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Parents!! Click
here for a must-read article from Music Inc. magazine written
firsthand by a parent mired in the "acoustic vs. digital"
dilemma!
Digital
Pianos
This page is designed for those who would like to have more information about what a digital pianos are and what they can do. If you’re not sure if you would like a digital piano or an acoustic piano, please visit our Digital vs. Acoustic page. This page is not written to convince consumers to buy digital over acoustic. It’s simply to share some of the features and statistics that may help you understand how popular digital pianos are and why people buy them in numbers much greater than acoustic pianos.
Digital pianos aren’t for everyone but the consideration of one that’s right for you – let alone which model – would be best made with the help of a dealer who is equally invested in digital and acoustic pianos, like Cordogan’s. We have many digital piano lines including the two biggest – Roland and Yamaha, which is a rare combination in the market – akin to seeing Lexus and Infiniti under one roof. To clarify a confusing issue: both of these manufacturers make specific models (Yamaha Clavinova and Roland’s HP series) reserved only for piano retailers that are MUCH better than the models available online or through mass merchants, like how Snapper, Kohler and other home goods manufacturers make a lower quality product to sell through chains like Home Depot, Lowe’s and Menard’s. We carry BOTH quality levels so we’re not only competitive with online pricing for the mass-marketed models, but we can also show the better models to give you the most choices.
Call 630-584-5000 or stop in to let an experienced Cordogan’s sales representative help determine what your specific needs are and give you advice on what is the best instrument for your family and/or your musical requirements!
Fact: Digital pianos outsold new acoustic vertical pianos in the U.S. for the first time in 1997, and the trend has continued since.
Fact: Many piano teachers approve of a GOOD digital piano as a substitute for an acoustic piano. Many more would agree if they take into consideration the quality level of the acoustic pianos that fall in the same price range. It’s important to remember the qualifier “GOOD” in the above statement because there are many digital “piano-shaped objects” that are no better a learning instrument than a garage-sale “cowboy” upright piano. (I’m not sure the term “cowboy” conjures up the same image that you’re thinking. I’m favoring “garage-sale spinet piano” because those are more popular than the old upright these days.
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Fact: The print music industry has researched and confirmed an interesting statistic in music education materials: When it comes to piano instruction books, for every ten “Level 1” books sold, there are only 1.5 “Level 2” books sold, representing an alarming dropout rate. However, when the books are accompanied by computer software (indicating the student is on a digital piano and using technology as a teaching aid), six “Level 2” books are sold to every ten “Level 1.” Obviously, book publishers are taking note of the higher success rate of piano students who utilize technology because it means more book sales for them. For piano students young and old, it is a clear indication of the documented effectiveness of music technology in learning piano.
Digital pianos and close relatives of the digital piano have evolved quite a bit in recent years. The following terms and definitions are what Cordogan’s and other industry professionals use to distinguish between the different digital piano categories offered by manufacturers. It is your crash course in digital piano terminology:
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"Keyboards" - Keyboards can be a fun way to explore music. Typically found at consumer electronics stores, keyboards (often referred to as "personal keyboards") usually have only 61 keys — as opposed to 88 on a piano or a full digital piano, no pedals, hollow organ-like keys (in other words not weighted like a piano), and have a sound quality that, while good for its price range, shouldn’t be compared to an acoustic piano or other digital products.
Keyboards should really only be purchased as a musical toy or as a means of inputting MIDI data into a computer. They should NOT be purchased for the purpose of starting piano lessons (piano teachers, please applaud here). The art of the piano and the process of learning the instrument involves building and utilizing correct finger muscles. This is impossible without weighted keys for practice. In fact, don’t be surprised if some piano teachers refuse to teach a student who is practicing onacknowledges using a "keyboard" as a practice instrument.” While keyboards are convenient, inexpensive and fun, they offer very little resemblance to an acoustic piano or digital pianos. |
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"Digital Pianos" - Born out of the computer revolution, digital pianos are the most exciting instruments to emerge in the piano industry since the spinet was invented in the 1930s. The concept of a digital piano is to reproduce the total experience of playing an acoustic piano -- from touch to tone to the environment -- without strings or the 12,000 parts which cause acoustic pianos to weigh in excess of 400-1000 pounds and require them to need tuning.
The digital reproduction of a piano is difficult and expensive since the sounds produced by a piano and the key action mechanisms are so complex. To successfully recreate the experience, a high-quality piano sound (or “sample”) requires a lot of computer memory. Continuing technological advancements have allowed digital piano manufacturers to more closely reproduce the subtle nuances of a dynamic piano sound. Some of the newest digital pianos are convincing enough to win the hearts of professional musicians, teachers and beginners alike.
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The following features are in no particular order and are often cited as the advantages of a digital piano versus an acoustic piano. Not all digital pianos have the following features. Please consult a Cordogan’s representative for the best model for your needs.
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| Never
needs tuning. |
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Save upwards of $250 per year on the semi-annual tunings needed for an acoustic piano.
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| Headphones,
headphones, headphones! |
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Dad can watch football while Tommy plays scales. Many models even have two headphone jacks for duets and teaching situations. The most beneficial aspect of the headphone feature is NOT the convenience it provides a parent or someone who doesn’t have to hear what is being played. It’s the benefit to the person making music -- or attempting to do so. Headphones “privatize” the practice & performance experience in the same way an author might withhold sharing his/her novel until he/she is finished writing it. Imagine how few painters in the world there would be if every person in the household was forced to watch over the young painter’s shoulder while every brush stroke being made on an easel. Would you want to be a photographer if everyone in your home was forced to stare at your computer screen while you edited your images in Photoshop? That’s what learning to play piano is like without headphones. It only takes a couple iterations of “MAAAAAHHHM, Sophie keeps playing the same thing over and over and over again!” to hurt a child’s musical initiative. Headphones put an end to that. Headphones stir the creative process, help to avoid distractions and help people to “lose themselves” in the music.
