Lennon and McCartney Radio: The Beatles and Beyond on Your Yamaha Keyboard

If you've heard music in the past 50 years, chances are you've heard your share of songs written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. Between pioneering innovative studio techniques, taking teen pop to new heights, defining what a rock band can be, and serving as icons of 1960s counter-culture, Lennon and McCartney were a unique force in musical history as members of the Beatles. In their post Beatles solo careers, both Lennon and McCartney continued to produce groundbreaking and popular music - Lennon with "Imagine" and the Plastic Ono Band, and McCartney with his band Wings and hits like "Band on the Run". And now, with a Yamaha instrument you can enjoy the their timeless songs in an entirely new way: by experiencing live, original piano performances played right on your instrument, whenever you want.

For a limited time only, you can hear the Beatles on their own exclusive Piano Radio channel. With the new channel, you can enjoy piano arrangements of your favorite Beatles songs played live on your instrument, whenever you want. Plus, each song you'll hear was recorded by one of Yamaha's acclaimed PianoSoft artists, and will be reproduced on your instrument exactly as it was originally performed. Check out some examples of what you can expect to hear on the new channel:

We Can Work It Out (From "In My Life - Beatles 1965")


Let It Be (From "Songs of the 70s")


The Lennon and McCartney channel is just the latest addition to our channel lineup, which includes 16 other stations available around the clock and throughout the year. For anyone listening to radio on a CLP Clavinova or MODUS digital piano, the Lennon and McCartney channel is your new channel 17.

To try out the Lennon and McCartney channel now, first log in to Internet Direct Connection on your instrument and choose "Listen to Radio", or from a Disklavier Mark IV choose "Internet" from the main menu on your controller, then "Disklavier Radio".

On a Disklavier E3, you can listen to radio by pressing the "Internet" button on your remote, then choose "D-Radio". However, if you haven't created an account for Internet Direct Connection, you'll need to do that before subscribing to Piano Radio for your E3 - you can create your account here.

If you've never tried Piano Radio before, now's the perfect time. If you're not ready to subscribe and check out the Lennon and McCartney channel, that's fine.  Two free channels are available right now - all you need to do is get your keyboard online and you can be enjoying streaming music within seconds. Follow this guide for help with connecting to the internet, or head here if you're ready to subscribe. For more information on Yamaha's Piano Radio, visit our Online Services site.

- Doug

Learn & Perform Songs from David Bowie, Tina Turner and More With New MIDIs

Songs from music legends David Bowie, Michael Jackson and Tina Turner await in the most recent MIDI files added to our catalogs on Yamaha MusicSoft and Internet Direct Connection. The latest releases also include hit songs and classics from Europe, such as Loona's "Bailando" and the new cover of Inner Circle's "Sweat" by Mark Medlock and Mehrzad Marashi. With all of these new releases, it's the perfect time to find new ways to enjoy your favorite songs on your keyboard.

The Way You Make Me Feel - Michael Jackson


One of Michael Jackson's most memorable love songs, "The Way You Make Me Feel" features an irrepressible 80s R&B beat, classic call and response vocals and, of course, plenty of the pop magic that makes all of Michael's songs uniquely his. Any collection of Jackson's tunes certainly isn't complete without this one.

All the Lovers - Kylie Minogue


"All the Lovers" has all the breezy melodies and dance-pop brilliance you'd expect from a Kylie Minogue song. While just loading this MIDI on your keyboard is certain to get the crowd moving, it's equally suited to a more private singalong session.

Young Americans - David Bowie


Showing his more soulful side, "Young Americans" was David Bowie's first foray into American R&B music. The prominent horns and saxophone fit in right alongside Bowie's dramatic vocals, and there's also a great piano part to play along with, if you're inclined to use this MIDI for performance.

Proud Mary - Ike & Tina Turner


Creedence Clearwater Revival had a hit with "Proud Mary" as a chugging blues song in 1969. Don't let the laid back preview fool you though - this MIDI file covers the hard driving version of the song that Tina and Ike Turner produced a few years later. In the Turner's hands, "Proud Mary" became a rock classic that you can now relive in all its glory on your Yamaha keyboard.

On the Beach - Chris Rea


A smooth guitar line, and a longing vocal melody make "On the Beach" an ideal song to soundtrack a wistful summer evening.

Keep reading for a full list of new songs, including hits from Gloria Estefan, and a
James Bond medley from Yamaha favorite Peter Baartmans.


