I'm trying to decide on a Christmas gift for our son (15 yrs. old). He is a budding musician. He's played the cello for 10 years (currently a member of the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra), plays French horn in band, and is starting to play around with the guitar and write a little music. (He currently has a Fender acoustic and an Ibanez elec.) Here's my delimma (since neither my husband or myself are musicians). We do not have a piano and I think a keyboard (a nice one) would be extremely helpful in his musical background. To help him "pick out" notes, chords, etc. Some people do not think so. What do you musicans think? Also, is there some kind of software that helps in writing music? He's finally past the Gameboy & toy stage so we're now looking to purchase gifts to help foster his talent. We are lost, so thanks for any advice!
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Need Advice from the Sowal Musicians
- Thread starter Rudyjohn
- Start date
katie blue
kt loo
Some (usually keyboard players) insist that learning piano/keys is a critical part of musical education. Feel him out casually, ask him if he ever plays pianos at school and whether he likes it. He may want to try it. However, a LOT of guitar/string players just want to focus in that area. If he's not driven to play piano by now, he might not want to start something new, and it may sit unused...it's risky.
Here's a suggestion, that would be a lot cheaper, AND up his "cool factor" big time with his friends. (Plus, it's highly educational for music and computers.) A home digital recording studio device. Check out the Roland BR-1180 digital home studio. It's a self-contained unit that costs under $800, much less if you shop well. You can multi-track your own CDs, practically instantly with this thing. I love mine, it's how I write music. It has built in digital drum tracks (very good quality "presets", or you can build your own), then you plug your guitar into the back and start laying tracks over the drums. Plug a mic in and record some vocals. When you're done laying tracks, burn the whole thing down to CD, voila. You can make a studio quality CD with this thing, it's incredible, and the learning curve is small. Practically plug and play.
If he uses it extensively, you'll eventually want studio monitors, but in the meantime a good set of headphones will do. Trust me on this, if he has musician friends, they will be all over this thing, mainly because it's so darn easy to use for what it does. Plus you can take it out and record live shows with it, burning right to CD.
If you do this, you may want to buy him what's called a "pencil microphone" for recording the vocals, or for recording acoustic guitar. Ask at the music store, they're cheap. (Electric guitar plugs right in to the unit, and comes with tons of amp sounds and effects.) There's no cooler musical tool than this for the money.
My 2c.
Here's a suggestion, that would be a lot cheaper, AND up his "cool factor" big time with his friends. (Plus, it's highly educational for music and computers.) A home digital recording studio device. Check out the Roland BR-1180 digital home studio. It's a self-contained unit that costs under $800, much less if you shop well. You can multi-track your own CDs, practically instantly with this thing. I love mine, it's how I write music. It has built in digital drum tracks (very good quality "presets", or you can build your own), then you plug your guitar into the back and start laying tracks over the drums. Plug a mic in and record some vocals. When you're done laying tracks, burn the whole thing down to CD, voila. You can make a studio quality CD with this thing, it's incredible, and the learning curve is small. Practically plug and play.
If he uses it extensively, you'll eventually want studio monitors, but in the meantime a good set of headphones will do. Trust me on this, if he has musician friends, they will be all over this thing, mainly because it's so darn easy to use for what it does. Plus you can take it out and record live shows with it, burning right to CD.
If you do this, you may want to buy him what's called a "pencil microphone" for recording the vocals, or for recording acoustic guitar. Ask at the music store, they're cheap. (Electric guitar plugs right in to the unit, and comes with tons of amp sounds and effects.) There's no cooler musical tool than this for the money.
My 2c.
Jennifer Steele
Beach Fanatic
Per my husband, the musician..."All the legendary jazz musicians, like Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie, 
played piano as a reference instrument. They would write and chart tunes on the piano. So not only would it not hurt, but it would provide more depth to his musical knowledge, the piano being more linear and visual; you can actually see whole and half steps."
