I just started my 1st piano lesson of my life last week. It was definitely exciting! Although I am able to read the notes on the score (I know which is A, which is C and so on), but I just cannot lay my fingers on the right place on the piano keys. Ha! But it is fortunate enough to have a good teacher to help me on this. However, I do not have a stand piano, therefore I am using an electronic keyboard to practice at home. The only thing that I worry is that "the touch feel" of a stand piano and the electronic keyboard is totally different. Will this be a serious issue in my learning?(affect my playing skills?) since I am not able to buy a stand piano at the moment. Until which grade that a student can use the electronic keyboard to practice? Or it should not be used at all in learning a piano?

Well done you!

I've really enjoyed beginning to learn the piano over the last couple of years. It's an obsession which can be highly frustrating at times but well worth the endeavour

I did my grade 3 playing a digital during the week, and an upright at the weekends, I definitely prefer the upright - something altogether more 'organic' about it.

Good luck with the learning curve!

Congratulations on starting lessons! I started lessons in June last year for the first time, and also originally just had a keyboard to practise on. I found it ok, but it felt strange playing on a proper piano at my lesson after playing on the keyboard all week. I would say that a keyboard is fine initially, but could you maybe practise on a friend's piano from time to time, or maybe see if there are pianos at a library near you? I think if you were thinking of sitting exams, a 'proper' piano would be better for practising. I don't know if the keys on your keyboard are weighted, but that might help too. Good luck with the playing!

I personally feel that children in particular should play an electronic piano in their first year or two or lessons, though for an adult I'm not so sure. If your keyboard has a weighted touch then it should be similar, but no electronic keyboard could ever compare to a real piano.

Why?

depends whether you're playing on a keyboard or an electric piano.

I have a friend who's gone all the way to grade 8 on an electric piano, and done fine. Its not ideal, but is do-able. A keyboard im not so sure about.

x

Welcome to the forums, Packyee. Keyboards are fine to begin. I have several pupils with them instead of pianos. A decent touch sensitive keyboard is far better than an old, worn out and ill tuned piano. Good luck with your lessons.

Thanks my lovely friends. I am very enjoying learning the piano. I am still working on an old and ill keyboard, somehow just to practise my fingering. I am using the Alfred's Basic Adult Piano Lesson Book Level One now. Besides that, I am using the Hanon's at the same time. I can read the notes well, but just sometimes need to tell my left brain and right brain to move the fingers on right hands and left hands, respectively. Haha! Coordination of both hands is desperately required! My 5th fingers of both hands are not strong enough, I think this is the most common problem encountered by most adult learners.

Yes the fifth fingers are really naughty but they'll get disciplined with practice. i remember i used exercises from a book called "Schmidt", it's not amusing to play but once you finish the book, you'll notice the difference. It's like adding lubricant to a rusty machine!! give it a try!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Good luck and never stop playing. i stopped playing about 9yrs ago and i regret it cause if i continued i would really play well by now. I was going to start Grade 7 and i stopped!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!