Haven't Met You Yet - Michael Bublé

Soul Bossa Nova - Quincy Jones

James Bond Medley - Peter Baartmans

River Deep, Mountain High - Tina Turner

Sweat - Mark Medlock & Mehrzad Marashi

Forca - Nelly Furtado

Let's Go to Rio (I Go To Rio) - Bellini

Oye Mi Canto - Gloria Estefan

Livin' La Vida Loca - Ricky Martin

Aber Dich gibt's nur einmal für mich - Andreas Martin

Bailando - Loona

Jej czarne oczy - Ivan & Delfin

Deutsche Nationalhymne (Rock Version) - Bonfire

Wenn die weissen Rosen blühen - Semino Rossi

Wien Bleibt Wien - James Last

Pour un Flirt - Michel Delpech

Nicht von dieser Welt - Helene Fischer

Ambitions - Donkeyboy

Mix biesiadny - Twórcy Ludowi

- Doug

New Spanish & Latin Styles For Your Keyboard

If you're a fan of Spanish and Latin music looking for the perfect accompaniments, or if you're new to Spanish and Latin music, but have been looking for the right styles to add some new flavor to your performances, the six styles just released by Yamaha Europe are exactly what you've been waiting for. The new styles cover specific Spanish and Latin musical styles, such as the jota, but are extremely flexible and can be used in a countless number of ways in your performances. Descriptions and samples of each new style are below, but even more Spanish and Latin styles have also been recently updated with new versions for a variety of Yamaha keyboards - make sure to check this post for a list of those styles.

Jota


The jota, a Spanish dance style in 3/4 time, features an accompaniment heavy on castanets and guitar, including the sort of tremolo playing often associated with flamenco.

Muñeira


This is the perfect style for playing muñeira, another style of Spanish folk music, which prominently features bagpipes and accordion in 4/4 time. Largely heard in the northern provinces of Spain, such as Galicia, the muñeira shows a definite Celtic influence that fans of Irish music will find very familiar.

New Paso


This style is an ingenious take on the march-like pasodoble that fuses the bass drum thump of dance and house music with the dramatic horns, guitar and castanets of traditional pasodoble.

Sevillana


A particular type of flamenco native to southern Spain, the sevillana is light, fun variety of flamenco. In this style you'll get wonderful classical guitar accompaniment, as well as the traditional "palmas" or flamenco handclaps.

Party Samba


Take the joyous whistles and syncopation of samba, add a European dance beat with synths and trance piano, and you've got a great recipe for a party in this new style.

Cumbia Argentina


A very modern take on the cumbia beat, with synth sounds right along side the more traditional horns, piano and latin percussion. For more on cumbia, take a look at this previous article.

In addition to these 6 new styles, 5 other styles, previously available only for the Tyros3, are now available in versions specifically designed for other keyboard models. Users of the Tyros2, Tyros, PSR keyboards, Clavinovas can now enjoy the Cha Cha Orch, Cumbia Nova, Gran Salsa, Pasodoble Band and Tango Argentino styles.

- Doug

Celebrate Summer with New PianoSoft

Summer has a music all its own: everything from the many sounds of nature in full bloom, to the sizzling of scorching city streets contributes to what amounts to a very musical season. It comes as no surprise then that all types of musicians have found inspiration in summer, creating many different types of songs celebrating its excitement or looking back on past seasons with wistful nostalgia. No matter what type of summer music you're looking for, something to get you out of your seat, or a softer soundtrack to a relaxing vacation, there is a PianoSoft album to soundtrack your season. For a survey of summer's many moods, perhaps none is better than the latest release, "Days of Summer". Take a listen:



The new "Days of Summer" album, featuring summer themed songs from Broadway and Tin Pan Alley to the silver screen and the rock and roll stage, assembles a wide range of music, capturing both the passionate heat and the carefree air of the season. Pianist Jason Nyberg gives every song its due, but shines particularly bright on ballads, like "Sealed With a Kiss", and standards, like "Once Upon A Summertime", which he fills with the longing of summer romance.

For more great summer music, don't forget to take a listen to two other new releases, featuring cool jazz and hot bossa nova rhythms.

