into the jeopardy which would begin her journey; and it had to finish with a cliffhanger which would hopefully leave the audience wanting to come back for episode two. Listing all that, I'm exceptionally pleased that it was only 10 minutes long.

Meanwhile, I knew from early on that I wanted the final episode to be more like an epilogue, set some time after the rest of the series and tying up at least the question of the woman's survival, if nothing else. Therefore, the penultimate episode had to be the story climax and it also had to finish with a final cliff-hanging point of jeopardy. I liked the idea that the episode would start with a misleading period of calm - the lull before the storm - putting the audience on the wrong foot, before spiralling into a confusing and noisy chaos of words and sound - to really take the listener on a journey within the one episode and hopefully leave them struggling with the weight and quantity of what they'd just heard. In order to achieve all that was going to take time and even without the first 4 minute song, which could almost stand alone as an episode, the following scene, which unifies the two narratives and characters geographically on the beach and in the same dramatic moment (even if they are actually years apart in time) doesn't feel long at 10 minutes given the amount of information and story it holds. There's about thirty tracks of sound effects alone in that sequence. It was a pretty intense week, arranging and mixing all of that.

In the final episode, the main part of which is just for voice and piano, I hope that the use of the piano throughout the series kind of comes into focus. I see the piano as a part of her character, almost on a par with her voice, a constant that remains at the end - as the danger and fear ebb away - and that last episode maybe hints at one of the ways I'd like to imagine the opera working in the future: as a live event, for solo soprano and piano, with recorded sound, music and spoken text. As self-contradictory as that idea might sound, given my earlier insistence on conceiving and writing a work purely for digital media, I can't help finding myself now, after sharing the final episode, wondering what lies ahead for the piece.

In my next “Adventures in Digital” blog I'll explore what that future might be for this work and draw some conclusions from my experiences in creating it.

#opera #podcast #singing #drama #theatre #digital art

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robertbjonesus80 · 8 years ago

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Buyer’s Guide: Best Keyboards Piano Review in 2017

Numerous digital keyboards piano style musical instruments exist on the market, and it can make it tough to find the keyboard that matches your needs. Most of the pianos look exactly the same, and it’s only in the hidden technical features that you begin to see the real difference between these many keyboards. Use this guide when looking for a new piano, and get more from your playing experience.

Rating

Product

Our Rating

Price

Yamaha P115

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Alesis Coda Pro

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Yamaha Arius

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Yamaha P71

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Williams Legato 88-Key

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Things To Consider

Purpose and Use

One of the first things a musician needs to evaluate is the reason they want a keyboards piano. Depending on your style of playing, you may not need one of the top-of-the-line keyboards piano options. A musician who plays in a jazz band or a classical ensemble will very likely need a piano that closely replicates the sound of a real, acoustic piano. The musician in a rock band who relies heavily on samplers and electronic audio may not need a piano that replicates the sound of an acoustic piano. Decide whether a faithful reproduction of sound or the option to record and use multiple samplers is most important to your particular kind of work.

Narrowing the Selection

Once you’ve decided if you want an authentic keyboards piano that replicates the sound of an acoustic piano or a keyboards piano that is able to produce countless sounds, it’s time to think about some of the technical specifications. If you want a realistic sound, then eliminate any piano that uses less than 128-note polyphony. When you use the sustain pedal, the polyphony comes into play. If you play a run on the piano with sustain, notes will begin to cut out once you exceed the maximum polyphony. If you want a piano that uses a large sample library, then eliminate any keyboards piano that doesn’t have a MIDI connection. While there are other criteria to consider, these two criteria are more expensive and less commonly found features. A keyboard with a MIDI connector is designed to appeal to the more high-end musician who is deep into electronic music. A keyboards piano with at least 128-note polyphony will also include high-quality piano samples.

The Playing Experience

Once you’ve got the basic piano options narrowed down to your preferred style of music, it’s time to begin thinking about the playing experience and feel. A classically-trained pianist isn’t going to like the feel of a cheap keyboard that doesn’t have weighted keys. A musician who plays in a band may not care, especially if the keyboard is just used to activate different sounds and loops. The professional player should look for a digital keyboard that uses weighted or semi-weighted keys. Bonus points if you find a keyboard that uses a hammer-based action to replicate the hammers in a real piano. The keyboardist who plays in a band will want a nice, large digital display with touch-command features. This will make it easier to work with samples and various sounds.

Benefits of a Keyboards Piano

Regardless of the style of music, there are numerous benefits to learning to play the piano. Roland, a top keyboard manufacturer, notes that there are at least six benefits to playing a digital keyboard. Headphones can be used with a digital piano to let you get deep inside of the notes and hear any discrepancies. Almost all digital pianos use a metronome, which makes it possible to improve your rhythm by playing perfectly in time. It’s also possible to listen to a performance of yours by recording it, which is indispensable for improving your playing technique. Digital pianos also have more apps and sounds that are capable of playing all sorts of sounds. A digital piano can help you improve more efficiently, and many keyboards piano options contain lessons as well.

Identifying Quality

While you can narrow down your selection quite a bit once you know the style of music you’re playing and a general budget, there are a few components that you should look for in your keyboards piano. Don’t make the mistake of getting anything less than 88 keys. This is the standard for a piano, and many pianos will cut costs by providing a 76 keyboard. This will limit your opportunities for playing real music. The only exception is a musician who doesn’t play piano works and only uses the piano for DJing or simple tunes. Built-in speakers are convenient, but there is no way you’ll want to use those speakers in performance. If the keyboards piano doesn’t include an option to use external speakers, it’s time to move on. Finally, the number of sounds on a piano are irrelevant. What matters is quality. Look for a piano with the sounds you’re actually going to use, and judge the piano based only on the quality of those sounds.

Rating

Product

Our Rating

Price

Yamaha P115

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Alesis Coda Pro

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Yamaha Arius

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Yamaha P71

Check Prices

Williams Legato 88-Key

Check Prices

Five Best Keyboards Piano

Alesis Coda Pro

The Alesis Coda Pro is an exceptional instrument. It contains a host of features that will appeal to keyboardists who play in any style. This keyboards piano features a hammer action response system. While you can save a bit of money and go for the semi-weighted keys, the hammer-action keyboard produces the best results. It will feel the most like a real piano keyboard since it uses a mechanism that is very similar.

This keyboard includes the almighty MIDI Output and USB computer connection. When it comes to recording, this is probably the single most important feature to have. MIDI Output can make the polyphony count superfluous. The keyboard also contains 60 preset songs, which could come in handy for entertaining and just having fun playing a countermelody to your favorite tunes. This keyboard also makes it possible to connect to an external amp, and the built-in 20-watt speakers are also quite respectable.

