The Casio CTK-3000 is an affordable instrument with a 61 Key Piano Style Touch Sensitive Keyboard, 400 total onboard Tones, 150 Rhythms and Digital Effects. Packed with great features such as Casio’s famous Step-up Lesson System, audio inputs for a MP3 player, USB port for MIDI implementation and a pitch wheel for additional expression over sounds. All this makes CTK-3000 more realistic and expressive than ever before at this price range. An affordable, full-featured portable keyboard. Click to enlarge. Standard-Size Keys with Touch Response The CTK-3000 features 61 standard-size keys and two sensitivity levels for a more piano-like experience, along with 48-note polyphony (24-note for certain tones). 400 Built-In Tones Find just the right sound with 400 built-in tones, and select from ten different reverb settings to add depth. USB Port For many musicians, the computer has become a music-making center. Connect the CTK-3000 to a computer (more…)

The Casio LK-270 is an affordable instrument with a 61 Key Touch Sensitive, Lighted Keyboard with 570 total onboard Tones, 180 Rhythms and Digital Effects. Packed with great features such as Casio’s famous Lighted Key Step-up Lesson System, audio inputs for a MP3 player, Mic Input, USB port for MIDI implementation. All this makes the LK-270 more fun and easier to learn to play music. Get started right away. Click to enlarge. LK-270 Premium Pack The Premium Pack bundles the LK-270 keyboard with a Yamaha power supply, keyboard stand and professional closed-cup stereo headphones. Touch-Sensitive Lighted Keyboard The LK-270 features 61 standard-size keys and two sensitivity levels for a more piano-like experience, along with 48-note polyphony (24-note for certain tones). The “LK” in LK-270 stands for “Lighted Keyboard.” Designed to provide a fun way to learn how to play music, the keys illuminate to show you what notes to play in lessons or (more…)

The M-Audio Music Stand is designed for select M-Audio keyboards including KeyRig 49, KeyStudio, KeyStudio49i, ProKeys Sono 61, and ProKeys Sono 88. The stylish black metal frame is augmented by a clip on plastic shelf to support sheet music, lyrics and clipboard notes—the perfect accessory for sight readers and songwriters.

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First of all, of course, you need a piano or keyboard.  Digital keyboards are available at most piano stores and even larger retail stores that aren’t specific to music.  If you don’t have the money to buy a real piano, digital keyboards offer a cost-effective solution.  Many of them sound very close to the real thing, too.

Secondly, you need to find the right resources.  There are many different online courses and ebooks which can teach you how to play piano – some reputable, some not so much.  It’s important to do thorough research before choosing an online course, because you want one that will suit your needs.  If you’re a beginner, for example, you’ll need different instruction than someone who’s been playing for a year or more.

Another important thing if you want to quickly learn piano online is to choose a program that includes good email or even phone support.  You want to be able to get in touch with a real person if you have questions.  Most online piano courses include real instructors, so you can actually contact them if you have problems, questions about technique or your piano, or anything else.

It’s very easy to learn piano just through the internet these days, provided you have good, clear instruction and are willing to dedicate time and effort to it.  As with any instrument, learning piano takes time, but even those who aren’t musically inclined can play with the right instruction and enough practice.

Eight-thirty: I have been practicing the tabs of this Rufus Wainwright song – as well as some original compositions – for over two hours now. My band mates haven’t yet called; we are all supposed to meet after lunch to rehearse for the gig tonight at a local bistro called The House of Blues. They’re probably all still asleep, with the exception of Andrew, who is the most diligent harmonica player I’ve ever known.

Ten-twenty: After my Communications Theory class, I pull out my cell phone to read the text message I’ve been waiting for. “Let’s meet at Tony’s house 1 pm. See you later.” Tony is our lead vocalist, he has a really powerful rock star voice, but I don’t think he realizes how good he is. Oh – he also has a neat house and a makeshift recording studio in his basement with a lot of awesome audio equipment and hi-tech effects pedals.

Twelve noon: I have just had lunch (a four-inch BLT sandwich), and before I drive all the way to Tony’s house, I first check in at the library to look up something on the Internet. Andrew had E-mailed me something he saw at the Guitar Center website; it was a combo amp that might work well with my guitar. I find out that if I use coupon codes I can slash down the price from $150 to $100 – a good deal, considering that it’s one of the most popular brands for musicians and audiophiles, Crate. Anyway, I also chat online briefly with my girlfriend Jenny, who I hope will show up to watch us tonight.

