Customer Reviews

Casio LK-55 61 Key Lighted Keyboard

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I don't give out five stars lightly, but the LK-55 is simply outstanding! I've owned an older casio for years but never really learned to play. I asked for a lighted-key keyboard for Xmas because I thought it would help me learn, and it already has!

I admit I am musically challenged, I can't really read music, and the correct fingering gets me confused. This keyboard transcends all that. The next note is lighted (as in all lighted-key keyboards), but it also has right AND left hand icons indicating the fingering. And if you can't look at all that at once, just push a button and a voice indicates the correct finger ("one", "two", "three", ...). It has 3 different learn-to-play modes. You can read the play mode descriptions in the docs, but suffice it to say that this tough critic really likes casio's implementation.

I had previously, with much discipline, over a long period of time, learned a few bars of Bach's "Jesus Bleibet Meine Freude" (Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring). It is a beautiful song, and I was thrilled to learn a little of it. This keyboard made it easy. I didn't need to find the score, pick out the keys, put A-B-C stickers on the keys, memorize bars, find a recording to compare against, or determine the correct fingering (which I never got right before).

Oh, I almost forgot, it has a microphone and it is great for sing alongs (even if you only use the built in songs like a juke box). It has my wife's favorite song (over the rainbow), popular kid songs, holiday songs, and all the folk & classical songs I currently wish to learn.

In my mid-30's I decided it was time to finally learn to play an instrument - and the Casio LK55 fit the bill (my husband requested I pick an instrument that could be used with headphones!).
The keyboard has realistic sounding instruments, and a pleasant piano sound. Keys are full sized, and the lcd display is very useful once you figure out what the general functions are.
It has a good range of built in songs that you can play along with - I found as a beginner that most were too complicated but I'm working on it.
I've actually found that I don't use the key lighting as much as expected. Don't expect this keyboard to 'teach' you how to play. You really need to purchase some good instructional materials and learn the old fashioned way (lots of practice!) but it is fun and gratifying to play along with the built in songs in-between regular practice. My only complaint is that if you want to learn a built in song using the key lighting - you can't learn both hands at the same time. You learn the right and left hands seperately - which I can understand as the lighting might be confusing otherwise, but it would be nice to have the option.
I'm extremely pleased with the keyboard, but it will take a while before I'm competent.
I highly recommend the book "Adult All-In-One Course: Lesson-Theory-Technic" by Willard A. Palmer. It's been extremely useful for learning the basics (such as How To Read Music!).

Pluses:
1. Portable (can use batteries or power)
2. Key lighting is great
3. Large selection of built in songs
4. Full size keys
5. Can connect to computer

Minuses:
1. Can't magically transform me into a concert pianist
2. Headphone jack is at the rear of the keyboard & is awkward to access
3. Can't learn both hands simultaneously

This is actually a great beginner keyboard. The tutorial system is good, and the sounds are good. However, for beginners(like me), you will need some direction getting you PC to communicate the MIDI files to your keyboard. Unfortunately, the 800 number will support this product using the same manual in the box. If you write to Casio, it will take a week to two weeks to get the information I can provide you. So here it is for those who need it:
1.) The casio MIDI cables must be connected in opposite order, meaning the output-end of the cable goes into the input receiver of your keyboard. The input-end of the cable goes into the output receiver of your keyboard. Its counterintuitive, but this is the only way it will work.
2.) You must configure your sound-card by going into \'Control Panel'\'Sounds and Audio Devices'. Choose the 'Audio Devices' tab. You will find one of the boxes reads 'MIDI music playback'. Make the default device 'MPU-401' by choosing it from the drop-down menu. Hit 'Apply' then 'OK'.
3.) The MIDI software refered to as not supported in the user manual and by the 800 number is simply MS Media Player or Real 1 Player. Simply open an MIDI file with your keyboard onwith the keyboard set to GM mode 'on'. Some or all of the song will play through the keyboard speakers. The Navigation channel on the keyboard will allow you to pick-up different ranges the MIDI file is playing.

I hope someone finds this helpful. Once I got it up and running, I learned the tune from 'Cheers' in a matter of two hours with very limited exposure to piano playing. It is a very good investment for those who are musically inclined but do not want to go through paying for lessons! I highly recommend it now.

This does exactly what it says it will do, has great sound, easy to set up and get started, lots of tones and other options. Overall great product but let me add a few things I wished were different.

More rhythms

Keyboard does not save last tone when you turn it off ( you may be able to do this but I have yet to figure it out)

Many of the songs included are lame

Casio includes a service where you can download more songs but they have like 50 songs there and it seems like a web site that they may have forgotten about since many of the "coming soon" dates are from 2000 and 2001. Also, you cant download the songs directly to your keyboard they remain on your PC.

If these features are not important to you then this is a great buy.

Decided to purchase a keyboard and it was between Yamaha and Casio. Although the Yamaha looked and played well, the Casio with it's lighted keys was the final selling point.

Overall experience has been outstanding, it is a very cool machine with nice features. The learning steps programmed into the machine are nice, you can follow along and learn as you go. I read music fairly well, so it's fun to watch the lighted keys, the LCD display, and the sheet music at the same time.

The learning program is nice as you can practice the song until you are satisfied with your progress. In addition, you can set the program to play on it's own and fill in background chords and extra notes that fit your style and interests, or have the program fill in the back ground chords while you play the score. I was surprised how fun that is, you can modify your music to fit your tastes and have fun with it, like having your own band.

Another feature that is nice is the built-in metronome. I always hated those things as a kid, but every built in song starts with a few drum beats at the correct timing, it is very useful.

For $... bucks, this machine can't be beat for fun and to help playing skills.

This keyboard is very handy and can do more than I know how to do right now. What is definitely needed is a damper pedal, and I'm not sure if one is available for it. I haven't had time to contact Casio directly to find out if one is available. Otherwise, I'm happy with it.

I bought this product from Music 1-2-3 and the shipping department decided that it is o.k. to send this instrument across the country without putting any securing tape on the box. When it arrived all of the accessories were gone. I got the run around at the customer service department. Overall not a good experience with Music 1-2-3.