Roli, a London-based music tech startup, has announced its latest educational product, Roli Piano, at the NAAM audio show in Anaheim. The new instrument builds upon the company's previous products, such as the Roli Airwave and Piano M, with a significant upgrade to 49 MIDI keys, more than doubling the key count of its predecessor.

The Roli Piano shares similarities with its predecessor in many ways, featuring MIDI keys that light up and sync with an instructional app played back on a phone or tablet. The Airwave, on the other hand, adds hand tracking into the mix, creating gesture-based sounds. The new instrument, however, comes with a hefty price tag of $599, more than double the current price point of the Piano M at $249. To soften the blow, Roli is offering a limited-time "super early bird special" of $399 for the larger model.

The launch of the Roli Piano also marks the introduction of the Piano AI Assistant, which the company claims is "the first step in using generative AI to make learning to play easier, more intuitive and more fun than ever before." The Assistant aims to further instruction by incorporating music theory into the learning process, making it a valuable tool for music education.

Roli's pivot towards educational products is a strategic move, given the company's history. After filing for bankruptcy in 2021, the company has shifted its focus towards the Piano line, which has become its primary focus. The music education market offers massive potential for a smaller hardware maker like Roli, and the company is betting big on its new product.

Products like the Seaboard and Blocks, although innovative and clever, remained niche in the music world. By contrast, music education offers a broader appeal, and Roli is well-positioned to capitalize on this trend. With the Roli Piano and its AI-powered learning assistant, the company is poised to make a significant impact in the music education space.

The launch of the Roli Piano and its accompanying AI Assistant marks an exciting development in music technology. As the company continues to innovate and push the boundaries of music education, it will be interesting to see how this product fares in the market and what implications it may have for the future of music learning.