- Doug

Yamaha Disklaviers and More at the 2010 Newport Music Festival

The 42nd annual Newport Music Festival kicked off last weekend in Rhode Island and Yamaha, in its 23rd year as a festival sponsor, was more involved than ever. In addition to providing pianos and Disklaviers for many of the 65 concerts that will take place over the course of the two week long festival, Yamaha was there last weekend to document the performances, record them for additions to the catalog of Newport Pianosoft albums and, for the first time, broadcast video of performances live from Newport on the Yamaha Hub.

While live video broadcasts mean that anyone around the world had the ability to experience the Newport Festival this year in real time, Disklavier owners have been enjoying Newport performances on their instruments for years, through PianoSoft albums recorded during the festival. Performances from pianists like Hamish Milne and Piers Lane have been recorded on Yamaha Disklaviers and Newport over the years, then released as PianoSoft albums that will recreate the performances exactly on any Disklavier piano. You can see the full list of Newport albums available here. Yamaha Disklaviers were on hand again this year to record the action for future listening.

In addition covering the festival through live video and audio recordings, this year the Yamaha crew also took to Twitter to document their work behind the scenes, as well as highlight some of the technology that allowed the live broadcasts to happen. And, as you can tell from some of the more recent tweets, Yamaha's video crew are working hard to get the concert footage online at the Hub. While you're waiting for the Newport concerts to be released, you can check out tons of other videos featuring exclusive performances from Yamaha artists, instrument demonstrations, and more.

More information on the broadcasts can be found at Yamaha America's website, or check out the Newport Festival website for details about the festival.

- Doug

Teach Your Keyboard Some New Tricks With New Songs from Train, Shania Twain & More

Whether you use songs on your keyboard to learn to play, or use them as backing tracks for live performances, the main goal is making music and having fun. And that's what this week's new songs are all about. With Train's classic piano jam, "Drops of Jupiter" and the ultimate duet, "I Got You Babe", and more this week's new songs will have you playing along, singing along, and having fun along with your Yamaha keyboard in no time.

Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me) - Train


Thanks to their recent hit, "Hey, Soul Sister" you've probably been hearing Train's music quite a bit recently, but don't forget that their history of pop-rock hits goes back as far as 1999 and includes this top ten hit. Based around a strong piano line and a vocal melody that's both catchy and anthemic, this song will make a wonderful addition to any pop repertoire.


I Got You Babe - Sonny & Cher


One of the best love song duets ever written, "I Got You Babe" is a must for any karaoke library. Along with timeless call and response vocals, the song also features a refreshingly varied instrumentation, including xylophone and clarinet.


Bring Me To Life - Evanescence


Since it's release in 2003, "Bring Me To Life" has become one of the most popular and recognizable modern rock songs of its era. With a delicate and ominous piano part offset by strings that soon gives way to a chorus of churning electric guitars, this song will give you a chance to endulge both your rock and roll urges and your darker, more introspective moods.


You're Still the One - Shania Twain


Before "You're Still the One", Shania Twain was already country star, but afterwards she was a global pop phenomenon. And it's easy to see why - "You're Still the One" blends a yearning melody and a sparkling pop arrangement with a country twang in a way that makes for an irresistible ballad.

- Doug

Motown and Disco in This Week's Premium Styles

The two Premium Styles coming at you this week are guaranteed to get you, your music, and your audience moving. Newly upgraded styles will bring your keyboard the sounds of Motown, with a driving pop-soul beat, horns and guitar, as well as a disco beat with a classic 70s dance feel, updated with modern sounds and flourishes. Both styles feature the authentic instrumental arrangements and limitless flexibility that you'll find in all of Yamaha's Premium Styles.

Power Disco - With influences from both the Euro-Dance movement and American Dance-Pop, this Style has a driving late 90’s Disco beat.



60s 4 Beat Soul - This style recreates the timeless sounds of Detroit (Motown) in the late 1960’s.



This is also a great opportunity to look back at some of the Premium Styles you may have missed over the past months. There are now over 100 Premium Styles available for the Tyros3, Tyros2 and many other Yamaha keyboards and Clavinovas - so if you're looking for any type of accompaniment, with the same superb sound of your instrument's built-in styles, make sure you take a look at the full catalog.

- Doug

Michael Bublé, U2, Guns n' Roses And More New Songs For Your Keyboard

We've added over twenty new songs to our MIDI file catalog in the past couple of weeks, including songs both new and old, songs from artists still making their names, as classics from music legends. Songs you've been waiting for, like Michael Bublé's "Haven't Met You Yet", