? about transitioning from a 25-key controller, to 61-88-keys

[Shabdahbriah]

I personally do not see any issues arising, but ~ background.

My grand daughter has (always) expressed interest in learning piano, that has not been possible and isn't practical at this time, so I want and intend to give her my old Axium-25 (which works great) and a few bits of software, like EZ-Keys, and Scaler-2, and some video courses for them.

My daughter (the control freak mother unit) is "concerned about whatever muscle memory that develops being able to translate to actual piano playing" as/when she transitions from 25 keys to anything larger. So, I told her I would ask here.

Has anyone started with a 25 and had any difficulty moving up to a larger sized keyboard?

My first keyboard was a Juno-60, then many many other 61 key synths. I didn't get a 25 key controller for at least 10 years after them, to use with my computers. So I never experienced making that transition. I would think it to be a relief if anything, and easy.

thoughts.

[chk071]

The transition from synth action keys to weighted piano keys is probably a much bigger concern. I don't think she'll have problems transitioning from similar keys to a bigger octave range. I surely hadn't when I switched from 25 keys to 49 keys. The semi weighted keys felt much better though, compared to the synth action of my M-Audio Oxygen 25 v2.

[Shabdahbriah]

The transition from synth action keys to weighted piano keys is probably a much bigger concern. I don't think she'll have problems transitioning from similar keys to a bigger octave range. I surely hadn't when I switched from 25 keys to 49 keys. The semi weighted keys felt much better though, compared to the synth action of my M-Audio Oxygen 25 v2.

Yes, good point... I agree. The Axium-25 has pretty nice keys, actually. Semi-weighted (though lite-ish) w/after touch. (it's not a Sledge-2 (black-ed), but passable) I like 49 keys. Not too big or small. She has serious available-room limitations, or I would get her a 49.

[vurt]

it's easier than transitioning from not using a keyboard at all.

[Shabdahbriah]

... sounds legit.

[vurt]

thinking about it, when i had piano lessons at uni, we started left and right hand separately, just to get the finger movement/positions, before moving to two hands on the keys together.

[Shabdahbriah]

Noted. That's my only 'concern', is the lack of width, and actually trying to play with both hands, which is in part why I got her Scaler. One finger chords. But the sounds, and the visual feedback/associations are there. The focus is more on getting up to speed on the basic principles and 'theory' at this point.

I think those three comments pretty much cover it.

Thank you.

[vurt]

seems if theres no space, the only other option would be waiting...
which does no one any good really.
she can at least find out if she wants to continue, and if she does, get the basics of how a keyboard feels, and counting through fingers on scales (if you know what i mean)

its also depends, i dont know her age, but if shes a teen, she may just want to hammer out a few pop type riffs, as a bit of fun, nothing wrong with that! and it could get em hooked!
if shes younger, they just enjoy the getting to know something new!!!
i cant wait till i can annoy rosie and baby sisters parents with excessively loud instruments as gifts

bit young for a 100 watt marshall yet...

[Shabdahbriah]

She's 16, and is totally fascinated by my (portable) recording equipment, and modular gear. "We" are sneaking-up on the mother unit... slowly.

I'm also loading Voltage Modular on her machine, which I custom built recently for her streaming gaming needs, and this eventuality.

[vurt]

ah cool, a good age to take it in and understand, and it sounds like shes already got her hooks in

not vcv?
dunno what the link was meant to be but it isnt.

have you thought about maybe a small portable hand held recorder, with some nice sample mangling bits?
i only ask because you specifically mention recording stuff.
are you not close enough or around enough for her to pop over?

[Shabdahbriah]

I just don't get on well with VCV, with a very few module specific exceptions. That may change, but not now.

I rarely see her. Maybe once/twice a year. They moved to Arizona (about a thousand miles south of Seattle) and I can no longer fly. As to "hooks-in" and recording... I got my first reel-to-reel in '62-'63, and was recording foley for theatre, and "found sounds" since the late-mid '60's, so they (my kids/grand kids) have been exposed to my using audio, as well as film, video, theatre, and photography 'speak' since they were born.

The grand kids and my youngest son (24-yrs old) know the names (by heart) of, and my background with various software and hardware, in all of the above categories/disciplines. I set-up the grandson (18) with Acid Pro, Traktion, and Live, years ago. My youngest son, is getting into modular with me, and exploring Voltage and Reaktor on the side. Had him using Sound Forge when he was 4yrs old, and he's done countless recording excursions with me. Ocean, streams/creeks, birds, city sounds, transit sounds, rain, thunder, wind chimes, percussion, singing bowls, blah blah. So, if she wants a recorder... it'll happen.

[vurt]

awesome!
i only mentioned vcv because of the free version, i dont really know voltage, but im sure theyre all good enough to get started with! thats all that matters, she can obviously decide for herself once shes got a bit of the knowledge in her head

i did try with my son, but he was more visual, so i just had to encourage rather than mentor
rosie, i know shes still a toddler, but she seems drawn to sound! apparently at nursery, she will only play with the musical toys, even on outdoor time, she takes something musical rather than a bike.
at home shes always noodling with the various animal noise keyboards and other bits.

like yourself though, i dont see her too often, although, nothing like a thousand miles thank gods n goddesses, but i dont drive and they both work, so its still a pain getting time, without thinking im taking up all their free time and becoming the annoying grandparent