Jean Galea

Health, Wealth, Relationships, Wisdom

Learning to Play the Piano

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learning the piano

I’ve always been hugely into music and dreamed of playing instruments as a young kid. However, for some reason or another, I never went for any classes in a serious way when I was young. I did learn basic guitar which I enjoyed, but never practiced enough to do anything with it. The piano is also much more versatile and enjoyable to play alone versus a guitar. So as a young adult I took some music theory and piano lessons that I enjoyed, but again life got in the way. I do remember having a little wooden toy piano that I definitely used a lot when I was just a few years old, and had a wooden flute, toy air piano, xylophone and harmonica. I loved playing around with them but that was as far as I got.

As I approach my 40s, I’d like to take another serious shot at this. Moreover, I now have two young kids, and I am fully appreciative of the positive impact music education can have on their development. I want to set the example and hopefully they can also learn alongside me.

So, to start off, I need a digital keyboard that feels as close to a piano as possible, and a piano teacher or online learning platform.

This post will serve as my notes for these two tasks.

Best Beginner Keyboards

I focused my research on portable keyboards, as they take the least space, are easy to move around and probably easier to sell when the time comes, or if my plan doesn’t work out.

Next, it’s time to consider brands.

General consensus among piano teachers and players is that you should not go off-brand when buying a piano. There are a number of long-established brands that you are probably familiar with:

  • Yamaha
  • Roland
  • Kawai
  • Casio
  • Korg
  • Nord

Anything beyond these household names is considered off-brand. Some examples are Alesis and Donner. There are many others, typically Chinese manufactured and designed to look good, but with important flaws.

Weighted keys are essential for learning proper technique, so prepare to spend €500 and upwards as that’s where decent weighted keyboards start at.

The reasonably priced Casio CDP-S100 but watch the Youtube reviews by “Piano4ever” (James Pavel Shawcross) who is scathing about the mismatch in weight between the white and lighter black keys on Casio digital pianos. You might also want to find comparative reviews to hear the sounds of this one against things like Yamaha P45 and Roland FP-10. It may be a matter of personal choice but the Casio does not seem to sound that great compared to others – possibly too “tinny” (which some might call “bright”)

Going up the scale (!) the Yamaha P45 is somewhere above the Casio. A lot of reviewers have quite nice things to say about P45 but it’s not a “modern” design and is perhaps getting a little bit long in the tooth.

The most sensible choices for a beginner that wants a quality setup:

  • Roland FP-10 (€400)
  • Roland FP-30X (€670)
  • Yamaha P45 (€422)
  • Yamaha P125 (€600)
  • Kawai-ES110 (€600)
  • Casio PX S-1000 (€500)

Out of these the Roland FP-30X was the best choice for me. The FP-10 is better than the Yamaha P-45, while the FP-30X improves on the FP-10 for a slight increase in price. The speakers at this price point from Casio, Yamaha, and Korg don’t match up in this department.

If we compare the Roland FP-30X with the Yamaha P125, the Yamaha loses out on key-action as well as bluetooth connectivity, the latter being a big issue for me. The Yamaha P125 does seem to be slightly better sounding though. If you tweak the sound qualities, the FP-30X sounds just as good as the P-125. The speakers fire downward and fill up the room a little bit better. It is also the newer model of the two.

The number of sounds available wasn’t a big consideration for me, since these can typically be expanded either by connecting via MIDI to a VST, or by using companion apps that these makers provide. For example, with the Roland FP-10 you get 15 built-in sounds that can be selected using Function+keys. However, if you run the Piano Partner 2 app which connects to the piano with Bluetooth you actually get to select between 35 instruments.

With Roland’s SuperNATURAL Piano technology and the same expressive 88-tone PHA-4 Standard keyboard as the premium model FP-60X, the FP-30X is the perfect home instrument for Beginner players.

Finally, the Roland FP-10 and FP-30X are easy to sell as they are extremely popular among beginners. At worst you would lose a couple hundred euros, lessening the risk of such a purchase considerably.

