My first encounter with the Clavinova Digital Piano came in 1986—when I was invited to make a presentation at the MTNA National Conference to share my experience in the use of electronic instruments. I contacted Yamaha and asked if they could provide a synthesizer. Their response was, "No, but we have a new digital piano, the Clavinova, and we will gladly provide this for your session." In spite of having no knowledge of a digital piano or a "Clavinova," I agreed, considering my desperate need for an instrument that would allow me to demonstrate the benefits of both electronic and acoustic instruments in piano instruction. The Clavinova CVP-7 was versatile and the sounds were remarkable. While mastering the "button pushing," it became obvious—I was falling in love with the instrument. The sad part was giving up the Clavinova after the session. Fortunately, Yamaha offered to loan a Clavinova for use in my Lexington studio for a year. After the year was up, I purchased a Clavinova CLP-200 and this was the beginning of a twenty-year stint in sharing with music educators the benefits of digital instruments in traditional piano studios and classrooms.

After the successful introduction of the Clavinova, I was given the opportunity to act as a digital piano spokesperson for the music industry in countless clinics and seminars. The response from traditional teachers was varied—a combination of questions, excitement, doubt, and ultimately, enthusiasm. Music educators who use the diverse features of Yamaha instruments are better equipped to reach students of the 21st century at the students’ level of interest and experience. They realize that what and how they teach is more important than ever because we compete with student schedules that grow more crowded daily. And, the sounds available on the Clavinova are sounds of our students’ world.

The seminars have also focused on performance because the Clavinova is a performance-quality instrument. It is often placed center stage as a solo instrument. The rich palette of sounds has led to a wide range of options for interpreting traditional piano literature in new ways. In addition, the availability of multiple sounds is inspiring creative composers to develop a new genre of keyboard music.

Many music teachers who attend seminars teach class piano and the possibility of using the Clavinova for keyboard ensemble performance arouses their curiosity. Unlike the early "workhorse keyboards" originally used for group instruction, the Clavinova can fulfill many roles—to teach theory, sight reading, required proficiency skills, and as a versatile instrument for group performances, as well. The Keyboard Ensemble Movement is an exciting development made possible by performance quality instruments such as the Clavinova. With hundreds of sounds to choose from, piano students now enjoy the excitement of making music with other students. Meanwhile they develop musicality through sound exploration, experimenting with new textures, all of which broaden their musical experience. The keyboard ensemble also provides live experience in playing and experiencing different genres of music. A keyboard ensemble group can perform as an "early Baroque Chamber Ensemble," a jazz combo, a rock band, or an orchestra. Teachers and students alike enjoy the experience, all made possible by the multitude of realistic sounds on the Clavinova. Because of the realistic sounds of the Clavinova, composers today are inspired to write and publish more ensemble music. The versatile composers can produce choral/keyboard ensemble scores, "consemble" pieces that use a classic solo piece in original form, accompanied by a keyboard "orchestra." This provides a valid experience for piano students who many never perform as soloist with a live orchestra.

Traditions of the past coupled with the potential of instruments such as the Clavinova provide unexcelled opportunities to enjoy the art, whether casually or as a career. In addition, for piano students who in the past have experienced the isolation of studying alone, practicing alone and performing alone, there are indeed new opportunities.

Dramatic changes continue as we learn and share more about the blending of technology and tradition in ways that benefit our students. Yamaha’s Clavinova is center stage in this thrilling musical revolution.

— Joy Carden, August 2007 —