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Hello all - New to the forum.

I'm nearly 40 and a middle manager type. I grew up with a piano in the house but never learned to play (my dad was and is excellent). I did half heartedly learn trumpet in fifth and sixth grades, then quit. Then came college and a jazz class - oh wow, I loved it. I learned that I loved jazz piano and have a huge CD collection by Tyner and Guaraldi and Evans, but still didn't learn piano.

This Christmas my wife surprised me with a $100 Casio keyboard from from Target. It had MIDI so I ordered the EMedia beginner's software and started in right after Christmas. I'm on lesson 150 something and just about to start learning chords.

I love it - I spend at least a half hour a day at it. My goal is to be able to play the "Great Pumpkin Waltz" by Guaraldi (my favorite) in the EASY piano Peanuts book I bought (not quite easy for me yet, but soon!) If I stick with it and get to the point where I can play most "easy" arrangements I may buy a Yamaha P105 or something similar and may eventually take lessons after EMedia intermediate.

Glad to find the forum, most of you are WAY ahead of me, and can probably be of great help if I need it. Thanks in advance!

Welcome to the forum, Guaraldi Fan!

Your goal is eminently reachable, especially if you continue your excellent habit of consistent daily practice. I'd encourage you to look into upgrading to a keyboard with weighted keys sooner rather than later, though; it will make the transition much easier than if you get used to your current setup.

Welcome and congrats!

Hi, GF, and welcome to the ABF!

I'll second Monica's comments: Upgrade to a full size (88-keys) keyboard with weighted keys sooner rather than later, and keep up the daily practice. You will, indeed, find plenty of help and support for your piano journey. Again, nice of you to join us.

Welcome Guraldi Fan, glad you are enjoying your journey you seem to be well organisd...must be the manager in you lol. As a P105 owner I can recommend it but perhaps listening to too many good pianos here I had to upgrade the sound and now play it through a VST (Galaxy Vintage D)

Welcome! Don't be concerned with how hard the "easy" stuff looks. Jazz is some hard stuff. As long as it makes a little more sense every day, you'll get there.

That's the beauty of MIDI, you can focus on how the keys feel and not worry about how the keyboard sounds. Another option is to get a MIDI controller, basically a remote control. You can usually get weighted keys at a fraction of the price. Then get a nice piano plug in. Less expensive than an actual Steinway D.

Hi Guaraldi Fan, and welcome to PW.
Your discipline in playing every day is a very good sign! Have fun!

PS: Sooner or later you'll buy another keyboard. Believe me