I would have considered the FP-10 versus the FP-30, where it not for the fact that the FP-30X is a new model that improves in some significant ways on the FP-30, while the FP-10 does not have a corresponding new model.

My favorite keyboard for looks and features, on the other hand, is the Casio PX-S7000, but I would buy this further along the journey as it’s much more expensive and has features that are not necessary at the very early stages. It does look beautiful though, and I especially like the stand that comes with it.

Keyboards for Kids

Since I want to involve my kids in my learning process, I did some research on instruments/toys that might be ideal to get them interested as well.

Here are the best I found:

Korg tinyPiano (€200)

The tinyPiano is part furniture, part introductory piano, and part toy. Definitely on the expensive side, but the reviews are great.

Yamaha Remie (€60)

The best intro instrument, since it has quiz mode and lots of sounds (animals, horns etc) that can keep even the little ones entertained.

Yamaha PSS-F30 (€60)

Great for those kids who already know how to play a bit and want to have some fun with the in-built sounds and accompaniments.

Learning

For learning, Pianote is a good way to start, atlhough you will want to eventually find a good local teacher. There are also several books that you could try, and if you have a Skillshare membershi there are a few courses available.

Here are some resources I’ve been using:

I’ll update this post with progress, but if there are any other adult musical instrument learners out there, I’d love to hear about your experience.

Best Toys for Kids – What My Children Love Playing With

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When choosing toys for your kids, it’s important to consider their interests, abilities, and developmental stage. Look for toys that are age-appropriate, safe, and durable. Avoid toys with small parts that could be choking hazards for younger children, and be sure to read the labels and instructions to ensure that the toy is suitable for your child.

Here are the toys that my kids enjoyed the most:

Newborn to 2 Years

For the early years we were very inspired by the Montessori method of teaching, which also incorporates a certain style of toys. In this method toys are mostly made of wood, are educational and tend to have pleasant colors rather than the garish colors seen on some plastic toys.

While we opted to keep our children home for the first 3 years of their childhood, we opted for hiring a qualified tutor who would come home every day to educate them and thus guide them in their early education and play. Hiring the tutor was one of the best decisions we’ve made with our kids, especially after I saw how many cheaper nannies treated the kids when out and about in Barcelona.

I personally dislike the cheap sounds many Chinese toy sets make and have therefore stayed away from them. Both kids were never really big fans of soft toys, and we ended up being gifted a bunch of those that just lay about unused.

We put a strong emphasis on art and physical dexterity as well, so I bought a collection of different balls for them to play with, which they used extensively. For the art aspect, we bought a multitude of coloring books, plain drawing paper, and various painting media such as watercolors, crayons, pencils, chalk etc.

2 Years Onwards

From around 2 years of age onwards, I started to really enjoy building with my son. I found this really enjoyable as I rekindled my lost love for building things with my hands and experimenting with electronics. I was a huge Lego fan as a child, but later on I shifted entirely to playing computer games and forgot all about building physical objects.

Some of the sets in the list are recommended for much older kids, but I have found that if you have the time to play with kids, you can do some really advanced things. You’ll just need to find the most appropriate way to get them involved, and more importantly, make sure that they are not harmed by incorrect usage of the toys (e.g. swallowing small parts, or injuries due to unsupervised play with electronic parts like motors, batteries etc).

You also need to take into consideration the differences in character and interests between kids. My son displayed an amazing capacity to concentrate for longer periods right from a very young age, whereas my daughter had more of a wild streak so it was easier to do more physical play with her rather than tasks requiring a lot of sitting down and thinking. This diversity was also great for me as I got to explore more activities rather than simply repeating the same things with both kids.

While as a parent it’s a good thing to strive for a sense of equality between kids, for most people it is simply natural to be more interested in doing things the first time around, hence the first child has an advantage. On the other hand, parents tend to experience a sensation of being much wiser in their behavior around the second kid onwards, and may also have gotten rid of that over-protection instinct or unhealthy fear of the child getting hurt in some way or another. This usually works to the advantage of the younger siblings as they get a bit more freedom. All this to say that each kid’s experience and your interaction with them as parents will necessarily be different.

