Music Factsheet 8: Use of electronic pianos or keyboards in examinations

Introduction
There are three main types of keyboard instruments on the market – acoustic pianos, digital pianos, and electronic keyboards:

• Acoustic piano: this is a ‘normal’ piano, where the sound is produced by the mechanical action of felted hammers striking strings 
• Digital piano: this imitates an acoustic piano in a number of respects – it usually comes with a solidly-constructed stand, internal speakers, built-in pedals, a full-length keyboard with weighted keys, and a bank of sounds sampled from real pianos. 
• Electronic keyboard: This term is sometimes used in a general sense to refer to any non-acoustic keyboard instrument, including digital pianos. However, it most often means a portable keyboard – possibly with no stand, pedals or internal speakers, and with non-weighted or only semi-weighted keys  - which has a large bank of electronic sounds and samples for use mainly in popular music.

For examinations, only the types 1 and 2 are acceptable, with the exception of Pre-Primary in Dance & Primary in Dance, where electronic keyboards may be used.

SPECIFICATIONS CHECKLIST FOR DIGITAL PIANOS
Since the terms ‘digital piano’ and ‘electronic keyboard’ are sometimes used interchangeably, you should always check that the keyboard you are hiring or buying has the following features. 

• An 88-note keyboard (also called a ‘7½ octave’ keyboard) 
• Full-size, velocity-sensitive, weighted keys 
• Two pedals, ‘soft’ & ‘sustain’.  These should ideally be screwed firmly into the piano stand, but if the only available keyboard has stand-alone pedals, these must be taped securely to the floor after consultation with the pianist as to their optimal position. 
• Internal speakers
• Piano sound should be used for all examinations except Pre-Primary in Dance & Primary in Dance (where non-piano sounds are, on the contrary, encouraged).

Digital pianos: pros and cons. 

• Never need tuning
• Easy to move
• Low-maintenance
• Quality of the sampled piano may be better than an affordable acoustic piano
• Can be used for other purposes, such as sequencing, playback, or use with a computer 
• Auxiliary outputs can be plugged into speaker system, or used to record directly from piano to tape/hard disk with no ambient noise

Cons:

• No resonance through the floor, and an unnatural sound, since no piano is ever perfectly in tune
• Gradations of tone and attack, and the ability to sustain notes over a long period are limited by comparison to acoustic pianos
• Technology can become obsolete or unfashionable, leading to quick depreciation in resale value 
• If affected by a power-cut or water damage, the whole instrument is usually affected 
• A surfeit of gadgets and functions on digital pianos can be confusing or difficult to control

How much is a digital piano?
The new price of digital pianos can be anywhere between around £500 to £10,000 depending on features, finish and size. You can get a very acceptable piano for under £1,000  - the highest prices are for digital grand pianos with real wood casing. Some of the leading brands in this market are Yamaha (Clavinova range), Roland, Casio and Kawai, though always check retailers, professional musicians and magazines and catalogues for the latest information.

What are rent-to-buy schemes?
Many piano dealers operate rental schemes, or ‘rent-to-buy’ schemes where you can rent a piano with the option to buy it after a certain period, usually between 6 months to two years.  If you proceed with the purchase, the rental you have paid is then deducted from the retail price of the piano.

Remember to buy seating
Ideally, get an adjustable piano stool/bench. If this is not available, then a chair (without armrests) of roughly the correct height and some cushions will probably be acceptable. Check with the pianist in advance, since if they know that you don’t have adequate seating, they might opt to bring their own.

Terminology
It's a good idea to familiarize yourself with the technical terms used in this field before visiting a showroom or consulting a catalogue. Dealers sometimes try to promote products on the basis of features that won't be relevant to your particular needs, or if they may underplay the importance of features (such as a full length keyboard, or fixed pedals) which are vital to your context.

