Category: Review

beginner tutorial, Music Composition, music performance, music production, Review, synthesizer, Uncategorized

A Synth That Makes You Want to Play: Roland Jupiter-Xm Review

lizteachespiano

As a piano teacher and music enthusiast, I’m always excited to try new synthesizers! There’s something special about an instrument that sparks creativity the moment you switch it on, and the Roland Jupiter-Xm is one of those instruments.

Having previously enjoyed spending time with its larger counterpart I was pleased when I had the opportunity to borrow a little Jupiter-Xm and explore what this compact synthesizer has to offer. After several weeks of playing, experimenting, and getting to know its features, I thought I’d share A Synth That Makes You Want to Play: Roland Jupiter-Xm review with you!

At first glance, the Roland Jupiter-Xm looks small. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I first saw it. But once I switched it on and started exploring the sounds, I quickly understood why so many musicians like it.

Specifications

  • 37-note mini-key keyboard
  • Over 4,000 sounds onboard
  • Models of classic Roland synths including Jupiter-8, Juno-106, SH-101 and JX-8P
  • 5-part multitimbral operation (play multiple sounds at once)
  • Built-in drum sounds and rhythm patterns
  • Arpeggiator and sequencer functions
  • Built-in stereo speakers– this is very useful as its quite portable!
  • USB audio and MIDI connectivity
  • Compact and lightweight design

I believe you can buy it from many places, but here are a couple of places:

Gear4Music.se

thomann.se

Roland

Great Sounds Straight Away

One of the best things about the Jupiter-Xm is that it sounds fantastic right out of the box. There are thousands of sounds to explore, from classic synthesizer tones and warm pads to basses and bright leads. You don’t have to download patches or anything like that. You can just play it.

The vintage-inspired sounds are particularly impressive. Fans of classic Roland synthesizers will feel right at home, but there are also plenty of modern sounds for electronic music, film scoring, ambient music, and pop production. Even if you’re not an expert in synthesis, (I am certainly not!) it’s easy to find sounds that inspire you to play.

Fun and Easy to Use

Some synthesizers can feel intimidating with endless menus and complicated controls. The Jupiter-Xm manages to offer a lot of power without feeling overwhelming. You can simply switch it on, browse sounds, and start playing. If you enjoy experimenting, there’s plenty to explore, but you don’t need to be an expert to have fun with it.

The front panel gives quick access to many of the most useful controls, making it easy to shape sounds as you play.

Perfect for Home Studios

For anyone making music at home like me, the Jupiter-Xm is a great option. It takes up very little space, yet it can produce an impressive range of sounds. Here is a quick little video I took showcasing some sounds and rhythms. I filmed with the other hand, so excuse the moving camera! Click on the video for chapters.

One feature I like is you can layer sounds together. You can combine pads, strings, synth leads, basses, and drums to create surprisingly rich arrangements from a single instrument. This is very useful if you are using a DAW with limited tracks, then you can put a beat and melody in one track. It has a slight vintage feel without feeling old fashioned.

Another useful feature is that it has built in speakers. You don’t need to connect to anything. I’m not going to lie, it is not the best speaker in the world, they’re not designed to replace studio monitors, but they’re perfect for casual playing, sketching ideas, or practising away from your main setup. Sometimes it’s nice to simply switch on a keyboard and start playing without connecting extra equipment. This can really help with creativity and writing music.

What About the Mini Keys?

The mini keys won’t be everyone’s favourite feature, especially if you’re used to a full-sized piano keyboard.

They are responsive and comfortable once you get used to them. The benefit is that the instrument remains compact and easy to move around.

It is not for piano practice, that always needs to be done on a full size keyboard. This is not a piano, or meant to substitute a piano in anyway. However, for synth playing, song writing, and music production, the mini keys work well.

What Could Be Better?

The Jupiter-Xm packs a huge amount of technology into a small box, which means some functions are hidden within menus, and this is quite tricky to learn and find. New users may need a little patience while learning where everything is. I think the larget version is a little easier to navigate, as it has bigger buttons and a bigger screen.