The Montessori Method

Montessori is an educational approach that was developed by Italian physician and educator Maria Montessori in the early 20th century. It is based on the belief that children are naturally curious and capable learners who are driven to explore and discover their environment.

In a Montessori classroom, children are given the freedom to choose their own activities and work at their own pace. The environment is carefully prepared to allow children to learn through hands-on exploration and discovery. Materials are designed to be self-correcting, so that children can learn through trial and error without the need for explicit instruction.

The Montessori approach emphasizes the importance of developing a child’s independence, self-discipline, and self-motivation. It also places a strong emphasis on respect for the child’s individual interests and learning style.

Why We Chose Balance Bikes

Balance bikes are a type of bicycle that are designed to help young children learn how to ride a bike without the use of pedals. Instead of pedaling, children propel themselves forward by pushing off the ground with their feet.

Balance bikes are often used as a stepping stone for children who are learning to ride a bike, as they can help children develop balance, coordination, and confidence on two wheels. Because balance bikes do not have pedals, children are able to focus on developing their balance and steering skills, which are essential for riding a bike.

There are several benefits to using a balance bike to learn how to ride a bike. Some of these benefits include:

  1. Early start: Children as young as 18 months can begin learning to ride on a balance bike, which can give them a head start in developing their biking skills.
  2. No fear of falling: Balance bikes are low to the ground and have a wide, stable base, which can make children feel more comfortable and confident as they learn to ride.
  3. Improved balance and coordination: Balance bikes can help children develop balance and coordination, which are essential skills for riding a bike.
  4. Easy to use: Balance bikes are simple to use and do not require any special skills or knowledge to ride.
  5. Fun: Children often find balance bikes to be fun and enjoyable, which can encourage them to want to ride more and continue practicing their skills.

Donating Toys

Donating old toys to a worthy cause is a great idea. There are many organizations that accept toy donations, such as toy drives run by schools or local charities. These donations can help bring joy to children who may not have many toys of their own. Additionally, donating old toys is a great way to declutter your home and make space for new items. It’s also an environmentally friendly way to dispose of items that you no longer need. Overall, donating old toys is a kind and generous act that can make a big difference in the lives of others.

In Barcelona, I recommend donating to Ilusions Solidaries.

My Thoughts on Health

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You need to be healthy and fit to be able to practice sports, play with your kids, and be pain-free. Physical wealth or health is the glue that holds all the other types of wealth and one’s life together. Without the health and physical vitality of our bodies, we can achieve none of the other types of wealth, or at least not in a wise and long-term way.

The majority of people fail to understand that health is true wealth. They fail to invest in their bodies and minds and aren’t even aware that this is even a worthy goal in the pursuit of the good life.

Parents should be teaching the fundamentals of eating and moving in a healthy manner to their children. Unfortunately, I don’t see this happening often enough, especially on the eating side.

In your teens and twenties, you might feel invincible, and rightly so as your body is in its prime. But it won’t last, so think about how you can invest your time in long-term health.

Our bodies start losing muscle in our early forties and into old age. The only way to slow down the process is to lift weights. Start young if possible and learn the correct techniques. It sucks to get injured when you’re older, so take your time, learn how your body works and how it adapts to physical stress, and train right.

If you like sports, that’s great. But if possible don’t practice just one sport, do several complementary ones. That will help keep balance in your body and in your head. Pushing too hard at any one sport eventually leads to physical and mental breakdowns. Keep things in perspective and think long-term. You want to be able to move well in your sixties, seventies and eighties and not just in your twenties and thirties.

Middle-aged athletes – men and women – are used to facing criticism or skepticism from our sedentary peers. It’s a midlife crisis, vanity, an attempt to recapture our youth, a way of denying that we’re getting older, and the list goes on. What they fail to understand is that we don’t train to hold on to the past, but rather to live our best lives now and to prepare to lead healthy and active lives for decades to come. And research shows that the training you do in your 40s and 50s can add years to your life and life to your years.

