The Yamaha EZ-220 61-Lighted Key Portable Keyboard Package is Yamaha's easiest learn-to-play instrument ever, with lighted keys and a fingering guide so that even absolute beginners can quickly get up to speed practicing their favorite songs. It uses the latest technologies to make learning the piano fun and engaging, and this Amazon bundle includes everything you need right out of the box.
Quick Overview of the Yamaha EZ-220 61-Lighted Key Portable Keyboard Package
Yamaha has specifically designed the EZ-220 61-Lighted Key Portable Keyboard Package to make piano instruction fun, simple, and fast.
The Yamaha EZ-220 61-Lighted Key Portable Keyboard Package has great Yamaha sound and features, along with a touch-sensitive, lighted keyboard and next-generation app integrations that make it fast and easy to learn to play the piano. The lighted keys, simple step-by-step instruction modules, and iPad app will particularly appeal to young learners, but it has robust features to appeal to intermediate players as well.Summary of Specs and Features of the Yamaha EZ-220
Keys
61-key lighted-key keyboard
Screen
LCD screen
Present songs
100 in total
Polyphony
32 levels max
Accompaniment Styles
100 preset accompaniment styles
Transpose Function
Yes
Record playback
Yes, record and playback functions through the app
Headphone Jack
Yes
Accessories Included
Weight
Weighs less than 10 pounds
Touch-sensitive keys
Yes
Demo songs
One
Voices
392 voices with 12 drums and 1 sound effect kit
Reverb
9 types of reverb
GM compatible
Yes
Fingering guide
Yes
iPad App
Comes with iPad Page Turner app
Who is the Yamaha EZ-220 61-Lighted Key Portable Keyboard Package Most Suitable For?
The Yamaha EZ-220 61-Lighted Key Portable Keyboard Package is ideal for young children and complete novices to learn to play the piano. The lighted keys not only show you which key to play, but the fingering guide shows which finger to use, and the accompanying iPad app makes piano lessons simple and engaging. The included accompanying song styles make it easy to play complete songs in no time.
Beginners will also enjoy experimenting with the wide range of included piano voices and instrument sounds, exploring the full range of capabilities of a digital piano. Transpose and polyphony capabilities give greater range to the customization and expressions possible in this entry-level keyboard.What's Included With the Yamaha EZ-220 61-Lighted Key Portable Keyboard Package?
The Yamaha EZ-220 61-Lighted Key Portable Keyboard Package comes with the EZ-220 keyboard itself, along with:
Samson HP30 Closed-cup Headphones with a comfortable, padded headband. These headphones have good sound quality at a high range of frequencies, and a 9 ft. cord
World Tour SXKS Standard Keyboard Stand, which is a single-braced, steel keyboard stand. It is heavy-duty, and strong enough to hold keyboards up to 130 pounds, with a height adjustment from 25.25-38.75”
World Tour PA130 Power Supply for AC power in a compact size
EZ-220 Page Turner iPad app is a digital songbook for the 100 songs built into the keyboard. It connects wirelessly to the keyboard, and automatically advances the music pages as you play along
Yamaha Visual Performer app will create animations and cool visualizations based on the music you play on any MIDI device, to add custom imagery along with the sound
Yamaha Piano Diary app allows you to record, store, play, and share your EZ-220 music no matter where you are. The Piano Diary lets you track your progress and makes your piano playing sharable with anyone, at any time.
Overview of the Yamaha EZ-220 61-Lighted Key Portable Keyboard Package's Features
The Yamaha EZ-220 61-Lighted Key Portable Keyboard Package has a lot of features in a compact package.
Design
The Yamaha EZ-220 keyboard is compact and portable, weighing less than 10 pounds
Music rest
It comes with a music rest that can hold sheet music or an iPad, and has a special mount to hold an iPad securely in place, so that you can use the touchscreen features without risking moving or dropping the tablet.
Sound
The EZ-220 keyboard uses high-quality Yamaha Advanced Wave Memory (AWM) stereo sampling. AWM sampling uses high-quality recording and filtering technology to make tones that are expressive, nuanced, and authentic to the source instrument sound.
Instrument voices
It has 392 instrument voices and 13 drum and SFX sounds. It also has 9 types of reverb, and 100 preset accompaniment styles.
Grand piano sound
There is also a dedicated Grand Piano button, that adjusts all settings to reproduce the sound of a grand piano from the EZ-220.
