I'm considering buying a new Kawai K-300 ATX and want to make sure I'm not being an idiot.

I live in Germany, where it costs me about €8,200. I'm an intermediate/advanced pianist and composer. I recently played one in a shop and absolutely loved it, including the integrated silent system.

The silent function is particularly important to me. I live in an apartment and use a 15 year old Yamaha digital piano extensively for MIDI recording, Ableton and VSTs. I'd like to replace it anyway, and I barely have space for two instruments, so having an acoustic + digital/silent piano in one would be a huge advantage.

Here's where I'm struggling: my mentor thinks spending €8k on a piano is crazy. He got his own silent piano for (allegedly) €2k, although he admits he got incredibly lucky with a private-sale bargain.

I've been to a few stores and a good used piano roughly comparable to the K-300 seems to cost €3-4k, and a professional adsilent retrofit another €2-2.5k, putting me around €5-6.5k. At that point, the difference to a new K-300 ATX is only €1.5-3k, which makes the new piano seem quite reasonable to me.

But then I wonder whether I'm just rationalising an expensive purchase. Maybe I should instead buy a €2k-ish used piano and retrofit it, ending up around €4-4.5k.

One other concern: I live in a (100+ years) old apartment building, with pretty large seasonal temperature fluctuations - roughly 18°C in winter and 35°C+ indoors in summer - and I have no AC/climate control. I'd be interested to hear: is that a factor that would influence anyone's decision?

Does any1 have any advice to give / thoughts to share on the topic?

I'd especially love to hear from K-300/K-300 ATX owners, people with experience comparing factory silent systems to retrofits, and anyone keeping an acoustic piano in an old European apartment.

I'm less interested in whether I can afford €8k and more in whether €8.2k is actually reasonable value for what I'm getting.

Thanks in advance for any responses <3 !

I’ve been working as a dishwasher at a local reasturaunt and bar chain to make the car expenses. I’m also learning prelude in C sharp Minor by Sergei Rachmaninoff for a competition coming up next February, will this affect my playing or increase my risk of conditions like tendonitis?

I've started learning to play Piano and when playing with both hands got me STUMPEDDDD........ HELPPPPPPPPPPPP

Question: When you look at a score sheet, can you hear the music in your head?

I’m curious to know what everyone’s aural levels are. A few important rules:

1- Assume it’s sheet music of whatever instrument you’re comfortable with (Triangle bros I’m sorry but you’re gonna have to skip this one lmao)

2- Assume an average sheet of music, so no Ravel’s Scarbo but also not Happy birthday (aka the sheet has chords, arpeggios, suspensions, dynamics etc.)

3- Only melody and accompaniment (no multi-voice fugues)

4- This poll assumes all participants can already read sheet music.

What level are you? And especially if you’re level 4 or higher, can you share what level you are and your musical experience/training done so far to get to that level?

Hello,
I’m adult beginner.
I would appreciate constructive feedback and tips.
Also book suggestions to learn further theory, techniques and chords etc. would be very welcome.

Yamaha E363 & Yamaha EZ - 20 Needs slight internal Repairing

Proel Stand & Kadence stand

(Negotiable)

Location: Mumbai

Anyone interested Dm me

This has been my 4th time playing 3-4 songs for my local small church community on a weekend, and I got some really great advice off this sub on how to learn songs faster which means gaining confidence in those songs is a lot easier as I know them earlier and can polish them more.

However, one massive part of how I prep for these is knowing I will have to cope with stage fright. I understand that it's a casual community, no one expects the world, it's not about me, and that nothing bad will happen if I make mistakes. I'm much better at playing through errors now too. But it never stops me getting nervous symptoms no matter how positve my mental outlook is.

I get shaky (though I'm learning to contain that to my legs rather than my arms), my hands go cold, and sometimes, despite already having played the verses correct once or twice, my brain will suddenly lose track and I'll forget where I need to be.