Per me...He grew up in a house full of instruments, not forced to play any, but they were made available to pick up and experiment with and play. It really worked for him and his brother, both professional musicians. We're trying to do the same thing for our son, not to make him a professional musician but to let him express himself through music.
So yes, a keyboard would be a good thing for him to have.
played piano as a reference instrument. They would write and chart tunes on the piano. So not only would it not hurt, but it would provide more depth to his musical knowledge, the piano being more linear and visual; you can actually see whole and half steps." Per me...He grew up in a house full of instruments, not forced to play any, but they were made available to pick up and experiment with and play. It really worked for him and his brother, both professional musicians. We're trying to do the same thing for our son, not to make him a professional musician but to let him express himself through music.
So yes, a keyboard would be a good thing for him to have.
Smiling JOe
SoWal Expert
Great input Steeleing1, but aren't you on your honeymoon!?
katie blue
kt loo
And to be clear, i'm not recommending against a keyboard...just might want to hold off on a full blown wood piano just yet until you see if he "takes" to the keys first, or unless you want to play it yourself. I had an electronic one growing up and loved to play on it. It does teach you about music, but you have to play it to learn. 
They make great keyboards with sampled grand piano sounds that are fantastic (CHeck out a "Nord" keyboard if this is the route you want to go, my husband plays one professionally at our gigs and it only cost around $400. Sounds just like a piano, with weighted keys even.)
BUt as far as the home studio being intimidating..it's not, that's why i recommended it. It's about the size of a laptop computer, and is so simple to use that he can make tracks almost instantly. Most other studios ARE hard to use, but this is easy, and if he's at all good with guitar and or computer, it'll be cake for him.
They make great keyboards with sampled grand piano sounds that are fantastic (CHeck out a "Nord" keyboard if this is the route you want to go, my husband plays one professionally at our gigs and it only cost around $400. Sounds just like a piano, with weighted keys even.)BUt as far as the home studio being intimidating..it's not, that's why i recommended it. It's about the size of a laptop computer, and is so simple to use that he can make tracks almost instantly. Most other studios ARE hard to use, but this is easy, and if he's at all good with guitar and or computer, it'll be cake for him.
Thanks Steeling1. I played piano years ago and when I try to help him pick stuff out, I keep seeing the keyboard and wish I had one to show him. He knows way more about music and therory than me, but I keep thinking that a keyboard would be helpful. I don't necessarily think he'll start playing the piano full-time, but used only as an tool. (Thanks for the info while you're on your honeymoon!!! WOW!)
Oh, believe me... he'd LOVE it and it wouldn't be hard for him at all. He can make some pretty unbeleivable music with no effort at all. And all this info is very helpful to us as parents. We're at a place as to figuring out what the next step should be, beyond the lessons, rehearsals, performances, etc. We want to offer other opportunites, help and it be fun all at the same time! I really appreciate the advice!katie blue said:And to be clear, i'm not recommending against a keyboard...just might want to hold off on a full blown wood piano just yet until you see if he "takes" to the keys first, or unless you want to play it yourself. I had an electronic one growing up and loved to play on it. It does teach you about music, but you have to play it to learn.
BUt as far as the home studio being intimidating..it's not, that's why i recommended it. It's about the size of a laptop computer, and is so simple to use that he can make tracks almost instantly. Most other studios ARE hard to use, but this is easy, and if he's at all good with guitar and or computer, it'll be cake for him.
Jennifer Steele
Beach Fanatic
Smiling JOe said:
Yes, we were on our honeymoon at the time...but I've only got 70 posts; trying to catch up!
We actually stopped at an internet cafe to look for the photos you posted. Thanks - they were great! Still waiting to see Dawn's.
Smiling JOe
SoWal Expert
steeleing1 said:
It is funny (weird) how we are often so interested to see a snapshot of that which we just experienced in real life. I can burn you a disc of the pics if you want, just ask.