Ten toy pianos you and your child will love!
February 17, 2009
Not got the space or budget for your budding Rachmaninov to play a full-size piano? Or do you want something smaller and more colourful for little Chopin to test before investing in a larger, more expensive keyboard?
Take a look at Piano and Synth Magazine’s guide to the current range of toy and realistic miniature pianos. There’s sure to be one that your musical child will love.
1. My First Piano Red II
A 25-key (two octave) tabletop toy piano that’s ideal for toddlers aged six months to two years.
It comes with a songbook containing a collection of familiar tunes which along with Schoenhut’s patented Learning System (based on colour) which has been specially designed to build a child’s confidence and develop basic playing skills.
The keys are the same width as a real piano, so children learn about stretching even while their hands are growing.
Chromatically tuned, the lovely chime-like notes are produced by little hammers striking precision-ground, German steel music rods.
My First Piano Red II – £69.99 from Amazon
2. New Classic Toys 0157 Piano Black
An octave-and-a-half (18 keys) black wooden piano and is stated as suitable for ages 3+. It has full width keys.
New Classic Toys 0157 Piano Black – £39.95 from Amazon
Also available in pink
3. Melissa & Doug Learn-to-Play Piano
A highly colourful two octave piano which includes tambourine, cymbals, maracas, clacker, tone blocks and a triangle. It won’t produce a huge sound but the 25 hand-tuned keys provide a great start.
Melissa & Doug Learn-to-Play Piano – £61.29 from Amazon
4. Bontempi Grand Piano
A very cheap and colourful introduction to keyboards, this 20-note keyboard is shaped like a grand piano and features detachable legs. It’s suitable for ages 3+.
Bontempi Grand Piano – £7.81 from Amazon
Also available as a 27-note version for £14.66
5. Baby Grand Piano Keyskills Age 2-6
Featuring 30 keys, this wooden baby grand toy piano features realistic plastic keys and a chime-like tone made from small hammers striking steel rods. No tuning required.
Baby Grand Piano Keyskills Age 2-6 – £135 from Amazon
6. Schoenhut Elite Fancy Baby Grand
This fancy high-gloss baby grand piano comes with a matching bench and features 30 full-size keys. It comes with a book and the Schoenhut patented learning system.
Elite Fancy Baby Grand – £139.99 from Amazon
Also available in red
7. Melissa & Doug Grand Piano
A more realistic-looking mini grand piano from Melissa & Doug, still featuring tambourine, cymbals, maracas, clacker, tone blocks and a triangle. Has 30 keys.
Melissa & Doug Grand Piano at Amazon
8. Mood Works traditionally crafted wooden music piano
A 25-key brightly-coloured wooden piano suited for children aged 3+.
Traditionally Crafted Wooden Music Piano With 25 Keys – £39.99 from Amazon
9. Early Learning Centre Grand Piano
A mini electronic baby grand piano with three octave keyboard, a microphone, eight instrument sounds and lots of rhythms and other features, as well as the ability to record and play back audio.
Requires two AA batteries.
£45 from Early Learning Centre
10. Schoenhut 44-Key Baby Grand Piano
For those with a serious amount of money to spend, look no further than the Schoenhut 44-Key Baby Grand Piano. These 44-key, stringed pianos feature perfect pitch and true piano sound.
With a keyboard half the size of that on an adult piano, this 44-key piano’s four and a half octave span allows plenty of room for playing with both hands. Working pedals are easy for children to reach. Schoenhut, leader and innovator in the toy piano and musical toy industry, recognized the need for a mid-sized piano to ease the transition from a toy to a full-sized version. These beautifully crafted stringed instruments were created after months of in-depth collaboration on the design with a reputable, century-old piano manufacturing firm.
Schoenhut 44-Key Baby Grand Piano – £1,795 from Amazon
Also available is the Schoenhut Black 44-key Upright Piano for £1,399.99
Popularity: 13% [?]
Kurzweil intros two new SP stage pianos: SP2XS / SP3x [NAMM09]
February 16, 2009
Kurzweil may not be the first name you think of when it comes to stage pianos (Yamaha and Roland come to my mind first) but its latest duo look pretty decent.
Shown off at last month’s NAMM, the SP2XS and SP3x both feature the Kurzweil Grand Piano sound, based on the combination of the highest quality sound samples, a powerful synth engine, and pristine reverbs.
