Yamaha Music DeLIGHTS Wellness Program Inspires Seniors to Play the Keyboard Simply by Following Lighted Keys
BUENA PARK, Calif. (PRWEB) October 12, 2017 -- Yamaha today officially introduced Music DeLIGHTS®, the nation’s first group music participation program to use linked portable keyboards to inspire musicians to play – instantly and effortlessly – thanks to the instruments’ lighted keys that guide their progress and performance.
Music DeLIGHTS represents an important milestone in the company’s ongoing development of evidenced based, recreational music making (RMM) programs, which provide fun, music-making experiences that have been scientifically proven to reduce stress. This new program is aimed primarily at the senior market, and is seeing early success at several assisted care facilities across the nation where group participants experience the joy of playing well-known favorite songs from the very first time they touch the keys.
While earlier Yamaha RMM programs required multiple units of the company’s larger Clavinova digital pianos, Music DeLIGHTS greatly expands the options by incorporating only one “teacher” Clavinova CVP705 digital piano connected to either 4, 8, 12 or 16 smaller Yamaha EZ220 keyboards for the students, creating the most portable, affordable and interactive package on the market today.
The heart of Music DeLIGHTS is patented technology that enables two-way communication between the Clavinova and the EZ220s via lighted keys powered by Yamaha SmartLIGHT®. When the teacher holds down any key on the teacher unit, this very same note instantly illuminates on each student’s keyboard in the room. This unprecedented technology also transports the players to the concert stage with preprogrammed elaborate orchestral backgrounds as they follow the lights. This special programming can also send different lights to each keyboard, allowing music makers with no prior instruction to instantly play four-part group ensembles.
Furthermore, if a participant’s motor skills are a challenge, Music DeLIGHTS features an “any key” mode — i.e., no matter which key is played, the correct note will sound.
The program effectively levels the playing field by providing a wide range of accommodations for people of all ages and ability levels. It also offers students effortless and immediate musical success, where everyone is given an opportunity to play the melody or their individual supporting part (e.g., strings, bells, piano, brass).
Music DeLIGHTS enjoyed a highly enthusiastic response to its first test program, which was offered aboard last year’s three-month World Cruise on Crystal Serenity.
Beyond providing stress-free enjoyment benefits in a leisure environment, Music DeLIGHTS is also showing promise in adult and senior therapeutic settings. Residents at care centers have drawn wellness and quality-of-life benefits from Music DeLIGHTS in pilot programs.
“One of our clients, who is now 90 years old, took piano lessons as a child. We started with ‘Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star’ and by the third session, she was able to play the song perfectly,” says Chris Pawola, life engagement coordinator at Abe’s Garden, a memory care center in Nashville, Tennessee. “Her memory of piano fingering came back to her and she started using all five fingers. She absolutely loved the experience.”
Abe’s Garden is the site of the first land-based pilot program. Additional placements include San Diego’s Resounding Joy Wellness Center, which serves patients with Parkinson's Disease, Pittsburgh’s Jewish Association on Aging and Rodman Street Missionary Baptist Church.
“We felt it was time to bring the indisputable benefits of music making to an even wider audience,” says Paul Calvin, vice president/general manager, Keyboard division, Yamaha. “I’ve seen people moved to tears with this program. They had always wanted to make music but were afraid to try. Now, with Music DeLIGHTS, they are enhancing their lives and having a lot of fun at the same time.”
The Music DeLIGHTS system includes keyboards, course materials, MIDI box(es), table(s), Clavimover, USB MIDI cables, power adapters and video instructions. For more information, please visit http://www.4wrd.it/MusicDeLights
About Yamaha
Yamaha Corporation of America (YCA) is one of the largest subsidiaries of Yamaha Corporation, Japan and offers a full line of award-winning musical instruments, sound reinforcement, commercial installation and home entertainment products to the U.S. market. Products include: Yamaha acoustic, digital and hybrid pianos, portable keyboards, guitars, acoustic and electronic drums, band and orchestral instruments, marching percussion products, synthesizers, professional digital and analog audio equipment, Steinberg recording products and NEXO commercial audio products, as well as AV receivers, amplifiers, MusicCast wireless multiroom audio systems, Blu-ray/CD players, earphones, headphones, home-theater-in-a-box systems, sound bars and its exclusive line of Digital Sound Projectors. YCA markets innovative, finely crafted technology and entertainment products and musical instruments targeted to the hobbyist, education, worship, music, professional audio installation and consumer markets.
Contact:
Peter Giles/Giles Communications
(914) 798-7120 (pgiles(at)giles.com)
Peter Giles, Giles Communications, +1 (914) 798-7120, [email protected]
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