I ordered the Little Smart DJ Jazz ‘N Jam™ for my two sons this past Christmas online through Spiegel.com. At the time this was almost fifty dollars plus the cost of shipping and handling, but convenient to order without leaving the house. To utilize the keyboard you will have to purchase four “C” batteries. These will be inserted in the back of the keyboard using a flat-head screwdriver to open the compartment. Within six months I have had to replace our batteries, probably because my kids like to turn this on quite often. This goes into an automatic shut off mode when not used in so many minutes.

I keep the Little Smart DJ Jazz ‘N Jam™ on a wood file cabinet in the living room and next to a fan. The control knobs to the left and right of the keyboard have become dusty but with a wipe and a Q-tip that is easily rectified. My children have not fully explored all the options available with the keyboard due to their limited capabilities but I know in the coming years we will utilize all the functions. This is why I am not upset over the price I paid since I feel the long range usage of the Little Smart DJ Jazz ‘N Jam ™ will be worth the price plus batteries over time.

Included is a thirty-page booklet with a song on each page to play the tunes, according to the alphabet over the bars and sing the words from. Our favorites are page 18, Bingo, page 25, My Bonnie Lies Over The Ocean and page 29 Sailing. My terminology might be different because I have never used a piano but plan on learning someday along with my children.

The keyboard consists of fourteen white piano keys with ten purple piano keys. The next row has the yellow microphone to the left with two green switches to slide for volume control of the microphone and the unit. A yellow REC button is to press and use the microphone to record your favorite tunes. This will automatically turn off if nothing gets recorded within a few minutes. The red play button is to press to hear your recorded music plus sound effects.

The GET ROCKIN’! button is a demo playing a sample of some songs. Beside this button is the green on and blue off buttons. The last three are yellow buttons for piano lessons 1, 2 and 3. To the outside of the keyboard are three pads on the left and right side. The left side has the speaker, a green joy-stick to move the music to the left or right side speaker and/or have the sound effects closer or further away. The last knob on the left side is a red drum pad that can be used for adding this sound effect.

The right side has the speaker at the top with a turntable knob to use a scratching sound and another drum pad so you can have each child drum away with the music. The top panel of the Little Smart DJ Jazz ‘N Jam™ consists of instrument, music and song keys in a yellow border. There are two rows of instruments like flute, horn, guitar and bongo drums. For the music theme you can choose from Dixie Land or Jazz with many other selections offered. The songs include Mary Had a Little Lamb, The Wheels on the Bus, Polly Wolly Doodle and On top of old Smokey.

The white piano keys light up in red so you can follow along to learn to play each tune. My son is mesmerized by the lights and likes to watch them move about. I tend to turn the Little Smart DJ Jazz ‘N Jam™ on and press various songs to play to entertain my son. My oldest likes to utilize all the buttons and play around mixing the sounds.

We still have much to learn with this keyboard since my kids do not comprehend the microphone part or the joystick. They are not aware of various rhythms or scratching techniques but in time they might be inclined to try out all the possible music offerings. This is an easy way to learn the keyboard and follow along with the singing on many of their favorite television shows when they sing songs.

When changing the batteries it should be noted to make sure the keyboard is turned off. For customer service related questions the number is 1-800-521-2010 and for Canadian residents this is available at 1-800-267-7377. Each time you turn the button off you hear a closing melody that is pleasing and gets my son to turn it on and off a bunch of times. The current listed price at amazon.com is $39.99.

The benefits of the keyboard include learning the words to songs they will probably be singing in school, distinguishing between various instrument sounds and learning to press the correct keys through the song and notes booklet for the songs. We have enjoyed this thus far and hope to keep my kids entertained for more years to come with the Little Smart DJ Jazz ‘N Jam™.

Recommended: Yes

Amount Paid (US$): 50.00
Type of Toy: Educational
Age Range of Child: 6 to 8 Years