Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)I'm a piano teacher, specializing in teaching very young beginners. I sympathize with parents who ask me if they really have to invest in a traditional piano for a 5- or 6-year-old who might not really like the instrument after a few lessons. So I am willing to teach on an electronic keyboard, and for several years, I've recommended the CTK-700, which for around $100 at Target or Walmart offered full-size keys and a reasonable "touch".
I do warn parents that a beginner will NOT advance as quickly on a keyboard as they do on an acoustic piano, and I encourage parents to find even a terrible upright as soon as possible if their children maintains interest in the instrument. However, remember that traditional pianos require tuning twice yearly, and around $200 moving fee when you buy or sell...if you are the average parent struggling to make ends meet, I can understand the reluctance to make this kind of investment on top of weekly piano lessons.
To my knowledge, Casio doesn't make the CTK-700 anymore. Apparently the 2100 is the replacement. I find that the touch is not quite as good as the 700, the keys are a little too "springy" for my taste; when you pressed a key on the 700 there was a slight resistance that was better for my students.
However, for the price, this is a good keyboard. It's relatively durable (I've seen it fall from a stand all the way to the floor--some keys were pushed out of place, but could be pushed back and the keyboard functioned as before with no lasting problems). There is a headphone jack, which might be helpful in a family with small children. The default grand piano sound is acceptable and kids have fun playing with the other sounds.
In addition to price, another advantage to keyboards for young beginners is that the keyboard (with an "X" type stand) can be adjusted to the proper height for the child. You get a headstart on good technique by making the piano fit the child: in fact this is a prime tenet of Suzuki piano instruction, where instructors use an adjustable chair (retail: $600) and adjustable stool (minimum of $60 retail). (The concept is to make the height of the keys so that the forearm is parallel to the ground and the wrist straight with the body relaxed.) With a keyboard, as the child grows, you can adjust the stand and the chair you use to keep the forearm at the right height and the feet flat on the floor or on some type of footstool (for instance, those risers that people use for kids to reach the sink, or a couple phonebooks). A little care in setting up the keyboard at the proper height will lead the beginning student to good technique automatically.
Still, remember that the tactile feedback from a true piano along with the physical sensation of piano strings vibrating has an impact on the performer's enjoyment. You won't get that from a beginner keyboard from any manufacturer. But I believe that this is a decent product for a reasonable price.
I don't recommend the higher priced "touch-sensitive" keyboards such as the Privia. What I've experienced is that something about the ways those keys work leads to disastrous technique in my students--very bad habits that have proved difficult to correct. And professional keyboards contain features (MIDI input, sampled sounds etc.) that are not necessary for beginning students--don't waste your money on these items. If money is an issue, try this keyboard or an equivalent from Yamaha, and then upgrade to a used upright when the child has demonstrated a lasting interest.
Click Here to see more reviews about: Casio CTK-2100 61 Key Personal Keyboard with New Voice Pad Feature
A great choice for both piano beginners and intermediates, the portable Casio CTK-2100 personal keyboard offers 61 piano-style touch keys and step-by-step lessons that help just about anyone learn to play. Offering a wide range of features and functions, the CTK-2100 keyboard includes 400 tones and 150 rhythms, sampling function, an audio-in jack that lets you play along with your favorite songs, USB port for connecting to a PC, and AHL audio technology for reproducing amazingly real grand piano and acoustic musical instrument sounds. It's powered by 6 AA batteries and also comes with an AC adapter.
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