Final Thoughts

The Roland Jupiter-Xm is a fun, creative, and inspiring synthesizer. It combines fantastic sounds, portability, and impressive technology in a compact package.

What I like most is that it option for simplicity encourages you to play.

For pianists wanting to explore synthesizers, producers looking for a versatile sound source, or musicians who simply enjoy experimenting with great sounds, the Jupiter-Xm is well worth considering.

If you’d like to learn more about keyboards, music technology, piano lessons, and making music, feel free to explore the rest of the website. When I find time, I share reviews, tips, and resources to help musicians get more enjoyment from their playing.

beginner tutorial, Entrepreneur, learning environment, Music Composition, music production, Review, synthesizer, Uncategorized

Teenage Engineering PO-14 Sub Review

lizteachespiano

In a world of synths, Teenage Engineering’s Pocket Operators are quite unique—minimalist, affordable, and surprisingly powerful. The PO-14 Sub, focused on bass synthesis, is the one I chose from the PO family. (I will probably get another!) So here is my Teenage Engineering PO-14 Sub Review!

Here is a link to all the Pocket Operators

Designed for portability and simplicity, the Sub delivers gritty, analogue-style bass sounds with a digital twist. It offers 15 bass synth engines, a 16-step sequencer, built-in effects, and drum sounds—all controlled through a barebones but intuitive interface. It looks like a calculator, and is super fun!

Its raw, punchy tone makes it a great tool for sketching beats, layering textures, or just getting inspired when you’re away from your main setup.

The fact that it fits in your pocket and runs on AAA batteries makes it even more appealing for producers on the move. The sound is surprisingly good for its tiny size (it was even smaller than I thought!).

Thanks for reading my Teenage Engineering PO-14 Sub Review. The PO-14 Sub is a reminder that you don’t need a wall of gear to make interesting music. If you’re into lo-fi aesthetics, heavy bass, or just want a fresh way to explore ideas, the Teenage Engineering’s PO-14 Sub is a great little synth to have!

Business, Entrepreneur, learning environment, Music Lessons, piano lessons, piano teacher, Review, singing lessons, Uncategorized

Inspiring Lessons Through Smart Planning-and a free resource!

lizteachespiano

 Whether you teach piano, violin, or voice — a clear curriculum and planning turns lessons into lasting progress.

Teaching music privately gives flexibility — but without a structured approach, that freedom can become overwhelming. I like organisation and planning. A well-crafted curriculum and plan doesn’t restrict creativity, it supports it. With the right planning and curriculum in place, you can stay consistent, adapt to individual students, and track progress with clarity and confidence.

Here are a few practical tips to help you shape your music lessons:


1. Start with a “Why?”

Ask yourself:

  • What is the goal of your teaching? (Exam prep? Creative expression? Life-long musicality?) These goals may be different for depending on your student.
  • What do you value in a musician? What do you think is important for a student to know?

This helps shape your curriculum— and makes sure every lesson builds toward something meaningful.

Be sure to ask your students “Why?” also. At every trial, I ask my students why they want to learn to play piano or sing. 

2. Design Flexible Learning Plans

You don’t need a rigid syllabus. Instead, create learning levels (e.g. Beginner, Early Intermediate, etc.) and have an idea of what students need to know at each level:

  • Core skills (technique, reading, listening)
  • Repertoire (always get your students input in repertoire also)
  • Creative work (improv, composition, etc.)

A note here: You will be teaching all these things to all your students, but you may have students with particular interests/goals. It is very important that you incorporate their goals into your lessons to give them a personal 1 on 1 experience (after all, that is often what students are having private tuition for) . So if you have a student who wants to get better at sight reading, make sure you plan this into their lesson in a way that works for them. The way one student learns to sight read will be different to another.

3. Plan Lessons in “Mini-Arcs”

Think in 3–5 lesson arcs, rather than one-off lessons. Each arc could have a little focus on:

  • A piece or project
  • A specific technique (e.g. legato playing, bow control)
  • A musical concept (e.g. phrasing, dynamics, rhythm)
  • What do I want the student to know or do by the end of this arc? (Ask the student for their input as well.)
  • How will I break that down across lessons?
    You will still need to be covering everything they need to know in the lesson, but there wil be a time in the lesson you can focus on this particular area. 