Pros

Complete: The unit comes with everything you need to enjoy your music immediately.

Polyphony: With 64-note polyphony, there will be few pieces that you can’t play.

Recording: This device includes built-in recording options to catalogue your performances or progress.

Cons

Pedal: An acoustic piano includes three pedals. This keyboard only comes with the sustain pedal.

Voices: The piano only includes 20 built-in voices but the quality is high.

Weight: At 27 pounds, this keyboard comes in at the heavier end.

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Yamaha P71

Yamaha is synonymous with quality, especially when it comes to the creation of a keyboards piano. The keyboard comes with an 88-note setup, and it uses a fully weighted set of keys to simulate the experience of playing on a hammer-action keyboard. The lower keys are also weighted a bit heavier than the higher notes to replicate the feel of a real piano. Not many keyboards include the ability to combine more than one instrument sound at the same time. This keyboard makes that possible with a dual mode system. This keyboard is also space-efficient, and you’ll be able to carry it between performances since it weighs only about 25 pounds.

There are two piano choices for the sound option. The regular grand piano is slightly more mellow than its brighter counterpart. In truth, Yamaha acoustic pianos tend to have a bright sound, so this isn’t far from the sound you would expect on a real acoustic Yamaha piano. This piano isn’t for the performer who wants tons of sounds. However, if a realistic playing experience matters to you, this may be the perfect piano for you. It’s affordable, and it has a wide array of professional features to keep you entertained.

Pros

Piano Sound: This piano offers two different piano sounds so you can get the sound that matches your needs.

Versatility: An exceptionally well-made piano that comes with a good selection of sounds.

Keyboard: Offers an 88-note keyboard with touch sensitivity for expressive playing.

Cons

Limited Volume: The high-end on the volume spectrum isn’t as loud as some other pianos.

Pedals: Only comes with a single sustain pedal.

Weight: It’s still a little heavy for transporting between gigs at 25 pounds.

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Williams Legato 88-Key

Get the best of both worlds with an ultra-portable keyboards piano that is perfect for gigging or performing at home. The piano comes with only five built-in voices, and the five voices can be layered or split to give your performance a fuller and more robust sound. Reverb and chorus effects can be employed to individual voices. This gives the voice a more three-dimensional sound for a realistic performance. A metronome and built-in speakers round out the system making this an ideal choice for the musician who wants to improve their skill and technique.

The built-in speakers are convenient, but they won’t be powerful enough to fill a concert hall or work well in a performance. If you have an external speaker system, the keyboard will sound much better. Since a real piano is extremely expensive, this piano offers a good compromise. The keyboard action is very similar to a real piano, you’ll be able to play a range of dynamics, and the piano is extremely responsive. With a pair of high-quality headphones or a good speaker system, you’ll lavish in the sound it produces.

Pros

Keyboard: Full keyboard can play everything a regular piano is capable of playing.

Bult-in Sound: Speakers are built into the system so no external speakers are needed.

Sustain Pedal: Comes with a single sustain pedal if you purchase the package.

Cons

Accessories: The power pack and sustain pedal must be purchased as part of a package.

Features: Doesn’t include all of the sounds that some cheaper options provide.

Basic: This piano is comparable to an acoustic piano in that it has very few extra features.

Check Current Prices

Yamaha P115

This piano comes in several model versions. The Professional option will provide you with 256 notes of polyphony. That’s as good as it gets with keyboards piano options. The piano uses a unique sampling technology known as Pure CF. This system aims to replicate the sound of a nine-foot concert grand piano. The piano also has one of the most realistic actions with a graded hammer action with a heavier touch between the low and higher end of the piano. The black keys also use a matte finish that makes them less slippery when playing for a long period of time. All of these features make this one of the most professional sounding pianos on the market.

This keyboard has some interesting features that make the piano more valuable to the solo player. The option to play chords in your left hand and have the piano play accompaniment patterns can spice up any piece. You’ll be able to hold down chords in your left hand and play a melody over the accompaniment with the right hand. There are 10 different accompaniment patterns to make your playing experience superb.

Pros

Piano App: Control all of the features using a specialized piano app.

Dual Player: Enjoy the option to play by yourself using the dual piano player option.

Rhythms Built-In: Select one of the available on-board rhythms to express your musical creativity.

Cons

Accessories: The piano may not come with a power adapter and pedal depending on the package you choose.

Sounds: Limited sounds make this a poor choice for the performer who needs more.

Action: Some players note that the action is a little rough in the low end.

Check Current Prices

Yamaha Arius

This keyboards piano includes a professional-level 128-note polyphony, which should be suitable for all players. For the serious classical musician, 64 notes won’t be enough. However, everyone else will be thrilled by the sound. For the serious musician, this is a great portable option. A single standard sustain pedal is included with the piano, but Yamaha does have the option of purchasing a separate triple pedal setup.

The piano also has built-in rhythms so that you can enjoy practicing using patterns encompassing a full range of styles. This keyboards piano offers an exceptional array of options, making it an exceptionally high value relative to its cost. The best thing about this piano is the sound. It uses real sampled piano sounds at multiple dynamic levels to create an exciting and realistic sound.

Pros

Polyphony: 128-note polyphony will make your playing more realistic.

Pedals: It uses a three-pedal setup.

Dynamics: Realistic piano sounds created with real samples from an actual piano at various dynamic levels.

Cons

Portability: The piano isn’t portable.

Sounds: It only comes with 10 sounds.

Accessories: You’ll need to buy most of the accessories, as it doesn’t come with many.

Check Current Prices

Conclusion

In the end, we have to recommend the piano that will suit the majority of musicians. The Yamaha 115 offers an impressive range of features for the cost. No feature is added that doesn’t benefit and increase the performance value of the product. It offers touch-sensitive keys, a realistic key action and the sound is phenomenal. While you’ll still need to purchase a set of external speakers to perform in public, this keyboard gives you a good mix of portability and exceptional design to enable you to enjoy your music to the fullest. It’s an excellent substitute for a real piano, and you’ll find the realistic action highly enjoyable.

The post Buyer’s Guide: Best Keyboards Piano Review in 2017 appeared first on Music Advisor.

from Music Advisor https://musicadvisor.com/2017/03/14/best-keyboards-piano/ from Music Advisor https://musicadvisor.tumblr.com/post/158393460947

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amaradjohnson · 8 years ago

Text

Buyer’s Guide: Best Keyboards Piano Review in 2017

Numerous digital keyboards piano style musical instruments exist on the market, and it can make it tough to find the keyboard that matches your needs. Most of the pianos look exactly the same, and it's only in the hidden technical features that you begin to see the real difference between these many keyboards. Use this guide when looking for a new piano, and get more from your playing experience.

