27 de mayo de 2003

Wolfville, NS, May 20, 2003: CANARIE (Canada's advanced Internet organization) and project participants including Acadia University, The Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) and Yamaha Canada Music Ltd. today announced $365,000 in funding for MusicPath, a unique public-private research initiative that will provide music students and educators from across the country with a revolutionary innovation in music education.

"Ultimately, students will be able to receive 'long distance' training and testing from musicians of international calibre using this advanced network capability without compromising the integrity of the musical experience," said Minister of Canadian Heritage Sheila Copps, whose department provides funding support for CANARIE's Applied Research in Interactive Media (ARIM) program. "It also serves as an excellent example of the federal government's commitment to link Canadians through innovative applications of technology, thereby removing
geographical barriers. Musicians from all regions of the country will now be able to tap into the expertise of high-level musicians at any time."

The MusicPath project is designed to connect two Yamaha Disklavier digital acoustic pianos via CA*net 4, Canada's national research and innovation network which is developed and operated by CANARIE. The connection is made using an established music industry standard protocol called MIDI (Music Instrument
Digital Interface). All aspects of the initial pianist's musical performance are immediately traced digitally and then sent through the network to remote locations where the process is reversed: every musical nuance is again reproduced through an acoustic piano using Yamaha's proprietary Disklavier technology. The remote pianist is actually moving all the piano keys in real time in another location.

This technology has the potential to revolutionize the way piano is being taught and students are examined throughout the country. For instance, once the project is implemented, a music student at Acadia could play a
network-connected Disklavier piano in Wolfville, Nova Scotia and the music would be heard simultaneously on a Disklavier piano at the Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) in Toronto. The musical expression would be accurately reproduced, allowing an expert musician in Toronto to provide precise and real-time instruction via videoconferencing to the Acadia student. Music experts of the highest rank are rare, and time and distance constraints serve as a barrier to sharing their talent with music students and educators across the country. A primary focus of MusicPath will be to remove these barriers to the greatest extent possible.

The initial objective of the MusicPath project is to deliver the method of interconnection of two Yamaha Disklavier pianos over CA*net 4 between Acadia University in rural Nova Scotia and the RCM in Toronto. Eventually, the technology will be accessible elsewhere across the country. These institutions - in partnership with Yamaha Canada, CANARIE and the Department of Canadian Heritage - have identified a pioneering and cutting-edge way to deliver E-content to all corners of our nation.

The intent of the project is to demonstrate how music students at Acadia University have the option to receive piano-to-piano testing and private student instruction from an RCM instructor by September 2003. With the
completion of the project in December 2003, classroom education, demonstration performances and improvisation will have been explored.

More information is available at http://musicpath.acadiau.ca

CANARIE is Canada's advanced internet organization, a not-for-profit corporation that facilitates the development and use of next-generation research networks and the applications and services that run on them. By promoting collaboration among key sectors and by partnering with similar initiatives around the world, CANARIE stimulates innovation and growth and helps to deliver social, cultural, and economic benefits to all Canadians.

In 2002, the Government of Canada recognized CANARIE as one of the organizations leading innovation in Canada. CA*net 4, Canada's national research and innovation network, is developed and operated by CANARIE. CANARIE positions Canada as the global leader in advanced networking, and is supported by
its members, project partners, and the Government of Canada.

Acadia University, MusicPath's lead partner, is responsible for overall project management and the initial research phase of the program. In the Maclean's University Rankings issue, released November 2002, Acadia was ranked by Canada's opinion leaders as the "Best Overall" primarily undergraduate university for the 9th consecutive year. The integration of technology into Acadia's learning environment has revolutionized its campus community since the inception of the pioneering Acadia Advantage program in 1996. This is prominently demonstrated at the School of Music where faculty leaders have integrated music and technology within a unique notebook based environment, resulting in, for example, the establishment of a highly innovative Music Technology major, one of the few undergraduate music degree programs in music technology in Canada.
The Royal Conservatory of Music provides the MusicPath project with the expertise of internationally renowned musicians, a recognized background of music teaching, and research on 'long distance learning in real time'.
Founded in 1886, The Royal Conservatory of Music has a long tradition of excellence in musical training. Its mission focuses on training performing musicians for successful careers; providing artistic leadership skills; and inspiring a commitment to the transformation of contemporary society. This project is an
important step towards fulfilling the RCM's vision of achieving global reach for all teaching, performance and program activities, the vision behind its planned new high tech performance and learning centre.

Yamaha Canada Music Ltd. has supplied their distinctive Disklavier digital acoustic grand pianos for the Project. Yamaha has accumulated a wealth of expertise in the production of musical instruments for more than 100 years. Its mission focuses on contributing to a richer life for all, via innovative, quality products and technology which is a de facto standard.