THE NEW GENERATION YAMAHA "MUSIC IN EDUCATION" PROGRAM

—Fastest-Growing General Music Program in the U.S. Is Enhanced with XG Format Technology—

BUENA PARK, CA (October 17, 2003)—In keeping with its strong commitment to music education, the Yamaha Band & Orchestral Division is experiencing nationwide acclaim for its next generation Music In Education (MIE) Technology Assisted Music Program—the MIE II system.

Yamaha's MIE II Keyboard

Available for both Windows™ 98 and Macintosh™ OSX platforms and built around Yamaha keyboard stations, the system integrates powerful equipment with an effective, proven curriculum. The enhanced MIE program now incorporates Yamaha XG technology within the MIE-2XG keyboard, which contains more than 400 internal voices, a wider variety of styles and an improved speaker system.

Successfully integrated into district curriculums across the country, the program is producing an enthusiastic reaction among students in the 12 Daviess County Public Elementary Schools in Kentucky. In Daviess County, MIE is part of a groundbreaking program entitled Graduation 2010, which is based on brain research indicating that children who are exposed music making have an enhanced capacity to learn other skills, such as mathematics.

"We have been extremely pleased with the Yamaha MIE program," says Stu Silberman, Daviess County Public Schools Superintendent. "Our kids, teachers, and parents love it, and all the feedback we have received has been positive. Our test scores continue to rise!"

The system's benefits go far beyond technology. Music In Education includes a comprehensive curriculum designed by teachers to accommodate all learning styles. Students are guaranteed an engaging, hands-on experience that will make success possible no matter what their skill level.

Each of the program's 80 sequential, integrative modules is built around a specific musical concept utilizing a "Listen, Discuss, Make and Create" learning model. Charts, worksheets, warm-ups, quizzes and 174 specially arranged songs are all included, and integrated listening examples are provided on CD.

Introduced nationally in 1990, Music In Education has been linked to remarkable improvements not only in music achievement, but also in problem solving, self-esteem and grades in other classes.

The system links 16 specially designed MIE II Educational Keyboards—which can serve two students each—to a mixer, speakers and headphones. The MIE II management software frees teachers physically, allowing them to move among their students while accessing accompaniments and music samples through an all-new radio frequency remote control. The management software gives teachers the ability to handle roll call, lesson planning and record keeping while maintaining complete focus on the classroom.

"The Yamaha MIE program enables each student's success regardless of their proficiency level and the XG technology will make that even easier for the students," says Walt Straiton, manager, Music In Education, Yamaha Band & Orchestral Division. "The program gives students the opportunity to work together as a group or independently with headphones—all under the instructor's supervision."

XG tone generation format advocated by Yamaha for its electronic instruments is upward-compatible with General MIDI and provides more voices, editing capabilities, effect processors and other functionality to enhance the musical expressiveness of MIDI data.

For more information, write Yamaha Corporation of America, Band & Orchestral Division, P.O. Box 6600, Buena Park, CA 90622; telephone (714) 522-9011; e-mail infostation@yamaha.com; or visit www.yamaha.com or www.musicineducation.com.