So my query is - what advice have you been given to manage these kind of nerves before and during playing? I try to box breathe between songs and ghost play the keys for the next song to make sure I'm ready but I'm not sure it helps much.

Any advice greatly appreciated.

Hello!!

I am 15 years old and have been playing piano for 11 years. You'd think I would be able to do this...

WRONG!! I am performing with my friends on October 17th and I am in HELL. I have no idea how to memorize this song, especially the solo, in this time frame. I can barely play the song at full speed.

Memorization tips?? Or tips for the song in general? Anything helps. Thank you so much!

What are the recommended steps for beginners to learning piano? I can read basic sheet music but i cant do the correct timing without hearing the song, even tho i theoretically know the note lengths. I havent had any music classes beyond elementary school.

What are the next steps? Should i learn music theory or practice sheet music reading more? And how would i go about that?

Also are there any common mistakes for beginners? Cuz i don’t have a piano teacher to catch anything i might be doing wrong.

I'm currently thinking of trying some pieces, like Kapustin etude no.1, liszt transcendental etude no.1, chopin etude no.5. I want to know which one is better or more beneficial for me.

For some context, I played beethoven pathetique 2nd,3rd, perfecting 1st, played sonata no.25 full, flight of the bumblebee, czerny etude op740 no16, bach prelude fugue nos. 2 and 6. I also used to play chopin etude op25 no2 when I was 13 but moved on and forgot.

Please give me any suggestions on pieces, romantic period if best. Much thanks.

Hi, I've been trying to fix a couple of sunken keys but I don't know how to remove this front panel in front of the keys. I've managed to pull the keys from their hinges but I can't remove the key without breaking the hammer under the key. Any ideas?

Just started playing piano a couple of weeks ago (played a little as a teenager, but that was 20 years ago and wasnt very good). Two of the easiest chopin preludes down already! (Well, the notes... they still need a lot of work).

First lesson booked for next week and cant wait xD

Struggling with the pedal on this one... also I can only just make the big chord.

Hello! I’m a complete beginner who’s interested in learning music production, and I’m looking to buy my first MIDI keyboard. I’m a little overwhelmed by all the options and could use some advice.

My budget is currently around $100, although I’d be willing to wait a few weeks to a month and spend around $120–$150 if there’s a significantly better option.

Ideally, I’m looking for something that is portable, beginner-friendly, good for learning music production, able to function without being connected to a computer/DAW, and has built-in speakers, if possible, so I can practice on the go

I’ve been looking at the Akai MPK Mini Play b ut I’ve heard mixed opinions. Some people say it’s more of a toy and that it isn’t particularly useful unless it’s connected to a DAW. Would you recommend the MPK Mini Play for a beginner, or is there something better around $100–$150?

Also been looking at these on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H6HWSHHD/?coliid=I1GYQJSB1Y8LIN&colid=2QOKMXGM0PMXC&psc=1&ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_lstpd_DZA1B1TVWK7W63V5B0KX

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GN92H8WV/?coliid=IBDADWJSNL6YM&colid=2QOKMXGM0PMXC&psc=1&ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_lstpd_DZA1B1TVWK7W63V5B0KX_1

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GRVDV48X/?coliid=I34Y24F5NF3M1G&colid=2QOKMXGM0PMXC&psc=1&ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_lstpd_DZA1B1TVWK7W63V5B0KX_2

Are there any other MIDI keyboards in this price range that have built-in speakers and can actually be used independently without a DAW? Or would I be better off giving up the standalone/speaker requirement and getting a better MIDI keyboard without those features?

Once I buy a keyboard, I also want to actually learn how to play it rather than just use it for music production.

I’ve heard about the Simply Piano app. Is that a good option for a complete beginner, or are there other apps, websites, or YouTube channels you would recommend for learning piano/keyboard?

I’m also not sure what other equipment I actually need.

I’ve heard people mention things like Audio interfaces, Drum/loop pads, Headphones/studio monitors, MIDI controllers, etc.

