YAMAHA CORPORATION OF AMERICA WINTER NAMM 2012 PRESS KIT VISIT THE YAMAHA WINTER NAMM 2012 EXHIBIT AT THE ANAHEIM MARRIOTT, MARQUIS BALLROOM ACCESS HIGH-RESOLUTION PHOTOS AND PRESS RELEASES AT HTTP://WWW.YAMAHA.COM/NAMM/ FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT THE FOLLOWING STAFF AT GILES COMMUNICATIONS: KEYBOARD DIVISION LISA CESARANO [email protected] 914-414-1556 (MOBILE) ELISE COOPER 914-584-7952 BAND AND ORCHESTRAL DIVISION, CORPORATE LISA CESARANO [email protected] 914-414-1556 (MOBILE) PAC, LIVE SOUND,MUSIC PRODUCTION, STEINBERG: MARC FERRIS [email protected] 914-478-1233 (MOBILE) CORPORATE POPULAR YAMAHA JUNIOR ORIGINAL CONCERT SERIES RETURNS TO NAMM —Talented Young Musicians Take to the Stage at Annual Winter NAMM Crowd Favorite — ANAHEIM, Calif.—The Yamaha Music Education System will present its perennially captivating Junior Original Concert (JOC) on Thursday, January 19. For the first time, the young musicians will perform at two NAMM venues: 8:30 a.m. at the NAMMU Dealer Breakfast in the Pacific Ballroom, Hilton Anaheim Hotel and 1:00 p.m. at the Yamaha Booth, Keyboard Division area, Marquis Ballroom at the Anaheim Marriott Hotel. All NAMM attendees are invited to enjoy the free 1 p.m. concert event, which will feature young talented Yamaha Music School students performing their own original compositions. Nine-year-old Alexander Hurvitz, a student at Harmony Music World, Fullerton, Calif., will perform his original piano solo composition, “Pushy Cat and Nutty Squirrels.” Chloe Li, also age 9 and a JSAC student at the Irvine Yamaha Music Center, will play the Clavinova CVP-509 in her original ensemble composition, “First Flight.” Chloe will play along with percussionists Dominic Primo, Sarah Chen and Lauren Chen, as well as her sister Claire Li, who will be performing on a second CVP-509. Sharon Hurvitz, age 13, a JSAC Graduate and student at Harmony Music World in Fullerton, Calif., will perform her original composition, “Winter Rhapsody,” on the piano, accompanied by violinist Avi Nagin and Cellist Natalie Helm. The Yamaha Music Education System offers six music courses for children between the ages of three and ten. Classes are held weekly, covering everything from listening skills to keyboard performance. The program began in the mid-1950s in Japan under the direction of Mr. Genichi Kawakami, President of Nippon-Gakki Company, Ltd. (today’s Yamaha Corporation). Mr. Kawakami believed his company was responsible not only for making a quality product, but also for teaching customers how to use it. Consequently, he established the non-profit Yamaha Music Foundation (YMF) in 1966 for the purpose of developing and promoting music education and music popularization activities internationally. YMF guides the worldwide development of the Yamaha Music Education System and 2 of 2 also sponsors international events such as the Junior Original Concert (JOC). In the United States, the Music Education Division of Yamaha Corporation of America works in cooperation with Yamaha Music Foundation to design new courses, improve instructional quality, and refine existing programs. For more information, visit Yamaha Corporation of America at Winter NAMM 2012 in the Marquis Ballroom at the Anaheim Marriott Hotel; write Yamaha Corporation of America, Yamaha Music Education System; P.O. Box 6600, Buena Park, CA 90622; telephone (714) 522- 9011; e-mail [email protected]; or visit www.yamaha.com. 3 of 3 KEYBOARD DIVISION AUTHENTIC TOUCH, ELEGANT FORM: YAMAHA NU1 HYBRID PIANO OFFERS REALISTIC UPRIGHT ACTION -Superb Upright Launches New Hybrid Piano Category- ANAHEIM, Calif.— Yamaha introduces the NU1, a new hybrid piano that combines the traditional sound and feel of an acoustic instrument with the industry’s most innovative digital technology. Featuring the same acoustic piano action used in Yamaha upright pianos, housed in a refined, compact design, the NU1 brings the renowned sound of Yamaha to any home. NU1 is part of a newly established hybrid category that also features the AvantGrand Series of pianos. Introduced in 2009, the acclaimed technology of the AvantGrand offers advanced piano sound reproduction without the tuning, cost or footprint of a comparable stringed instrument. This hybrid category caters to serious players who live in small spaces, as well as families on limited budgets, offering them the feel and sound of an acoustic grand. “The touch and feel of a piano is vitally important to any pianist, whether they’re just starting out or playing at a professional level,” says Jim Levesque, hybrid piano marketing manager, Yamaha Corporation of America. “The NU1 delivers an authentic playing experience that is almost indistinguishable from that of an acoustic piano.” With the same action and natural wood keys used in Yamaha’s finest upright pianos, the NU1 offers a realistic feel that is sure to inspire. The NU1 utilizes Yamaha’s newly-developed acoustic technology to reproduce the characteristic resonance felt when playing an acoustic piano. This authentic action is complemented by remarkable sound sampled directly from Yamaha’s elite fleet of hand-built concert grand pianos. 