The NP12 is the new version of the Yamaha NP11, both keyboards have functions in common, however, as expected the NP12 has better features, below are the main differences between the two models: The Yamaha NP-32 has 64 notes of maximum polyphony, and that’s a good amount, allowing you to play most classical and modern pieces without issue. Piaggero," the name of the NP-15 Series, combines "Piano" with the word "leggero," a musical term meaning, "light." As the name states, the NP-315 is extremely light, even for a portable keyboard, so that you can take it anywhere. Indoors, outdoors, or even on a trip, feel free to take it to your favorite places and practice. With that said, I do believe that the sluggish keys hurt the NP-32 / NP-12 in this regard. I’m more used to the weighted keys of fully-fledged digital pianos, but I still found the flatbed keys on the PSR-E363 usable.

Unlike the PSR-E363, the NP-series comes with a smaller feature set, though it does include both keys that look more realistic (emphasis on “look”) and a slightly modified sound set. The PSR-E353 by Yamaha is around the same price as the NP-12, but it has some differences. The first and most distinguishable characteristic is its number of voices, songs, and its play-along feature. The PSR-E353 has a few hundred voice and sound options, ranging from ones similar to that of the NP-12’s, all the way to drums, synthesizers, and sound effects. The play-along feature allows the user to play along to various song styles, beats, and tempos, and can even follow along on the small LCD screen that shows the player which notes to hit. Now, thekeys on the NP-12 themselves feel great (well, at leastwhen you factor in the fairly cheap price of the NP-12), although it’s important to note that these keysare not full-weighted. While they’re a little lighter, they’re built with touch sensitivity to attempt to simulate a more realistic piano. The use of lighter keys brings down the weight of the keyboard to around nine lbs., which is relatively light for a keyboard. Still, it feels sturdy enough to withstand portability, and I think it would take a lot of stress testing to break this thing.

Headphones come in very handy when you want to practice in private, focusing solely on your playing and not disturbing others nearby. The strong feature of the Yamaha NP12 connectivity is the connection with iOS devices, as those who love the iPhone and iPad may have several additional functions through the USB Host connection. Maybe you want to learn how to play the piano, but the keys feel so heavy you think your fingers will tire out; or maybe you think your fingers aren’t strong enough to achieve sufficiently strong fortes. It would be a shame to let such trivial concerns discourage you from playing the piano. The Piaggero’s light keyboard feel lets you experience the joy of playing a keyboard.

See there is no digital keyboard / piano with 61 textured keys on the market, besides Go: Piano / Keys, correct?At 61 keys, this keyboard is much more portable than a full range (88 keys), which can be a plus for beginners and mobile players because of its smaller size, but might be a hindrance for classical players who need all of those keys.