The SP3x builds on the design of the highly successful SP2x with an expanded sound set of 512 programs. In addition to pianos, the SP3x offers a wide variety of other top notch sounds, including winds, voices, synths, brass, bass, guitar and ensembles. With a wide range of sounds, effects and extensive MIDI controller capabilities, the SP3x is equally well suited for use on stage, at home, or in the studio, and is perfect for worship based music.
The SP2XS joins the SP2 and SP3 to round out the product line, providing an option for players who need a high quality built-in sound system in a professional grade instrument. With a custom 20 watt per channel power amplifier and matched, high efficiency speakers with full range 3×5″ drivers, the sound system has been optimized for the SP2XS’s enclosure, delivering stunning sound quality.
Both feature 64 note polyphony, are 16 part multitimbral, have at least 60 pre-programmed drum patterns and a variety of controllers.
Available now.
Popularity: 6% [?]
Korg shows off new M50 Music Workstation [NAMM09]
February 16, 2009
Korg has taken the fundamentals of its flagship M3 Xpanded workstation and put it out in the form of the more affordable M50 Music Workstation.
The latest version offers 73 keys (six octaves) together with angled control panel and full-size TouchView interface.
The EDS (Extended Definition Synthesis) sound engine delivers stunning sounds and brilliant effects. New additions include a three-stage velocity-switched stereo piano programmed in conjunction with samples of the damper resonance, producing an extraordinarily natural sound. Also new are a number of vintage keyboards, including the classic Korg SG-1 Sampling Grand, acclaimed by artists around the world, numerous authentic electric pianos and clavs, along with legendary 1960s-era tape playback strings and flute sounds.
The M50 offers 256MB of PCM data shaped into 608 Programs, as well as 384 Combinations by Korg’s renowned voicing staff, covering all the acoustic, synthetic and imaginative sounds that current players demand. User-edited data can also be saved into the internal memory, with space for 640 Programs, 512 Combinations and 48 Drum kits. The M50 offers several advanced sound-shaping features, including low-aliasing oscillators, a powerful Filter topology and detailed EGs (Envelope Generators), plus a Drive parameter and AMS (Alternate Modulation Source) Mixers.
The M50 provides 5 Insert Effects, 2 Master Effects and 1 Total Effect, along with 170 Effects types; up to 32 Effects Presets are available per effect. An independent three-band EQ is available for each Program, the Drum Track and each of the sixteen timbres/tracks.
The Drum Track gives users over 670 natural-sounding grooves to jam with in Program and Combi modes, and to help stimulate the songwriting process. Dual arpeggiators offer up traditional arp performance with five preset patterns (UP, DOWN, ALT1, ALT2, RANDOM), as well as advanced polyphonic arpeggiation that can generate everything from simple phrases to complex rhythmic gestures – even fixed note drum and percussion grooves. Two patterns can be used simultaneously in Combination mode or Sequencer mode to create complete ensemble backing, especially when used in conjunction with the Drum Track.
An intuitive sequencer provides 16 MIDI + 1 Master tracks with all the tools needed to capture and easily shape musical ideas into polished productions. It features up to 128 songs, allows users to record 210,000 notes and offers a high resolution of 480 PPQ (parts per quarter-note).
The proprietary M50 Editor and Plug-In Editor software lets users edit the sounds using a computer, and allows the M50 to act as a plug-in instrument for their DAW (VST, Audio Units and RTAS are supported). The editor librarian also enables users to exchange sounds between the M50 and M3. Further, an SD card slot provides easy and affordable management of Programs, Combinations and Sequences, as well as sounds, songs and other data.
Korg’s proprietary 320×240 pixel TouchView display ensures excellent visibility and operability, making it easy to select sounds and adjust parameters. Other controls include a joystick and multiple switches and triggers.
Pricing and availability to be confirmed.
Popularity: 6% [?]
Korg announces Lifetime Achievement Award 2009: Herbie Hancock and Keith Emerson [NAMM09]
February 16, 2009
Last month, Korg announced its annual lifetime achievement award, giving the accolade to two quite different keyboard musicians.
Herbie Hancock: Jazz legend and innovator has been a musical innovator for his entire career. Not content to be pigeonholed as a traditionalist, Hancock has gained new exposure through his recent collaborations on albums such as 2005’s Possibilities, which featured vocalists John Mayer, Paul Simon, Sting, Christina Aguilera and more. And on his latest Grammy-album-of-the-year-winning release,River: The Joni Letters, he brings in guest artists like Norah Jones, Tina Tuner and, of course, Joni Mitchell.
