I'm thinking of buying an electronic or digital piano, one of those
ones that teaches you how to play it, with light-up keys and a screen
that tells you what chord you're playing.  I've been a pretty
dilettantish, on-again-off-again music student.  So I want something
fun and easy.  I also don't want to be stuck learning Twinkle Twinkle
Little Star and Fur Elise.  From what I've seen, Yamaha has a bunch of
keyboards with the Yamaha Education Suite, and Casio has some other
education system.  I haven't been able to figure out if any third
party software works with these.

My request is for recommendations/reviews of the best self-teaching
keyboard options.

I'd also pay an extra $5 or $10 for similar reviews for self-teaching
guitars, but as far as I know, only Yamaha makes one.

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Clarification of Question by newbie99-ga on 05 Apr 2005 13:05 PDT

Thanks for the suggestions, L. Davinci.  The Voyetra one looks a
little more fun, but the eMedia one is available for Macs (the PC at
home is my wife's.)  The eMedia one looks like it emulates traditional
piano lessons, maybe.  My goal is more being able to play a little
blues and some popular or jazz songs.  Right now I'd just like to
learn how to play "Dream a Little Dream of Me."

I do have a decent Midi keyboard at home (I think it's a Clavinova),
but it's not one of those souped up ones with a million buttons and
keys that light up.  But it looks like if I get the software you're
suggesting, any Midi keyboard will do.

Thanks again.

Hi newbie99-ga,

  You might find Voyetra's "Teach me Piano Deluxe" and eMedia's
"Piano and Keyboard method" helpful.Yamaha is supposed to have
better sounds. If you are serious you should go for one of the
partial weighted keyboards with hammer action.

Regards
ldavinci-ga