One-thirty: We’re feeling it. Tony is in his element, Andrew is showing off some new musical stylings, Richard at the keyboards is striking complicated but breathtakingly pretty chords, and I am plucking and twanging away like Johnny Lang who has drunk too much caffeine. I love making music, and it makes it even all the more worthwhile with a group of friends who are so dedicated to the craft – and who don’t worry too much about talent fees.

Five in the afternoon, and we are all headed to The House of Blues. I like the place not only because they serve some tasty barbecue, but also because they have an addictive pinball machine right by the cocktail bar and the owner lets performers like us play for free. But Jenny’s not yet here, I’m afraid. “Still in Starbucks, having coffee with girlfriends,” her text message reads. Well, that or she’s compulsively scouring the Internet again for Victoria’s Secret coupon codes.

Nine-thirty: Our one-hour set is almost over. For the first time we perform “Teasingly Hazel Eyes” – a song I wrote as a tribute to Jenny. Yes, she did show up, and she clapped louder than the rest of them. As I get off the stage with Tony, Richard, Andrew, and my beloved guitar, I immediately walk up towards my girl and give her a kiss.

Musical instruments are mainly categorized by the way they generate sound. All musical instruments fall under one of the following – string, wind, percussion and keyboard, though there may be further divisions and sub-divisions. Examples of string instruments include guitars, violins, ukuleles and cellos. Wind instruments include pipes, sax, clarinet, flute and such other types. Drums, bongos, cymbals and bells fall under the percussions category. And keyboard instruments include pianos, harpsichords, organs and accordions. Over 1000 musical instruments are available across the world, including folk instruments.

If you want to play on your own, then it is better to start with a musical instrument you like, and then gradually master the instrument by joining music classes. If you like music in general and are not interested in specializing in any particular type of instrument then a keyboard can be the perfect choice. Electronic keyboards nowadays can produce all sorts of sound ranging from guitar tunes to drum beats. A variety of DJ equipments are also available on the market nowadays, which provide creative sound mixing options for the wannabe DJs as well as for the experienced disc jockeys.

On the other hand, if you were thinking of organizing a band then you would need different types of musical instruments. A band normally includes a couple of string instruments, percussions and preferably a wind instrument.

You can purchase your musical instruments online. Choose your favorite instrument from the various websites that you will find on the internet. They often offer discounts if you buy their package deals, which include various types of musical instruments. This can be your best option if you are planning a band with your friends.

Musical instruments can be a costly affair, especially if you are planning to buy the best available on the market. These can set you back by anything from $100 to over $10000. A good Yamaha or Roland electronic keyboard may cost almost $2500. Used musical instruments are often a good choice, especially if you are learning to play a new instrument. For beginners it is advisable to invest in musical instruments in the lower price range.

Musical instruments can also be made at home with items of daily use. Homemade musical instruments mainly fall under the category of percussion instruments. You can make almost anything, from shakers and jingle bracelets to drums and tambourines. You can also make wind instruments such as comb harmonica or kazoo. These help your child to be creative and can keep them busy. And you can now have your own band at home.

But in the last couple years I made a discovery about creating pleasant sounds on the piano that I never would have believed during my earlier piano teaching career.

I recall a physician friend asking me if I had any kind of course he could take that didn’t involve learning to read music or music theory or any of the traditional materials.

He had purchased a beautiful Yamaha grand for his daughter to take lessons on when she was growing up, but now she was married and moved away, so he had this grand piano in his living room with no one to play it. He was much too busy in his career to take traditional piano lessons;he just wanted to “doodle” after work in the evening and relax after a stress-filled day at the hospital.

Unfortunately, I told him “no, I don’t have anything like that available, sorry!” and that was the end of that story.

But a few months later another student had heard a “new age” pianist somewhere, and loved the sounds he produced so much that they wanted to do the same, and asked me how in the world he got those sounds. They weren’t really songs but more like the sounds of nature and running water and nature in bloom.