Throughout his career Hancock has often found the right instrument for harnessing his innovative composition and performance style in Korg keyboards. But for him, it goes beyond hardware into the personality of the brand. “[The people at Korg] exhibit their care for not only their product, but also their care for the people that play their product. And their care for a bigger picture – what it can mean for music lovers. That they care about the future development of the music,� he commented.
Presenting the award, Korg Senior Product Manager Jerry Kovarsky commented, “The aspect of Herbie’s persona and career that most appeals to Korg is his constant innovation both personally and musically. He keeps searching out new inspiration, new ways of reaching out to the public, and adapts to new technology in his never-ending quest for artistic growth and personal communication. These are goals that everyone would do well to strive for.�
Keith Emerson: Prog-rock pioneer is an icon of prog-rock and a keyboard legend known for his musical sophistication and larger-than-life theatrics. He relies on Korg as his first choice. Emerson shot to fame in the late ‘60s as a member of The Nice, and subsequently went on to make his name in the progressive rock supergroup Emerson, Lake & Palmer (ELP). Today he’s gearing up to tour in support of his newest release, Keith Emerson Band featuring Marc Bonilla. And of course, he’ll be bringing a stable of Korg keyboards along for the ride.
“My Korg instruments are reliable and Korg has a great team that helps me out. Quite honestly, all the Korg keyboards have gone through tornadoes, they’ve gone through playing out in the open air, they’ve gone through extreme humidity and probably are thrown in the back of the truck at the end of the gig. But the next day you just plug them in and they work great. Come to think of it, I can’t remember a time when a Korg didn’t work for me!� Emerson remarked.
In presenting the award to Keith, Kovarsky stated, “Keith is the artist who made playing keyboards a cool thing to do, and became a hero to throngs of budding players throughout the years. But while doing this he also exposed his fans to classical composers and compositions, and a harmonic and musical sophistication that was unheard of in rock and popular music. We didn’t realize that we were growing artistically while we were rocking out to his thrilling performances – that’s a winning combination!�
Popularity: 3% [?]
Source Distribution to handle Moog equipment for UK and Ireland
February 16, 2009
Anyone looking for Moog gear in the United Kingdom or Republic of Ireland might like to know that Source Distribution is now the market supplier for all Moog products including the Minimoog Voyager and Little Phatty.
Commenting on the appointment, Source’s Director of Distributed Brands Howard Jones said: “We’ve always greatly admired Moog and are absolutely thrilled to be working with the Moog team. For Source, this is an important step in our development, since Moog is our first 100% out-and-out musical instrument line, but one that dovetails perfectly with our existing pro audio brands. With so many “me-too� products out there, there is something refreshingly unique and individual in each and every one of Moog’s offerings. We’re really looking forward to raising the Moog profile even further in the UK & Ireland.�
Moog’s President, Mike Adams added: “With the considerable financial turbulence we’ve seen in the UK market over the last 12 months, we’re delighted that our new partnership with Source means that we’ll now be working with the most stable and professionally run distribution outfit in the UK. We’re all looking forward to a long term and very fruitful relationship together.�
Popularity: 1% [?]
Korg debuts major upgrade to M3 music workstation/sampler [NAMM09]
February 16, 2009
Korg has shown off a major upgrade to its M3 music workstation and sampler in the shape of the M3 Xpanded.
This free upgrade offers 668MB of expansive new sounds, interactive interface functionality, advanced sequencer enhancements and additions to the KARMA technology.
Sound samples include three new acoustic pianos, 3-way tine and reed electric pianos, four velocity-switch clavichords, vintage tape-playback strings and flutes.
An expanded Sequencer mode adds new screens and functions, including a much-requested Piano Roll edit screen which shows event data, such as notes, velocities and control changes, in an intuitive, graphical way. Touch-drag operation can now be used to edit, delete or create note events or control events. A Track View page shows an overview of each track’s events and provides additional intuitive touch-drag operation. Full MIDI system exclusive data editing has also been added to the Sequencer mode, allowing users to easily record, view, control and edit every aspect of the M3’s synthesis, effects and mixing structures in the everyday parameter names, rather than complex hex coding.
The KARMA function, which generates unique, interactive phrases, has been expanded to Version 2.2, with many new features, including 1,024 locations for user GEs (Generated Effects) when used with exclusive KARMA M3 software from Karma-Lab. Users are now able to switch GEs in real time while KARMA is playing, with seamless transitions.
