Convert your iTouch into an iPhone using Skype

From a distance, you cannot make out the difference between an iTouch and an iPhone. Your budget may not let you buy the iPhone for its expensive data features and the recurring, yet again expensive monthly dataplan. But you are not far from making inexpensive calls using your iTouch and almost pay nothing for making inexpensive calls whatever the destination is !

Well, how can you get your iTouch upgrade to an iPhone ? can you really make calls using the iPhone ? ...Well, Yes !

What does it cost ?...Nothing much.

All you need is the hands free cable that is available for the iPhone. This is the cable that has the earbuds and the tiny microphone alongside. This is the way you are gonna be able to talk through the iTouch. Without this headset, iTouch is designed only for outputting music.

Just note that the iTouch can act as your phone only where you can access Wi-fi. Do not expect the itouch to be able to allow you make a call when you are hiking in the desert.

Yes, I understand is what you say !. Ok, move on !

Using the Wi-fi connection on your itouch, download Skype for iPhone/Itouch from the iTunes store. Once you install this, attach the headset cord (microphone with speakers) like the ones you use for iPhone to connect to your iTouch. You can login to your skype account or create one to get started. Also consider getting a suitable subscription to make local calls and international calls over skype. An itouch at home can double up as your music player ond your home phone by using skype.

What is the Yamaha Education Suite Y.E.S.5 (YES5)

Yamaha Education Suite 5 (Y.E.S. 5)
The Yamaha Education Suite—a set of learning tools that utilize the latest technology to make studying and practicing music on Yamaha Electronic Keyboards more fun and fulfilling than ever before!

The Yamaha Education Suite includes:

1. Lesson
The convenient and easy-to-use Lesson feature, guides you through the parts of a song—just like a patient teacher! Select from any one of many songs , and learn the left- and right hand parts independently at first, then together. Lesson features three easy steps that help you master each song: Listen and Learn, Timing and Waiting.
Lesson 1 (Listen & Learn) ....... Listen and learn the melody or rhythm of a selected Song.
Lesson 2 (Timing) .........Learn to play the notes at the correct timing along with the Song.
Lesson 3 (Waiting) .................... Learn to play the correct notes.

2. Built-in lighted Key Guide
When you are using the Lesson feature or the Dictionary, the key indicators tell you which keys
to play. Also, during song playback, they show the keys that are playing. When Light Guide is on, each key (of the notes in the Song) lights in succession showing you which keys to play and when.

3. Fingering Guide
The Fingering guide is shown on the display and shows you how to play the keyboard. When the Song is started, the fingering guide appears on the display and shows you which fingers you should use while playing.

4. Dictionary
Dictionary is a built-in “chord encyclopedia” that teaches you how to play specific chords by
showing lighting keyboards—perfect for when you know the name of a chord and want to quickly learn how to play it! The Dictionary function is essentially a built-in “chord dictionary” that shows you the individual notes of chords. It is ideal when you know the name of a certain chord and want to quickly learn how to play it.

5. Notice your Grade
The keyboards also has the Grade feature. Grade is a virtual “teacher,” evaluating your practice sessions and rating your performance over four levels. When the lesson Song has played all the way through in Lesson 2 or 3, your performance will be evaluated in four levels: OK, Good, Very Good, or Excellent.

Choosing Piano Keyboard for a child beginner

Not until recently did my little son had the craze for music until he found a Grand piano at his friend's home. He started playing on it and got hooked on to it so fast that he came back home with his newest demand - A Piano!

Well, while I was considering his request, his friend's dad happened to chat up with me and commended about my little son that he had a natural ability for the keyboard. So, with double confirmation, I started looking for a piano. Now was the question, Should I buy a real piano, or an electronic keyboard. After various considerations, I realised that keyboard was what I wanted. OK. now, which keyboard.

Look around and there are quite a couple of keyboards. With rapidly improvin technology, keyboards have become much sophisticated than ever is what I realised comparing to a 48 key Casio keyboard I had a couple of years ago..

So what are the considerations for buying this keyboard and how should I search it ? This was my shortlist.

1. The instrument should be able to teach a child all the chords in a friendly, phased manner.
2. Teaching alone is not sufficient, it should be able to analyse whether the child is learning.
3. The keyboard should have great features that would be good for years to come.
4. It should be close to a real piano.
5. Maximum budget of 200$


I didn't have much choices other than Casio and Yamaha. Both have a great number of choices and fabulous keyboards but I didn't need convincing that the lighted keyboards are the most appropriate ones for faster learning.

The lighted keyboards actually light up the keys that are to be pressed next to get the tune going.

Two great, most advanced keyboards I found were the Casio LK100 and Yamaha EZ200.

Both these are 61 Key Keyboards and after reading several blogs, articles, I realized that a minimum 61 key keyboard is required to start learning a piano although an 88 Key board is great. I didn't want too big a board either. Looked like these were great keyboards to start with.

There began my hunt for comparing the products.

Both these keyboards are perfect keyboards and are priced right for the great features they are offering. Casio LK 100 costs a third less than the EZ200 at the time of this article.

Great common features about Casio LK 100 and Yamaha EZ200

• 61 Keys, Over 100 songs, 100 instument types.
• 3 Step Lessons, Lighted keys..
• Headphone Compatible, so that learner can learn without disturbing others.
• MIDI compatible, can connect to a comuter to store any compositions etc.

Additional features that Yamaha keyboard has for the additional price you pay:

• Has a Chord Dictionary , Has a Grading system to provide feedback to the learner
• 32 note Polyphony ( Casio has 16). This means one can have
• Metronome ( produces beats at intervals for timing)
• Grand Piano Sound ( at a press of a button, the keyboard transforms to a Grand Piano)
• Real Stereo ( not just 2 speakers)
• Connects to a pedal so that learner can practice as if on a Real Piano.
• More Voices ( 367 in total)

Well, finally I settled for the Yamaha Piano for its features. Though slightly expensive, it is great for the money I spent on it.


My son's already learning !