237 Dawson Road, Santa Rosa Beach, Florida 32459
KEYBOARD RECOMMENDATIONS
Two Recommended Keyboards for Beginners:
These 5 features are desirable for a keyboard to 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.
KEYBOARD STAND: x shaped or U shaped. I like a heavy duty stand to keep the keyboard still while practicing and u shaped for leg room.
WEBSITES TO SEARCH:
AREA MUSIC STORES:
PLAYGROUND MUSIC, Mary Esther, FL
LEITZ MUSIC, Panama City, and Fort Walton, Beach
GUITARS AND UKULELE
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 $200. You can view this guitar on Amazon. We have one at the studio for you to look at and try.
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.
VIOLIN AND CELLO
Should be rented at first: SEE OUR VIOLIN AND CELLO PAGE