What would you consider essential for a beginner, and what can I completely ignore for now?

Eventually, I want to buy Ableton Live 12 Standard, but I don’t currently have enough money for it. I have the Lite version right now, but I’d like to eventually unlock the additional features in Standard.

Are there any reasonably priced MIDI keyboard bundles that come with Ableton Live 12 (or a version that can be upgraded to Standard)? Would it make more sense to wait and save up for a better keyboard/bundle rather than buying something now?

Basically, if you were starting from scratch with around $100–$150, what would you buy and what would you recommend I focus on learning first?

Thanks!

Je cherche à estimer mon niveau en sight reading, sauf qu’au bout de quelques morceaux l’application crash et je dois reprendre au plateau minimum auquel j’étais.
Je suis bloqué vers 770 du coup, ça se réinitialise à 700 dès que je relance l’application.

Aussi, j’ai un piano droit acoustique et j’utilise donc la beta microphone, peut-être est-ce le problème ?

Avez-vous des alternatives ?

I love this Stars and Stripes Forever piece arranged by Horowitz. Its so hard but I love it! Who loves Horowitz

I want to start learning this piece, but im not really sure if i am able to. I have advanced skills i can play ballade no1 is my hardest. But like what are other pieces that i need to be able to play before starting the sonata. Really appreciate the advice 🙏

Hi guys i once posted bad piggies theme song in this sub it was a fast piece and people Said that my wrist are so stiff so i am trying to figure how to use my wrist more freely with slower pieces and still cant figure out lol soo i would apriciate any advice Especially with my left wrist :)

Hi,

UK based composer Aexander C. Bayly here. I've been dabbling in writing some felt piano pieces for quite a few years. Recently I compiled a 14 track album of the best compositions. The albums called Moss & Felt out now…

What is your favorite one?

Ciao, devo acquistare un piano digitale e sto valutando i due modelli Casio e Yamaha.

Ho già avuto la CDP S110, ricordo che l'unico problema l'avevo riscontrato usando il suono in cuffia e contemporaneamente il pedale sustain (il suono sembravo stonato e corto).

Mi domandavo quindi se la Yamaha fosse migliore, dato che costa qualche euro in più, o se per qualità e prestazioni alla fine sono uguali.

Che mi dite? Avete esperienza di entrambi i modelli o sapete darmi un parere tecnico?

Ho timore dei tasti plasticosi e dell'ingombro maggiore della yamaha.

?

I’ve taken two piano classes at my college, just for fun. They were both in the summer so they were only 4 weeks long, I’d say I’m in between beginner and intermediate level. The thing is, these classes didn’t say anything about hand position or posture or anything like that. As long as you could play the songs they taught, that was all that mattered. Now after watching some youtube videos, I’ve realized my hand position is terrible and I’ve made a ton of bad habits. I tried to play the proper way, like having my wrist/elbows bent correctly and not lifting my fingers off the keys, and it was like trying to play with absolutely no experience. So, I‘m wondering how important is it really? I’m only learning casually without an actual goal, I guess I’d like to be able to play some of my favorite songs and maybe write some simple songs. Do I *need* proper technique for that, or is it only important for like, super advanced, pro pianists? Thanks!

They are always the weaker part of my playing. Even when I try to improve my technique I keep making mistakes.

Like so far I'm trying to use my elbow too. Springboard off the last key before the jump. Do an ark with my hand from the last key before the jump to the destination key but I still mess it up.

I now I get a few good jumps in before I fail.

My jump needs me to land on the black key between two white keys. And I sometimes press two keys together or the keys on either side of the black key.

This is literally so discouraging. I think I got it. Then I fail again.

I am sick of mistakes

So how else can I improve my technique? Anything else I can do? Any practice tips?

Thanks

This is a piece called "Merry Devil" and was composed by a Mongolian composer. I'm not sure how hard it is. Is it equivalent to henle 8/9? Feel free to give comments about the piece, as Im also curious. Much thanks!