Yamaha introduces v-player - Music Marketplace - Brief Article

American Music Teacher, Feb-March, 2002

Yamaha Music Interactive, Inc., 151 W. 46th St., 8th Fl., New York, NY 10036; (646) 562-7660; Fax (646) 562-7664; www.yamahamusicsoft.com. $3.95 per download.

YMH Digital Music Publishing, a joint venture between Yamaha Corporation, Hal Leonard Corporation and Music Sales Group, introduces its first product: v-Player, a freeware software program that can be used to learn to play hundreds of music pieces available for purchase online.

Yamaha v-Player software can be downloaded to a Windows-based PC from www.yamahamusicsoft.com/vp. Downloaded music selections can be viewed as an onscreen score and also can be played through computer speakers. Students can slow down the tempo or loop a particular section of music to practice difficult passages. An animated star keeps the beat, moving from measure to measure in time with the melody. In addition, an animated instrument displays the exact notes to be played, highlighting correct keys or fingering positions.

Initially, v-Player pieces are available for flute, piano and keyboard, but the company plans to offer hundreds of music pieces for alto saxophone, clarinet and trumpet. A free demonstration is available online.

For more information contact Yamaha Music Interactive, Inc., or see their website.