Rating

Product

Our Rating

Price

Yamaha P115

Check Prices

Alesis Coda Pro

Check Prices

Yamaha Arius

Check Prices

Yamaha P71

Check Prices

Williams Legato 88-Key

Check Prices

Things To Consider

Purpose and Use

Narrowing the Selection

Once you've decided if you want an authentic keyboards piano that replicates the sound of an acoustic piano or a keyboards piano that is able to produce countless sounds, it's time to think about some of the technical specifications. If you want a realistic sound, then eliminate any piano that uses less than 128-note polyphony. When you use the sustain pedal, the polyphony comes into play. If you play a run on the piano with sustain, notes will begin to cut out once you exceed the maximum polyphony. If you want a piano that uses a large sample library, then eliminate any keyboards piano that doesn't have a MIDI connection. While there are other criteria to consider, these two criteria are more expensive and less commonly found features. A keyboard with a MIDI connector is designed to appeal to the more high-end musician who is deep into electronic music. A keyboards piano with at least 128-note polyphony will also include high-quality piano samples.

The Playing Experience

Once you've got the basic piano options narrowed down to your preferred style of music, it's time to begin thinking about the playing experience and feel. A classically-trained pianist isn't going to like the feel of a cheap keyboard that doesn't have weighted keys. A musician who plays in a band may not care, especially if the keyboard is just used to activate different sounds and loops. The professional player should look for a digital keyboard that uses weighted or semi-weighted keys. Bonus points if you find a keyboard that uses a hammer-based action to replicate the hammers in a real piano. The keyboardist who plays in a band will want a nice, large digital display with touch-command features. This will make it easier to work with samples and various sounds.

Benefits of a Keyboards Piano

Regardless of the style of music, there are numerous benefits to learning to play the piano. Roland, a top keyboard manufacturer, notes that there are at least six benefits to playing a digital keyboard. Headphones can be used with a digital piano to let you get deep inside of the notes and hear any discrepancies. Almost all digital pianos use a metronome, which makes it possible to improve your rhythm by playing perfectly in time. It's also possible to listen to a performance of yours by recording it, which is indispensable for improving your playing technique. Digital pianos also have more apps and sounds that are capable of playing all sorts of sounds. A digital piano can help you improve more efficiently, and many keyboards piano options contain lessons as well.

Identifying Quality

While you can narrow down your selection quite a bit once you know the style of music you're playing and a general budget, there are a few components that you should look for in your keyboards piano. Don't make the mistake of getting anything less than 88 keys. This is the standard for a piano, and many pianos will cut costs by providing a 76 keyboard. This will limit your opportunities for playing real music. The only exception is a musician who doesn't play piano works and only uses the piano for DJing or simple tunes. Built-in speakers are convenient, but there is no way you'll want to use those speakers in performance. If the keyboards piano doesn't include an option to use external speakers, it's time to move on. Finally, the number of sounds on a piano are irrelevant. What matters is quality. Look for a piano with the sounds you're actually going to use, and judge the piano based only on the quality of those sounds.

Rating

Product

Our Rating

Price

Yamaha P115

Check Prices

Alesis Coda Pro

Check Prices

Yamaha Arius

Check Prices

Yamaha P71

Check Prices

Williams Legato 88-Key

Check Prices

Five Best Keyboards Piano

Alesis Coda Pro

Pros

Complete: The unit comes with everything you need to enjoy your music immediately.

Polyphony: With 64-note polyphony, there will be few pieces that you can't play.

Recording: This device includes built-in recording options to catalogue your performances or progress.

Cons

Pedal: An acoustic piano includes three pedals. This keyboard only comes with the sustain pedal.

Voices: The piano only includes 20 built-in voices but the quality is high.

Weight: At 27 pounds, this keyboard comes in at the heavier end.

Check Current Prices

Yamaha P71

Yamaha is synonymous with quality, especially when it comes to the creation of a keyboards piano. The keyboard comes with an 88-note setup, and it uses a fully weighted set of keys to simulate the experience of playing on a hammer-action keyboard. The lower keys are also weighted a bit heavier than the higher notes to replicate the feel of a real piano. Not many keyboards include the ability to combine more than one instrument sound at the same time. This keyboard makes that possible with a dual mode system. This keyboard is also space-efficient, and you'll be able to carry it between performances since it weighs only about 25 pounds.

There are two piano choices for the sound option. The regular grand piano is slightly more mellow than its brighter counterpart. In truth, Yamaha acoustic pianos tend to have a bright sound, so this isn't far from the sound you would expect on a real acoustic Yamaha piano. This piano isn't for the performer who wants tons of sounds. However, if a realistic playing experience matters to you, this may be the perfect piano for you. It's affordable, and it has a wide array of professional features to keep you entertained.

Pros

Piano Sound: This piano offers two different piano sounds so you can get the sound that matches your needs.

Versatility: An exceptionally well-made piano that comes with a good selection of sounds.

Keyboard: Offers an 88-note keyboard with touch sensitivity for expressive playing.

Cons

Limited Volume: The high-end on the volume spectrum isn't as loud as some other pianos.

Pedals: Only comes with a single sustain pedal.

Weight: It's still a little heavy for transporting between gigs at 25 pounds.

Check Current Prices

Williams Legato 88-Key

The built-in speakers are convenient, but they won't be powerful enough to fill a concert hall or work well in a performance. If you have an external speaker system, the keyboard will sound much better. Since a real piano is extremely expensive, this piano offers a good compromise. The keyboard action is very similar to a real piano, you'll be able to play a range of dynamics, and the piano is extremely responsive. With a pair of high-quality headphones or a good speaker system, you'll lavish in the sound it produces.

Pros

Keyboard: Full keyboard can play everything a regular piano is capable of playing.

Bult-in Sound: Speakers are built into the system so no external speakers are needed.

Sustain Pedal: Comes with a single sustain pedal if you purchase the package.

Cons

Accessories: The power pack and sustain pedal must be purchased as part of a package.

Features: Doesn't include all of the sounds that some cheaper options provide.

Basic: This piano is comparable to an acoustic piano in that it has very few extra features.

Check Current Prices

Yamaha P115

This piano comes in several model versions. The Professional option will provide you with 256 notes of polyphony. That's as good as it gets with keyboards piano options. The piano uses a unique sampling technology known as Pure CF. This system aims to replicate the sound of a nine-foot concert grand piano. The piano also has one of the most realistic actions with a graded hammer action with a heavier touch between the low and higher end of the piano. The black keys also use a matte finish that makes them less slippery when playing for a long period of time. All of these features make this one of the most professional sounding pianos on the market.

