Hi, I'm joining this forum as someone who started learning to play the organ at 5 years old. Since then I have owned and played a couple of keyboards, and in more recent years a digital piano on which I am self taught to a basic level. I will shortly be having to sell my piano due to space contraints in our house and replace it with something smaller and more easily movable. I am thinking along the lines of either a five octave portable piano such as Yamaha's Piagerro, or a conventional keyboard with split keyboard and auto accompaniment. I'm not asking for recommendations on specific makes and models as this is a question that's probably asked hundreds of times elsewhere on this site, but what are people's opinions on the type of instrument I should go for? On one hand I think a keyboard provides more flexibility, ie. used for chord based playing with the split keyboard. But is this kind of playing a little amateurish compared to a conventional piano keyboard played traditionally? I'm really not sure what to do but am open to suggestions and opinions!
Welcome to the forum. Don't know the Yamaha you're talking about. Hopefully you'll get some posts soon.
In my opinion, a good portable with auto-accompiniment etc etc gives you the flexibility down the track. Remember that they can still be used as a digital piano (you can set accompaniment and key split functions off) - but the thing you're most likely to miss is the key weight/action compared to a real piano on cheaper models. However, seeing as you started on organ, that might not be too much of an issue? Finally - the Yamaha Piagerro (NP-Vx series) IS one of those keyboard that has capabilities of auto-accompaniment, split keyboard etc..... it is more in the looks department (less "portable" than the PSR's for example) that it differs. The Y-man
