DEFINITION:

A digital piano is a modern electronic musical instrument designed to serve primarily as an alternative to a traditional piano, both in the way it feels to play and in the sound produced.
Some digital pianos are also designed to look like an acoustic piano.


HISTORY:
The history of digital piano dated back in the 1980s. The majority of digital pianos are manufactured by the Japanese and the Americans. The digital piano is different from the electronic keyboard in many ways; its action is much like the piano action, and the keys are weighted. The price of a digital piano can range from a few hundred to fifteen thousands dollars. One can also find digital pianos in the upright or grand shaped just like a regular acoustic piano. A few of the famous brands are Yamaha, Clavinova, Suzuki, and Roland.

KEY FEATURES:
1. Less costly than acoustic piano (there are some that are quite costly).
2. Maintenance free (you save money by not having to tune it)
3. Light and handy (this feature is especially beneficial to those that live in apartments.
4. Comes with headphone plug-in (reduce the noise interference).
5. Provides many accompaniments and different features which can enhance learning abilities for younger generations.
(because it comes with built in metronome as well as many attractive features such as recording abilities).
6. There is no handcrafting that goes into a digital piano - only computerised simulations and computerised exterior designs.
7. Depending on the digital piano, they may include many more instrument sounds including strings, guitars, organs, and more.

DIGITAL PIANO IN THE CLASSROOM
Music teachers all over the world can benefit from having this digitally altered instrument in their classrooms. They can use this device as a creative learning tool or they can use it in order to utilize time spent in classrooms. This device permits music teachers to spend more time interacting with students and less time sitting at the bench of the piano. This instrument allows a person to play and record a piece of music. Teachers are able to previously record a piece of music that they want to go over, this technique would seem especially helpful in Chorus and Vocal classes, and instead of being stuck at the bench throughout the entire class period they can walk around and assist their students. Chorus teachers can also use the digital piano during performances when there isn't a band available. However, more imporantly digital pianos can be used to assist students in fully attaining the National Standards for Arts Education music requirements and effectively and efficiently teach the elements of music performance and technology.

Music Ideas For Classroom

RESOURCES FOR FUTURE LEARNING

Digital Piano Tutorial

Roland Digital Piano

How To Play The Piano

The Basics of Piano

Music Styles of Roland Digital Piano

USEFUL LINKS FOR FUTURE TEACHING

http://www.musiceducationworld.com/index.html
This site has a downloadable .pdf file that offers 30 lessons integrating theory, aural,
listening and musical analysis through a practical framework of
keyboard lessons that encourage collaboration between students.
Lessons include developing aural skills, improvisation, musical
problem solving, research assignments and contextual theoretical
knowledge. There is also a teacher manual that allows for additional creativity
to be added to the lessons.

The Arts go to School
This site features an online edition of The Arts Go to School by David Booth and Masayuki Hachiya.
It offers great insight pertaining to how digital keyboards can enhance normal classroom lessons concerning math, science, and even foreign languages.

Virtual Keyboard
If you have only one keyboard in your class but several computers, this site will be great for the inclusion of more students in your lessons.
This online version of a keyboard offers features such as chord creation, alternate timbres, and drum/percussion beats.

How to Use MIDI
This site will give you step-by-step instructions on how to connect a digital piano to a computer using MIDI

How to Use Garageband
Once you have correctly set up the MIDI interface, this site will explain how to record songs and write music through your connected digital piano on Garageband.

REFERENCES
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_piano
http://www.giles.com/educatorforum/pianos_midi.htm