This keyboard has some interesting features that make the piano more valuable to the solo player. The option to play chords in your left hand and have the piano play accompaniment patterns can spice up any piece. You'll be able to hold down chords in your left hand and play a melody over the accompaniment with the right hand. There are 10 different accompaniment patterns to make your playing experience superb.

Pros

Piano App: Control all of the features using a specialized piano app.

Dual Player: Enjoy the option to play by yourself using the dual piano player option.

Rhythms Built-In: Select one of the available on-board rhythms to express your musical creativity.

Cons

Accessories: The piano may not come with a power adapter and pedal depending on the package you choose.

Sounds: Limited sounds make this a poor choice for the performer who needs more.

Action: Some players note that the action is a little rough in the low end.

Check Current Prices

Yamaha Arius

This keyboards piano includes a professional-level 128-note polyphony, which should be suitable for all players. For the serious classical musician, 64 notes won't be enough. However, everyone else will be thrilled by the sound. For the serious musician, this is a great portable option. A single standard sustain pedal is included with the piano, but Yamaha does have the option of purchasing a separate triple pedal setup.

Pros

Polyphony: 128-note polyphony will make your playing more realistic.

Pedals: It uses a three-pedal setup.

Dynamics: Realistic piano sounds created with real samples from an actual piano at various dynamic levels.

Cons

Portability: The piano isn't portable.

Sounds: It only comes with 10 sounds.

Accessories: You'll need to buy most of the accessories, as it doesn't come with many.

Check Current Prices

Conclusion

In the end, we have to recommend the piano that will suit the majority of musicians. The Yamaha 115 offers an impressive range of features for the cost. No feature is added that doesn't benefit and increase the performance value of the product. It offers touch-sensitive keys, a realistic key action and the sound is phenomenal. While you'll still need to purchase a set of external speakers to perform in public, this keyboard gives you a good mix of portability and exceptional design to enable you to enjoy your music to the fullest. It's an excellent substitute for a real piano, and you'll find the realistic action highly enjoyable.

The post Buyer’s Guide: Best Keyboards Piano Review in 2017 appeared first on Music Advisor.

source https://musicadvisor.com/2017/03/14/best-keyboards-piano/ from Music Advisor http://musicadvisorcom.blogspot.com/2017/03/buyers-guide-best-keyboards-piano.html

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musicadvisor · 8 years ago

Text

Buyer’s Guide: Best Keyboards Piano Review in 2017

Numerous digital keyboards piano style musical instruments exist on the market, and it can make it tough to find the keyboard that matches your needs. Most of the pianos look exactly the same, and it's only in the hidden technical features that you begin to see the real difference between these many keyboards. Use this guide when looking for a new piano, and get more from your playing experience.

Rating

Product

Our Rating

Price

Yamaha P115

Check Prices

Alesis Coda Pro

Check Prices

Yamaha Arius

Check Prices

Yamaha P71

Check Prices

Williams Legato 88-Key

Check Prices

Things To Consider

Purpose and Use

Narrowing the Selection

The Playing Experience

Benefits of a Keyboards Piano

Regardless of the style of music, there are numerous benefits to learning to play the piano. Roland, a top keyboard manufacturer, notes that there are at least six benefits to playing a digital keyboard. Headphones can be used with a digital piano to let you get deep inside of the notes and hear any discrepancies. Almost all digital pianos use a metronome, which makes it possible to improve your rhythm by playing perfectly in time. It's also possible to listen to a performance of yours by recording it, which is indispensable for improving your playing technique. Digital pianos also have more apps and sounds that are capable of playing all sorts of sounds. A digital piano can help you improve more efficiently, and many keyboards piano options contain lessons as well.

Identifying Quality

Rating

Product

Our Rating

Price

Yamaha P115

Check Prices

Alesis Coda Pro

Check Prices

Yamaha Arius

Check Prices

Yamaha P71

Check Prices

Williams Legato 88-Key

Check Prices

Five Best Keyboards Piano

Alesis Coda Pro

Pros

Complete: The unit comes with everything you need to enjoy your music immediately.

Polyphony: With 64-note polyphony, there will be few pieces that you can't play.

Recording: This device includes built-in recording options to catalogue your performances or progress.

Cons

Pedal: An acoustic piano includes three pedals. This keyboard only comes with the sustain pedal.

Voices: The piano only includes 20 built-in voices but the quality is high.

Weight: At 27 pounds, this keyboard comes in at the heavier end.

Check Current Prices

Yamaha P71

Yamaha is synonymous with quality, especially when it comes to the creation of a keyboards piano. The keyboard comes with an 88-note setup, and it uses a fully weighted set of keys to simulate the experience of playing on a hammer-action keyboard. The lower keys are also weighted a bit heavier than the higher notes to replicate the feel of a real piano. Not many keyboards include the ability to combine more than one instrument sound at the same time. This keyboard makes that possible with a dual mode system. This keyboard is also space-efficient, and you'll be able to carry it between performances since it weighs only about 25 pounds.

There are two piano choices for the sound option. The regular grand piano is slightly more mellow than its brighter counterpart. In truth, Yamaha acoustic pianos tend to have a bright sound, so this isn't far from the sound you would expect on a real acoustic Yamaha piano. This piano isn't for the performer who wants tons of sounds. However, if a realistic playing experience matters to you, this may be the perfect piano for you. It's affordable, and it has a wide array of professional features to keep you entertained.

Pros

Piano Sound: This piano offers two different piano sounds so you can get the sound that matches your needs.

Versatility: An exceptionally well-made piano that comes with a good selection of sounds.

Keyboard: Offers an 88-note keyboard with touch sensitivity for expressive playing.

Cons

Limited Volume: The high-end on the volume spectrum isn't as loud as some other pianos.

Pedals: Only comes with a single sustain pedal.

Weight: It's still a little heavy for transporting between gigs at 25 pounds.

Check Current Prices

Williams Legato 88-Key

Pros

Keyboard: Full keyboard can play everything a regular piano is capable of playing.

Bult-in Sound: Speakers are built into the system so no external speakers are needed.

Sustain Pedal: Comes with a single sustain pedal if you purchase the package.

Cons

Accessories: The power pack and sustain pedal must be purchased as part of a package.

Features: Doesn't include all of the sounds that some cheaper options provide.

Basic: This piano is comparable to an acoustic piano in that it has very few extra features.

Check Current Prices

Yamaha P115

This keyboard has some interesting features that make the piano more valuable to the solo player. The option to play chords in your left hand and have the piano play accompaniment patterns can spice up any piece. You'll be able to hold down chords in your left hand and play a melody over the accompaniment with the right hand. There are 10 different accompaniment patterns to make your playing experience superb.

Pros

Piano App: Control all of the features using a specialized piano app.

Dual Player: Enjoy the option to play by yourself using the dual piano player option.