4. Keep your Lessons and Curriculum Balanced

A well-balanced music lesson usually includes:

  • Warm-up or review (5–10 min)
  • Technique focus (10–15 min)
  • Repertoire (15–20 min)
  • Creative or listening activity (5–10 min)

Mixing modes — playing, listening, creating — keeps energy up and supports different learning styles.

5. Reflect and Adjust Often

After each lesson, jot down:

  • What worked?
  • Challenges?
  • Next step?

Even a 1-minute note helps you spot patterns and adapt. Over time, this turns into a useful resource for planning and curriculum insight.

It is a lot of work being a private music teacher! Planning and preparation of every students lessons does take time. However, if you do stay consistent with goals and planning- not only is beneficial for the student- but beneficial for you as a teacher- you go into each lesson calm and prepared. 

You don’t need a one-size-fits-all curriculum- you need a framework that guides each student’s journey. If you’re a little stuck on how to begin, use this lesson plan document to jot ideas down. I would recommend in time you begin to make more personal plans and layout, but to make a start I hope this will be useful!

With structure and planning, your lessons become more purposeful, and your students feel the difference. 

beginner tutorial, Entrepreneur, Music Composition, music performance, music production, Review, singing lessons, Singing teacher, synthesizer, Uncategorized

Eventide Space pedal: More Than Just Reverb?

lizteachespiano

I have never used a guitar pedal before, so I wasn’t even sure what to expect. I know pedals add effects like distortion or delay, but does it make a real difference? Pedals all seemed a bit like background stuff, or pedals are for people so proficient they know exactly what it will aid with. So when I managed to try out the Eventide Space pedal — this mysterious, brick with 11 knobs and names like “Blackhole” and “Mangled Verb” — I wondered what it would do.

What happened instead was more like falling to another dimension of live sound 🌠.

There isn’t just delays and distortion. Its texture, depth, movement — sounds I didn’t even know a guitar could make. As someone totally new to the world of pedals, the Eventide Space really inspired me in guitar playing and musical ideas.

If you’ve ever wondererd, “What would it sound like if my guitar was echoing inside a black hole?” —now you can wonder no more!

First Impressions:

Physically, the Eventide Space is built like a tank — solid, black, serious. It looks more like a piece of studio gear than a pedalboard buddy. There’s a screen, 11 knobs, multiple footswitches, and lots of buttons. I like how tactile it is.

If you’re coming from a basic Hall/Room pedal, your first reaction might be: “Wait… what do all these do?” If you take a minute or two to play around with sounds and then twist knobs the other way whilst playing sounds, you’ll figure it out quite quickly.

Yes, Space does hall, room, plate, and spring — and they sound good. But that’s not why people buy this thing.

People buy Space for the Blackhole, Shimmer, and MangledVerb algorithms — lush, sweeping, otherworldly sounds that feel more like film scores than guitar FX.

Put simply- it sounds really cool without having to try.

And the modulation. The delays. The reverse features. You start with reverb, but end up somewhere between Blade Runner and a sunrise on Mars.

Not Just for Guitar

One of the best-kept secrets about Space is that it works on vocals, synths, and even drums. I’ve yet to try this yet, but I will. In fact, some producers treat it more like an outboard effect than a pedal . Ambient musicians and post-rock bands would especially love it for its pad-like qualities.

Specifications

  • 100 presets (including 50 user slots)
  • Full MIDI control
  • Expression pedal inputs
  • tap tempo
  • A “HotSwitch” for instant changes

you can get incredible results by just tweaking three knobs: Mix, Size, and Decay.

This is actually a Drum and Bass song I wrote (which you can check out here with all my music), but I’m demonstrating how inspirational and diverse this pedal is.

Downsides?

Very few.

  • Price: Around 5000kr , so it’s not cheap.
  • Learning curve: If you don’t like menus, be prepared to spend time tweaking.
  • Mono input: It can limit how you use it with stereo rigs without extra routing.

These feel like small trade-offs for what you get in return.

Here is a link if you want to look at it further Eventide Space Pedal

 Who Is This For?

