The difference btwn Pianoforte & keyboard

[CyberCobre]

Anyone here find that playing the pianoforte and playing keyboard are such different animals it requires a real "switch" in technique, one that requires you to "think" differently in order to play it so you don't harm the electonic instrument?

Now, admittedly, I've busted some action on my grand doing Rachmaninoff, one of my favorite composers, and I do have strong, dynamic style when playing the "power" pieces, but when playing on an electronic keyboard that is built to increase volume as one increases the power of the striking action upon it, one would think it could hold up just fine. It was built for that, right? (Supposedly. That's what the specs said, anyway.)

We're finding that not to be the case. I'm having a lot of problems getting the increase in volume required by the dynamics of, say, Stone's work, on keyboard, problems that I don't have on the pianoforte. The "solutions" provided by the manufacturer's keyboard experts are to "increase the volume by programming in the volume increases."

Ah...the dynamics and where and how they are applied depend upon where, what speed, and how Stone plays his parts? So "programming it" doesn't work. It needs to happen under my fingers.

Any suggestions?

[kylito11]

Thats one problem I have with keyboards too, they just don't have a good enough range of dynamics. Mine has a way to adjust the difference between the loudest and quietest possible, but it is inevitable that it will not be as easy to control as on a piano, because of the weighting on keys and such. Does your keyboard have weighted keys?

[CyberCobre]

Both keyboards have weighted keys. The more expensive one has action control, and does provide the resistance I'm comfortable with, but, still, it winds up shuddering when I "get into" my playing with Stone and I forget I'm on the e-keys. My playing collapsed and broke the stand already, so we mount it on top of the amplifiers now.

The manufacturers claim that it is designed to be played just like a pianoforte, but when it comes to warranties and the like, they suggest that the keyboard WASN'T designed for that kind of playing. Groan.

One of them actually said, "that's what the volume wheel is for, Lady." Grumble. Like I have an extra arm to work that while I running up and down the keys at speed.

[62' Jazzmaster]

Wow, Ive honestly never had a problem, then again, I am a very light player and like very light weighted keys.

Maybe a volume pedal? Like one of those wah type pedals guitar players use to control volume... but thatd be too wierd.

[CyberCobre]

I'm laughing. That's what Stone said.

I play a 1914 grand. It has stiff action. Even my spinet practice piano has action that requires a firm and dedicated touch. I played a couple of modern Yamaha grands and I do note that a lot less effort is required to get sound from them. We old schoolers don't "touch type" on pianos, though. We only touch type on computer keyboards. :D

[MobBarley]

I think your hands last longer with a lighter touch, and you can play faster that way, so I prefer it.

That said, my keybaords shudder away when I play them, though.

I find real pianos feel different, though. Some pianos, if I remember, have an adjustable stiffness, right? I remember, in college, they took this one steinway grand and made the action real tight for "finger strength" or something... but, I never did see much of anyone ever play it... particularly not the good pianists.