Rhythms Built-In: Select one of the available on-board rhythms to express your musical creativity.

Cons

Accessories: The piano may not come with a power adapter and pedal depending on the package you choose.

Sounds: Limited sounds make this a poor choice for the performer who needs more.

Action: Some players note that the action is a little rough in the low end.

Check Current Prices

Yamaha Arius

Pros

Polyphony: 128-note polyphony will make your playing more realistic.

Pedals: It uses a three-pedal setup.

Dynamics: Realistic piano sounds created with real samples from an actual piano at various dynamic levels.

Cons

Portability: The piano isn't portable.

Sounds: It only comes with 10 sounds.

Accessories: You'll need to buy most of the accessories, as it doesn't come with many.

Check Current Prices

Conclusion

In the end, we have to recommend the piano that will suit the majority of musicians. The Yamaha 115 offers an impressive range of features for the cost. No feature is added that doesn't benefit and increase the performance value of the product. It offers touch-sensitive keys, a realistic key action and the sound is phenomenal. While you'll still need to purchase a set of external speakers to perform in public, this keyboard gives you a good mix of portability and exceptional design to enable you to enjoy your music to the fullest. It's an excellent substitute for a real piano, and you'll find the realistic action highly enjoyable.

The post Buyer’s Guide: Best Keyboards Piano Review in 2017 appeared first on Music Advisor.

from Music Advisor https://musicadvisor.com/2017/03/14/best-keyboards-piano/

0 notes

robertbjonesus80 · 8 years ago

Text

Buyer’s Guide: Best Digital Piano Review in 2017

The right digital piano can improve your musical experience and increase your playing enjoyment. While most digital pianos look the same, an inexperienced buyer may get sucked in by the number of instrument voices it boasts or the addition of a digital display. Knowledge will help you avoid the most common mistakes when buying a digital piano, and you’ll be able to enjoy your investment for years to come.

Rating

Product

Our Rating

Price

Yamaha DGX-650WH

Check Prices

Roland F-120-WH

Check Prices

Yamaha YDP 143B

Check Prices

Yamaha YDP-160

Check Prices

Yamaha P155

Check Prices

Things To Consider

Selection

There are many options available for people who are looking for a quality digital piano. Your budget, interests, playing ability and personal needs all come into play. When looking for a digital piano, you’ll want to choose one of the top brands. There are over 300 manufacturers of digital pianos and many of them skip corners to save costs. It’s worth paying an extra 10 to 20 percent more to get a piano that functions properly and will last. If you’re looking for a piano online, there are certain aspects of the playing experience you won’t be able to test. Customer reviews and brand quality are two components that can help you make the right decision and choose a quality instrument to fit your needs.

Benefits

If you’re looking to purchase a digital piano because acoustic pianos are too expensive, you’re on the right track. The fact is, it’s impossible to accurately replicate the sound of an acoustic piano with a digital piano. However, the better digital pianos have onboard computers and sample memory so that the piano can use real piano sounds to perform your piece. A sample library is a collection of notes sampled from a real piano. The better libraries will sample each note of the piano using different mic positions and at various dynamic levels. From there, the software can enable the sounds to blend in a way that is very similar to a traditional acoustic piano. While it’s not perfect, you’ll get a realistic sound if you can afford to spend a few hundred dollars on a decent digital piano.

Buying Criteria

Price is going to be the determining factor for most people interested in purchasing a digital piano, but it really shouldn’t be the primary reason to purchase a musical instrument. If you want a digital piano that replicates the sound and experience of playing a real acoustic piano, you can get by spending less if you choose a digital piano that leaves out some of the unneeded features. Many digital pianos are stocked with cheap sample libraries and several instrument sounds as a way of reducing the cost and increasing the perceived value. There are only a few criteria that really matter when getting a digital piano.

First, the digital piano must have some form of weighted keys. A real piano has keys that have a certain amount of push back against the player. This tension of the keys is important so that the keys will spring back into place and the performer doesn’t accidentally play the wrong key. Digital pianos without any resistance make it too easy to play the wrong note since the keys are easily depressed. The second feature is the ability of the piano to play with varying volumes and intensities. This means you need a piano that is touch-sensitive. A real piano will play louder or softer depending on how hard you depress the keys. A touch-sensitive digital piano will do the same. The final aspect to consider is the amount of polyphony. This refers to the number of notes that piano can play at once. The lowest you should go is 32 notes. The highest polyphony available on a digital piano is 264 notes. A decent digital piano should use polyphony of 64 notes or higher, and it should also have a full 88-key keyboard.

Care and Use

Most digital pianos don’t require much care. Unplug the piano from the wall and wipe it down with a damp, but not wet, rag and you’re good to go. It’s best not to use household cleaners on the piano, but if it has wooden components you may wish to use furniture polish. The piano should be kept in an area that is away from direct sunlight to prevent warping. You’ll also want to make sure the piano is in an area where it won’t accidentally get wet or bumped into. Your piano is an investment, and there are also specially designed kits you can use to clean the keys. A good dusting every now and then is also a good idea. Many musicians will buy covers for their piano to prevent dust from getting inside the piano.

Controversy

The main controversy over digital pianos is whether a beginning student really needs an expensive instrument. This is especially a concern for parents who aren’t sure if their child is going to enjoy the instrument enough to continue. Justifying the expense of a good digital piano is always difficult, but consider the fact that if you purchase a digital piano with subpar sound and that doesn’t operate like a real piano, your child may lose interest and never give the instrument a chance. There are so many developmental benefits that come from learning to play a musical instrument that it would be a crime to not give a beginning student a chance to learn on a quality instrument. The instrument doesn’t need to be perfect, but it should at least include basic features like touch sensitivity, 88 weighted keys and good polyphony. Make the decision to refuse to compromise on those three features, and you’ll end up with a decent piano.

Prerequisites

Before buying a digital piano, you should assess your needs. If you need to take the piano with you on gigs, then you’re going to need to get a piano that is portable. If portability isn’t an issue, you may be able to get a piano that is a bit heavier and costs a little less. Portable pianos tend to be made with lighter and cheaper materials. A piano that isn’t portable makes it possible to use better quality materials, but it also may end up weighing close to 200 pounds. A classical performer is also going to want a piano that offers the highest polyphony possible while a popular performer may only need a piano that offers a huge sample library and plenty of sounds.

Selection Criteria

For our recommendations, we’re only going to look at pianos in the $200 to $400 range. All of the pianos selected have 88 keys and good sound quality throughout the range. There are digital pianos that cost upwards of $3,000, but these are suited more toward the professional pianist.

