It seems in recent years that the electric organ has become very
uncool in favour of smaller more modern looking keyboards such as the
Yamaha Tyros. It’s a shame because the organ can do everything a
keyboard can do and more. In my opinion, the organ is also more playable
as a live instrument. Because of the bass pedals, you can play the organ
without any auto chord or drum machine and get a very respectable sound.
The keyboard on the other hand would sound thin, definitely lacking
without auto chord/bass. Of course keyboards are considerably cheaper
than organs and take up less room and so has created a new generation of
keyboard players, some of which could never afford the hefty cost of an
organ and that’s got to be a good thing.
So is this the end for the electric organ. What could the organ
manufacturers do to rekindle the interest in organs? Well they were and
still are designed to be a piece of furniture. Great big lumps of wood,
which appeal to the older generation, which is why they have the
reputation of being an older person’s musical instrument. This need to
be changed so they appeal to all generations. The next major change has
to be the cost. A top of the range electric keyboard such as the Yamaha
Tyros would cost between two to three thousands pounds new. The top of
the range Roland Atelier organ will cost you in the region of twenty
thousand pounds new.
This change may have already started with new models from Yamaha with
the Yamaha D-Deck organ and the top of the range Yamaha Electone Stagea.
Both are portable and very modern looking. Unfortunately, there is not a
lot of information on these models unless you read Japanese. Yes, Yamaha
have decided there is no organ market in the UK, Europe or the USA. So
if you want one of these models you will have to import it yourself.
If you're reading this article, you must think you or someone you
know is too old to learn to play a piano, keyboard or organ or any
musical instrument for that matter.
So lets give you the quick
answer, "no you are not too old". Now I think I should actually
re-phrase the question, "Do I want to learn to play a musical
instrument?" If you can ask yourself this question, whatever age you
are, then you should be able to answer positively.
So let's assume you have reached retirement age and you are in
your sixties. Let's also assume you have some saving and a pension
and you need a hobby to fill up your time. You decide that you want
to learn to play a keyboard instrument. The next step is, do you
want to learn to play an arranger keyboard or electric organ.
If you want a new electric organ such as the Roland Atelier, its
going to cost you anything up to twenty thousand pounds. Having said
that, the organ market is all but dead in the UK, so there is a
thriving second hand market, and plenty of bargains to be had. If
you want an electric keyboard then you can buy one of these, brand
new with the latest technology for between two and three thousand
pounds. If you do go down the keyboard path then I would recommend
you buy an arranger keyboard such as the Yamaha Tyros, Ketron SD5,
Roland G70 or the Korg PA 800. Although there is some operational
learning with these keyboards, they are designed so you can start
playing the thing as soon as you take it out of the box.
Avoid workstation keyboards such as the Yamaha ES7 or the Roland
Fantom. These are fantastic keyboards but the learning curve for
these machines is very steep and if you are learning to play the
keyboard, you don't want to be spending all your time learning how
to operate the keyboard. Whatever instrument you choose I recommend,
you find yourself a music teacher. If you buy a keyboard or organ
from a music shop, they can certainly recommend a local teacher or
like many music shops provide keyboard lessons on the premises.
Learning music is about what you personally want to get out of
it. You might for instance want to learn to play one piece of music
or a book of music or just to see how far you can go. There are no
limits. You can learn at your own pace.
I have taught many older people that have said, "I wish I had
learned to play when I was younger" and "children can learn a lot
quicker" and "maybe I won't be able to learn at my age". Yes
children will pick things up a little quicker because that's the
nature of being a child, to learn new things everyday. Adults
however, are probably better at applying themselves to one
particular subject such as music.
Adults of any age, have less time to learn a musical instrument
but still have the ability to learn. So if you are between five
years old and a hundred and five years old and thinking whether to
get yourself a Yamaha electone organ or an arranger keyboard. Then
what are you waiting for, what have you got to lose. You won't
regret it I promise you.
