From the live class

How many keys do you actually need?

The keyboard Stephen plays costs about $400, and he gives an honest answer on 61 keys versus 88 — including what you genuinely lose.

Two questions come up in every class: what should I buy, and is the keyboard I already own good enough? Stephen answered both directly, and the answers are more forgiving than most people expect.

What he actually plays

The instrument in the class is a Roland FP10. He is asked about it repeatedly and answers the same way each time: about $400, and he highly recommends it. Used, they go for considerably less. It is not an expensive instrument, and it is the one you are hearing all class.

Is 61 keys enough?

Someone asked, having 61. His answer: yes — more than good enough. Then he corrects himself into honesty, which is the useful part. At 61 keys you are missing the bottom of the instrument, and there are songs where the bass is the whole feeling. He demonstrates it rather than describing it, dropping into the low notes of Crazy in Love so you can hear what is absent when they are not there.

So: 61 is fine and you will lose a little. 49 is fine too. He is not being polite about this — he started on a 25-key keyboard and stayed on it for his first two years.

The practical read: buy the biggest you can comfortably afford, secondhand is fine, and if what you have is smaller than ideal, it is not the reason you are not playing. Start on it.