Rating

Product

Our Rating

Price

Yamaha DGX-650WH

Check Prices

Roland F-120-WH

Check Prices

Yamaha YDP 143B

Check Prices

Yamaha YDP-160

Check Prices

Yamaha P155

Check Prices

Five Best Digital Piano

Yamaha YDP-160

This piano boasts plenty of features to ensure that you get a memorable playing experience. It’s a non-portable upright piano, but the benefit to this is a more robust and reliable piano. The piano comes with three damper pedals to replicate the sound of a real piano, and you’ll be able to play any classical piece with the right technique on this piano. The damper pedal uses a half-damper function to simulate a real piano, and you’ll get 50 songs pre-loaded into the system to aid you in your practicing or to experience the brilliant tone of the piano.

Pros

Uses real stereo sampled sounds to replicate the sound of a real piano

Built-in song recorder makes it possible to play back your songs for additional critique

Nuanced control over the sound of the piano and graded volume levels

Cons

The piano is not portable

Included damper pedals means you can’t use your own

Key action is smooth but the clacking may bother others in the room

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Yamaha YDP 143B

While this piano won’t appeal to those who want a portable piano, it’s loaded with extra equipment that makes it a real value buy. The piano uses a weighted action and gives a pure sound in the high and low register. As with an acoustic piano, the higher keys are lighter and easier to depress than the lower keys. This makes it possible to get a good feel for how a real piano will sound. The piano comes with extra components, including a bench, headphones, dust cover and a piano book. Although advanced players likely won’t care for the piano book, it’s useful for teaching others to play the piano.

Pros

Sturdy design and attractive finish make this a welcome addition to any home

A rich graphical user interface makes it easier to make selections

The matching bench makes it possible to get started playing right away

Cons

The piano isn’t portable and weighs over 100 pounds

The bench is useful, but it’s not adjustable

The power button feels a little flimsy, but it powers on just fine

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Roland F-120-WH

Roland is synonymous with quality when it comes to musical instruments. They have a long history of creating exceptional electronic instruments, but you have to be careful because they produce both low- and high-end instruments. This particular piano isn’t portable, but it will give you an outstanding sound, realistic action for the keys and it also has an energy saving function. The piano turns off automatically after a period of inactivity. You’ll also love the option to select from a satin black or white finish. It’s an exceptionally clean, no-fuss piano that will make your playing experience memorable.

Pros

Weighted keys are designed to replicate the feel of a real piano

Multiple velocities and volume levels help to give this piano a realistic sound

The sound of the low and high notes are accurate and even seem to produce some overtones

Cons

Weighing close to 100 pounds, this isn’t a piano you can take with you

The piano is a solid piano, but some may not like its blockish look

Some of the highs reveal that its not an acoustic piano with tinny and thin sounds

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Yamaha P155

There is nothing like a bit of wood affixed to the top of the piano to make it feel like you’re playing a solidly built piano. This piano is portable, and it comes with a host of features that you’ll enjoy. This piano boasts 88 keys and 128-note polyphony for a high-quality sound that will make it possible to reproduce your music effectively and accurately. The piano also offers dynamic stereo sampling, and you’ll be able to choose from four separate layers of stereo samples to get just the right sound. The piano also emulates the sound of half-pedaling, which makes this the perfect piano for learning complex works.

Pros

The pedal allows the option for half-pedaling to perform classical pieces realistically

Real sampled piano sounds makes the piano sound like the real deal

The piano uses a graded hammer design for expressive and realistic playing

Cons

Sustain pedal only offers one function, and is not a three-pronged pedal

Doesn’t offer a MIDI controller output

Reverb is good but thin on the higher settings

Check Current Prices

Yamaha DGX-650WH

Boasting both portability and fixed settings, this piano comes with a stand that makes it easy to disconnect the keyboard from the rest of the unit. You’ll enjoy an 88-note keyboard to play even the most demanding musical works. The damper resonance option creates the natural overtones that are normally missing from a digital piano. This gives the sound of a piano that is constructed with real, copper wire strings. The piano also offers USB audio recording and playback with recording quality sound. The piano provides a realistic concert piano sound thanks in large part to the professional sampler built inside the piano.

Pros

Headphones make playing in an apartment or late at night possible without disturbing others

Realistic sound production replicates the sound of real strings

Weighted key action resembles a real piano

Cons

It comes with a sustain pedal, but the other two pedals are not included

An optional LPTA pedal unit is available for additional cost

Headphones aren’t the best quality for realistic tone reproduction

Check Current Prices

Conclusion

The Yamaha DGX-650WH is our preferred pick. It offers the best of both worlds with good portability and excellent sound. You’ll also save money since the bench isn’t included. Ultimately, a pianist needs an adjustable bench to reduce strain and make certain they are playing level with the keyboard. This piano also offers the most realistic sound reproduction of the bunch, which is largely due to the exceptional damper resonance that reproduces the sounds of real strings. This piano will also appeal to those who like to record their own songs and it comes with the ability to record directly into the unit. The amatuer to professional will love this piano, and it’s at the right price to make it possible with most any budget.

The post Buyer’s Guide: Best Digital Piano Review in 2017 appeared first on Music Advisor.

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musicadvisor · 8 years ago

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Buyer’s Guide: Best Digital Piano Review in 2017

The right digital piano can improve your musical experience and increase your playing enjoyment. While most digital pianos look the same, an inexperienced buyer may get sucked in by the number of instrument voices it boasts or the addition of a digital display. Knowledge will help you avoid the most common mistakes when buying a digital piano, and you'll be able to enjoy your investment for years to come.

Rating

Product

Our Rating

Price

Yamaha DGX-650WH

Check Prices

Roland F-120-WH

Check Prices

Yamaha YDP 143B

Check Prices

Yamaha YDP-160

Check Prices

Yamaha P155

Check Prices

Things To Consider

Selection

There are many options available for people who are looking for a quality digital piano. Your budget, interests, playing ability and personal needs all come into play. When looking for a digital piano, you'll want to choose one of the top brands. There are over 300 manufacturers of digital pianos and many of them skip corners to save costs. It's worth paying an extra 10 to 20 percent more to get a piano that functions properly and will last. If you're looking for a piano online, there are certain aspects of the playing experience you won't be able to test. Customer reviews and brand quality are two components that can help you make the right decision and choose a quality instrument to fit your needs.

Benefits

If you're looking to purchase a digital piano because acoustic pianos are too expensive, you're on the right track. The fact is, it's impossible to accurately replicate the sound of an acoustic piano with a digital piano. However, the better digital pianos have onboard computers and sample memory so that the piano can use real piano sounds to perform your piece. A sample library is a collection of notes sampled from a real piano. The better libraries will sample each note of the piano using different mic positions and at various dynamic levels. From there, the software can enable the sounds to blend in a way that is very similar to a traditional acoustic piano. While it's not perfect, you'll get a realistic sound if you can afford to spend a few hundred dollars on a decent digital piano.

