Piano-to-piano communication over high speed networks will
revolutionize music education across Canada
For Release: May 20, 2003
(Wolfville,
NS) - CANARIE (Canada's advanced Internet organization)
and project participants including Acadia University, The Royal
Conservatory of Music (RCM) and Yamaha Canada Music Ltd. today
announced $365,000 in funding for MusicPath, a unique public-private
research initiative that will provide music students and educators
from across the country with a revolutionary innovation in music
education.
"Ultimately, students
will be able to receive 'long distance' training and testing from
musicians of international calibre using this advanced network
capability without compromising the integrity of the musical
experience," said Minister of Canadian Heritage Sheila Copps, whose
department provides funding support for CANARIE's Applied Research
in Interactive Media (ARIM) program. "It also serves as an excellent
example of the federal government's commitment to link Canadians
through innovative applications of technology, thereby removing
geographical barriers. Musicians from all regions of the country
will now be able to tap into the expertise of high-level musicians
at any time."
The MusicPath
project is designed to connect two Yamaha Disklavier digital
acoustic pianos via CA*net 4, Canada's national research and
innovation network which is developed and operated by CANARIE. The
connection is made using an established music industry standard
protocol called MIDI (Music Instrument Digital Interface). All
aspects of the initial pianist's musical performance are immediately
traced digitally and then sent through the network to remote
locations where the process is reversed: every musical nuance is
again reproduced through an acoustic piano using Yamaha's
proprietary Disklavier technology. The remote pianist is actually
moving all the piano keys in real time in another location.
This technology has
the potential to revolutionize the way piano is being taught and
students are examined throughout the country. For instance, once the
project is implemented, a music student at Acadia could play a
network-connected Disklavier piano in Wolfville, Nova Scotia and the
music would be heard simultaneously on a Disklavier piano at the
Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) in Toronto. The musical expression
would be accurately reproduced, allowing an expert musician in
Toronto to provide precise and real-time instruction via
videoconferencing to the Acadia student. Music experts of the
highest rank are rare, and time and distance constraints serve as a
barrier to sharing their talent with music students and educators
across the country. A primary focus of MusicPath will be to remove
these barriers to the greatest extent possible.
The initial objective
of the MusicPath project is to deliver the method of
interconnection of two Yamaha Disklavier pianos over CA*net 4
between Acadia University in rural Nova Scotia and the RCM in
Toronto. Eventually, the technology will be accessible elsewhere
across the country. These institutions - in partnership with Yamaha
Canada, CANARIE and the Department of Canadian Heritage - have
identified a pioneering and cutting-edge way to deliver E-content to
all corners of our nation.
The intent of the
project is to demonstrate how music students at Acadia University
have the option to receive piano-to-piano testing and private
student instruction from an RCM instructor by September 2003. With
the completion of the project in December 2003, classroom education,
demonstration performances and improvisation will have been
explored.
More information is
available at
http://musicpath.acadiau.ca
CANARIE is
Canada's advanced internet organization, a not-for-profit
corporation that facilitates the development and use of
next-generation research networks and the applications and services
that run on them. By promoting collaboration among key sectors and
by partnering with similar initiatives around the world, CANARIE
stimulates innovation and growth and helps to deliver social,
cultural, and economic benefits to all Canadians. In 2002, the
Government of Canada recognized CANARIE as one of the organizations
leading innovation in Canada. CA*net 4, Canada's national research
and innovation network, is developed and operated by CANARIE.
CANARIE positions Canada as the global leader in advanced
networking, and is supported by its members, project partners, and
the Government of Canada.
Acadia University,
MusicPath's lead partner, is responsible for overall
project management and the initial research phase of the program. In
the Maclean's University Rankings issue, released November
2002, Acadia was ranked by Canada's opinion leaders as the "Best
Overall" primarily undergraduate university for the 9th consecutive
year. The integration of technology into Acadia's learning
environment has revolutionized its campus community since the
inception of the pioneering Acadia Advantage program in 1996. This
is prominently demonstrated at the School of Music where faculty
leaders have integrated music and technology within a unique
notebook based environment, resulting in, for example, the
establishment of a highly innovative Music Technology major, one of
the few undergraduate music degree programs in music technology in
Canada.
The Royal
Conservatory of Music provides the MusicPath project with
the expertise of internationally renowned musicians, a recognized
background of music teaching, and research on 'long distance
learning in real time'. Founded in 1886, The Royal Conservatory of
Music has a long tradition of excellence in musical training. Its
mission focuses on training performing musicians for successful
careers; providing artistic leadership skills; and inspiring a
commitment to the transformation of contemporary society. This
project is an important step towards fulfilling the RCM's vision of
achieving global reach for all teaching, performance and program
activities, the vision behind its planned new high tech performance
and learning centre.
Yamaha Canada Music
Ltd. has supplied their distinctive Disklavier digital acoustic
grand pianos for the Project. Yamaha has accumulated a wealth of
expertise in the production of musical instruments for more than 100
years. Its mission focuses on contributing to a richer life for all,
via innovative, quality products and technology which is a de facto
standard.
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For more information, please contact:
Acadia
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