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Using a keyboard as a learning tool
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Gordon Shumway
London, England
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October 7, 2018 - 7:18 am
Member Since: August 1, 2016
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The other day I was looking at a piece of intermediate Shostakovitch and realising that I couldn't sing some of the accidentals very well, and I wondered if I'd do any better on the fiddle. Should I buy a keyboard [added with apologies to hatefulpain:] as a crutch?

At other times I recommend a keyboard - for instance I often see diatonic harmonica players asking how they can understand music theory or learn what the circle of fifths is, and I always say, "Buy a keyboard!" but I wonder if in my case it would be a lazy option. On the other hand, I could record accompaniments. What do you think?

Andrew

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HP
Trondheim, Norway
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October 7, 2018 - 8:56 am
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IMO keyboards are excellent learning tools. I play piano as well as fiddle, and I use my piano as a reference in a lot of cases. Whether it's for tuning the violin, checking how far off I am or even some music theory related stuff. Keyboards make it easier to see how notes are in relation to each other because it's much more linear compared to the fiddle. Could be handy and it's pretty fun to make accompaniments for other instruments. 

'Armed with theory, practice becomes meaningful. Through practice, theory becomes fulfilled.' - Egon von Neindorff.

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Gordon Shumway
London, England
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October 7, 2018 - 9:00 am
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I'm thinking of a Yamaha P45, but I wish it had a Hammond organ sound!

Ugh, they don't sell that model in America!

Yamaha P45 on amazon.co.uk

Andrew

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Fiddlerman
Fort Lauderdale
October 8, 2018 - 1:04 pm
Member Since: September 26, 2010
Forum Posts: 16429

@andrew Fryer - For creating your own accompaniments, why not?
However, if you have sheet music for this stuff you can open in a music writing program such as Finale and create a midi accompaniment file. That is providing that you are proficient using the app and writing the sheet music.

"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."

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Heinrich
New Hampshire

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October 9, 2018 - 2:22 pm
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It seems that any music lover should have a piano or keyboard. So helpful like you guys said. I think some of the keyboards even have a midi connection so you could use a program like Pierre talked about. I have an old upright piano that has seen it's better years but is really very helpful. I admit though I have looked at the new Yamaha P-125 more than once.

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Pete_Violin
Utah

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October 11, 2018 - 1:13 pm
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I agree 100% about the benefits of a keyboard in music, with one caveat... if it’s an acoustic piano, make sure it is tuned properly.  Also, I had a piano that cost less than my violin and it was difficult to work with.  Use the best instruments possible.  Poor quality instruments only cause problems in the end.  

- Pete -

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Gordon Shumway
London, England
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October 16, 2018 - 10:15 am
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Heinrich said
 I have looked at the new Yamaha P-125 more than once.  

Yes, in fact I am now looking at that one very seriously, rather than the P45.

Andrew

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Fiddlerman
Fort Lauderdale
October 16, 2018 - 12:08 pm
Member Since: September 26, 2010
Forum Posts: 16429

Back in the day I used to use a keyboard with midi to write sheet music. I don't know why I stopped but that would be another way to use the keyboard as a learning tool...... Kind of...

"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."

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