Buying Criteria

Price is going to be the determining factor for most people interested in purchasing a digital piano, but it really shouldn't be the primary reason to purchase a musical instrument. If you want a digital piano that replicates the sound and experience of playing a real acoustic piano, you can get by spending less if you choose a digital piano that leaves out some of the unneeded features. Many digital pianos are stocked with cheap sample libraries and several instrument sounds as a way of reducing the cost and increasing the perceived value. There are only a few criteria that really matter when getting a digital piano.

First, the digital piano must have some form of weighted keys. A real piano has keys that have a certain amount of push back against the player. This tension of the keys is important so that the keys will spring back into place and the performer doesn't accidentally play the wrong key. Digital pianos without any resistance make it too easy to play the wrong note since the keys are easily depressed. The second feature is the ability of the piano to play with varying volumes and intensities. This means you need a piano that is touch-sensitive. A real piano will play louder or softer depending on how hard you depress the keys. A touch-sensitive digital piano will do the same. The final aspect to consider is the amount of polyphony. This refers to the number of notes that piano can play at once. The lowest you should go is 32 notes. The highest polyphony available on a digital piano is 264 notes. A decent digital piano should use polyphony of 64 notes or higher, and it should also have a full 88-key keyboard.

Care and Use

Most digital pianos don't require much care. Unplug the piano from the wall and wipe it down with a damp, but not wet, rag and you're good to go. It's best not to use household cleaners on the piano, but if it has wooden components you may wish to use furniture polish. The piano should be kept in an area that is away from direct sunlight to prevent warping. You'll also want to make sure the piano is in an area where it won't accidentally get wet or bumped into. Your piano is an investment, and there are also specially designed kits you can use to clean the keys. A good dusting every now and then is also a good idea. Many musicians will buy covers for their piano to prevent dust from getting inside the piano.

Controversy

The main controversy over digital pianos is whether a beginning student really needs an expensive instrument. This is especially a concern for parents who aren't sure if their child is going to enjoy the instrument enough to continue. Justifying the expense of a good digital piano is always difficult, but consider the fact that if you purchase a digital piano with subpar sound and that doesn't operate like a real piano, your child may lose interest and never give the instrument a chance. There are so many developmental benefits that come from learning to play a musical instrument that it would be a crime to not give a beginning student a chance to learn on a quality instrument. The instrument doesn't need to be perfect, but it should at least include basic features like touch sensitivity, 88 weighted keys and good polyphony. Make the decision to refuse to compromise on those three features, and you'll end up with a decent piano.

Prerequisites

Before buying a digital piano, you should assess your needs. If you need to take the piano with you on gigs, then you're going to need to get a piano that is portable. If portability isn't an issue, you may be able to get a piano that is a bit heavier and costs a little less. Portable pianos tend to be made with lighter and cheaper materials. A piano that isn't portable makes it possible to use better quality materials, but it also may end up weighing close to 200 pounds. A classical performer is also going to want a piano that offers the highest polyphony possible while a popular performer may only need a piano that offers a huge sample library and plenty of sounds.

Selection Criteria

For our recommendations, we're only going to look at pianos in the $200 to $400 range. All of the pianos selected have 88 keys and good sound quality throughout the range. There are digital pianos that cost upwards of $3,000, but these are suited more toward the professional pianist.

Rating

Product

Our Rating

Price

Yamaha DGX-650WH

Check Prices

Roland F-120-WH

Check Prices

Yamaha YDP 143B

Check Prices

Yamaha YDP-160

Check Prices

Yamaha P155

Check Prices

Five Best Digital Piano

Yamaha YDP-160

This piano boasts plenty of features to ensure that you get a memorable playing experience. It's a non-portable upright piano, but the benefit to this is a more robust and reliable piano. The piano comes with three damper pedals to replicate the sound of a real piano, and you'll be able to play any classical piece with the right technique on this piano. The damper pedal uses a half-damper function to simulate a real piano, and you'll get 50 songs pre-loaded into the system to aid you in your practicing or to experience the brilliant tone of the piano.

Pros

Uses real stereo sampled sounds to replicate the sound of a real piano

Built-in song recorder makes it possible to play back your songs for additional critique

Nuanced control over the sound of the piano and graded volume levels

Cons

The piano is not portable

Included damper pedals means you can't use your own

Key action is smooth but the clacking may bother others in the room

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Yamaha YDP 143B

While this piano won't appeal to those who want a portable piano, it's loaded with extra equipment that makes it a real value buy. The piano uses a weighted action and gives a pure sound in the high and low register. As with an acoustic piano, the higher keys are lighter and easier to depress than the lower keys. This makes it possible to get a good feel for how a real piano will sound. The piano comes with extra components, including a bench, headphones, dust cover and a piano book. Although advanced players likely won't care for the piano book, it's useful for teaching others to play the piano.

Pros

Sturdy design and attractive finish make this a welcome addition to any home

A rich graphical user interface makes it easier to make selections

The matching bench makes it possible to get started playing right away

Cons

The piano isn't portable and weighs over 100 pounds

The bench is useful, but it's not adjustable

The power button feels a little flimsy, but it powers on just fine

Check Current Prices

Roland F-120-WH

Roland is synonymous with quality when it comes to musical instruments. They have a long history of creating exceptional electronic instruments, but you have to be careful because they produce both low- and high-end instruments. This particular piano isn't portable, but it will give you an outstanding sound, realistic action for the keys and it also has an energy saving function. The piano turns off automatically after a period of inactivity. You'll also love the option to select from a satin black or white finish. It's an exceptionally clean, no-fuss piano that will make your playing experience memorable.

Pros

Weighted keys are designed to replicate the feel of a real piano

Multiple velocities and volume levels help to give this piano a realistic sound

The sound of the low and high notes are accurate and even seem to produce some overtones

Cons

Weighing close to 100 pounds, this isn't a piano you can take with you

The piano is a solid piano, but some may not like its blockish look

Some of the highs reveal that its not an acoustic piano with tinny and thin sounds

Check Current Prices

Yamaha P155

There is nothing like a bit of wood affixed to the top of the piano to make it feel like you're playing a solidly built piano. This piano is portable, and it comes with a host of features that you'll enjoy. This piano boasts 88 keys and 128-note polyphony for a high-quality sound that will make it possible to reproduce your music effectively and accurately. The piano also offers dynamic stereo sampling, and you'll be able to choose from four separate layers of stereo samples to get just the right sound. The piano also emulates the sound of half-pedaling, which makes this the perfect piano for learning complex works.