4 of 4 The elegant simplicity of the NU1 blends effortlessly into any setting, adding an air of distinction without being imposing. Echoing the superb sound and playability of the AvantGrand Series, the NU1 offers the warmth and natural presence of an acoustic instrument in a stylish, compact form. For more information on the NU1, visit Yamaha Corporation of America at Winter NAMM 2012 at the Anaheim Marriott Marquis Ballroom; write Yamaha Corporation of America, Keyboard Division, P.O. Box 6600, Buena Park, CA 90622; telephone (714) 522-9011; e-mail [email protected]; visit www.yamaha.com/keyboards. 5 of 5 YAMAHA OFFERS APP-SOLUTE KEYBOARD CONTROL —Yamaha’s New Apps for Keyboards Make Playing Easier— ANAHEIM, Calif.—Yamaha debuts new apps for iPad and iPhone that help keyboard players get the most out of their instruments: NoteStar, a digital sheet music application for iPad; Song Chords, an application for iPhone that provides interactive songs with built-in chord charts, Page Turner, an application for iPad with wireless page-turning ability for the Yamaha EZ-220 keyboard and Scale Tuner, an application for iPad and iPhone that allows users to change the tuning of a compatible Yamaha keyboard. Experience these new Yamaha Apps in action at the 2012 NAMM Show, January 19-22, 2012, on the Yamaha Keyboard App Stage in the Anaheim Marriott Marquis Ballroom. “Yamaha is committed to enhancing our users’ experience through a variety of means,” says Dane Madsen, Yamaha Digital Piano Marketing Manager. “This range of new apps will help to make practice and performance easier, inspiring players to take their game to the next level. NoteStar is Yamaha’s app for iPad designed to provide keyboard players with the experience of playing with their favorite songs with a real band. The app provides smooth flowing, easy-to- read sheet music accompanied by real backing bands and vocals. NoteStar is a free download from the App Store and each song sells for $3.99 USD. It is available immediately in 28 countries including the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Yamaha's Song Chords for iPhone provides interactive songs with built-in chord charts, a chord leadsheet/dictionary and a music store. Use the songs to practice by yourself, fill in for a missing band member at a rehearsal or augment a live performance. If you're not sure how to play a certain chord, use the built-in chord dictionary for guitar and keyboards. Song Chords will be available in February 2012. Page Turner is a digital sheet music application for iPad with wireless page turning capability for the Yamaha EZ-220 keyboard. When coupled with the EZ-220’s Guide feature, you can practice at your own pace and the pages will always turn at the right time. The wireless capability requires no extra setup and no special accessories. Just download the Page Turner app, launch it and it works! Page Turner for EZ-220 also features an audio recorder so you can record 6 of 6 your playing and singing. Page Turner for EZ-220 is free from the App Store, and will be available in May 2012. Scale Tuner allows you to change the tuning of a compatible Yamaha keyboard or digital piano to a variety of preset scales like Arabic or pure temperament, on your iPhone or iPad. You can also create and store your own scales. The internal piano Voice lets you confirm the scale settings without a connected MIDI keyboard. Scale Tuner is compatible with: CVP-501/503/505/509, CGP-1000, PSR-S650/S710/S910 and Tyros4. Scale Tuner is available now for free in the App Store. To learn more about the new Yamaha Apps, write Yamaha Corporation of America, Keyboard Division, P.O. Box 6600, Buena Park, CA 90622; telephone (714) 522-9011; e-mail [email protected]; visit www.yamaha.com/keyboards. iPhone and iPad are registered trademarks of Apple Inc. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc. 7 of 7 TRUE TOUCH: YAMAHA ARIUS YDP-C71PE CONSOLE DIGITAL PIANO FEELS LIKE THE REAL DEAL -Luxurious Polished Ebony Finish Makes New Yamaha Digital Piano Look As Good As It Feels- BUENA PARK, Calif.— Yamaha launches the Arius YDP-C71PE Console Digital Piano at Winter NAMM 2012. Ideal for home use as a practice piano, it offers stunning looks, high- quality sound and a key action capable of building proper finger technique for playing on an acoustic grand piano. Geared toward adult intermediate players to advanced hobbyists, the YDP-C71PE’s high-quality sound and Graded Hammer (GH) action makes it ideal as a practice piano while also built to handle even heavier use at institutions. Plus, the elegant new Polished Ebony finish makes it attractive for houses of worship.