ANAHEIM, Calif. — Yamaha Corporation of America, Band and Orchestral Division, will showcase the third generation of Silent Instruments with the the SV-150 Silent Practice Plus™ Violin. Complementing the SV-150 is a content section devoted to the instrument on Yamaha's new multimedia page, The Hub (http://www.yamaha.com/thehub.) There, users are able to watch videos to learn more about the instrument. Additionally, they can download new audio tracks to the SD card for continual enjoyment and practice. Content options include MP3's of Classical, Fiddle, Suzuki Book 1 arrangements, accompaniment tracks and PDF sheet music, among numerous other selections.

SV-150 Silent Practice Plus™ Violin

The success of Yamaha's previous practice instruments sets the stage for the third generation in the evolution of Silent String Instruments, offering players at all levels the most sophisticated features for Silent Practice. Violinists will find an easy transition from the traditional instrument as they discover a multitude of features that will support their playing skills. The new SV-150 takes Silent Practice to an entirely new level with a built-in digital tuner, digital metronome and more than 24 digital sound effects including reverb, distortion and vibrato. An SD card port makes it possible to play along with your favorite recorded music in any audio file format.

"In 1997, Yamaha released the first Silent Practice™ instrument, which was widely accepted by players," states Ken Dattmore, Marketing Manager, Yamaha Strings. "As always, Yamaha recognizes and reacts to the demand. The SV-150 gives players of all levels a multitude of features with which they can increase their playing skills. The new SV-150 is the only instrument on the market that can take Silent Practice to a technological level that no other product can match."

Lightweight and comfortable at 14oz, the uniquely designed violin allows musicians to put on a pair of headphones and enjoy the glorious tone of a concert quality violin in a choice of expansive, simulated performance environments—while creating very little external sound. Yamaha has achieved this technological feat by eliminating the internal amplification cavity, which has been present on traditional acoustic violins.

The New SV-150 is currently available.

For more information, visit Yamaha Corporation of America, Band & Orchestral Division at Winter NAMM 2009 at the Marquis Ballroom in the Anaheim Marriott Hotel; write Yamaha Corporation of America, Band & Orchestral Division, P.O. Box 6600, Buena Park, CA 90622; telephone (714) 522-9011; e-mail infostation@yamaha.com; or visit www.yamaha.com/band.