Genos and young musicians ?

[beykock]

I wonder if young musicians are buying the Genos ?

IMHO most young musicians prefer to play electronic piano's and / or synths.

Am I right or wrong ? 😯

Babette

[tramano]

Hi Babette

I think you are right. Have a look in YOUTUBE at the audiences of Yamaha demo sessions for the Genos at several music houses: No young men, no woman, only male enthusiasts beyond 60 yrs - like me    But, thats's OK, isn't it?

[Murat]

Although it really doesn't matter age-wise who buys a Genos but I have also noticed (in this forum and everywhere else) that specially the Genos and Tyros is owned by older generation - perhaps because they are wiser so I am happy to be a part of it all.

[andyg]

1) Genos is expensive for youngsters - it's what you aspire to as you trade up. Usually that means you've been playing quite a while.

2) I can't speak for other countries, and the UK does seem to be different to other countries, certainly the USA. We do have a lot of youngsters playing arranger keyboard. We have two exam boards over here offering proper, accredited exams for keyboard, we have lots of very good teachers who do know how to teach the instrument as it's really meant to be played (and some who sadly don't )

3) That means that, certainly from my own perspective, I've had, and still have, lots of students who have started on a little Casio or Yamaha PSR and as they've gone through the grades they've moved up to a bigger model. Most of them reaching Grade 3 and above have ended up with a PSR-S9xx model, with some parents happily splashing out on an S970! None have gone for a Tyros or Genos. An S9xx (or even a PSR3000) will handle anything up to Diploma level exams.

4) At some point, some of my higher level students might post some of their playing on the 'tube', and I guarantee that they'd blow most of the other stuff away! But I don't push them on this, it's up to them and their parents.

[Toril S]

Young people only talk about making music on the computer. When I talk warmly about my keyboards they just shake their heads and yawn!

[mikf]

Young people are largely interested in two kinds of music - playing in a band or creating EDM. Even if the Genos could feasibly be used arrangers are not first choice for either.

Mike

[travlin-easy]

Arranger keyboards, by and large, are much too expensive for younger people, yet they will quickly spend $800 for a smart phone. Additionally, young people tend to want instant gratification. Learning the ins and outs of an arranger keyboard takes years of dedication and hard work. Young people are not willing to spend that much time and effort on anything.

Gary

[rodrigo.b]

I wonder if young musicians are buying the Genos ?

IMHO most young musicians prefer to play electronic piano's and / or synths.

Am I right or wrong ? 😯

Babette

I'm 23 years old and I love arranger keyboards. The Genos is the keyboard of my dreams, I'm really in love with Genos.

[Joe H]

I play EDM on my S970.  It requires a certain technique to play EDM on an arranger which is well suited for the genre.  It's all about knowing how to use Multi Pads and registrations.  My article on Multi Pads can give anyone a good start, but there is more to learn. The biggest problem is a lack of content.  Yamaha does not produce EDM styles other than Pop styles.  I think they are figuring it out with the Montage. But there are many subsets of EDM just as there is with Rock and Roll, Country and even Classical.

Joe H

[beykock]

Thank you for your interesting replies.

I understand most of the arranger keyboard owners are
" older " people.

Does that mean most youngsters are not arranger keyboard buyers ?

Is this instrument too expensive for them or do they prefer other music instruments, more suitable for their genre of music ?

I think it is not only a financial problem.
It might be possible the personal computer ( + midi kb ) offers them much more possibilities to create " their " music.

Babette

[BogdanH]

My opinion on this, even I don't have a Genos 

I think most young (teenager) don't care much to learn playing keyboard. As mentioned above, they're more into cellphones and gadgets. The thing is, playing keyboard is needed to LEARN and PRACTICE, and younger people don't have enough long term patience -I've been young once 
It goes something like this, I believe:
18 years old.. "I'd like to play keyboard too, would be cool...". Pocket almost empty.." let me try this $120 thingy..". After a while (few months?) excitement fades "..one needs $2000 gear to play reasonable music.. I can't get much listeners having $120 ivories..  playing piano is for loners anyway.. darn good I didn't throw big money on that..".
Ok, there are young talents, but they're  exception and in minority. And yes, there are young enthusiasts who make a 2-3 man band and play at local events trying for career. Then family comes...
When older, one has behind all the rush and time pressure.. and wish to play (good or not so good) for his/her personal pleasure or to entertain family or close friends -without much ambitions behind. Most of us (darn, I don't really feel THAT old), had some instrument in past and now, having more time (and few $ aside), we would like to enjoy playing music .. it's a hobby we couldn't fully practice when we were (a bit) younger.

