Also remember that it is the experience and exposure to this delightful instrument that are important. There will be time later for students who decide to study and master it more completely to do so. Many performance practices that originated in the Baroque period are more logical when applied to a harpsichord rather than to a piano. The question of repeats is a good example. Students who have been unable to decide which timbre they like best for a particular piece sometimes elect two repetitions just so they can hear three different sounds.
Students can vary the harpsichord's timbre simply by pushing a button or moving a lever.
When they return to the piano, students are at an advantage for having heard these variants. They are more willing to produce a convincing repetition with variation on the piano after experiencing an exciting sound change elsewhere. The harpsichord is less forgiving of technical weaknesses and inconsistencies than the piano. The sound is more transparent and there is no damper pedal to cover up uneven passagework. If finger pressure is uneven, notes sometimes simply will not sound.