New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Mr. Janis will instruct students at the Moscow Conservatory, live and in real-time, while located at Yamaha Artist Services - more than 4,600 miles away in New York City. The event will take place on
September 28, 2016, at 11 am, Eastern time.
I am so thrilled with the Yamaha Disklavier Remote Lesson technological breakthroughs. It is now making possible this unique musical outreach with Moscow (Maestro Byron Janis)
In an historic musical and pedagogical event, the legendary American pianist and Yamaha Artist, Maestro Byron Janis, will conduct the first remote piano master class ever to link an instructor in the U.S. with students in Russia. Thanks to groundbreaking Yamaha Disklavier Remote Lesson technology, Mr. Janis will instruct students at the Moscow Conservatory, live and in real-time, while located at Yamaha Artist Services - more than 4,600 miles away in New York City. The event will take place on
September 28, 2016, at 11 am, Eastern time.
The Yamaha Disklavier, a unique, technologically advanced reproducing piano, is capable of transmitting highly-nuanced performance data - i.e., the actual key strokes and subtle gradations of pedal movement - between similarly equipped instruments over the Internet. This technology will allow Maestro Janis to evaluate actual "live" performances by the Russian students in real time on a Disklavier located at Yamaha Artist Services in New York. Simultaneously, the students in Moscow will experience his teaching on a Disklavier in their location, with perfectly synchronized video streaming between the two locations.
Internationally renowned as one of the world's greatest pianists, Mr. Janis also helped to establish lasting cultural ties between the United States and Russia, and has been hailed by The New York Times as "an ambassador in breaking down 'cold war' barriers." He has made three separate appearances in the former Soviet Union, beginning in 1960, marking the historical re-opening of the U.S.A./U.S.S.R. cultural exchange during the Cold War, followed by return invitations in 1962 for an extensive tour and again in 1988. This Remote Lesson master class represents the ultimate expression of Maestro Janis' cultural exchange between the two countries, using cutting-edge technology to enhance long-distance learning and the advancement of the highest musical standards globally.
Beyond his cultural exchange with Russia, Mr. Janis was also the first American concert pianist to be invited to return to Cuba, 40 years after his last performance there, during which time no American was allowed to perform on Cuban soil.
"Through the stunning technology of Yamaha's Disklavier reproducing piano, the 75-year career and the artistry of Byron Janis continue to transcend international borders," said Yamaha Artist Services
Director Bonnie Barrett. "He reaffirms his legacy as a groundbreaking cultural ambassador and role model, inspiring a new generation of pianists with his unique insights and innate wisdom. Yamaha Artist Services New York, together with our colleagues in Moscow, are delighted to be part of this historic event."
Legendary virtuosic pianist Maestro Janis made his orchestral debut at age 15 with Toscanini's NBC Symphony Orchestra, and the following year was chosen by Vladimir Horowitz as his first student. At 18, he became the youngest artist ever signed to a contract by RCA Victor Records. Two years later, in 1948, he made his triumphant Carnegie Hall debut. He has played with every major symphony orchestra in both the U.S and abroad. His many recordings appear on RCA, Mercury Phillips and EMI, now consolidated under Warner Classics, Sony and Universal.
Maestro Janis, who has suffered from severe arthritis in his hands for more than four decades, has also served as the International Ambassador to the Arts for the Arthritis Foundation since 1986. He maintains a busy schedule presenting workshops for millions who contend with the disease, encouraging participants to achieve their goals despite the obstacles they face. Explore the artistry, as well as the cultural and social impact of Byron Janis, at https://www.byronjanis.com
"I am so thrilled with the Yamaha Disklavier Remote Lesson technological breakthroughs," said Maestro Janis. "It is now making possible this unique musical outreach with Moscow. What incredible opportunities this is providing for the teaching profession at a global level! Congratulations, Yamaha."
Remote Lesson technology, developed by Yamaha, makes it possible to connect two, three, or even four Disklavier reproducing pianos via the Internet. When a teacher, performer, or student plays a Disklavier using this technology, each remotely connected Disklavier produces precisely the same key and pedal movements in real time.
The Yamaha Disklavier is a special acoustic piano built from the ground up with a sophisticated system of sensors that record every aspect of a performance, including pitch, dynamics, phrasing and pedaling. The performance information can be stored and recalled for later playback.
The latest models of Disklavier can also be connected to one another via the Internet. Once connected, the performance information can be transmitted from one instrument to the others - and be immediately reproduced with perfect precision, even on the other side of the globe.