Other updated features include 700 effect presets voiced to provide instant production-ready settings, 149 newly added drum patterns and an improved TouchView user interface, which allows users to operate knobs or sliders by touch-drag operation onscreen, plus visual metering of timbre and track levels in Combi and Sequencer modes.
The new M3 XPanded upgrade is available for free in the box with all new M3 purchases, with a USB memory stick included containing the new OS and 640 MB of PCM (USB-PCM-04 is available for download only). The complete M3 XPanded upgrade is also available for download at www.korg.com/M3 for existing users.
Popularity: 3% [?]
Steinway shows off limited edition grand piano
February 12, 2009
Last month, Steinway announced the production of just 115 limited edition “William E Steinway” grand pianos.
The piano features a carved music desk featuring elegant scrollwork and the Steinway lyre, as well as a representation of the twelve coats of arms of the royal families around the world who own a Steinway piano, ebony or East Indian rosewood, and amazing sound and touch.
“The William E. Steinway Limited Edition is an instrument of incomparable beauty and history,” said Todd Sanders, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Steinway. “It’s clearly a nod to the meticulous decorative craftsmanship of the Victorian era when the piano was originally produced. But it’s also an instrument that will become a beloved family treasure for generations to come. It’s truly one of the most exciting pianos I’ve ever seen.”
William E Steinway was the second president of Steinway & Sons and served the company from 1876 until 1896. One of the great industrialists and visionaries of his era, he was responsible for building the company town, Steinway Village, in 1870. He also founded the Daimler Motor Company on Long Island and headed the Subway Commission which planned the New York City subway system.
Popularity: 4% [?]
Myleene Klass creates classical piano version of Daft Punk’s “Aerodynamic”
February 12, 2009
As part of her endorsement of hair-care product Pantene, classically-trained pianist and TV celebrity Myleene Klass has created her own piano-based interpretation of Daft Punk’s “Aerodynamic”.
View a range of products by Myleene Klass
Imagine the original track but played on a grand piano. In fact, you don’t need to imagine because the track is available on Myleene’s official YouTube channel:
What’s the piano? It’s hard to catch a glimpse, but on a couple of frames it’s possible to see that it’s a Bohemia grand piano.
The Bohemia company was founded in 1993, though it’s possible to trace its history as far back as 1871 to the town of Jihlava, when Josef Bavek, a skilled piano-maker, opened his small workshop and gave work to several local craftsmen who were to become the first of many generations of piano-makers.
In 2007, the company was officially renamed to C. Bechstein Europe, with headquarters in Jihlava, Czech Republic.
And turning to Myleene? Everyone’s entitled to their opinions, but perhaps some of the negative comments on her YouTube videos spring from jealousy, or ignorance, or snobbery based on the fact that she was in a British pop band.
Those who say that she plays “like a beginner” might like to note that she won a scholarship with the Royal Academy of Music, and subsequently graduated. She’s classically trained and has worked as a session musician. All of these prove that she is no beginner, but is in fact a talented pianist. The fact that she’s involved in a range of other activities doesn’t detract from that.
You can find out more about Myleene Klass at her official web site | View a range of products by Myleene Klass
Popularity: 6% [?]
Korg shows off LP-350 “lifestyle piano” [NAMM09]
February 11, 2009
Korg has announced that its LP-350 lifestyle piano will be available from March this year.
The body of the digital piano is under 11 inches deep, meaning it should be easier to fit it into smaller homes. It’s a full 88-note keyboard, though, utilising Korg’s RH3 graded hammer action technology for a more realistic feel, three levels of touch sensitivity, and accurate stereo sampling from an acoustic concert grand piano.
It comes with all three pedals, can be tuned and has alternate scale tunings, features 60 note polyphony, 30 sounds including five pianos and seven electric pianos, reverb and chorus, sound layering, and 2×11W amp with 2×10cm bass-reflex speakers.
Available in black and white, pricing to be confirmed.
Popularity: 7% [?]
Korg Kaossilator now available in limited edition pink [NAMM09]
February 11, 2009
Not a lot to add to that headline. It seems that no piece of tech or musical gadgetry is immune from turning pink from time to time.
At the Winter NAMM exhibition last month, Korg announced that its Kaossilator synth is available for a limited time in pink, as well as the traditional yellow.
I don’t even have a picture of it in all its pinkness, but never mind. No new features as far as I can see – just pink.
Popularity: 3% [?]