Review on 37 Key Kids Piano Keyboard With Microphone - Perfect For 3-8 Year Olds! | APerfectLife by Gene Taylor

This is a good starter keyboard for a kid interested in learning how to play music, but the music/build quality is what you'd expect from a toy keyboard.Pros : It is one of the most compact 37-key keyboards available and is very light and portable. The best part is that it's the only option in the market (that I could find) that came with a regular rechargeable battery like a cell phone or tablet. The record+play option is very useful, and the various schemes for playing preset tunes in 'learn, play, follow' modes are also very good, especially with the option of key lighting. I was quite impressed with the usability of these options in that you can turn all these features on/off with simple clear controls that even my 4yr old easily mastered.Cons : (a) When you turn it on, the volume is at it's maximum and it automatically starts to play a 5 second tune. This is super-annoying, and it's actually seems too loud to be safe for a child sitting just 1.5 ft away from it at the time. However, if you start pressing the volume '-' button as soon as you turn the power on, the automatic tune stops and you just get beeps from the volume button as it is reduced. My 4yr old now knows how to do this (thank goodness). (b) The sound quality isn't great, but that is to be expected from a toy instrument. There is a constant hum of a few tones after you have played a few keys and let go. Also, you can play only up to 3 keys at once so you cannot teach/learn melody+chords on this. Basic 2-handed piano-style playing is ok, with at most 3 keys played at once. (c) Only one speaker (left one) works. I initially thought this was a defect, and returned the keyboard and ordered a second one, but the second also had the same problem. So, I'm assuming this is a feature. It's OK though, as the single speaker is definitely loud enough. (d) The keys are not very strong. My kid does not bang on them or try to press too hard, but I have seen other kids push very hard, and as one of the other reviewers also pointed out here, the keys bend easily and may crack if pressed too hard.Overall, a good starter keyboard for the price.