ROLAND

Music Tutor for Classrooms, Private Instruction

Roland's Contemporary Keyboards (CK) Division will direct its educational efforts and resources to help educators use Roland Music Tutor products in classrooms and private applications. This educational emphasis builds upon the growing success of Roland's Intelligent System of Music (ISM), which consists of a digital instrument, sequencer and GS sound source, supported by Standard MIDI File (SMF) disks.

'Music educators can now supercharge their current teaching methods with this readily available technology,' said Larry Harms, Roland's market development manager. 'With Roland's Music Tutors, students can progress at their own speed, so learning is accelerated and continues even after class sessions have ended.'

Because of advances in technology - more affordable computers, faster processing speeds, widespread availability of educational SMFs - the traditional music lab setting has and will continue to evolve into a technology-driven environment. With the Music Tutor lab, there is more one-on-one interaction between the teacher and student, and there is also interaction between the student and the musical instrument. Roland's Music Tutors also help guide the students with their playing while providing encouraging feedback.

Teachers and students alike benefit from the technology-based MT lab. With Music Tutors, students not only receive an interactive education, both in class and during practice, but they also get to learn and perform with a fully-orchestrated ensemble to help increase their musical fluency. Because of these numerous benefits, Roland is concentrating its educational resources and product development on the more advanced MT-based lab environment.

Music Tutor products are the continuation of ISM, providing 'human-like' qualities of assisted learning to students and performers at all skill levels. Music Tutors are now widely available in three formats: modular - the MT-80, MT-120, and MT-300 Music Players; built-in - HP-G and KR series digital pianos and the AT-series digital organs; and computer-powered - the V-MT1 CD-ROM for Windows computers.

'The time for Music Tutored music instruction is now,' said Lynda Garcia, Roland's director of education. 'We envision all students learning, practicing, and performing with a keyboard and a Music Tutor. We believe the Music Tutor lab concept is just the beginning of a rapidly accelerating educational trend, especially as computers and software become more affordable.' Roland began simplifying MIDI technology more than ten years ago, striving to give piano players a better way to learn and perform. The company has had a great deal of success in making music and MIDI technology understandable for all levels of music learners.

Roland's continued strong emphasis on the Music Tutor is merely the next logical step in the evolving music education arena. 'Roland believes that a Music Tutor for every student - used in every classroom, lab, and private application, and especially during every practice session - is only natural,' said Tim Harris, a Roland vice-president and CK's general manager. 'Whether a new installation, or retrofitting an older lab, these powerful Music Tutors usher in an exciting era of group keyboard instruction.'

For more information on Music Tutor, write or call Roland Corporation  U.S., 7200 Dominion Circle, Los Angeles, California 90040-3696; [phone]. Fax: [phone]. Web site: www.rolandus.com.