Buying a New Keyboard
When buying a new keyboard it is important that you have confidence in both the product and the supplier.
Portable Electronic Keyboards come in all shapes and sizes. Each model looks different, has some different features, different strengths - and different weaknesses too!
49 full-sized keys (four octaves) are a minimum basic requirement for beginners working through Keyquest Book One. Keyboards with 61 keys (five octaves) give even better scope when it comes to making creative arrangements of the pieces, and are needed for pupils when they move onto Keyquest Book Two. It is therefore worth getting a 61 note keyboard from the start.
Auto-Accompaniment is another essential feature without which the music in Keyquest cannot be played. Portable keyboards with auto-accompaniment are designed so that you can play a tune with your right hand while using the left hand to play single finger or full "fingered" chords, which control the bass, drums and backing music.
Because there are so many keyboards now available you will almost certainly need a good teacher to help you understand the specific features of your own instrument, and it can therefore be an advantage to take your instrument to your school lesson. Alternatively you can contact Keyquest Music for a one-off individual lesson looking at your keyboard features.
Keyquest Music generally recommends the Yamaha range of portable electronic keyboards, which are the leading make worldwide. Yamaha instruments tend to have exceptional sound quality for the price when compared to alternative manufacturers, although the more you pay the better this gets. Their instruments are also well laid out, light to carry, and easy to use.
When buying a Yamaha keyboard, Keyquest Music recommends that you buy from One Man Band » who are the regional Yamaha Main Dealer for portable electronic keyboards. They provide a friendly and comprehensive service including excellent after sales help. This includes the option of going back to the store as many times as you need after purchase to ask for specialist help learning to use the specific features of the instrument you buy (without charge).
Though based in Banbury, One Man Band will happily arrange home delivery to the Milton Keynes area. They also provide trade shows in the Milton Keynes Shopping Centre at regular intervals (see panel on the right for information). While it may be possible to find keyboards for sale more cheaply (e.g. on the internet) this can be risky, particularly if something goes wrong. Also you are unlikely to get such a good deal overall for the full equipment needed.
As a major music retailer, One Man Band are part of the Take it Away scheme » which enables you to pay for instruments over nine months, interest free. This fantastic initiative is offered in association with the Arts Council and Music Industries Association. Please ask David Cooper, the manager of One Man Band, for full details.
The One Man Band website shows prices for the most popular keyboards in the current Yamaha range, and we recommend that you purchase the best of these that you can afford. Additional information about specific models can also be obtained from the Yamaha Music website »
One Man Band offer special deals when you buy the important accessories needed when getting started, including the following:
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A “gig bag” carry case for transporting the instrument to lessons (where necessary), concerts, etc
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A pair of headphones for practice at home
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An adapter — this is an essential extra. Avoid using batteries, as they do not last very long, so become very expensive!
When contacting One Man Band, remember to please ask for David Cooper and let him know you are learning via Keyquest Music in order to access the latest negotiated offers.