AFTERTOUCH:  Some electronic keyboards allow the player to alter the sound made by the instrument by pressing harder on the key after the initial depression.  This is called ‘aftertouch’. It is not required for examinations.
AUX OUT: A digital piano with internal speakers usually has an ‘aux out’ (short for auxiliary out) connection consisting of two phono sockets (left & right) so that the keyboard can be played through a hi-fi system rather than through the internal speakers. 
MIDI-COMPATIBLE:  MIDI stands for ‘Musical Instrument Digital Interface’ and is the technology by which electronic instruments and computers are able to communicate with each other. Most electronic keyboards come with MIDI sockets (5-pin DIN plug shaped) fitted as standard.  For examinations, pianos do not need to be MIDI-compatible, but if you're going to buy an electronic keyboard at all, it is worth buying one that can be connected to a computer.
MOD WHEEL or MODULATION WHEEL: A wheel on the left-hand side of some keyboards which can alter the sound produced by the instrument while the note is still playing, such as vibrato, or volume for example. Not needed for examinations.
PEDALS: Two (or sometimes three – see SOSTENUTO and PRACTICE PEDAL) metal levers fitted in the bottom of the piano which alter the sound produced. For examinations, you only need the two standard ones, the SOFT or DAMPER pedal, and the SUSTAIN or SUSTAINING pedal. Broken sustain pedals must be repaired before examinations – it is almost impossible to play a piano without one. 
PITCH BEND WHEEL: A wheel on the left-hand side of some keyboards which can be used to change the pitch of the note while it is still playing. Not needed for examinations.
PRACTICE PEDAL: A pedal found on some upright pianos, fitted between the soft & sustain pedals, which can be locked in the ‘down’ position.  When depressed, it places a strip of felt between the hammers and strings, so that the sound is reduced by about 80%. 
SAMPLES/SAMPLING: Samples are recordings of real instruments which are then stored inside an electronic instrument to be re-triggered by the keys. Although this seems straightforward, there can be vast differences in quality between the samples on one keyboard and another.
SEQUENCER: This is a form of recording system which is sometimes built in to electronic keyboards, when it is called an ‘onboard sequencer’. It enables the player to record while they are playing, and then edit the resulting track (e.g. copy, paste, delete, or repeat it) or add other tracks on to it.  Alternatively, keyboards are often used (via MIDI, q.v.) with  SEQUENCING SOFTWARE on a computer to do the same thing. Well-known sequencing programs include Cakewalk, Steinberg Cubase, Emagic Logic and Propellerhead Reason. You do not need a sequencer for exams – but they can be very useful for recording and playing back exercises.
SOSTENUTO PEDAL: A third pedal, situated between the soft and sustaining pedals,  seen on some pianos, but not a standard feature.  It is only rarely required or used by pianists, and not necessary for examinations. Not to be confused with a PRACTICE PEDAL
SOUND BANK: A store of sounds held in the ‘memory’ of an electronic instrument.
USB MIDI: See MIDI above. The standard for MIDI connections used to be a 5-pin DIN plug, but in recent years, it has become common, and a lot more convenient, for keyboards to have a USB socket so that they can be connected by computer directly, without the need for an 'interface' between the keyboard and the computer.
VELOCITY-SENSITIVE: Put simply, this means that if you hit a keyboard softly, it will play a quiet sound, and if you hit it harder, it will play more loudly. Some electronic keyboards are not velocity-sensitive, or only to a moderate degree. For examinations, velocity-sensitive keyboards must be used.
WEIGHTED KEYS: On a real (i.e. acoustic) piano, the keys operate a lever and hammer system (the ‘action’) to strike the strings, which means that they offer a certain amount of resistance to the hand when they are pressed.  On digital pianos, where no such action is present,  this resistance is artificially reproduced by weighted keys which offer a similar sensation to the pianist.  Some electronic keyboards, on the other hand, have only a basic spring-back action and little resistance, making them unsuitable for playing piano repertoire.  Only keyboards with weighted keys are suitable for examinations.