In June of 2006, I got taped for a new show on HGTV called “I Want That! Tech Toys“. I was invited to demo a portable keyboard called the Yamano Hand-Roll Piano (a bit of a misnomer, since it’s not a piano, it’s a keyboard).
What makes it an interesting product is that it’s truly portable: it rolls up into a tight little package, it’s powered by batteries, and you can carry it virtually anywhere. The keys are made of rubber with touch sensors underneath, so if you spill something on it, you don’t have to worry. It’s even got a MIDI-out port, in case you’re interested in that sort of a thing.
The only thing that’s missing is the tactile feel of a real keyboard, which, I have to say, is a fairly important thing for the more serious piano or keyboard players. But this keyboard will work for children and beginners, up to a certain point. The episode in which I appear aired on HGTV in August of 2006. My husband uploaded the particular segment of the show where I am featured to YouTube, and you can view it below. You can also find more details about the taping and the Yamano keyboard on my husband’s website.
[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avjAXuFU55E[/video]