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Getting Started:
Roland Solutions
No matter the educator's needs, Roland has an answer - from interactive digital pianos with educational software built in to the most cutting-edge synthesizers, such as the Fantom-X series. Roland also provides state-of-the-art lab conferencing systems for connecting multiple workstations together, and providing teachers with instant, selective audio monitoring of each student's instrument.
For piano students, Roland's MT-series standalone MIDI File players make a great entry point. Simply place the boombox-like unit, complete with its own speakers, on or near a piano, then tune it to the piano using the built-in tuning control. Load a MIDI file, and watch students interact with the music. Best of all, they can change the tempo and key signature of the piece to match their needs, and add or subtract parts as desired (left-hand only, for example). The same technology is built into the entire range of Roland KR-series digital pianos as well, eliminating the need for a separate add-on device.
"From the least expensive to the top-of-the-line product, all of our instruments are truly interactive," says Lynda Garcia. Roland's KR-series pianos, for example, offer a realistic grand piano experience digitally, and they also come equipped with a software-based music tutor. "With the built-in recording and playback capabilities, our keyboards let students know where they are, what tempo they're playing, what mistakes they made... the student knows how they're doing, and what they need to do in order to get better."
Outside of the classroom environment, Roland keyboards are invaluable to the learning process at home. Not intended to replace a teacher, these modern, interactive instruments are the next best things to having a teacher practice with a student every day.
Looking ahead, Debra Barbre
sees many exciting opportunities for retailers. "One of the areas that we're
excited about exploring is electronics in marching band, drumline, and drum and
bugle corp. For me, this year is going to be an exploration of electronic musical
instruments in 'the pit.' That's an exciting area of performance and I'm looking
forward to it."
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