Throughout your life, eat healthily. The Mediterranean diet works best for me. You can ignore practically all diets, including veganism, vegetarianism, and meat-only diets. A balanced mix of food is always best unless you have a specific condition that can be ameliorated using a particular diet. You can, of course, make your own decisions on the macros and protein sources, for example. Ideally, work with a nutritionist, it’s well worth the investment.

On Family Inheritances, Parent-Child, and Sibling Money Matters

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family inheritance

Here are some notes on family inheritances. This can be a heavy subject for many families, and now that I am both a child and a parent, it makes sense to think about the topic and try to plan early.

We start off with the fact that parents owe nothing to their children financially.

Most parents would have given way more than their kids can ever hope to equal in terms of love, care, shelter and financial assistance while they were growing up. This is just the nature of things. It’s the role of a parent to do so.

Once the kids leave their parents’ house to start their own life, provided there are no obvious impediments (e.g. disabilities) they should be independent. Even if they don’t physically leave the house due to some reason or cultural norm, there should be a cutoff point around the 18-20 years old mark.

Parents should strive to teach their kids how to manage their finances from an early age. Ideally, they should also show them how they can make money and instill an entrepreneurial spirit – even if they eventually end up getting a job and not do their own thing.

The easiest way to manage an inheritance is to split it equally between the children. But it’s not always such an easy strategy. One obstacle is the fact that inheritances rarely consist of purely cash assets. With other types of assets, valuations can complicate matters a lot. There might also be items being passed on that have a big sentimental value to members of the family, so it becomes very tricky quite quickly.

One other option is to not leave any inheritance or to leave all assets to a charitable trust, possibly managed by the kids. Typically this kind of option is chosen by parents worried that an inheritance will cause issues between the siblings or that the sudden influx of money will somehow corrupt them. While I think these are perfectly acceptable options, they wouldn’t align with my way of thinking. I think money is a great enabler, and if children are well educated from an early age in the school of life, an inheritance (or living a childhood with no financial worries) will not affect them in a negative way. 

100% of the negative cases I’ve seen concerning money and inheritances were because of the parents never really giving their kids a well-rounded education (typically because they were too busy working and amassing a fortune to actually spend time with the kids), so the end result was not surprising.

Another consideration is when not all siblings have been equally fortunate in life. What do you do when one child is objectively in a more needy state due to a disability, unfortunate event etc? In these cases, if all members of the family have a good relationship between them, it is quite understandable to make sure the more needy child has their needs covered as a first priority.

Communication between the parents and children about their inheritance plans is always essential and helps to avoid conflict down the line.

I’ll keep expanding this article over time, but if you have any input on this topic it would be great to hear for you in the comments section below.

Further Reading

How to Improve Your Productivity with AI Tools

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AI tools have really captured the imagination of many tech enthusiasts, starting in 2022 with the release of Dall-E and ChatGPT, and I see them revolutionizing the way we work and create content over the next few years.

Undoubtedly, some jobs will be rendered obsolete, but on the other hand, AI tools will unleash a new wave of creativity and empower people to create.

If you’re looking to delve into the world of AI, I’d advise a straightforward approach. Start by securing access to the most sophisticated Large Language Model available. While the AI ecosystem is vast, you really only need to focus on a few key players at the outset. Presently, three AI giants are leading the charge:

  1. OpenAI’s GPT-4 – available with a Plus subscription or even through Microsoft Bing’s creative mode at no cost.
  2. Anthropic’s Claude 2 – complimentary with an option for a premium paid mode for expedited access. It’s noteworthy for its adeptness with extended documents.
  3. Google’s Bard – which is also free.

As it stands, GPT-4 reigns supreme. However, with Claude 2 not far behind and Google rumored to be unveiling a significant update soon, the landscape might see a shift.

