Our 61-key eMedia Keyboard

Our 61-key eMedia Keyboard

Our 61 key eMedia KB outside during the summer of 2017 - Can't do that with an upright

After seeing our interest in learning to play, Jay L. brought us over a 61-key eMedia keyboard for us to practice on.  With some work we made a place for it to live inside our small place.   Our 61 key KB with middle C4 in the middle, starts at the C2 octave and goes to the C6 octave above with a last C7 note thrown in.  At my skill level this covers all the music I will be playing for quite some time.  As for the quality of this inexpensive KB, my ears do not know the difference in sound quality yet anyway. Will I ever get a KB longer than 61 keys?    I have chosen not to spend money on a KB.   If I ever get to the point I need more than 61 keys to play the music I learn to or my ear comes attuned enough so that my KB starts sounding off to me, and also, we have the funding THEN we may reconsider it.  As this KB is valued new for sale at $199.00 an upgrade would cost over $200.  I would wish to consider semi-weighted keys which are not really weighted at all just simulated to at least have a certain feel of it.  Compromises.

 

How about an upright?    The other option would be to find a decent used upright that often (at least for non-name brands) seem to really lose their value quickly but are still often in the hundreds.  Like many things I suppose, new players want a new piano that they know has no issues.  I can indeed understand that viewpoint and I would agree with it, if I we were flush with funding and played often enough to consider an upright.  For us though music is just a hobby to pass some time and to share with Friends.  This would also only be considered on the outside chance both Kathy and I started playing rather well.  An upright would take a bit more room than even the longer KB option.

I have played Kathy’s Mother Marion’s Kohler & Campbell upright console piano 1982- 780000  41" Satin Walnut  before while visiting.

Our Keyboard Pictures

  

We updated the set for our RAM Camera Mount for making progress videos on the KB .  The course teacher said she liked the setup and angle. (Left) Note: We since updated and mounted on the wall behind the keyboard, but the long horizontal plane made it very hard to keep tight.  So I attached the RAM mount to an extra music stand, see blog post

	We appreciate our keyboard from deep inside it’s heart. We Thank Jay for adding it to our lives.

My Music History-long version

My Music History(long version)

  I have always been a slow learner and found it very hard to remember things, but yet I am still able to learn. I have a decent finger memory and sometimes is how I remember how I did something the last time I did it.  I have always been interested in music starting as a child playing around with a harmonica, a school Recorder, and with a little box air organ my parents bought.  I also played around with my Dad's organ he bought and after some self teaching hired a teacher which helped him do well at playing some folk songs for the family.  I however did not have the confidence to put more effort into it, if I had I may had gotten some lesson out of it as well.

  Over the years on my own since, I have tried another keyboard, a clarinet, a couple side flutes(traditional and wood), but I never took lessons, I could never afford them, and so tried to learn on my own and I was never able to get anywhere.

  Most recently(2016) my Wife and I decided to learn the classical guitar together, but this did not work out for my Wife because of health so far.  I continued on with the guitar on my own using an app on my tablet and enjoy it.  It is still a goal instrument for me.  I like its affordability, portability and the fact it takes no power. :)

  Then recently(May 2017) I finally had the opportunity to play on my Mom-in Law's upright piano on a visit.  I did recognizable job at "Christian Dedication", a song my wife and I used at our marriage.  I posted a video a me playing it that a longtime friend of mine saw, and he brought us over a KB for my wife and I to play as he knew my wife is also interested in piano's.(pic below, the stickers have since been removed)  Alas due to health my wife has not been able, yet :).

   I have taken a shine to playing the KB and so I searched Youtube for a video course.  After looking at several I found the ‘Piano Video Lessons’ course.  I liked that I could view a complete course and see how I did with them.  I like the bite sized chunks that usually focused on one thing in each lesson.  I am learning, and that is cool, so cool I now have the courses optional written materials. I never imagined to be able to afford take lessons to play. With this course I feel that I am.  I may actually finally get to play an instrument yet.   And a piano at that, one of the first style instruments I ever took a shine too.

P.Allen June 23,2017

A keyboard to practice on

   Jay L. brought us over a 61 key eMedia keyboard for us to practice on.  We at first set it up to play outside on the porch when it is nice out.  With much effort, we made a place for it to live inside our small place.(Picture)

eMedia Music keyboard

   I have been practicing on the keyboard Jay brought over, playing both the right treble hand of "Christian Dedication" and going through a Beginner Video Lessons course I found on YouTube.  So far I have not purchased any of the .PDF materials, I will see how I progress before I invest much into the piano hobby.  I have the guitar lessons to keep up with too.  Here are my goals and successes so far, I will update occasionally.

May 31 Update

Current course goals:

• Finish Pre-Staff Lessons and Note Reading Crash Course as convenient.  
• Work on at least 1 Lesson of Beginner Piano Lessons - Year 1- Unit 1 course daily.  
• See heading: What are your goals in music?

Success:

• See what got me started on Piano again: Blog Link Short story: I played Mom-in-Law’s upright and made a video, soon after Jay L. saw the video he brought over an extra keyboard for us to play on.
• Started Pre-Staff Lessons Sat. May 27, 17
• Started Note Reading Crash Course Sat. May 28, 17
• Started Beginner Piano Lessons - Year 1- Unit 1 Sun. May 28, 17 - Main course
• My more detailed charts for success are in my Google Document: DAILY PRACTICE CHART CHECKLIST.