Yamaha has officially introduced Music DeLIGHTS, the nation’s first group music participation program to use linked portable keyboards to inspire musicians to play with the instruments’ lighted keys that guide their progress and performance.
This new program is aimed primarily at the senior market, and has already seen early success at assisted care facilities across the country.
Music DeLIGHTS incorporates only one “teacher” Clavinova CVP705 digital piano connected to either 4, 8, 12 or 16 smaller Yamaha EZ220 keyboards for the students.
Patented technology 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.
If a participant’s motor skills are a challenge, Music DeLIGHTS features an “any key” mode — which means that no matter which key is played, the correct note will sound.
“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,” said 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.”
