"Keyboard Ensembles build community," Kolosick says, "and allow younger, less experienced players the opportunity to perform with more proficient musicians...providing groups of people with socially and musically rewarding interaction."

The University of Arizona in Tucson is among the top-ranked research universities in the nation, so it's no surprise its School of Music's new 21-station Clavinova lab will be used for innovative purposes. Tucson-based Hachenberg Music installed Clavinova CVP103s and one CVP107 early this summer to greet music majors taking Class Piano, Music Theory, Ear Training, and Piano Pedagogy. Lisa Zdechlik, professor of Piano Pedagogy and Class Piano, has worked with similar labs at San Diego State and the University of Oklahoma.

Arizona teachers have a great time playing in the ensembles

"One of the most exciting aspects of this lab is students can be combined in different practice groupings – from solos to the entire class – and teachers can communicate directly with students via the MLC100 console," says Zdechlik. "Each keyboard has an on-board sequencer. All this allows for tremendous versatility in the classroom." The new lab will also be used by non-music majors and by participants preparing for Hachenberg Music's October Clavinova Festival.

A groundbreaking research project will be launched at the lab next year, says Dr. J. Timothy Kolosick, professor of music. Kolosick, with Zdechlik, will involve a second semester piano class in a project to study practicing. "Students will practice with sequenced versions of ensembles and practice all the parts," he explains. "We'll compare their learning with traditional practice techniques and check for technical ability, attitudes about the piano, time spent practicing, and other variables. The more people practice, the better they get, obviously," Kolosick continues, "but once they reach a certain level of proficiency, becoming a beginner again is difficult. We hope to make practicing a more enjoyable and social experience."

Renowned for his work with electronic keyboard ensembles since the early 1990s, Kolosick conducted 5-8 member ensembles at the Arizona State Music Teachers' Convention last June. Players represented various ability levels and generations. "Keyboard Ensembles build community," he says, "and allow younger, less experienced players the opportunity to perform with more proficient musicians, providing groups of people with socially and musically rewarding interaction." They performed nine pieces – from classical to contemporary – all specifically composed or arranged for Keyboard Ensembles.

"The audience sat open-mouthed," Kolosick relates. "Many had never heard a Keyboard Ensemble, or were parents who had only heard their child's part. A large number of people requested a recording – it's infectious!" Featured soloists included outgoing President of the Association June Tyne and acclaimed Belgian harmonicist Pierre Herbineaux. "The concert was visually stimulating as well," notes Kolosick, who conducted facing the audience with the Clavinovas turned out so the audience could actually watch the players' fingers.

"Yamaha set a strong industry standard with the Clavinova," Kolosick asserts. "People no longer need to worry about technology or its interface. The Clavinova allows people to deal with the music directly because it enables a full range of expression. In Keyboard Ensembles, they provide a tremendous opportunity for exploration and enjoyment of making music together."

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