ROLI Piano and ROLI Airwave: The Future of Learning Meets the Future of Performance – Editor’s Choice Award

I remember the first time I heard about ROLI and saw that squishy MPE Seaboard keyboard for the first time at NAMM almost a decade ago, it was mind-blowing. Multi Polyphonic Expression was in its infancy, and the music producer community was intrigued and at the same time intimidated, or at least I was. The product demonstrations were stunning, but made you feel like a neophyte, even if you did play an instrument. The performers were taking it to another level, doing things no one had ever seen before on a MIDI keyboard. It was exciting, but niche. ROLI eventually expanded into more accessible versions of their products, like blocks, a smaller version of the Seaboard universe, and the innovative Lumi Keys, which was the first iteration of what is now the ROLI piano. ROLI Piano & Airwave at NAMM 2025 – Taking home a Best of NAMM 2025 Award So ROLI stepping up their game in the beginner–to–pro piano lane feels like a long time coming. And not in a boring way—more like, of course, this was coming, because no one else in the keyboard world is this committed to rethinking the instrument from the ground up. ROLI doesn’t play by the rules; they innovate for today’s players, and it’s serving them well. ROLI released the ROLI Piano back in January 2025 at NAMM, and I went gaga for it and its futuristic sidekick, the ROLI Airwave, which had come out shortly before. I wasn’t expecting a combo like this, so seeing a combination that turns learning piano into a sort of immersive, inspiring experience was awesome. Think: a piano teacher meets an interactive heads-up display. So I finally got my hands on a setup and took both for a conceptual spin—individually and together—and what follows is the full Magnetic breakdown from absolute beginners on day one to performing artists in their expressive prime. I’m not a piano player; I’m a drummer, so I was excited about the possibility of using this kit to deepen my understanding of the piano and some theory, and to improve my playing so I could play at least at an intermediate level. So that’s where I’m coming from on skill level. Here is a quick walk through video: ROLI: A Brief (and necessary) Backstory ROLI has been chasing the idea of total expression since its founding in 2009 by designer-pianist-philosopher Roland Lamb—one of the few people on Earth who can credibly quote both Cecil Taylor and Buckminster Fuller while showing you how pressure-sensitive silicone can reinvent musical performance. Lamb’s ethos? “Everyone is musical. Music is in everyone and everything.” That’s not marketing copy—that’s doctrine. ROLI’s first major instrument, the Seaboard, changed the game with MPE (MIDI Polyphonic Expression), letting you bend, slide, press, morph, and essentially paint sound in three dimensions. Now ROLI wants to “free the piano” with a system built around two core devices: ROLI Piano (your main keyboard) and ROLI Airwave (your spatial gesture partner). Add in the company’s ROLI Learn app, and you’ve got something that acts like a personal piano coach crossed with a modular performance rig. ROLI Piano Review: A Learning & Performance Hybrid That Grows With You Build Quality & Design ROLI Piano looks clean and modern—svelte without being toy-ish, with a big dash of futuristic. It’s built around: 49 full-sized semi-weighted keys with real plunge depth BrightKey RGB illumination that guides your playing Bluetooth 5.0 + USB-C for both wired and wireless use Battery power is good for around six hours MIDI out (3.5mm TRS) and pedal input Weight around 3.5 kg / 7.7 lbs —light enough for a backpack, solid enough not to skate around the desk This isn’t your typical plastic “learning keyboard” from the big box store. No cheap springy keybed here. No carnival of blinking LEDs. No built-in speakers that sound like a 2007 phone. The ROLI Piano is a professional-grade piece of kit—studio-worthy, road-friendly, classroom-ready. Features & Specs: 49 Keys, Full-Size, Semi-Weighted Enough for 90% of real-world piano playing, from learning classics to writing new material. MPE-Ready Hardware Each key can detect detailed expression—bend one note in a chord, press into a pad sound, add vibrato with touch. BrightKey Illumination Keys light up to show finger placement, scales, chords, and patterns during learning. Integrated Software ROLI Studio plugins, ROLI Dashboard, and deep integration with ROLI Learn, which handles guided lessons, structured courses, coaching, and progress tracking. Wireless Mode Bluetooth MIDI + battery operation = couch, park, airplane tray table. Your call. ROLI Piano and Airwave in Magnetic Magazine Studios Using The ROLI Piano If you’re learning piano from scratch, this is an instant confidence booster. When you open the ROLI Learn app, songs and lessons highlight the exact keys you need. As you improve, you shift from exercises to improvisation to independent play. Note: You need to commit to these lessons and practice, and while this setup might help you learn faste