AI Image Generators

AI image generators are the first AI tools I played around with. They caused a big media stir when they became popular, and there was a lot of negativity and doomsday talk about many jobs being lost and artists being made redundant. I don’t think that’s warranted, and indeed this is not the first such shift to take place in history.

For example, the printing press and the invention of photography were similar seismic shifts that changed the landscape, but nobody today would argue that they were a net negative on humanity. AI tools are inevitable and are here to stay, so let’s see how we can use them to be more creative and improve our lives.

Here are some options for you to check out and possibly try:

  • DALL-E: This AI program, developed by OpenAI, is capable of generating incredibly detailed and diverse images from text descriptions.
  • Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs): GANs are a type of AI algorithm that can be used to generate realistic images, such as photographs of people or landscapes.
  • Dreamer: Developed by DeepMind, Dreamer is an AI system that can generate images based on a set of goals or objectives, such as creating a picture of a specific object or scene.
  • StyleGAN: This AI system, developed by NVIDIA, can generate highly realistic images of human faces.

There are many other AI image generators available, and the field is constantly evolving, so these are just a few examples of the top AI image generators. The easiest ones to try are probably DALL-E 2 and Stable Diffusion.

I have been using DALL-E 2 for generating images to go along with my blog posts. It’s been quick and also lots of fun. I’ve also tried my hand at creating images just for the fun of producing art. I had never considered myself to have any artistic ability, but together with NFTs and generative art, AI art generators have helped me explore my creative side and spur me on to learn how to draw and become an artist.

AI Chatbots and Text Generators

OpenAI’s ChatGPT was the next thing to make a big splash. Coming from the AI chatbot itself:

OpenAI Chat is a natural language processing (NLP) platform developed by OpenAI. It is designed to enable developers to build AI-powered chatbots and other NLP-based applications. The platform includes a suite of tools and resources that make it easy for developers to create and train AI models, integrate them with their applications, and deploy them to production. OpenAI Chat is based on the GPT-3 language model, which is one of the most advanced and powerful AI systems available. It can be used to create chatbots that can understand and respond to natural language input, and can be customized to perform a wide range of tasks and functions.

Such tools can be used to help in text content creation, and might also eventually replace the way we use search engines.

For now, the biggest use case seems to be in helping writers generate web content in a much quicker way. However, before you fire all your writers are rely on AI exclusively for your site’s articles, you must know that Google can easily detect which content has been created with ChatGPT and similar tools.

I’ve used ChatGPT to help me while researching topics and also to help me quickly draft articles that I would then tweak with my own opinions and twists. My conclusion is that such tools help me in creating articles where I would previously have not gotten around to doing so due to limited time and not having enough to say to warrant a blog post. So it’s certainly of great assistance to me.

More Use Cases

There are many potential consumer use cases for AI tools. Some common examples include virtual assistants, such as Apple’s Siri or Amazon’s Alexa, which use natural language processing to understand and respond to voice commands; image and facial recognition technology, which can be used in a variety of applications such as security and social media; and personalized recommendations for products or services, which are commonly used by online retailers and streaming services. Other potential consumer use cases for AI include language translation, automated customer service, and intelligent home automation systems.

On the enterprise side, use cases include data analysis and business intelligence, where AI can be used to process large amounts of data and identify trends and patterns that can inform decision making; automation of repetitive or time-consuming tasks, such as data entry and processing; and predictive maintenance for manufacturing and other industries, where AI can be used to identify potential problems with equipment before they occur. Other potential enterprise use cases for AI include fraud detection, natural language processing for customer service, and supply chain optimization.

If you own a business, it makes sense to start thinking about how AI can improve your company’s processes as I believe this will be a major differentiating factor between companies in the near future. Those who will be able to harness the power of AI in the right ways can gain a massive productivity edge over their competitors, not to mention other areas like customer satisfaction.

AI Tool Directories

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Have you tried any AI tools yet? What should I try next?

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Jean Galea

Investor | Dad | Global Citizen | Athlete