| DAK and a few stores in the New York area had this first, but it should
be available elsewhere soon. Nintendo Power has an article about it, in
the January issue, I think.
My partner is a consumer service rep for Nintendo, and just today they
got a Miracle Keyboard for the consumer service and gameplay staff to
try. He played with it for about 20 minutes and said it is a nice key-
board and the software does look like it would be good for teaching
music, if you have the discipline to practice without needing a teacher
to motivate you. He said he could not tell who made the keyboard, but
it is Japanese and is equivalent to a Yamaha or Roland in the $250 range.
If you would like to talk to him about it, call the consumer service 800
number (sorry, I don't know it) and ask for Alex Sargeant. He is there
M-F from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm (west coast time). The consumer service reps
aren't supposed to transfer calls, but they should do it if you tell whoever
you get that you want to talk to Alex about the keyboard.
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| I purchased one this weekend from a Toys 'R Us. It's the same package
as the DAK catalog and the same price $299.00. It contains a 4 octave
keyboard synthesizer that connects to the NES. The keyboard has two
4" speakers built in and can be played seperately from the NES. A
game cartridge has 36 different lessons with numerous sections in each
lesson. Starting with the basics and finishing with full sheet music
scores.
If you have trouble completing a section, you repeat it again. If you
still have trouble, it will take you back to a section that reinforces
your problem, (rythym, notes, ..) and then returns you to where you
were.
It switches between words on the screen, actual sheet music, quizzes
and games. The games are used to reinforce rythym and note positions.
I have had a few years of piano lessons, so I had an advantage. But my
7 year old son has not had any music lessons, and after an hour, he was
reading simple sheet music.
The keyboard is powered by an AC adapter, no batteries. It has a jack
for earphones, a connection to your stereo, a foot pedal that functions
as a damper pedal and a MIDI port. The keyboard had 45 different
voices (Oboe, Strings, Guitar...), 128 different patches (Moog,
12-string Guitar, Frogs, Whistle, Drums, door slams...).
The MIDI port can be connected to a standalone or computer-driven
sequencer (not the NES), taht can digitally record your performances,
as well as let you edit, merge and play them back.
I would recommend it!!!!
Glen
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My 2 cents....
I have one. IIIIII LLLLLLOOOOVVVEEEE IIIITTTTT!!!!!!!
(as much as anyone can care for an inanimate object :^))
I have always wanted to play piano, and now I have the ability to have
help when "I" want it as opposed to being tied down to a
class/instructor schedule of lessons.
There is also a book that comes with it that has some interesting
technical specs on midi in the back.
The book also mentions that for maximum effectiveness, this should be
combined with a tutor. The package shows you the mechanics, but
doesn't teach style. (Shows you what the notes/symbols/octaves/etc
mean, but doesn't deal with reggae, funk, blues, classical, etc).
Wonderful!!!! I highly recommend it. Too bad about the company
though. They just laid off a good chunk of their work force because
this and other projects haven't taken off (The Software Toolworks Co.).
Have a ball!!
cj mouton
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