RockJamGo 25 Key USB and Bluetooth MIDI Keyboard Controller with 8 Backlit Drum Pads, 8 Knobs, One-Size (RJMK25)

The **RockJam Compact 61 Key Keyboard** is a fantastic option for beginners and hobbyists who want a portable, easy-to-use keyboard with all the essential features to get started with learning and playing the piano. Here's my experience with it, including its strengths and a few potential challenges.### **Design and Build**The **RockJam 61 Key Keyboard** has a **compact and lightweight design**, making it super easy to move around and store when not in use. It doesn’t take up much space, which is perfect if you’re working with a small room or apartment. The **61 keys** are a great starting point for beginners, offering enough range to learn songs and practice basic techniques without feeling overwhelmed.The keyboard comes with a **sheet music stand** that clips easily onto the top, making it convenient to hold sheet music or a tablet if you're using digital resources like piano apps. The design is functional, though not the sturdiest, but it does the job for everyday practice.### **Piano Note Stickers**One of the things I really appreciated is the inclusion of **piano note stickers**. As a beginner, having the notes labeled on the keys was super helpful for learning scales, chords, and melodies. The stickers are easy to apply and remove without leaving any residue, and they make it much easier to familiarize yourself with the keys and learn how to play songs faster.### **Power Supply**The keyboard comes with a **power supply**, so there’s no need to worry about constantly buying batteries. However, if you prefer to use it on the go, it also has the option to run on batteries, which adds to its portability.### **Simply Piano Lessons**The package includes access to the **Simply Piano app**, which is a fantastic bonus for beginners. The app offers guided lessons that are easy to follow and help you get started quickly. The app walks you through everything from learning basic notes to more advanced techniques, and it’s a great supplement to traditional lessons or self-teaching. The integration of lessons with the keyboard made learning much more engaging, and I felt like I was making progress faster with the interactive approach.### **Sound Quality**For a keyboard in this price range, the **sound quality** is pretty decent. While it obviously won’t compare to a full-size digital piano or a high-end keyboard, the RockJam does a good job of providing a clear, enjoyable sound for practicing. It comes with multiple **instrument voices** and sound effects, which can be fun to experiment with, especially if you're new to keyboards.The keyboard has **built-in speakers**, and the sound output is good enough for home practice. However, if you’re looking for richer sound quality, you may want to connect external speakers or use headphones, which the keyboard supports through its **headphone jack**.### **Ease of Use**The **interface is simple and user-friendly**. The buttons are clearly labeled, making it easy to switch between different instrument voices, rhythms, and demo songs. There’s no complex menu to navigate, so you can quickly adjust settings or change sounds as you play. This makes it perfect for beginners who just want to focus on learning to play without getting bogged down by overly technical settings.### **Features**- **Built-in rhythms and demo songs**: The RockJam comes with a variety of **rhythms** and **demo songs** that are great for learning timing and experimenting with different styles of music.- **Recording and playback**: There’s a simple **record and playback function**, which allows you to record your practice sessions and listen to them to assess your progress.- **Headphone jack**: Practicing with headphones is a great feature if you don’t want to disturb others around you, or if you prefer more private practice sessions.### **Portability**The **compact size** and ability to run on batteries make this keyboard highly portable. If you need to take it to lessons, move it around the house, or even take it outside for a casual practice session, it’s easy to pack up and go. This is a great feature for kids or students who may need to bring their keyboard to school or a friend’s house for lessons.### **Challenges**- **Key Sensitivity**: One thing to note is that the keys are not **touch-sensitive**, meaning that the volume of the note won’t change depending on how hard or soft you press the keys. For a beginner, this isn’t a huge deal, but as you advance and want to work on dynamics and expressiveness, you may eventually want to upgrade to a keyboard with weighted, touch-sensitive keys.- **Build Quality**: While the keyboard is lightweight and portable, it does feel a little **plasticky**. The keys, while functional, don’t have the same solid feel as higher-end keyboards or pianos. This is to be expected at this price point, but it's something to consider if you're looking for a more durable, professional-feeling instrument.- **Limited Range**: While **61 keys** are plenty for beginners, more advanced players may find the lack of a full **88-key range** limiting. As you progress and start playing more complex pieces, the missing octaves could become an issue. However, for starting out, the 61 keys are perfectly fine.### **Pros**- **Compact and lightweight**: Easy to move and store, perfect for small spaces.- **Beginner-friendly**: Includes piano note stickers, a music stand, and access to Simply Piano lessons, making it great for beginners.- **Affordable**: Good value for the price, with enough features to get started with learning piano.- **Fun features**: Multiple instrument voices, rhythms, and demo songs make practicing more enjoyable.- **Portability**: Can run on batteries, making it easy to take anywhere.- **Headphone jack**: Allows for quiet practice without disturbing others.### **Cons**- **Non-weighted keys**: No touch sensitivity, which may limit dynamics for more advanced players.- **Plastic build**: Feels lightweight and not as durable as higher-end keyboards.- **Limited key range**: 61 keys may eventually be limiting for more complex pieces.### **Final Thoughts**The **RockJam Compact 61 Key Keyboard** is an excellent choice for beginners and casual players looking for an affordable, easy-to-use keyboard. It has all the essential features to get started, including note stickers, online lessons, and multiple sound options to keep things fun and engaging. While it may not be suitable for advanced players due to the lack of touch-sensitive keys and limited range, it’s perfect for those just beginning their musical journey. The compact design and portability make it convenient for home use or on-the-go practice, and overall, it’s a solid value for the price.

