What shall I do?

[Taurus]

I'm a pianist, but I haven't really played a piano intensively for more than 2 years. Instead, i've played on nonweighted keys on my 76-key synth.

However, Now I want to study a piano repertoire (not technically demanding, no Chopin, no bullshit, but none the less pure pianopieces).

At the same time I'm planning to buy me a portable-piano replacement for the piano I used to have. That'll be a digital one with naturalweighted keys. One that I can use with headphones and gets to be approved by my landlord ;)
I only will have to wait untill I get my paycheck in a few months.

However I want to start studying all these pieces so I get everything done on time to perform. I will have to study it on nonweighted keys, but eventually I'll have to perform it on a real piano.

Now.. What would you do, and please give me GOOD reasons why to back up your decision (don't bullshit me):

1.) Start studying on the nonweighted keys, and take over a few weeks on the digital-piano before your gig.
2.) Don't start studying but wait all these months untill you have your digital-piano, and then rush everything untill you got your gig. Otherwise you screw up your technique. Nonweighted keys is totally different, and if you study the piece now you develop the wrong feeling for your fingers till the time you actually need to play it at the piano.
3.) Something else.

Thanks!

[Mother.Mosquito]

I would suggest looking for a possibility to practice on a real piano as much as you can. I'm sure there are some places in your town with a piano, like bars, theaters, churches, parish rooms etc. where you can handle out some practice time...

Some reasons:

There's no big difference in practicing with non-weigted keys, or with weighted ones. I practiced for years on a DX7 (light weighted) until I realized my technique was totally crap. I started practicing on a Weighted 88-Key Fatar Masterkeyboard and improved a little. Finally I got a great upright piano. Beleve it or not, in two weeks my technique improved more than in one year practicing on the weighted Fatar!
I think you don't actually reallize your technical lacks until you try to play (and express yourself) on a real piano. There are so many nuances and timbres in one single Piano key that you're not able to produce by only practicing on a Keyboard.
I had to spend a looot of time practicing to get over the technical failures I handled me in by only practicing on keyboards!

Further, When you practice on a real piano, its no great deal if you have to perform on a keyboard. But the other way round it is...

Best would be to start learning a new piece on a Piano. Once you've worked on the technical needs for it, you can use your keyboards at home for working on your memory.

[On this forum I might appear as being the ultimate "Real Instruments Hitler", but remember this is simply my own opinion, based on my personal expirience]

[nismael]

For the learning part, I think both are OK. I mean, the notes you play will be the same on a real piano, but the feeling will be different. So I wouldn't really care about practicing on a non-weighted keyboard for memorization, but make sure you practice on a real piano like a month before the show, to make sure you have the good nuances, feel comfortable on the keys, etc.

Make sure you also practice on a piano that has almost the same feeling than the one you are gonna perform on, because even on Pianos, there are different levels of weighted keys. Though this is not very important if the stuff you play is fairly simple.

[TritonuS]

For the learning part, I think both are OK. I mean, the notes you play will be the same on a real piano, but the feeling will be different. So I wouldn't really care about practicing on a non-weighted keyboard for memorization, but make sure you practice on a real piano like a month before the show, to make sure you have the good nuances, feel comfortable on the keys, etc.


I agree. If you're terribly worried about the technique part you could try 'mental practicing'. Read the music (CORRECTLY) and picture your hands moving on the keys. You can aid this by going through the tough spots on your light weighted keys if you like but it's not necessary if you get it right. Picturing yourself playing the music helps you learn it just as if you were playing it physically. I use this technique everytime I have to learn something new quickly, it works once you get the hang of it.

This way you wouldn't have to worry about 'teaching' your hands wrong things.

Just a thought,

-Kai