Yamaha PSR-260
Written: Dec 29 '00 (Updated Dec 29 '00)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Lots of features
Cons: Don't use all the features
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| micheich's Full Review: Yamaha Psr140 Portable Keyboard |
Let me begin by saying that I use a webtv and cannot make paragraphs in the usual manner. This is the reason that you will see ~~~ in my reviews. Thank you! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~We got my daughter the PSR-260 portable keyboard as a Christmas present this year because she has a God given talent of being able to play a tune that she has only heard. It was time to explore that talent and not go into major debt. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~The PSR-260 is a low price keyboard with many functions. It has all the usual functions such as demo songs,105 of them, and instrumental voice, 100 of those. Each are quickly accessed by pushing a button on the face of the keyboard. This keyboard has a built in metronome, a dictionary for calling up specific chords,and a style button to call up different background styles such as pop, rock and country. Each of these functions, once you learn them all can be modified by you to only include the type of background and accompaniment you desire when you are playing a song. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~My favorite part of this keyboard is that it has a built in teacher and grading system. My daughter has never played the piano or had a lesson. I have been able to teach her the basics of music such as what the notes are named and the difference between a half note and a quarter note but there is no way I can teach her to play piano as I never have. The system is set up to teach you the basics of the 105 songs that are programmed into the keyboard. All need to do is select the talking feature and pick a lesson. Lesson 1 is on timing, do you play the song at the correct tempo. Lesson 2 is called waiting. Background music will play but pause until you hit the correct notes. I feel this should have been lesson 1. Lesson 3 is called minus one. The keyboard will play parts of the song and you need to play the other parts in correct rhythm and tempo. All of these lesson have the option of playing with the left or right hand so you can learn both parts of the song. Lesson 4 is both hands. This one is a like lesson 3 except you use both hands to play the muted parts. When finished with a song you are then given a grade. The grading system is OK, Good, Very Good and Excellent. There is a voice that will tell you what your score is at the end of each lesson. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~This neat keyboard has a lighted screen that shows you what information you are putting in when selecting songs,tempo and accompaniment. The screen also shows the notes for the songs you are playing when in the lesson mode but I prefer she uses the song book that came with the keyboard to do that. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~There are some other features which some may be looking for that we just haven't had a need for yet such as a drum kit and midi capability. I do not have a pc so have tried the midi feature. We have played around with the drum kit buttons but have little interest in them. These features will probably come in handy to use at some point but for now I just want her to learn how to play. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Also this keyboard did not come with the AC adapter and is capable of running on 6 D batteries. I did purchase an AC adapter and it was only $10. Well worth the investment. Also you can add a sustain peddle, an amplifier or stereo system and a keyboard stand. The keyboard did come with a music stand though that attaches right on the keyboard which is nice so you can put your playing book right on the keyboard. It sits right behind all the buttons so it is not in the way when switching lessons or songs and just slides in so can be easily removed when not in use. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~The owners manual is very easy to use and the directions given are simple so you can be up and playing within minutes. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~I would highly recommend this keyboard to a beginner or someone who has too little room to get a piano. It is definatley the next best thing. Our daughter has already learned so much and I am sure she will learn even more as time goes on. It was definately worth the money paid.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
micheich
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Location: Minnesota
Reviews written: 94
Trusted by: 43 members
About Me:
Trying to write again. CONSTRUCTIVE criticism welcome and thanks for reading my reviews!
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