NYC--Yamaha Artist Tony DeSare is well known for crossing boundaries. His agility in interpreting American standards has landed him on serious jazz stages from Birdland to the Vail Jazz Festival, and even on the hallowed piano bench beside Marion McPartland. As an aficionado of more modern classics (and as true child of the 80s) DeSare has also paid tribute to rockers from Journey to Bon Jovi and Prince. In a live show, he’s just as likely to kick out licks (literally — with his size 10 Chuck Taylors in Great Balls of Fire), as mist your eyes with his original ballad “How I Will Say I Love You.” 

The Disklavier is an amazing instrument with a sophisticated record-and-playback system. When used as a standalone device, it is a simple matter to initiate recording and playback. Little instruction is required.

The instrument also has MIDI connectivity features that make it a compelling instrument for use in varied contexts, including music composition, interactive performance using computer software, and recording studio applications.

When one uses the instrument as a MIDI device, it is important to have a deeper understanding of the ways in which MIDI is implemented in this acoustic piano.

Mario Ajero, Assistant Professor of Piano Pedagogy at the Stephen F. Austin State University, has been a pioneer in the field of long distance performance and instruction using the Disklavier piano. On this occasion, he has enabled a performance by his son, Nio. At 4:30 in the video, you can clearly see that the keys of the Disklavier piano in Germany are being played by young Nio from Texas. At 8:45, the Remnant Piano Duo perform from Germany to Texas.