Clavinova Labs a Vital Force in Education and the Community

As parents and educators continue to realize the value of music in raising education standards today, the Yamaha Clavinova digital piano has established itself as an essential component of music programs in schools throughout the country.

Recent scientific studies add to the growing body of evidence linking music and enhanced brain function. As a result, parents and educators are reevaluating music and how it fits into an educational framework. The effects of the studies are heard in classrooms throughout the United States.

For example, as part of a $7.6 million federally-funded statewide Goals 2000 initiative, the Valley Pike Elementary School in Kingsport, TN created a Clavinova lab for its Cooperative Valley Pike School project. Music students from East Tennessee State University use the Clavinova lab while getting firsthand experience working with elementary school students.

And in Fordville, ND, parents of children participating in the school's music program have made significant progress toward raising funds to purchase a Clavinova digital piano.

Reaching out to the Fordville community, Hatton School's "Music Parents" has received support from local businesses and organizations to help purchase the CVP96. Rallying behind their cause, the school district has also made a generous donation.

"Music Parents" hasn't stopped there. The group can also be found at basketball games and school dances, giving people the opportunity to "buy" a piano key to further its fundraising efforts. Middle C fetched four times that of other keys sold at a silent auction, helping bring the group closer to its goal.

Jeanne Jankowski, head of the Hatton School music department, thinks the purchase of the Clavinova is a wonderful investment. "As a result of the Clavinova, I can walk away from the piano and have greater interaction with the students which, as a teacher, is exactly where I need to be - with the students."

Finally, the Richland School District II in South Carolina is discovering the benefits of using computers in music instruction. Administrators added technologically advanced Clavinova labs, integrating nearly 25 Clavinovas into its grade schools, middle schools and high schools through its partnership with the Carolina Piano Galleries in Columbia, SC.

"The Clavinova is ideal for students on all levels because it offers a stunningly realistic reproduction of piano sound," says Larry Wiese, co-owner of Carolina Piano Galleries. "The user-friendly keyboards are almost intuitive, making it easier for students to sit down and play."

Recognizing that students' musical needs would differ at the grade school, middle school and high school level, Wiese selected Clavinovas that would specifically meet their requirements. The basic studio pianos found in Richland's elementary schools were replaced with the CLP511. The CVP94 and CVP96 Clavinovas were brought in to provide Richland's middle school and high school students with more creative and flexible capabilities to compose, record and play back their own files.

"The labs have been successful in meeting the needs of students of all ages," says Wiese. Carolina Piano Galleries has also received a tremendous response to the Clavinova labs from the entire community. Many parents and school district employees attended the store's first piano sale at the Richland Performance Center where they could purchase new pianos as well as the school's existing instruments at a discount price.

"The program has raised community awareness of our store as well as the quality of Yamaha pianos," said Wiese. "More and more families from the district are now coming in looking specifically for a Yamaha piano."