Casio LK-45 Keylighting

I had recently started piano playing after a lay off for many years and was knocked out by the Casio WK3500 advanced keyboard (as the whole musical fraternity appears to be). My wife, a total non-musician expressed interest in music as a hobby. I did not want to start putting her through tedious piano lessons, (let alone tedious piano lessons from me!), so I suggested she try one of Casio's key lighting boards.

The keyboard arrived by mail order. I left her to it, and within 45 minutes I heard a rough, staggering, but nevertheless correct version of "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" coming from our dining room!

So needless to say the keylighting system certainly works, but don't cheat on the fingering, if you just play with one finger then nothing will be achieved.

It's a five octave non-touch responsive board. Some of the tones are old time Casio, - in other words straight out of the cheese cupboard. Others are really nice. I only find one electric piano tone audibly pleasing (but there again I do have a WK3500). The rhythms are good. There are 100 built in tunes that teach using the keylight system. There is an excellent (female) voice fingering tutor. There is also a visible on-screen fingering tutor. The system works in 3 steps. Most of the tunes are Public Domain, but there is a Disney, and a few nice others. I think Casio are being a little optimistic including Chopin's Minute Waltz in 5 flats in the programme, but who knows?

The keyboard has a useless microphone included and jack socket. It has midi in and out, and a socket for a sustain pedal. As usual, you have to buy the adaptor separately.

If this board is bought for the purpose it's intended for, then you'll certainly not be disappointed. It's a lot of fun, and great value.