Job Discussion Forums

[teflmonkey]

I'm soon off to Taipei, and unfortunately for some reason EVA airlines won't let me carry on my piano, because apparently it doesn't fit under a seat. I'm almost at capacity for weight allowances in my luggage, and so flying with a keyboard purchased at home isn't really an option. Also money is important to have after landing.

I haven't really been able to find out much information about the availability of musical instruments in Taiwan (at least in the English pages... looking around .com.tw pages with Babelfish I found many "Middle Ages pianos" and "mountain leaf good room round board." ). It's a matter of price. I don't have to have a grand or even an upright piano (in fact, that would be difficult to live with in a 1br or studio). But does anyone know what the market is like for, say, full size keyboards? Am I looking at dropping the Substantially Big Monies like here in the States, or are they cheaper? Obviously a lot of them come from Japan (Casio, Yamaha, etc.). Would one see them in electronics shops, Costco, or occasionally in night markets (priced at sketchily low value)?

For those who know more: I'm talking about an 88-key with at least somewhat realistic key weight and response. If I am long without the ability to practice (alone in my apartment. I'm very performance shy), I might die. I think it's a medical condition.

[TaoyuanSteve]

Music lessons for children are more popular here than in my country of origin. Therefore, musical instruments of all varieties are at least as available here as they are abroad. As for prices, I suspect you will pay somewhat less than back home. Knock-offs are more readily available.

[BigWally]

i have seen tons of keyboards at carrefour, dollars, sogo, etc, etc

[Taylor]

Hello Teflmonkey,

My wife bought a second-hand "electric piano" about 5 years ago in Kaohsiung. It was a Roland HP 1800E....imported from Italy some years earlier, I suppose.

She paid 17K for it. That's just under $500 USD. (I'm sure you could get something really decent for even less money.)

By the way, you can earn that much money in a week or so here. Best wishes.

Taylor

[mookieb]

Great topic!

I assume that knock-off guitars (acoustic/electric) are also readily available. Unfortunately, I'm leaving my babies in Canada.

[craigzy]

wait, taiwan doesnt have guitars?

[Aristotle]

I picked up a very nice seven string archtop guitar a few years back on a visa run to Makati for about 20 Euros. Electronic pianos and other digital musical instruments are readily available and about the same price as you will find in North America or the EU. Second hand equipment is remarkably cheaper here as the local Chinese population associate new and expensive with face and ability. Hence if you are using a second hand instrument you are not as good of a musician as someone with a shiny new one.
Please read this,
10 Steps to Success on Taiwan!
Good luck!
A.

[BigWally]

one of yamaha's main manufacturing plants for guitars is actually located in kaohsiung, you can get nice guitars here much cheaper than back home