Learning functions
It comes with 100 preset songs and 1 demo song to help speed learning, and has a built-in customizable metronome. The Yamaha Education Suite is built in to the keyboard, and uses the LCD screen to help you practice with either hand, or both hands, giving simple, effective lessons without requiring an app or internet connection.
Battery Power
The ability to use battery power makes it even more convenient for travel or playing outdoors.
Touch sensitivity
The lighted keyboard is touch-sensitive, which is an excellent feature. And the lights can also be turned off when you don't need them anymore.
Features
32 max polyphony isn't a very high number, and more advanced players will want a greater capacity, but many entry-level digital keyboards don't have polyphony capabilities at all.
Adjustable style sync
You can adjust accompaniment style sync, intro, ending, auto-fill, etc. One Touch Setting lets you use Yamaha preset settings, or store your own preferences and retrieve them with the press of a button.
Tuning functions
Transpose and tuning functions let you customize the tone of your instrument as needed.
Connectivity
The Yamaha EZ-220 61-Lighted Key Portable Keyboard has ports for a sustain pedal, headphones, and a USB port for connecting directly to digital devices. It also connects wirelessly to an iPad running the dedicated Yamaha EZ-220 apps, but uses a dedicated private connection between the iPad and the keyboard, rather than using standard Bluetooth or WIFI connectivity.
Apps
There are several iPad apps that are bundled with the Yamaha EZ-220 61-Lighted Key Portable Keyboard Package.
Page Turner
This is a digital songbook for the preset songs included with the keyboard. It helps you learn to read music, and advances the pages automatically as you play along.
Visual Performer
This app creates custom visualizations based on the pitch and velocity of your piano playing, creating visual effects and imagery to go along with your music.
Note Star
Note Star adds touchscreen and interactive capabilities to traditional sheet music, taking advantage of new technologies to enhance the experience.
Piano Diary
This app allows you to track and record your piano performances. Recordings are stored in the cloud, where they can be replayed anytime, anywhere, and easily shared with others. It's a great way to track your progress as a player.
Bundle
This bundle includes a keyboard stand, AC adapter, and a pair of headphones. The stand and headphones aren't the highest quality, but are certainly functional enough for a beginner, and it's nice to get the entire set in a single package.
Two Alternative (Cheaper) Keyboards
The oddest aspect of the Yamaha EZ-220 61-Lighted Key Portable Keyboard Package is the price point. It seems like the lighted keys and app integration are intended to appeal to younger beginners, making it a good educational keyboard for children, and yet it's an expensive keyboard for children who may lose interest or get distracted.
Yamaha has many entry-level keyboards with better musical capabilities at a lower price, making it seem as though the cost-driving feature of the EZ-220 is bundled the iPad apps. Some may feel that those apps aren't worth the cost difference when compared to competitive keyboards, even from the same brand.
Casio LK-190 61-key Premium Lighted Headboard Pack
Alternative product for a young piano student
Like the Yamaha EZ-220 61-Lighted Key Portable Keyboard Package, the Casio LK-190 package has a lighted, touch-sensitive, 61-key keyboard. The package also comes with a stand, headphones, and power supply. It has onboard lessons and learning modules, a variety of voices and rhythms, and connects to an iPad. But it's much less expensive than the EZ-220, and might be a better way to foster a child's musical interest and education without investing too much money.
Casio LK-190 61-key Premium Lighted Headboard Pack
Alternative product for an older piano student
Like the EZ-220, the Yamaha YPT260 has the Yamaha Education Suite with onboard learning tools. This bundle also comes with a stand, bench, and power supply.
It doesn't have lighted keys or app integration, but aux input allows you to play along with your existing music library. It has a wider range of voices, songs, and accompaniment styles, along with a greater range of sound customization options.
Importantly, it allows you to independently adjust the volume of your accompanying tracks, and has onboard recording and playback features. It's a more sophisticated instrument, with greater opportunities to grow as a musician, and still costs significantly less than the EZ-220.
Conclusion
The Yamaha EZ-220 61-Lighted Key Portable Keyboard Package has everything a person needs to be set up and playing the piano in minutes, with a package that includes headphones and a keyboard stand, and lighted keys that guide you through playing the built-in song library.
It's an incredibly fast, simple, fun way to start playing your favorite songs on the piano right away.
The large number of settings, instrument voices, and app compatibility also support your growth as a musician, so you can go on to more complex songs and even your own compositions. With one touch, you can even simulate the sound of playing a grand piano in your own concert hall. It's a great way to foster a love of learning and a love of music, making learning to play the piano simple, fun, and engaging.