As for Genos.. well, one really need to justify it's price. I mean, Genos alone wouldn't make me better musician for sure. But there's also aspect of enjoying "the best" keyboard, which I can fully understand.
Just sharing my thoughts...
Greetings

[karl28]

I'm 42 so maybe not young young but have bought similar keyboards to gig with since I was 16. In them days I was using either a portable organ or Technics KN or Yamaha psr. A lot of people say that the Genos & Tyros keyboards aren't for pro gig use but trust me; they are. I've used them on cruise gigs, theatre work, and everything else and they are amazing. I've even had guitarist from an audience coming up to me tell me that the guitar sounds are better than theirs...
Yes they're a lot of money, but worth every penny.
That's my opinion :-)

[2112]

We have two exam boards over here offering proper, accredited exams for keyboard,

Can you name them? I'd love to be able to pass that information to my friends.

[andyg]

Can you name them? I'd love to be able to pass that information to my friends.

Sure: London College of Music. https://lcme.uwl.ac.uk/home

Trinity College: https://www.trinitycollege.com/site/?id=1051

Looking at the other UK exam boards with keyboard syllabuses, they do not appear to have UK Ofqual accreditation, something that I consider very important.

[mikf]

Arrangers are fun instruments and have helped a lot of people enjoy making music. And make a living. But it's wrong to paint a picture of them as some kind of 'ultimate' instrument. It's a musical tool. People rightly have their personal preferences and there are other great choices. Frankly if faced with a choice between my Grand piano and an arranger - even a Genos - there would no contest.
Mike

[valimaties]

In my country there are a lot of mini-bands (born over the night) . Most of them are born with young people. Most of them are based on a music genre which is 70-75% listen in our country (I didn't listen or sing, because I don't like it), a music genre named "Manea" - based on Indian and Turkey music, but is a lot modified. Those bands uses in most of cases Korg (PA3X and PA4X) because they share their sets (packs). We know that Korg did not launched a software to let the user to encode a set. Only Korg can do that. So they are free to share, even if someone sell his set, who buy set can easily sell that set with the same money to two or more people, to retrieve his money back, because as I said, the set is not encoded to a keyboard, is free to load in any keyboard.
But, I have some friends (not so old, 30-40 years old) which they changed their Korg keyboards with Genos, only for sound.

I say who has Genos and PA4X they have the perfect combination (as arrangers pack ).

Even if I like Genos more than PA4X, I think I will buy a PA4X too, because it has some things which will help me more than Genos.

Best regards,
Vali

[Graham UK]

I think most of the young generation first go towards an Electric Guitar.
I wish I had included Guitar when I took up reading music with the arranger. I'm still tempted !!!

PS.Early school days I played a mouth organ.

[Evilchris]

I'm 39yo and previously have tyros 1 to 5  and make gig from my 16yo 

[mikf]

One of the reasons that guitars are popular is because its a relatively easy instrument to get to a basic level and strum along with singing. Of course, it takes dedication like all instruments to get really good, but it's certainly an easy instrument to get started on, especially for a keyboard player.  When I was a teenager, and already a pretty competent piano player, the guitar really took off, Shadows, Buddy Holly, then Beatles etc. Electronic portable instruments were little known and very expensive. So I took up guitar, and was soon good enough to get by in a band.
So Graham, if you fancy it, you should have a go. Never too old, - you understand chords, and the biggest hurdle to get started is building the finger strength and skin layers to press the strings. Takes a few weeks of soreness!
mike

[beykock]

I think it is a bridge too far to say a guitar is an easy instrument. 😯

" Easy " instruments do not exist, IMHO.

It takes years before one becomes a good guitar player.

I agree the guitar is a very popular instrument.

Babette

[Toril S]

I gave up the guitar. Not easy😀

[panos]

I use the preset concert guitar  and also learn to combine the Guitarhero with other guitars!!
Wasn't that difficult to learn 
After all that was the reason I have bought a keyboard.

Tyros and Genos are expensive.Someone younger will choose something cheaper to play music.
If he/she chooses to focus on keyboards and not just piano playing and knows what keyboards can do.
Which I don't believe most musicians really know and don't realise what is the feeling of being able to play a combination of instruments LIVE!

[Toril S]

It is so fantastic! I have a whole orchestra at my fingertips. Arranger keyboards are heaven sent!

[Keyboardplayer]

I was 27 when I bought the Genos. But indeed, I do consider myself as an exception in terms of age compared to the average Genos player. For Genos in particular, costs probably play a major role. There are also more affordable models though when talking about arranger keyboards in general.

One of the reasons why I stream on YouTube on a regular base is related to my 'quest' to make arranger keyboard more attractive for a younger (read: similar to my age) audience. I do this by simply showing what it can do and how it sounds in all genres. I believe I'm not that successful yet, but if at first you don't succeed, try, try again 

[dman68]

I was 27 when I bought the Genos. But indeed, I do consider myself as an exception in terms of age compared to the average Genos player. For Genos in particular, costs probably play a major role. There are also more affordable models though when talking about arranger keyboards in general.