Pros

The pedal allows the option for half-pedaling to perform classical pieces realistically

Real sampled piano sounds makes the piano sound like the real deal

The piano uses a graded hammer design for expressive and realistic playing

Cons

Sustain pedal only offers one function, and is not a three-pronged pedal

Doesn't offer a MIDI controller output

Reverb is good but thin on the higher settings

Check Current Prices

Yamaha DGX-650WH

Boasting both portability and fixed settings, this piano comes with a stand that makes it easy to disconnect the keyboard from the rest of the unit. You'll enjoy an 88-note keyboard to play even the most demanding musical works. The damper resonance option creates the natural overtones that are normally missing from a digital piano. This gives the sound of a piano that is constructed with real, copper wire strings. The piano also offers USB audio recording and playback with recording quality sound. The piano provides a realistic concert piano sound thanks in large part to the professional sampler built inside the piano.

Pros

Headphones make playing in an apartment or late at night possible without disturbing others

Realistic sound production replicates the sound of real strings

Weighted key action resembles a real piano

Cons

It comes with a sustain pedal, but the other two pedals are not included

An optional LPTA pedal unit is available for additional cost

Headphones aren't the best quality for realistic tone reproduction

Check Current Prices

Conclusion

The Yamaha DGX-650WH is our preferred pick. It offers the best of both worlds with good portability and excellent sound. You'll also save money since the bench isn't included. Ultimately, a pianist needs an adjustable bench to reduce strain and make certain they are playing level with the keyboard. This piano also offers the most realistic sound reproduction of the bunch, which is largely due to the exceptional damper resonance that reproduces the sounds of real strings. This piano will also appeal to those who like to record their own songs and it comes with the ability to record directly into the unit. The amatuer to professional will love this piano, and it's at the right price to make it possible with most any budget.

The post Buyer’s Guide: Best Digital Piano Review in 2017 appeared first on Music Advisor.

from Music Advisor https://musicadvisor.com/2017/03/13/best-digital-piano/

0 notes

amaradjohnson · 8 years ago

Text

Buyer’s Guide: Best Digital Piano Review in 2017

The right digital piano can improve your musical experience and increase your playing enjoyment. While most digital pianos look the same, an inexperienced buyer may get sucked in by the number of instrument voices it boasts or the addition of a digital display. Knowledge will help you avoid the most common mistakes when buying a digital piano, and you'll be able to enjoy your investment for years to come.

Things To Consider

Selection

There are many options available for people who are looking for a quality digital piano. Your budget, interests, playing ability and personal needs all come into play. When looking for a digital piano, you'll want to choose one of the top brands. There are over 300 manufacturers of digital pianos and many of them skip corners to save costs. It's worth paying an extra 10 to 20 percent more to get a piano that functions properly and will last. If you're looking for a piano online, there are certain aspects of the playing experience you won't be able to test. Customer reviews and brand quality are two components that can help you make the right decision and choose a quality instrument to fit your needs.

Benefits

Buying Criteria

First, the digital piano must have some form of weighted keys. A real piano has keys that have a certain amount of push back against the player. This tension of the keys is important so that the keys will spring back into place and the performer doesn't accidentally play the wrong key. Digital pianos without any resistance make it too easy to play the wrong note since the keys are easily depressed. The second feature is the ability of the piano to play with varying volumes and intensities. This means you need a piano that is touch-sensitive. A real piano will play louder or softer depending on how hard you depress the keys. A touch-sensitive digital piano will do the same. The final aspect to consider is the amount of polyphony. This refers to the number of notes that piano can play at once. The lowest you should go is 32 notes. The highest polyphony available on a digital piano is 264 notes. A decent digital piano should use polyphony of 64 notes or higher, and it should also have a full 88-key keyboard.

Care and Use

Controversy

Prerequisites

Selection Criteria

Five Best Digital Piano

Yamaha YDP-160

https://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-YDP-160-Arius-Digital-Piano/dp/B001BA6XOU

Pros

Uses real stereo sampled sounds to replicate the sound of a real piano

Built-in song recorder makes it possible to play back your songs for additional critique

Nuanced control over the sound of the piano and graded volume levels

Cons

The piano is not portable

Included damper pedals means you can't use your own

Key action is smooth but the clacking may bother others in the room

Check Current Prices

Yamaha YDP 143B

https://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-YDP143B-Matching-Beyerdynamic-Headphones/dp/B01ICA2KHA

Pros

Sturdy design and attractive finish make this a welcome addition to any home

A rich graphical user interface makes it easier to make selections

The matching bench makes it possible to get started playing right away

Cons

The piano isn't portable and weighs over 100 pounds

The bench is useful, but it's not adjustable

The power button feels a little flimsy, but it powers on just fine

Check Current Prices

Roland F-120-WH

Roland is synonymous with quality when it comes to musical instruments. They have a long history of creating exceptional electronic instruments, but you have to be careful because they produce both low- and high-end instruments. This particular piano isn't portable, but it will give you an outstanding sound, realistic action for the keys and it also has an energy saving function. The piano turns off automatically after a period of inactivity. You'll also love the option to select from a satin black or white finish. It's an exceptionally clean, no-fuss piano that will make your playing experience memorable.

Pros

Weighted keys are designed to replicate the feel of a real piano

Multiple velocities and volume levels help to give this piano a realistic sound

The sound of the low and high notes are accurate and even seem to produce some overtones

Cons

Weighing close to 100 pounds, this isn't a piano you can take with you

The piano is a solid piano, but some may not like its blockish look

Some of the highs reveal that its not an acoustic piano with tinny and thin sounds

Check Current Prices

Yamaha P155

https://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-P155-Contemporary-Piano-Mahogany/dp/B0029RTYDQ

Pros

The pedal allows the option for half-pedaling to perform classical pieces realistically

Real sampled piano sounds makes the piano sound like the real deal

The piano uses a graded hammer design for expressive and realistic playing

Cons

Sustain pedal only offers one function, and is not a three-pronged pedal

Doesn't offer a MIDI controller output

Reverb is good but thin on the higher settings

Check Current Prices

Yamaha DGX-650WH

https://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-DGX-650WH-weighted-Matching-Headphones/dp/B00JLJIRD8

Pros

Headphones make playing in an apartment or late at night possible without disturbing others

Realistic sound production replicates the sound of real strings

Weighted key action resembles a real piano

Cons

It comes with a sustain pedal, but the other two pedals are not included

An optional LPTA pedal unit is available for additional cost

Headphones aren't the best quality for realistic tone reproduction

Check Current Prices

Conclusion

The post Buyer’s Guide: Best Digital Piano Review in 2017 appeared first on Music Advisor.

source https://musicadvisor.com/2017/03/13/best-digital-piano/ from Music Advisor http://musicadvisorcom.blogspot.com/2017/03/buyers-guide-best-digital-piano-review.html

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