All About Keyboards

It was in 1887 when Torakusu Yamaha made his first reed organ.  (Click for more info!) When I took Yamaha as a child in the 70s, we actually played on reed organs like this one!

Times have changed!  Once a student is enrolled in the Junior Music Course or Young Musicians Course, they must have a keyboard or a piano to practice on at home.  Portable keyboards are fine for the first year or two of classes, but you will need to upgrade for your child to progress to their full potential.  The portable keyboards we use in class are not available for purchase, but here are some tips for finding the best instrument for your child.

1.  Keys must be full sized with a minimum of 49 keys.
Notice how the keys on the organ above seem small - they are!  If a child practices on a keyboard with smaller keys, they will learn an incorrect hand position.  

2.  Piano/keyboard must play the correct pitches.
This is one benefit to using electronic instruments.  They never need tuning and are set to the correct pitch.  Pianos should ideally be tuned every 6 months-1 year.  In order for your child to confirm and solidify their ear training, the pitch must be A440.  Basically, if they play middle Do (C) along with the CD, it should match!  

3.  The piano or keyboard should be YAMAHA!
This is not a requirement, but a very high recommendation!  We have compared other brands and there's no comparison.  Yamaha produces high quality instruments that are innovative and beautiful - to listen to and look at!  

4.  The instrument must be at a proper height.
Students should be able to sit comfortably at the instrument.  They should not be reaching up to the keys, nor should they be hovering over them.  A sturdy keyboard stand and bench are recommended.  Typically, portable keyboards do not come with a stand or a bench.  

Some higher priced digital pianos come with their own stand.

4.  I have a piano - will that be ok?
Yes - assuming that it is in tune and all the keys work. Sometimes, however, it is very difficult for a small child (ages 4-6) to physically push the piano keys.  This sometimes can create an undesirable finger and hand position.  If you do choose a portable keyboard to start on, you will need to upgrade sometime during the 2nd or 3rd year of curriculum.

Still have questions?  We are having a special Instrument Petting Zoo at our Family Fun Fest on Friday, September 14th from 6-8pm.  Our friends at Alamo Music Center will be there to answer any questions you might have and give you a chance to compare the different types of keyboards available (weighted keys. touch sensitivity, etc.)

If anyone wants to buy me an instrument - this is the one I would like :-)

Organization of Yamaha Courses

JMC, JXC, YMC, MW.... so many letters - what do they mean?

Just recently, I was having trouble filling out our quarterly report for Yamaha.  Courses get updated, sometimes the names change - now we have new courses - again, new names!  (My confusion actually facilitated the creation of a brand new courses chart out in the corporate offices!)  I know that parents have questions too - here are some examples:

• My child is in Junior Music Course (JMC) and just turned six.  Does she switch classes?

If you look at the chart below, you'll see that the most important thing is how old your child is when they start music lessons.  Once they are in that track, they stay there, moving up to the more advanced courses with their original class.  

• Why can't my child's friend at school join my child's class in JXC?

Depending on when your child started lessons, they have anywhere from 2-5 years of experience by the time they are in the Junior Extension Course (JXC).  Their friend at school is probably elementary aged, therefore, they would need to start in the New Young Musicians Course (NYMC) because they do not have any experience.

• Can my 4 year-old and 6 year-old be in the same class?

No - this is extremely important.  The reason that we are so particular about how old your child is when they start is because our courses are developmentally appropriate.  The 4 year-old is a preschooler - the pre-operational stage of child development.  The 6 year-old is in the next stage - operational.   In these two stages, there are vast differences in all the categories of development : mental, physical, emotional, and social.  I'll go more into these developmental stages in another post - just know that each of our courses are specifically designed for each developmental stage.

• I didn't start my older child until they were 6.  Shouldn't I wait until my younger child gets to that age?

No!  One thing that stood out as I looked at this chart was how much music your child can receive if they start early!  If your child starts at age 3 in Music Wonderland, they'll be in their third year of music lessons before an elementary aged child has even started.  We have noticed a depth of understanding in the children who have started in our Music Wonderland program.  It's one of our favorite courses to teach - to see the joy and excitement these tiny kids have when they get to go to "Music Wonderland" - it's like a real adventure!  Having siblings in different tracks can also make it easier not to compare one child to the next.  They'll get their very own songs - not the same as their older sibling.

Yamaha Music Educational System Course Chart 2012

What other questions do you have?  Post them below!