I have taught piano for 30 years and I’m a firm believer in learning to read music, understand music, and really master the keyboard. I’m no fan of mindless “shortcuts” because I know in the long run they just don’t work because you’ve got to have understanding.

But I also know now that there are many people like my doctor friend that would love to be able to make their own “pleasant sounds” on the piano just for their own satisfaction, relaxation, and amusement. They know full well that they will never be full-blown piano players, but still, they would like to sit down now and then and just make some sounds on the keyboard that sound good, feel good, and give satisfaction to them and/or their family.

I should have understood that earlier, because as I think back to my own youth, I recall my Dad sitting down at our old upright piano for a half-hour on a Saturday night and playing some kind of chording pattern that absolutely delighted my Mom and my big brother and I. I guess you know that if I could call him back from Heaven and have him play that again for me, I wouldn’t trade the entire London Symphony for that half-hour.

There is a style of music that is quite popular these days known as “new age” music. It tries to capture the sounds of nature such as water flowing, birds, wind, and that kind of thing. It is very descriptive music, and very relaxing. It’s fun to play, too, because there are really no “wrong answers”; anything that sounds nice and pleasant is “right”.

After trying for several months to create some of these sounds on the piano, I was delighted to discover that there are some very simple finger patterns that can create some wonderful impressionistic sounds using patterns that can be repeated in various places on the keyboard and in various ways.

And so for those people who just want to make some nice sounds on the piano (or keyboard or synthesizer, it doesn’t matter what kind of keyboard) I discovered some 15 different sound patterns that anyone can duplicate. I named some of them:

Cascading waterfalls
Wind in the forest
Rainbow after storm
Oriental gardens
Stroll in a meadow
Peaceful morning
Playful kittens
Gentle waves
and 7 others.

After I discovered each sound pattern, I then linked those sound patterns together in various ways so that anyone can create their own song, their own creative improvisation that expresses the feelings they want to express.

I guess an old doctor friend who just wanted to make some pleasant sounds on his grand piano can teach and old dog piano teachers like me a few tricks after all!

There are 2 basic kinds of synthesizers: analog and digital. Many synthesis methods however exist which apply to both the above types of synthesizers. All these methods tend to be mathematically related for example, frequency modulation and phase modulation.
Some of these types are Subtractive synthesis, Additive synthesis, granular synthesis and wavetable synthesis.

The first true electronic musical synthesizer was invented by Relish Gray in 1876. While working at his telephone invention, Gray discovered that he could control sound from a self vibrating electromagnetic circuit and in doing so invented a basic single note oscillator. After this, synthesizers were controlled by early electronic analog computers and old electronic musical instruments. In 1950, RCA produced experimental devices to synthesize both voice and music. The giant Mark II Music Synthesizer could however synthesize only when it was programmed for a musical or voice performance.

Most modern synthesizers are however digital in nature. They are controlled by what is known as a digital signal processor or DSP. Some digital synthesizers are software that can modify sound using our daily computer machines.

The earliest digital synthesis was performed by software installed on huge main frame computers. Today, various complicated software exist that use the DSP technique to give you a taste of the real thing. They can even reproduce the classical analog synthesizers.

So how are synthesizers used? Well, in many ways. As modern technology evolved, uses have been found for synthesizers. Today synthesis is used to produce high quality music, movies and even voice packages. Groups as early as the Beatles used synthesis techniques in their work. They were followed by the hugely popular Pink Floyd.

Synthesizers are today used also to produce human simulated speech for call centers and multinational companies. People with visual impairments use this technology through a text to speech software that gives them access to modern computers making them independent. Dictation software like the Dragon naturally speaking also uses speech synthesis.

So how do synthesizers reproduce human voice? Voice synthesis is a fascinating topic. A recorded sample of a human voice can be modified so that it is completely different from the original. The sample can be used to generate codes that can be fed into a computer system to give it a voice. In movies, voice modification is done through digital synthesizers to give new and astounding speech to sci fi characters.

Synthesizers are a part of us today. They help us in every aspect of our lives. Starting from your washing machine to the latest robotics every one uses some form of synthesis with the help of digital synthesizing software. Musical instruments can be reproduced on your personal computer allowing you to become the next great artist without even learning to play. They can simulate and reproduce human voice allowing for great software like screen readers, speech recognition and other new and amazing packages.