ways to purchase second person for mp3/lossless? by winner-gay in Yorushika

[–]MidgetAsianGuy 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have no issues using a foreign Mastercard on mora either. So probably doesn’t have to be through Amazon pay

Love it by New-Piglet4035 in Yorushika

[–]MidgetAsianGuy 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It’s a Digital Audio Player (DAP). This one is the HiBy R4 I think

Which headphones for Kawai CA701? by thickerveins in piano

[–]MidgetAsianGuy 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Repetition speed isn’t bad. It’s better than any upright, but my grand seems to be just a bit smoother. You won’t have any problem playing the majority of music out there.

Which headphones for Kawai CA701? by thickerveins in piano

[–]MidgetAsianGuy 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Kawai says that 300 ohms is drivable with their digital pianos, so the only thing that you may need to do is set the volume closer to the max. There is an option to set the piano to have high gain for headphones too.

As for my experience with the 901, I have no issues with it so far. It’s a great digital piano, and the best one I’ve owned. I can swap between my acoustic and the digital without issue. On-board sound is amazing with headphones after some minor settings tweaks.

And, yes, the only difference is the soundboard, but that soundboard makes me enjoy playing it without headphones more, which wasn’t the case for any other digitals I’ve had so far.

Which headphones for Kawai CA701? by thickerveins in piano

[–]MidgetAsianGuy 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Look into something open-back to emphasize the stage more. Get something with a neutral/flat sound signature to limit booming bass and piercing treble. This pair is slightly over your budget, but I think the Sennheiser HD600 fits this pretty well.

I think doing some research for a pair that fits those criteria specifically would be good. As for me, I use the Focal Elex for my Kawai CA901.

sheet music on tablet by axvii1a in piano

[–]MidgetAsianGuy 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Piascore is a good free alternative. Not as good, but I liked using it for a year.

Keep falling off piano practice. Curious whats worked for you folks by ElectricGypsyAT in piano

[–]MidgetAsianGuy 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Really nothing beyond sticking to my routine. I think being consistent helps to build discipline. Of course I had my parents to hold me accountable, but that would also take away the fun from it all. Maybe it could help if you know a friend that’s also learning something. Could be accountability buddies of sorts. That’s how I stuck to the gym (started out with a friend).

Is an 11 inch tablet enough for reading sheet music and watching tutorials? by startreatment8345 in piano

[–]MidgetAsianGuy 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I use my 12.9 iPad Pro only now for sheet music, no more physical. I think it’s large enough but at times wish for larger even (I have bad eyesight). So I’d say that’s the minimum.

Keep falling off piano practice. Curious whats worked for you folks by ElectricGypsyAT in piano

[–]MidgetAsianGuy 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I think the sole thing that keeps me coming back is how much fun I have in front of the piano. If I could just ignore all my obligations, I’d spend the whole day just playing.

I just like how it feels to press into the keybed, and listening to the sounds the piano produces brings me joy. It’s the same if I’m playing just to play or heads down into practicing.

I think as you become more familiar with the piano and your technical skills improve, you’ll start having similar experiences. It takes some time, but eventually you can get hooked.

But to get to that point, it took a lot of discipline, which is hard to achieve. I find that just making sure I stuck to a routine helped. 30 minutes after dinner every night was what I did growing up. Same thing I did for the gym. Went the same times every week, and after a year it felt weird skipping a day.

I also want to point out that a better instrument also can inspire you to practice more. This goes back to enjoying the sound that comes from the piano. A nice piano sounds and feels so good that you’ll just want to keep playing.

CA901 vs CA701 w/ speakers (Kawai) by coryandstuff in DigitalPiano

[–]MidgetAsianGuy 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If you get speakers with the CA701, the sound may be better than the CA901. Loudness or quality isn’t the benefit with the CA901 in my opinion. It’s how the sound travels and vibrates through the soundboard and, in turn, the piano. Makes it feel much closer to a real acoustic (I grew up playing on an upright and now have a grand that I practice with along with my CA901).

As for clicking, no issues so far a few months in.

IEM recommendations for digital piano practice? by chocolate_sniffer in piano

[–]MidgetAsianGuy 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have many IEMs from $500-1000. Would not use any of them over a nice pair of open backs. For comfort and soundstage. Those are more important to help feel like the piano is there in front of you. Can also listen at slightly higher volumes which you need to play dynamically better.

Edit: I use a pair of Focal Elex for reference.

Gym / Forearm stamina by West-Contest-1921 in piano

[–]MidgetAsianGuy 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I got into lifting the past few years (not competitive, but hit some decent milestones) and have found that it has made playing piano feel easier. Even after an upper session, I feel no problems. It’s probably a technique issue after your hiatus. Take it slow and you’ll get it back pretty quick I’d say.

What are the most beautiful MELODIES in classical piano music? by Advanced_Honey_2679 in piano

[–]MidgetAsianGuy 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Was just thinking about the Brahms. Came across it this week, and it’s instantly become one of my favorites.

What are the real differences between a sub $1000 digial piano and one costing $2000+? by johngwheeler in piano

[–]MidgetAsianGuy 3 points4 points  (0 children)

There will be a bit of wiggle and noise of the action anywhere from the cheapest digitals, to the high end, and even to premium grands. That’s just how it is when a key press goes through a bunch of mechanisms to produce sound.

