I have an 88-key electric piano in my music room, but I get more use out of my Yamaha Pianica because it is next to me wherever I am in the house.
On it I can play a progression, play a melody, figure out a rhythm, spell scales and arpeggios, verify a transcription by ear, practice mental transposition, experiment with voice leading and inner voice movement, on and on.
So handy, no batteries, articulates like a woodwind... what's not to like?
BUT, it does not help me play sax better.
If your house has quiet hours, dry playing is pretty darn useful in my experience. Audiate the melody or exercise clearly in your head first and then hum it while you finger the notes on your horn. You can (should!) do this with a metronome--the quiet sound of pads closing will tell you if you are in the groove. And sometimes you can even get a quiet hint of pitch from the tube as pads vibrate it. If you DO work with a metronome, you can easily increase tempo and work productively on finger facility and efficiency.
On it I can play a progression, play a melody, figure out a rhythm, spell scales and arpeggios, verify a transcription by ear, practice mental transposition, experiment with voice leading and inner voice movement, on and on.
So handy, no batteries, articulates like a woodwind... what's not to like?
BUT, it does not help me play sax better.
If your house has quiet hours, dry playing is pretty darn useful in my experience. Audiate the melody or exercise clearly in your head first and then hum it while you finger the notes on your horn. You can (should!) do this with a metronome--the quiet sound of pads closing will tell you if you are in the groove. And sometimes you can even get a quiet hint of pitch from the tube as pads vibrate it. If you DO work with a metronome, you can easily increase tempo and work productively on finger facility and efficiency.