One of the reasons why I stream on YouTube on a regular base is related to my 'quest' to make arranger keyboard more attractive for a younger (read: similar to my age) audience. I do this by simply showing what it can do and how it sounds in all genres. I believe I'm not that successful yet, but if at first you don't succeed, try, try again 

You sir, are a wonderful musician. I have viewed quite a few of your videos and am subscribed to your channel. I am always mesmerized at your performances.  Very good job young man. 

[mikf]

" Easy " instruments do not exist, IMHO.

Easy is a relative term Babette. Of course no-one is  going to become Jimi Hendrix or Eric Clapton in a few months, but knocking out simple Cliff Richard and Buddy Holly songs to sing along level.. not that difficult. Just got to stick with it through the pain.
Mike

[Styles2psr]

I was 27 when I bought the Genos. But indeed, I do consider myself as an exception in terms of age compared to the average Genos player. For Genos in particular, costs probably play a major role. There are also more affordable models though when talking about arranger keyboards in general.

One of the reasons why I stream on YouTube on a regular base is related to my 'quest' to make arranger keyboard more attractive for a younger (read: similar to my age) audience. I do this by simply showing what it can do and how it sounds in all genres. I believe I'm not that successful yet, but if at first you don't succeed, try, try again 

You're one of the best musician on Youtube, and for those who don't agree....go clean your ears.

You've got PM.

Regards, Jan,

[khudson7]

I was 27 when I bought the Genos. But indeed, I do consider myself as an exception in terms of age compared to the average Genos player. For Genos in particular, costs probably play a major role. There are also more affordable models though when talking about arranger keyboards in general.

One of the reasons why I stream on YouTube on a regular base is related to my 'quest' to make arranger keyboard more attractive for a younger (read: similar to my age) audience. I do this by simply showing what it can do and how it sounds in all genres. I believe I'm not that successful yet, but if at first you don't succeed, try, try again 

Joost,your age mathematically, is about the same as mine.  (Your age x 2.5 = mine). I REALLY do hope you are very successful in your 'quest'.  Although I may not be in your target age group... , I listen to and have been extremely impressed with your amazing talent and knowledge of the Genos.  Thank you SO much for sharing you impressive talent.

May I ask...How long have you been playing?  Do you play professionally?  How long ago did you start with arranger keyboards?  What did you use before that? 

Sorry, I know these may be personal questions, and you can ignore them if you wish.  But I am just so impressed with your talent, I hope to play just like you, someday,...when I grow up!

Regards,
Ken

[dman68]

Your age mathematically, is about the same as mine.  (Your age x 2.5 = mine). I REALLY do hope you are very successful in your 'quest'.  Although I may not be in your target age group... , I listen to and have been extremely impressed with your amazing talent and knowledge of the Genos.  Thank you SO much for sharing you impressive talent.

May I ask...How long have you been playing?  Do you play professionally?  How long ago did you start with arranger keyboards?  What did you use before that? 

Sorry, I know these may be personal questions, and you can ignore them if you wish.  But I am just so impressed with your talent, I hope to play just like you, someday,...when I grow up!

Regards,
Ken

Amen on the 2.5 multiplier assuming you used age 27, as i'm closer to 2.54x  heh, heh

Anyhow, that young man is amazing

[Keyboardplayer]

You sir, are a wonderful musician. I have viewed quite a few of your videos and am subscribed to your channel. I am always mesmerized at your performances.  Very good job young man. 

You're one of the best musician on Youtube, and for those who don't agree....go clean your ears.

You've got PM.

Regards, Jan,

Thank you 

Joost,your age mathematically, is about the same as mine.  (Your age x 2.5 = mine). I REALLY do hope you are very successful in your 'quest'.  Although I may not be in your target age group... , I listen to and have been extremely impressed with your amazing talent and knowledge of the Genos.  Thank you SO much for sharing you impressive talent.

May I ask...How long have you been playing?  Do you play professionally?  How long ago did you start with arranger keyboards?  What did you use before that? 

Sorry, I know these may be personal questions, and you can ignore them if you wish.  But I am just so impressed with your talent, I hope to play just like you, someday,...when I grow up!

Regards,
Ken

Amen on the 2.5 multiplier assuming you used age 27, as i'm closer to 2.54x  heh, heh

Anyhow, that young man is amazing

To just quote a famous aphorism: 'Age is just a number'

I've been playing since I was 7/8 years old. I started with arranger keyboard and eventually switched to pop/jazz piano when I was 18 years old. My keyboard teacher was a very good church organist, so all my classical inspired improvisations are mainly inspired by his lessons. I do not play profesionally, I'm the archetype of a home enthousiast 

Best Regards,

Joost