WHAT TO PURCHASE?

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These are the five features your keyboard should have:

• Touch Sensitivity 
• Weighted keys
• 76+ keys (including white and black)
• Full Size Keys
• Internal Speakers or an amplifier

Additional items you will need:

• Pedal
• Keyboard Stand (medium/heavy duty) not the cheapest
• Adjustable bench

BRANDS:

Yamaha

Kurzweil

Roland

Casio Privia

TYPES:

• Keyboard (portable and lightweight) usually has internal speakers.  
• Stage Piano (heavier weight, feels and responds more like a piano, usually does not have internal speakers so it needs an amplifier).
• Digital Piano (has a piano like wooden shell stand, feel, and response, 2 or 3 built in pedals, internal speakers, and comes with a matching bench)
• Clavinova Piano (similar to the Digital Piano but heavier.  Furniture like.

PEDAL (Most Keyboards do not include a pedal)  
Yamaha FC-5 Sustain Pedal for Portable Electronic Keyboards
Roland dp-10 Damper (sustain) Pedal 

PIANO BENCH:
We recommend an adjustable piano bench to go with either a piano or keyboard.  Adjustable benches are important because they "adjust" to the height of the student and piano/keyboard, provide stable even surface which provides for proper posture and position.  There are a variety of benches to choose from.  

KEYBOARD STAND:  There are a variety to choose from.  I like a heavy duty stand to keep the keyboard still while practicing.  

WEBSITES TO SEARCH:

Musicians Friend

Sweetwater

Guitar Center

Amazon

AREA MUSIC STORES:

PLAYGROUND MUSIC, Mary Esther, FL 

LEITZ MUSIC, Panama City, Panama City Beach, and Fort Walton, Beach

Yamaha JR1 FG Junior 3/4 Size Acoustic Guitar 

 If you are seeking a beginner's guitar for your child age 9 to around 12, we recommend the Yamaha FG JR-1   3/4 Size Acoustic Guitar.  It is a smaller sized guitar with quality. This guitar will last longer,  and have a good resale value when the student grows out of the instrument or you may pass it onto younger siblings. The cost is around $160.  You can view this guitar on Amazon.  We have one at the studio for you to look at and try.

Yamaha FG800  Acoustic Guitar

This is a full size guitar for adults.  You can view it on Amazon.

KALA MK-B MAKALA BARITONE UKULELE

This larger ukulele is great to begin learning on and enables the student to easily transition to guitar.  

KALA MKA-T MAKALA TENOR UKULELE

Is a smaller ukulele than the baritone.  Check with your teacher to know if this one is best for you.

Both of these Ukulele's may be found on amazon.com.  

AREA MUSIC STORES:

PLAYGROUND MUSIC, Mary Esther, FL 

LEITZ MUSIC, Panama City, Panama City Beach, and Fort Walton, Beach