I usually recommend electric pianos that simulate acoustic pianos the best. These have weighted keys. Here’s a link to one being sold on Craigslist in the Inland Empire area for $250: http://inlandempire.craigslist.org/msg/2042978114.html

Same instrument via Amazon used (from $420)
http://www.amazon.com/YAMAHA-DGX-500-Portable-Grand-Wooden/dp/B00018MSOW

Nik’s piano teacher would be a good source for recommendations on what instrument she/he recommends for him. The teacher might even be able to link you up with a source in your price range.

If the keys aren’t weighted, I wouldn’t spend a lot of money on it. You can get smaller electric keyboards for under $50. They are a temporary solution, but might be amount of investment you want to make until Nik demonstrates some longevity of interested. Here’s a small one on Amazon for $29 http://tinyurl.com/2eefs84

It’s really a toy, but might suffice for a bit.

feel free to contact me for advice about specific things you run across.

Dad

Steve,
Do you have a published “bio” of yourself? Or have you published any of your church organ music? It seems to me that you have a tremendous set of credentials. I am always impressed by your analytical approach to your art. Your music library is one that many in your field would be envious.
Ray

So I guess my “who is jupiter jenkins” page isn’t quite what you have in mind? http://jupiterjenkins.com/blog2/?page_id=2

Heh.

I have a few choral pieces published with morningstar press. they have this bio:
http://www.morningstarmusic.com/composers-jenkins-s.cfm

It’s out of date.

I do put up my music here on the website for others to use if they find a need to do so.

Thank you for your kind words of encouragement and recognition!

Do these musicians have other pursuits that provide income? It seems to me that when you travel, a lot, your ability to intellectualize anything decreases substantially. I have traveled extensively, away from family, comfort, rest etc. It is exhausting. I believe it is difficult to focus on fresh ideas when you are trying to maintain a travel schedule. So, “why fix the barn, if it doesn’t leak” may be their operative process while on tour. I haven’t heard their music, but this is a problem with popular styles of music. They eventually, become unpopular. Anyway, it is just a thought and my comments are really not that noteworthy.
Ray

Well I just had another thought. I think this new proposal to create a regulation Czar for the internet is a way to curb free expression. It is a disguise for regulation when you say “protect your confidentiality”. That is a load of Horse manure and Nothing in this area by government will be good for the people.
Wow, two thoughts in a day. Maybe I should go and rest a while. I am exhausted.

Since this group has won two grammys and is up for a possible third on the Jimi Hendrix CD, I speculate that they make a living. They also seem to have real lives with the people they love. The cellist talked about regularly playing music with his 22 year old son and also played a piece dedicated to his sister. So even though they do tour they don’t seem entirely out of touch with life. I was suggesting something else in my post. Namely that musicians (no matter what the style) can settle into comfortable understandings and practices that cease to grow and change. These men do not entirely fit this category since they have two new members who are from the generation of their children. Still, I wonder about how they see music. David Balakrishnan spoke about how he sees their work as American music (as opposed to the classical European understanding of music). I thought he made good sense about this. He explained understands of rhythm that come to American from Africa directly or via Spain or the Caribbean. I also thought he was on track here. Composers have a tendency to think about these things outside of categories. Balakrishan said that classical musicians have mixed it up with jazz musicians since the beginning of jazz. I know this. I also suspect that his definition of jazz and good music is closer to my own than many sitting in the room (prof or student). But that’s just a guess. Incidentally, all four the men in the group could play and improv in amazing ways. They are top notch players.

Regarding the Internet Czar I think that the freer the Internet the longer it will be remain useful and interesting.

I’m always interested in your ideas, dude. No need to apologize to me (if that’s who are apologizing to). : )

hello dad. usually dont air out dirty laundry, but i am very frustrated at some of my relatives. check ur email.

For what it’s worth, I can’t stand those BBC dramatisations either (apart from the original hitchhiker’s guide series).. They all sound the same – that over emotional, exasperating way of speaking…

I prefer the ones where it is one person doing all the reading. And even those vary in quality. Do you know “Dwarf Star”? The radio dramatization uses one of the original characters as the reader. He does voices but it’s not too bad.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.

Happy Turkey Day to you and yours, as well!

That’s a nice picture of you at the organ. Gee it looks like you got your hair cut and put on a suit. Is that really you?….. Just making fun..

Heh.

Depression is a difficult thing to to cope with and understand. My Mother had many episodes and was someone who would drink alcohol alone and would let out all of her angry emotions. I have some terrible memories of this. She was able to eventually overcome and manage it. I think sometimes it is about the weather and sometimes it is about money and it probably has more to do with brain chemistry. But whatever it is, just remember that involvement in daily routines helps maintain equilibrium. Besides, look in the mirror and say “YOU LOOK FABULOUS”. After all, you are just stating the truth.

Thank you for your kind words and support, dude. My depression is a life long companion and is not the clinical kind. If I tell the mirror, “You Look Fabulous,” I can’t help but sound a bit like a Billy Crystal character. That does make me smile…. Heh.

Make sure that you use the foreign accent when saying the words. It does help. I do it a lot.
Hey, the sun is shining here. Already better.

Try taking refined sugar out of your diet. I do notice a change in how I feel as a result. I have lost 40 lbs. since August 1. I still walk every day, but the change in diet has made a huge difference. As I said last week, “you look marvelous” or was it fabulous?…

Either way I still hear Billy Crystal talking to me. Congrats on your weight loss! Being a long time vegetarian I’m pretty aware of what I ingest. My unrefined sugar is usually mostly in my home made baked goods. My understanding anyway is that fructose (sugar in plants) is chemically the same as sucrose (unrefined sugar). But whatever works, dude.

Always enjoy reading your thoughts. I am about 40 miles to the East of you and we have very little snow and the sun is shining here. Who knows what the wind will bring you.

Thanks for the conversion website. I’ll see how well it does. I have numerous publisher files I’d like to be able to send to my secretary.