I see a lot of reviews for using this device for kids as a beginner piano. This is a great product, but you have to understand what it is before buying it. If you want to buy a device for you or your kid to learn how to play piano, this isn't what you want. You'll probably want a full size keyboard with built in speakers. This will not make any noise without some kind of software. If you want to just tinker, you probably don't want this either.However, if you are like me and you want it to input notes and beats into a DAW then this is a perfect solution. It connected to the DAW seamlessly and it's worked perfectly so far. I'm using it wirelessly on tablet. There is a little bit of a lag, but I think there are ways to remedy that and you can connect using a cable if you need to. This will suit my needs and I recommend it if you also need a mobile device for use on a DAW.

I decided to pick up learning the piano at the age of 43 with no prior experience. I wanted to buy something cheap to learn on in case I flaked out on it :)Turns out, I love playing and never miss a day. This keyboard has been a wonderful companion and I have loved learning on it. It's lightweight and portable and has tons of options for tones and rhythms, most of which I don't use, but it's cool to know they are there if I want to mix things up from time to time.The only thing holding me back from giving a five star rating is that the music stand is horrible and almost entirely useless. I had to remove it and I simply lay the music flat over the back end of the piano. NOT ideal, but for now, it's working well enough for me. The second and last reason for not awarding a "perfect score" is that when the volume is up high, depending on the tone you are using, the speakers vibrate on some notes and it's less than lovely. ...I am sure that sounds unsavory for potential buyers, but honestly, for the money, this is a great little keyboard. I have traveled with it several times and I have used it every single day and it's been a good instrument.For the price, you really can't go wrong.Great for kids or adults.I am going to be buying a Casio Privia in the fall, but I will be keeping this keyboard for travel.Even with the issues I have mentioned above, I really feel it's worth every cent of the price.

Why did you pick this product vs others?:Works great for beginners.

The RJMK Mini25 is an excellent budget MIDI keyboard. At $36 I paid, I should have gotten more than one. Right now it is in the $70 range, unless you need a battery and wireless, I would go with a different model from Akai or M-Audio, and look for it used or b-stock at this price, sometimes with a lot of useful software. A USB type-C connector can also be used for USB MIDI or to recharge the built-in battery. The pads, endless encoders, screen, knobs and joystick offer a lot of control for something so small and cheap.The main reason I am writing this review is to document that it uses a TRS 1/8" Type A MIDI connector. This is actually the more uncommon wiring for MIDI - you may or may not need an adapter for another device depending on if it is A, B, or switchable. It does not have a tradition 5-pin connector.Bluetooth appears to work although I had some initial issues. I have yet to test the latency but this is a unusual feature in this price range. The sustain pedal 1/4" input is great to have.Keys are small (not quite the same as my mini keys) and springy, basically imagine the worst synth style keys that still have some sensitivity. Same with the pads. They work for basic use, better than a touch screen, pcb, or button keyboard. Even with these cons, it is a 5/5 for value, as they are expected at this price.

Perfect for beginners