<p>My D took a full size keyboard to college from day one. She bought it herself upon HS graduation with a local scholarship she won (which we did not make her put toward college as it wasn’t that significant in terms of tuition dollars). Best investment she has ever made (in fact, I ran into someone the other day from the organization who gave her the scholarship at her HS graduation and told her all that my D has done and accomplished where this keyboard played a significant role…she is one year past college graduation currently). She uses this keyboard daily. While she trained in college as a musical theater actor, she is also a singer/songwriter and so has written songs and has solo gigs in clubs in NYC. She also was the musical director for an acapella group in college and used the piano to arrange their songs. She also has many jobs as an accompanist and as a musical director for pay. She uses it now, as well, as a coach, when clients come to her apartment. She has written a musical which is currently being produced and this piano has been a key factor in her daily composing and rewrites. In fact, she is traveling tomorrow to where her musical is being workshopped for two weeks and she is taking her keyboard with her to have to work on revisions.</p>
<p>Freshman year at college, she lived in an apartment style dorm and the bedroom was tiny and so the keyboard was in the living room. Sophomore year she also had an apt. style dorm but fit the keyboard in her bedroom, which she preferred. From that point forward, she has lived in apartments and has had the keyboard in every bedroom she has lived in. It is a “requirement” for her that it fits where she lives. It is on a stand. One summer it did not fit in her summer housing bedroom and she opted to have it on the desk without the stand. </p>
<p>As far as sound affecting roomies…she uses headphones. </p>
<p>Her dorms always had practice rooms with piano and in fact, she often still used these practice rooms even though she had her own piano…for times she wanted no distractions in her room or else wanted to sing (she is a singer) full out and not bother anyone. She also has used piano practice rooms at the college (not in a dorm). Still, she would never ever give up having her own piano with her at all times. </p>
<p>If your son uses a piano frequently, I think taking his own keyboard is a good idea. He can try to get information about the dorm room set up ahead of time, if possible. I suppose if it did not fit his space, he could keep it under a bed and take it out when he wants to play and store it when not playing (not ideal but better than not having it).</p>