Irish Piano Tunes and Accompaniment

Here are a few things you need to consider:

a) The feel of the keys – keyboards come with light keys, semi-weighted and fully weighted – coupled with the sound of the samples (the keyboard’s instrument sounds), this will be a key factor in price range also. Weighted keys with good hammer action tend to be heavier keyboards, more suited to home or stage use. If you are using a keyboard for the purpose of Irish music sessions, semi-weighted is recommended.
b) Built-in speakers – usually a primary indicator of keyboard purpose and price. Keyboards with built-in speakers tend to be those on the lower to mid-end of the scale and for home/session use.
c) Purpose – for home use, I would recommend digital pianos (not portable) or mid-level to stage quality keyboards. If you are a complete beginner, you can get a lower entry-level keyboard to test the water before upgrading to a mid-level keyboard.
d) Sounds / Samples – if you are an intermediate to proficient player, you might want to consider a keyboard that is not just for piano samples. Stage keyboards now come with great instrument samples – strings, pads and synths, if used subtly, can be effective to accompany slow airs and songs, etc.
e) Portability – keyboards vary greatly in weight. If you’re using it for sessions, I recommend mid-level keyboards, they tend not to be heavy and have built-in speakers as well as semi-weighted keys – perfect for sessions.

For session use, I recommend the Roland FP30. For home use, most digital pianos with weighted keys perfect for practising. The price point is excellent and it has a great feel to the keys. The piano sound is fine – you could spend far more on something similar or slightly better but this will be just as good for session use.
The Korg Vintage SV1 also has a great sounding piano, plus weighted keys and would rest in between mid-to-high in terms of price point (it does not have built-in speakers, however).
For stage use, I use Nord Stage EX, the newest model of which is the Nord Stage 2. For me, it has everything I need (I would use the library of samples for stage use, not just ‘piano’). It’s a great sounding piano and the key action is good. It is on the higher end in terms of price but definitely not as expensive as some other more heavy-duty stage keyboards.

For something as rare as Irish traditional music played on the piano – geographical location is your biggest enemy. You can find a local piano teacher but it’ll be much harder to find a local Irish music piano teacher. Online learning has the benefit of giving you access to this and learning in your own time. For a far more reasonable price, you have access to a range of tunes, techniques and tips. Learning from a teacher in-person will always be the most effective way to understand and discuss what is being taught and to see first-hand what you are learning but this is not feasible for most. Thus online learning is a really practical and affordable alternative for the global audience interested in learning from genuine Irish music teachers.

Ideally, you should aim to practice every day. Even if you don’t want to sit down to learn something new, you should play something you already know. The truth is the more you play, the more comfortable you will become with your instrument and the more you will develop your own style of playing. After a while, you will discover that things will start to come more naturally to you and you will eventually come up with ornamentation that is original to you. OAIM’s Play-Along Backing Tracks is a powerful resource. You have access to over 150 Irish music tunes that you can regulate the speed of and play along with, well worth the subscription fee. With such choice, your practice sessions become fun and enjoyable rather than work.

If there happens to be a piano in the session not being used and if you are a good player, just simply ask to play. The unfortunate thing is that if you are a piano player with a keyboard, it’s really hard to join in on a session that has already begun: (1) There’s no issue if you were there from the start and you can join in with the set up (2) Or you know the musicians and they make the room for you to join.
Sessions really can be a minefield when you’re not playing with people you know. Some people might even be prejudiced against keyboards. Keep the keyboard volume at a level that is on par with other instruments so you don’t overpower them. Finally, my advice is to organise your own sessions with friends, that way you build camaraderie, you’re there for set-up with the keyboard in place and ultimately you’re spreading the joy of Irish music.
Enjoy!