My Keyboards Blog

by Alfred
(Middle Village, NY)

Dear Forum Members: I am submitting the following encouraged by Mantius’ invitation to

blog on keyboards. This thumb nail history is offered in the hope it may encourage you to keep striving for improved performance whether for personal, or professional objectives.

I own three “keyboards”, a Yamaha DK 40 C Electone Spinet, a Casio CTK 611 and a Yamaha PSR E 403.

I am self-taught (do not read music) and have been “playing” by ear since January 1978 when I purchased my Yamaha DK 40C Spinet from a music store when I was living in Florida. This unit has never given me any serious problems other than three changes of its Fuses.

(The fact that this Yamaha product has served me so well over the years most definitely influenced my choice of my third keyboard, the Yamaha PSR E 403).

In 1999 I purchased my Casio CTK 611 Keyboard for $200.00, after having been quite impressed with its features. It has some very fine Rhythm-Accompaniment styles, and I still play it often.

In 2008 I bought my Yamaha PSR E 403 for $220.00 through a Music Store listing on Ebay. This purchase was made after considerable research. The versatility and myriad features of this keyboard make it an outstanding unit for a “newbie”, or “half-baked” performer (like me) looking for self-improvement.

I play solely for personal entertainment. All three of my keyboards are piped through an external Philips Stereo System and they keep me “afloat on cloud 9” every day.

The Owner Manuals for the three units above leave much to be desired. That for the DK 40 C was short & sweet (6-page fold-out), and therefore proved to be easy to understand. However, I am in the process of “editing” (really re-writing) the manuals for the Casio and the newer Yamaha. I find the original texts to be nothing short of abominations. (No logical continuity, PP editing and PP translations from original language. Above all, needless confusion for any beginner!!!). This ending on a “sour note” is assuaged only by the delightful music one is able to coax out of these keyboards once the “Texts for Dummies” is understood.

Peace!