WORLD OF MUSIC ; PORTABLE KEYBOARD - Latest Portable Music Keyboards, Synthesizers and Music News

Roland has unveiled two new models in its KIYOLA line of “artisan” digital pianos, a collaboration with respected Japanese wood furniture manufacturers Karimoku inaugurated in 2015 with the KF-10.

Inspired by “wa”, the Japanese concept of harmony, the KF-20 and KF-25 are sleek and stylish pianos designed with an emphasis on aesthetics. Each Kiyola piano is said to be a one-of-a-kind instrument with unique grain patterns and aging, the Karimoku-crafted cabinets equipped with piano technology lifted from Roland’s high-end GP and LX series instruments.

Both models feature the Piano Reality Modeling engine found in the GP and LX series and offer “warm, uniquely voiced” tones that match the aesthetics of their cabinets. Six tones are accessible directly from the piano with an additional 48 available via Roland’s companion app, which gives players access to Roland’s Piano Designer for fine-tuned sound-shaping. You also get two effects, the Ambience reverb and Brilliance, an EQ that brightens the tone.

Both models feature a stereo two-way sound system with 24W per channel. The KF-20 and KF-25 also benefit from Roland’s PHA-50 keyboard, a premium action designed to recreate the weighted, nuanced response of a real acoustic piano. (In Roland’s product line-up, PHA-50 is second only to the Hybrid Grand keyboard found in the flagship GP-9.)

The KF-20 is an update on the KF-10 designed to showcase a “soft, elegant look with gentle curves”. It’s available in a new, quirky Celadon Green finish, along with three more neutral colours: Walnut, Sheer White and Pure Oak.

The KF-25 has a sharper and more defined look inspired by the style of ‘Japandi’, a fusion of Scandinivian aesthetics and Japanese wabi-sabi. The instrument is available exclusively in a Smoked Oak finish.

Both models come with a piano bench and three-pedal unit with sustain, soft and sostenuto pedals, and each piano features Bluetooth (with Bluetooth MIDI), dual headphone outputs, a USB-C port for MIDI and audio and a USB-A port for additional storage.

Roland KF-20 & KF-25 purchase prices starting at £3,803/€4,490/$5,719.99 and will be available for purchase at select Roland retailers worldwide this month.

Roland has announced a new, “refreshed” version of its GO:PIANO88. As you might expect, this improves on the previous model in a number of ways.

The GO- 88PX (to give it its official title) is a lightweight, portable (you can run it on batteries) 88-note portable keyboard with ‘box-shape’ velocity-sensitive keys. There are five types of touch sensitivity – up from three on its predecessor, the GO:PIANO 88P – and a huge number of extra tones.

In fact, ten times as many, as the limited four-preset palette of the 88P has been expanded to include 40 built-in sounds, spread across piano, electric piano, organ and ‘other’ categories. There are also new ambience, brilliance and (for the organ tones) rotary speaker effects.

As a further bonus, you can also access a further 256 GM2 tones via the Roland Piano App. This also gives you access to the Piano Designer, which enables you to adjust the likes of lid position, damper resonance, tuning, volume and temperament.

Other features include a metronome, a MIDI recorder for capturing your playing, dual/split functions and wireless audio and MIDI over Bluetooth 5.

But, the maximum polyphony has been halved from 128 to 64 and the quoted amplifier power has dropped to 6w x 2 for the 15 x 6 cm speakers. The maximum quoted battery life is around six hours on the GO-88PX (using alkaline batteries).

In better news, the new model is very slightly smaller than the old one and weighs a bit less: 5.8kg as opposed to 7kg. The look has also been refined, and Roland says that the top-panel interface is easier to operate.

Like the 88P, the GO-88PX has a pedal input, audio output, USB port and AC adapter socket. A USB-C port replaces the USB type B port, though, and the phones/output socket is now minijack rather than 1/4-inch size.

Features:

• Premium piano performance in a compact and portable instrument
• 88 full-size keys for playing everything from pop to classical music
• Elegant design with acoustic piano style
• Simple interface with efficient controls
• Lightweight design (5.8 kg/12.8 lb.) that’s easy to move and carry
• Powered by AA batteries or included AC adaptor
• 40 presets, including bright and inviting piano tones and sounds for exploring other music styles
• High-quality stereo speaker system with rich, full sound
• Recording function for capturing performances and evaluating progress
• USB-C and Bluetooth audio/MIDI for streaming songs and working with music software
• Roland Piano App (iOS/Android) provides wireless remote control, learning games, and more
• Includes one year of Roland Cloud Core membership

The GO-88PX sounds good and plays well. The full-size digital piano price is at $379.99

Find out more on the Roland website.

At the 2025 NAMM Show, being held at the Anaheim Convention Center in California from January 23 to January 25, Rhodes Music plans to showcase their MK8 Piano, launch a new Custom Shop Line, and introduce a new 61-Key Stage Piano.

Since its revival as a UK-based company in 2021, Rhodes Music has reintroduced the legendary electro-mechanical piano, based on inventor Harold Rhodes’ original vision. Built on his iconic asymmetrical tuning fork design, the MK8 combines the traditional craftsmanship of the original with modern innovations, like built-in analog effects.

This year’s NAMM Show will see Rhodes showcasing three main lines:

• This year, the MK8 takes a major leap forward with new integrated MIDI capabilities. Featuring proprietary sensing technology, the system adds high-resolution monitoring of key position and both Channel and Polyphonic Aftertouch. Attendees will have the opportunity to experience this new functionality firsthand.
• Rhodes will give attendees a first look at its upcoming 61-key Rhodes stage piano, a more compact, portable design.
• The company will also make the NAMM debut of their new Rhodes Custom Shop, which offers complete aesthetic customization options for the MK8 piano.

In addition to these lines, the Rhodes booth will feature a dedicated technology station, where attendees can explore the full suite of Rhodes virtual instruments and effects firsthand. This will include the V8 Series and Anthology Collection, along with Rhodes Chroma by Cherry Audio, V-Rack, and V-Pan.