Bedroom guitarist chasing dreamy soundsYes, but expect to lose hours
Ambient musician layeringAbsolutely
Straight-ahead blues playerMaybe try a simpler cheaper pedal
Studio producer or synth wizardThis is gold!

The Eventide Space is the kind of pedal that makes you play differently. Think less about solos and more about soundscapes. Yes, it’s expensive. Yes, it’s deep. But if you want reverb that feels like actual space, this is the one🌌.

Thanks for reading!

Entrepreneur, learning environment, Music Composition, music performance, music production, piano performance, Review, synthesizer, Uncategorized

Arturia MiniFreak Stellar Review: Sounds from Another Galaxy

lizteachespiano

Arturia synthesizers, in my opinion are some of the best around. They have many different price ranges, and the quality I have found to be top notch. With the release of the limited edition MiniFreak Stellar, Arturia brings a new level of creativity and visual inspiration to the table. Let’s take a closer look and review what makes this spacey little synth a must-have for sound explorers.

🛸 A Cosmic New Look

The Stellar edition takes the classic MiniFreak and gives it a fresh look, featuring a matte black body, orange highlights, and whimsical star-map graphics. It’s compact, playful, and visually striking—perfect for anyone who wants their synth to spark ideas just by sitting on the desk. I could have bought the regular MiniFreak, but why not get the super cool one!?

Close-up of the Arturia MiniFreak Stellar synthesizer showcasing its sleek controls and vibrant orange accents. (Mine is a little dusty I know!)
Close-up of the Arturia MiniFreak Stellar synthesizer showcasing its sleek controls and vibrant orange accents. (Mine is a little dusty I know!)

Plus, when you buy the Arturia MiniFreak Stellar Edition, it comes with a free sound bank called “Stellar Infinity.” This collection features a range of synths, leads, sequences, and sound effects, all designed for ambient and atmospheric exploration. These sounds are compatible with both the MiniFreak hardware and the MiniFreak V software.

🎛️ Powerful Synth Engine

You’re getting the same dual-engine digital/virtual analog synth with:

  • 22 oscillator modes
  • Dual sound engines for layering
  • 6-voice polyphony
  • Built-in stereo effects and filters

Whether you’re after warm pads, chaotic textures, or rhythmic glitchiness, MiniFreak Stellar delivers with character. I have a Minilab too, and although that gives me outstanding sounds for the price, this does create a richness you can’t quite get with a controller. 

🎹 Performance & Playability

The synth features a 37-key velocity-sensitive keyboard, an OLED screen, a powerful arpeggiator/sequencer, and per-step modulation. While there’s no aftertouch on the keys themselves, it supports polyphonic aftertouch via MIDI. The Arturia MiniFreak Stellar is very easy to connect to your DAW, or should you want to play it live (as I will be shortly- see my special events here!), you can connect either with amp input like a guitar, or an aux cable, like a phone to a speaker. 

🎧 How It Sounds

Rich, punchy, and diverse. The sound engine shines with:

  • Lush pads and analog-style leads
  • Metallic FM and wavetable weirdness
  • Experimental glitch and ambient textures
  • Studio-grade FX: chorus, delay, reverb, phaser, and more

The sound when recording music is really professional!

Arturia MiniFreak sound is crisp clear and professional.

Pros & Cons

Pros:
Stunning limited-edition design
Versatile dual-engine sound design
Intuitive sequencer
High-quality built-in effects
Great value for the price

Cons:
No keybed aftertouch
Useful if you have experience of synthesizers- this little machine does A LOT
Limited edition—may be hard to find in the future

My review of the Arturia MiniFreak Stellar shows it is more than just a pretty face. It’s a serious sound design tool in a playful, inspiring package. Whether you’re a bedroom producer, live performer, or synth collector, it adds personality to your setup—and your music.

📦 Where to Buy

I bought mine directly from the Arturia website, but I believe you can also get the regular MiniFreak at Thomann, and probably many other online retailers.

Thanks for reading my review of the Arturia MiniFreak Stellar- Have you tried the MiniFreak or the Stellar edition yet? Let me know! Happy music making!