You just got a really nice piano keyboard, a small and lightweight keyboard with a ton of bells and whistles. Whether you already know how to play or not, you will need to set up the piano keyboard properly.
Today we will talk about how to set up your piano keyboard in terms of the physical setup, and we will also take a look at some of the main electronic functions which your piano keyboard may come with as well.
Setting Up Your Piano Keyboard – Hints and Tips
Let’s go over some of the basics in terms of setting up your piano keyboard. All these may be quite different, but they are all important and will come together for a much easier and more enjoyable keyboard playing experience.
The Right Room
The first step to properly setting up your piano keyboard is all about the location. You want to set the piano keyboard up in the right room, somewhere quiet and out of the way.
If you have a large family and lots of noisy children running around, it is a good idea to find a room in the house that is not often used, somewhere you can practice the piano in peace. There is nothing worse than trying to learn the piano in a room full of noisy people or frequent interruptions.
You also want to find a room that has quite a moderate and temperate climate. If the room is too hot, although it may not seem like it, piano takes a lot of effort, and this means that you will sweat. If the room is too cold, your fingers are going to be stiff. The room temperature should be ideal for playing piano.
Keep the Sun in Mind
Another tip to help set your piano keyboard up the proper way is to make sure that you place it in a good position in relation to the sun. You never want to set your piano keyboard up facing a window that gets a lot of sun.
Having the sun shining in your eyes as you are trying to read sheet music and hit the right keys is not going to be easy. You want to set the piano keyboard up with the sun at your back. This way you won’t be blinded by the light and the sun will illuminate your sheet music, making it easier to read.
The Stand and Height
Another important aspect of setting up your piano keyboard has to do with the stand position and its height. With electronic keyboards, you will usually get an stand that can be adjusted for height, unlike a regular acoustic piano which is not adjustable in this regard.
Seeing as piano keyboard stands are adjustable, taking the time to set it up properly is well worth it. First off, it is always a good idea to set the stand up on a soft surface, such as a carpet. This will help prevent the keyboard from wobbling in the event that you have an uneven floor. A carpet underneath the stand will also help dampen vibrations and cause less noise throughout the rest of the house.
However, the really important aspect of setting up the piano keyboard’s stand has to do with its height. Just like with writing on a computer keyboard; to be comfortable, your arms and hands need to have the right angle and positioning.
You want your elbows to be bent at a 90 degree angle, with your feet flat on the ground, and your forearms horizontal, and with those forearms being parallel to your upper legs. With your arms bent at a 90 degree angle, your hands should hover just above the keys. This will help prevent stressing your joints and muscles, and can help prevent fatigue and cramps from setting in.
MIDI, Headphones, and More
Sure, you can finish with the previous step and just start playing on your piano keyboard. However, these electronic instruments are usually quite diverse and technologically advanced, so you have more options at your disposal.
If you live in a loud house and you want some peace and quiet while playing, or you don’t want to disturb your neighbors, you may choose to connect headphones to the piano keyboard.
If the opposite is the case, and you want some serious volume, you may choose to connect the piano keyboard to a speaker or amplifier.
If you have a MIDI keyboard, which means that it can connect to computers and other devices, you can do this with the appropriate cables. MIDI keyboards really are cool, because you can connect them to computers and use software to assist you with your piano learning goals.
Conclusion
Setting up a piano keyboard is actually very easy. Choose the right location, set it up at the proper height, and then connect some headphones or your computer for a complete setup.
