(October 10, 2017) The university acquired the instruments to equip its professional quality recording studio and student-run record label, a state-of-the-art music technology lab, rehearsal rooms for a wide variety of ensembles, practice rooms, classrooms and performance spaces.
The recent ribbon cutting ceremonies for the newly constructed Performing Arts Lab (PAL) at Tiffin University culminated a brisk fundraising effort of close to $7.75 million to date. The university acquired a fleet of 32 Yamaha instruments to equip its professional quality recording studio and student-run record label, a state-of-the-art music technology lab, rehearsal rooms for a wide variety of ensembles, practice rooms, classrooms and performance spaces.
Brad Rees, executive director of Arts Programs and assistant professor of Music and Arts Entrepreneurship at Tiffin University, spearheaded the university’s giant leap forward in creating 20,000 square-feet of arts space within the shell of a repurposed steel factory. Tiffin’s focus on growing its popular and commercial music degree programs—coupled with a wealth of extracurricular music activities that attract more than 200 non-major music students—drove Rees’ instrument selection process.
In February 2017, Rees attended the Ohio Music Educators Association conference, intent on securing the pianos and technology to implement the music department’s vision. “All the piano manufacturers were well represented, but Yamaha was the only one that bridged the gap between quality acoustic pianos and cutting-edge music technology, and did both on the same instruments. We have a lot of digital music needs as most of our music students are working towards emerging careers in the music industry,” says Rees. “This is the future. This is where students’ heads are now.”
Rees was pleased to work with Solich Piano and Music Company, the authorized Yamaha dealer for most of Ohio, to acquire two Disklavier ENSPIRE Grand pianos, three U1TA TransAcoustic pianos, one U1SH Silent Piano, six AvantGrand pianos, one NU1 hybrid piano, and a full Clavinova music lab featuring 12 CLP and CVP digital pianos. Each room in the PAL is “wired for sound,” offering students and faculty the capability to record and work together with the 32 Yamaha instruments placed throughout the facility.
