There are a fairly large number of good accompaniment software programs and computer devices available today that are being employed by music departments of higher education throughout the country. These computer programs and devices are often used to compensate for the general scarcity of accompanists available in college music programs. Two of the most prominent computer accompaniment hardware devices are the Smart Studio by Coda Music and the Disklavier by Yamaha. Of these two hardware devices, the Disklavier offers more versatility in creating and setting up accompaniment files for performers at various levels of ability. Smart Studio is limiting because it only allows the user to access accompaniment files created by Coda Music. The goal of this presentation is to demonstrate ways for music programs to get the maximum amount of use from the two basic types of Disklaviers available today: the Standard type and the Silent type with a built in tone generator. Techniques for expanding the use of the Disklavier will include using the World Wide Web, notation programs, scanners, Band in a Box, and MIDI files.

The World Wide Web offers a multitude of MIDI files that are free or one can buy for a reasonable price. Available MIDI files range in style from classical to pop and are available on a variety of web pages. The Disklavier has been designed to read any MIDI file provided it is saved to a computer disk formatted for the DOS platform and employs two MIDI channels. It is important to point out that the Disklavier defaults to performing MIDI information that is located on tracks one and two. When a MIDI file uses any tracks other than one and two, the user needs to change the track settings of the Disklavier so it knows where to locate the music. Also, it is important to know that the Disklavier can read only two tracks. It is a good idea to open MIDI files in a sequencing program first to make sure that they require only two tracks and that those tracks are numbered one and two. It is more than likely that any MIDI files down loaded from a web site will need some minor adjustments. Figure 1, contains a MIDI file that has been opened up in the Performer sequencing program and has had all of the MIDI information contained in the file set to track one and track two.

Fig. 1. Performer sequence file with all of the tracks set to #1 or #2.

It is possible to put the instrumental or vocal line in track one and the piano part in track two. Doing this allows the performer to choose whether the Disklavier plays the melody and the piano part or just the piano part.

Once the Disklavier opens a MIDI file, the user can alter the various elements of the work by choosing a new key, or tempo; or even by inserting dynamics, ritards and accelerandos. In essence, the MIDI file can be fine-tuned by the user to a high degree. The changes mentioned above may either be made in a sequencing program or using the Disklavier. Below is a brief list of web sites that contain MIDI files that may be useful to any music program that is interested in using the Disklavier as part of their accompaniment program. This is but a small sampling of web sites that offers MIDI files. A more thorough list may be acquired by performing a search using one of the internet search engines.

Scanning music is another useful technique that can enhance the Disklavier's functionality in a music program. Scanning music requires a scanner that scans at 200 pixels per inch, combined with Note Scan and Nightingale software. To acquire optimum scanning potential from sheet music, it is best to Xerox the piece at a slightly darker level than normal. Once a piece of music is scanned, the PICT file needs to be opened in Note Scan . Note Scan converts the PICT file into a readable file for Nightingale. Below is an example of Note Scan in the process of converting a PICT file.

Fig. 2 Note Scan in the process of Converting a PICT File

The treble clef sign shown in Figure 2, is highlighted because that was the symbol that the Note Scan program was translating at the time of the screen dump. The program must highlight all of the symbols individually for it to create a translation of the PICT file. Once the Note Scan file opens in Nightingale the file may be saved as a MIDI file and then used in the Disklavier. Of course, one can manipulate the file in Nightingale before saving it as a MIDI file and many alterations can be made using the Disklavier itself. Using MIDI files from the web or scanning music makes the Disklavier more efficient because an accompanist does not have to record any of the accompaniment files into the Disklavier. Vocal students in particular can benefit from scanning music or creating MIDI files of the works they are studying, because the music can easily be transposed with a minimal amount of effort. From a pedagogical point of view, having students create a MIDI file of something they are working on will help them acquire a deeper understanding of the piece. The student and instructor can consider this as part of the process of internalizing the music. Instructors may want to get copies of the MIDI files that students create so that eventually a large library of works can be available for rehearsal with the Disklavier.

The Disklavier Silent model contains a built in tone generator that can be utilized by jazz and classical instrumentalists alike. Jazz musicians can create MIDI files from the Band in a Box program. To do this, one will need a basic understanding of how Band in a Box works, but this should not be too difficult since it is one of the easiest programs on the market to use. First, open Band in a Box and then open or create a song. Choose an appropriate key and tempo, select 10 choruses from the chorus dialog box (see Example 3 below), then save as a MIDI file.

Insert the disk containing the MIDI file into the Disklavier. When an Ensemble song begins to play back, the MIDI Program Change messages are sent to the internal XG tone generator. These messages will tell the tone generator which voices to select for each of the tracks. This works easily because both Band in a Box and the XG tone generator adhere to General MIDI standards, an industry standard that is used to simplify the transfer of MIDI files from one tone generator to another. If there is only a Standard model available, then a tone generator will not be available for creating the bass and drum sounds. However, this does not mean that the Standard model is unusable with Band in a Box, it simply means that there will be no drum sounds available and the bass part will be performed on the piano by the Disklavier. When creating a MIDI file in Band in a Box to be used with the Standard model, the file will need to have the piano part put into track 1 and the bass part into track 2, once that is done the file can be saved as a MIDI file and played by the Disklavier. The editing of a Band in a Box MIDI file can also be done easily in a sequencing program. So, if the user is more comfortable making the necessary adjustments in a sequencer file they can do that after creating the basic song file in Band in a Box and saving it as a MIDI file. Once the song file is opened in a sequencing program, the drum track should be deleted and the piano and bass parts should be moved to tracks one and two respectively. Again the file needs to be saved as a MIDI file so it can then be used by the Disklavier. Rehearsing with the Disklavier will enable jazz performers to practice their improvising skills with an accompaniment generated from an acoustic piano or an acoustic piano with tone generated bass and drums. They will have the advantage of being able to adjust tempos and keys as needed, offering a better practice experience than using the various play-along CDs available for jazz education purposes.

For the classical performer learning a concerto or work accompanied by an orchestra, the Disklavier can facilitate quality rehearsal time by performing a version of the piece that is comprised of a tone-generated orchestra or a piano reduction of the orchestral score. Numerous MIDI files of concertos are available from various web sites (e.g., Classical MIDI Archives). If the Standard model is being used, then the MIDI file will need to have all of the instrumental tracks relocated to tracks one and two. This can be done most easily with a sequencing program. After the track assignments are changed the work should be saved as a MIDI file to a floppy disk (formatted for an IBM PC). The Disklavier can then be used as an accompanist reading from an orchestral reduction. The student learning the concerto then has multiple chances to rehearse the work with the Disklavier. This situation can assist the performer in learning the work quickly and efficiently.

The price for the Disklavier ranges from $9000 to $25,000. One can justify the expense for this device partly by learning all the different ways to create performance files for student rehearsals, reducing the requirement of an accompanist for many practice sessions. The Disklavier cannot replace an accompanist in any music program, but it can give students more opportunities to rehearse with an "accompanist," making their practice time more efficient and enjoyable.