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USB/PC/Internet connection for downloading of lessons and songs. |
Students can go online, download free performances of the pieces they're trying to learn and import them on a thumb drive. They can also record themselves and upload their performances – sharing them on YouTube, social media and through email. For advanced players, gone are the days of scoring music since many models can instantly transcribe your performances into digital sheet music. From there the music can be edited and professionally published. |
| Kids
love ‘em! |
And why wouldn't they? It's hip, it's fun yet serious, and offers great flexibility. It's the computer generation's answer to the piano. |
| Affordability |
A good digital piano still costs less than a good acoustic piano. While it is true that the investment value of a digital piano is likely to be less than that of an acoustic piano, remember that hundreds — possibly more than thousands — of dollars of tuning, maintenance & moving costs over a 10-year period might accrue on a given acoustic piano. Figuring those extra costs into the resale value considerably narrows the gap between the acoustic vs. digital resale levels. |
| Portability |
Third story walk-ups are a digital piano’s specialty. Gigging musicians, church groups and school teachers will attest that without a digital piano, their jobs can become nearly impossible. Iif it needs to be moved up or down six flights of stairs or be packed into a compact car, digitals create a compelling argument. |
| Authenticity |
Even professional musicians and teachers are impressed by the authenticity on certain models. In fact, touring professionals rarely use acoustic pianos anymore -- but take that with a grain of salt as they do so for reasons that aren’t necessarily applicable to many other scenarios. We’re mentioning this to show the authenticity of high quality digital pianos, not to attempt to show that acoustic pianos are going
away. |
| Other
useful sounds such as pipe organ, harpsichord, strings, etc. |
What better way to learn baroque and classical pieces than by playing them using sounds from that period? Some models offer up to 1000 or more high-quality instrument sounds. |
| On-board
song recorder |
Again, using recordings to chart progress is priceless. Models with two-track recorders allow for "hands-alone" playing, or "four-hand’ arrangements. E-mail the performances/recordings to friends and relatives! Some models even allow you to record both MIDI files and high-quality audio (like vocals) straight to a USB drive, creating an ease-of-use and level of portability never before seen. |
| Automatically
transpose to any key |
| A
vocalist’s dream come true. |
| Teachers are endorsing
them! (see
Cordogan's for particular models) |
The term “digital piano” has been blurred by manufacturers in recent years. It should be used to refer to an 88-key instrument with a "weighted action," a built-in pedal assembly, authentic piano sound and built-in speakers to carry the sound. In an effort to bring prices down, however, manufacturers often sell shortened versions (76-key or 61-key) which employ a compromised "weighted action" and an inferior "authentic sound" that hardly resembles that of a higher-end digital piano, much less that of a fine acoustic piano. These shortened keyboards and entry level 88 key digital pianos just don’t qualify as a "substitute for a piano."
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"Digital Ensembles" —
This is a unique product category defining typically includes digital pianos which featureinstruments that have rhythms, auto-play features and hundreds of sounds. Is it for you? Maybe. Some are well-designed for the absolute beginner as well as for the professional player. A good digital ensemble is capable of involving the whole family on many different levels:
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| For a piano student, it’s a piano, first
and foremost. |
Students can practice using the sampled sound of a $140,000 concert grand piano. They can even record their practices with the on-board recorder to listen back and study. |
| The play-a-long features |
...to sound like they’re an ace, when in fact, they’re actually being assisted by the on-board computer. |
| An advanced player can write, arrange and SCORE
music on it... |
...save the songs onto a USB stick, create a musical score simply by performing the music on the digital piano, e-mail them or save in an array of formats and post your
music to a web site! |
| A family member who is learning a string, woodwind
or brass instrument can use it as a virtual accompanist... |
...by downloading their pieces from the Internet onto a USB stick (click here for pic), or CD-R for use with the digital ensemble (certain models only). |
| A family member who sings can use the on-board
microphone input and vocal effects processor (certain models only)... |
...to sound like they’re singing through a multi-thousand dollar P.A. system. Download your favorite songs from the Internet or have a non-piano-playing family member accompany you with fully orchestrated songs – it’s a recipe for endless hours of family fun! Even individuals who don’t sing will get a kick out of trying. |
| Parents can make recordings of their children’s
progress. |
"Sophie’s Spring Recital, Fall 2011," the file names might read. What better gift to pass on to them than the power of their own music captured digitally? It’s the same as taking a home video or snapping a photo. Added bonus: You can e-mail the performances to Aunt Sally in California or to Sophie’s best friend who moved away. |
| All skill levels can benefit from software designed
to assist in various activities... |
...- from standard teaching method books & accompanying software to play-a-long songbooks containing the music and removable media. Certain models have built-in lesson tools and full-color displays…not to mention video output options that allow you to view the lesson software on your TV! |
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Digital ensembles can be an excellent way for the whole family to learn and explore music together. To learn more about digital pianos or ensembles, please visit Cordogan’s!
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Digital Buying Tips
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Chicago Pianos.com: info@chicagopianos.com
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