Acoustic or Electric?

by Rudolph Nemeth

Those are basic questions for today’s musicians. Which instrument is best for me? Electronic or acoustic? Which to choose – especially between keyboards and pianos?

With the rather big exception of live concerts of symphonic orchestras, opera, chamber music and such, the “old” days, when musicians produced music on their acoustic instruments and played for their own enjoyment and the entertainment others, are mostly gone. We listen mostly to records, CD’s, even computers.

But what about the pop music? Students want to play it, perform it, and maybe even record it on their own. And here comes the basic question. What electronic gear? Which instrument?

I am a classically trained musician, but I’ve played any (and all!) kinds of music. Rock, pop, dance music, solos, you name it. I like to record, fooling around with electronics.

Sure, it’s hard to compare this with the real acoustic piano – such as the feeling of resonance of the strings on the fingers. But to be a pianist and have a chance to “play” any other instruments - violins, brass, even drums and percussion! I think it’s really inspiring to be able to produce and record music all by yourself, with the help of electronic keyboards and digital pianos.

And here come the computers! Every new computer model has its own sounds, and sometimes they come with some simple music recording programs. Isn’t it remarkable to live in an era where all this is possible? To be able to write music on computer is fascinating. The inspiration and temptation to write and record is priceless.

MIDI - Music Instrument Digital Interface. This is the basis for digital music. Almost every computer comes with a sound card and has its own sounds (although widely different levels of quality). Those sounds are generated by MIDI data, telling your computer what to play, how long it needs to sound, and which instrument’s sound needs to be played.

If you can connect some musical instrument (naturally I use an electric/digital piano) with Midi cables to your computer, you can even play and record the music. With some software, you can write, compose and print music (I use the Sibelius program, which I think beats all the other programs I’ve tried).

On Internet are hundreds of websites where you can click, find and listen to Midi files of performances of classical music. This is a great inspiration, and a great feature. For example, you can visit my website, www.RudolphsMusic.com, and listen to piano pieces on different levels if you download the free Scorch program (and you can buy the sheet music, too, if you want to print them out. Real Cheap!) But this is all using MIDI, and you are going to hear the sounds of your computer and your sound card.

For young beginners I do not recommend electronic keyboards with soft touch keys. They are different from digital pianos, which come with the whole range of 88 keys and have weighted keys - the simulated ‘touch’ of acoustic pianos. And also don’t forget that a good investment is also a good inspiration. Cheap instruments have cheap sounds and touch.
It reminds me of an old joke: Papa gypsy comes home, bringing his son a violin. The son asks “Daddy, where are the strings?” And his dad answers “I’ll buy you strings when you learn how to play!”

But when the cards are on the table, I still recommend acoustic pianos. And it comes with the good old saying: Practice practice practice!!.

Rudolph Nemeth has been with Music Arts for 12 years and is now the President of the Music Arts Board of Directors. Visit his website at www.RudolphsMusic.com. He attended the World Piano Pedagogy Conference in Nashville, TN in October 2003. . . . . . Ask him about it and stand back for a blast of enthusiasm!