EZ 250i

[Marten]

I received one of these for Christmas, as I've made clear on apparently too many times how much I want to learn how to play and write music.

A big problem I have is that I haven't got the foggiest clue where I'd go to have someone teach me (a 33-year-old male) how to play a keyboard/piano.  The perception cast by the media is that only little girls learn piano.

This keyboard might be a good solution - it comes with "Learn to Play" software.  But, I'm curious if anyone on this board has any opinions on it or solutions like it.

[Tom]

Dianne teaches men and women of all ages.  Not uncommon at all.  Any music store will be able to lead you to a teacher in the area.  They should have a current list; most teachers do heavy business with music stores, buying books, equipment and so forth.  

Or, Dianne could teach you.  Of course, you'd have to fly here every week.  (That may present a problem.)  Say, Saturday's, at 11:30 a.m.?  She charges $35/mo.; four thirty-minute lessons.  You pay by the month, even if you miss a lesson.  No refunds.  It's considered, tuition.  I'm sure you won't find anybody in your area that charges that little, though.  Probably more like $15-20 a lesson.  We live in an economically poor area, so she can't charge what she'd like to charge.

Sounds like this keyboard has a built in Yamaha SW60XG?  Cool! Says it's "XGLite compatible" -- wonder what that is.  Have you tried playing any XG MIDI files through it?

[Alistair]

'XG Lite' compatibility means little. The Roland SC-8820's and 8850's are both 'XG Lite' compat (Recall the thread where Ari and I discussed and debunked the 8850's XG quality).

Still, nice board, and nice pressie to get for Christmas, Marten! I badly need to take up piano again.

And Dianne's rates seem awfully cheap, even when converted to $AUD. Back in high school I paid 80 Australian for 2 months.. about 100 American, for 2-3 months. And that was only low-medium level.. at a public school.

- Alistair

[HondaSiR]

Sounds like this keyboard has a built in Yamaha SW60XG?  Cool! Says it's "XGLite compatible" -- wonder what that is.  Have you tried playing any XG MIDI files through it?

I don't think the EX 250i's XG part sounds as good as an SW60XG or DB50XG, Tom. XG Lite means that it is capable of reproducing XG sounds in a low level, a crude one at that when compared to real XG devices such as the DB50XG (a good reason why this daughterboard still commands such a high price nowadays).

[Danny]

I don't know Marten, that Konami Keyboard Mani sure looks fun.