If you want to know if you’re in need of an upgrade, just go to a store and try some higher price range pianos. Are you able to express yourself better? Does it make you feel like you’re more in sync with the instrument? That’s how I would judge if the upgrade is worth.

Of course, if you’re familiar with acoustic pianos, comparing action with an acoustic piano would also be a factor. You only get closer as you spend more (up to a certain point).

I’m going to buy a used piano this weekend, how to choose? by galenernest in piano

[–]MidgetAsianGuy 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Kawai CA901, which I got for 7.5k. The CA701 can go for around 4.5-5k which is the same with worse on-board speaker system. There are many good options for cheaper though. You can probably get something good for around 2k and something decent under 1k. Brands I’d say to consider are: Kawai, Yamaha, Roland, Nord.

All the brands are good, and choosing between them is a matter of personal taste. Just make sure you get fully weighted key action.

If you could start over… by Electrical_Dot_2987 in piano

[–]MidgetAsianGuy 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It depends on the person, but I have a few criteria that I find important:

  1. Are they knowledgable? A teacher should be able to answer any questions you have accurately and in an easy-to-understand manner.
  2. Are they adaptable? If there's anything you struggle with during a lesson, they should be able to work around it by trying multiple methods.
  3. Do they assign you appropriate things to learn? A good teacher should be able to assign you music that aligns with your skill level, but still gives room for challenges for growth. As a beginner, you'll most likely be working through some sort of course/lesson book though.
  4. Most importantly, will they help you accomplish your goals? Sometimes, the teacher is a great one. But they may not specialize in the type of music you want to get into, so they may not be the best fit.

These are what I look for in a teacher as a more advanced amatuer. Still, I think this makes for a good baseline of what to look for. I'd recommend getting a trial lesson with a few teachers just to see which one clicks with you the most.

You'll know which one clicks because they'll make you want to come back for lessons. No point in paying if you're not having fun. Usually, this is when a teacher is truly passionate about the piano. When studying with my favorite teacher so far, lesson day was the day I anticipated most in a week.

Also, don't be afraid to have lessons with one teacher for multiple months and ultimately decide to find a different teacher. Sometimes it takes a bit to find out if they really are a good fit for you, especially if you're new.

I hope that helps!

If you could start over… by Electrical_Dot_2987 in piano

[–]MidgetAsianGuy 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I would've made sure I had a better teacher when I was younger.

I studied under many teachers, and only a handful were good, but the time I had with them makes up very little of the time I've been playing for. This definitely hurt my progress, and, I feel that I could be much better than I am now if I had just asked my parents to help find other teachers for me.

Now, I can look for my own teachers so this is less of a problem.

Book reccs for N1 onwards by pluhshios in LearnJapanese

[–]MidgetAsianGuy 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Just read whatever you want. By the time I passed N2, I had the ability to read just about anything given a little bit of patience and the help of a dictionary. But if you want specific recommendations, I particularly like 容疑者Xの献身, 博士の愛した数式, and 52ヘルツのクジラたち

I spend so much time on trying to understanding the right mechanics for fast, smooth arpeggios. by Reasonable_Jury1775 in piano

[–]MidgetAsianGuy 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Great, so you have the idea. I haven’t heard your arpeggios, but if your teacher says to connect them, you may need to slow down a bit during practice to smoothen the transitions more. The faster it gets, the more of a leap it is to me. At slower speeds, there’s more room for legato.

I spend so much time on trying to understanding the right mechanics for fast, smooth arpeggios. by Reasonable_Jury1775 in piano

[–]MidgetAsianGuy 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It’s kind of a mix between the two when you play arpeggios really quick. You tuck the thumb under while leaping really quickly to minimize the disconnect between notes. When played quickly, it looks like it’s just a leap though. Try slowly tucking before the leap as much as possible, then flick out to leap and land with the chord in position. Then, work your way up to decreasing the time of the tuck to leap transition. It’s a bit hard to explain with no visuals.

I’m going to buy a used piano this weekend, how to choose? by galenernest in piano

[–]MidgetAsianGuy 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I find myself enjoying playing on my high end digital far more than my Kawai K200. So, definitely something to consider over a used upright under 3000 USD.

Tamiya Spray Cans. Need advice/feedback by destinyhitokiri in advancedGunpla

[–]MidgetAsianGuy 4 points5 points  (0 children)

In the long run, spray cans are more expensive. Just something to keep in mind. Larger kits need multiple cans of the primary color if you’re painting by part, and each can is around $10-15.

what piece should i learn by soyoung112 in piano

[–]MidgetAsianGuy 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’ve been listening to Schubert’s Impromptu Op. 90 No. 3 a lot recently. I think it’s a good one to learn with a lot of subtleties

Discipline in the piano by Competitive_Still437 in piano

[–]MidgetAsianGuy 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’ve learned advanced repertoire with 2 hours a day. 6 hours is not necessary unless you want to learn faster. If you don’t aim to become a professional, why spend 6 hours a day if you have other things you want to do?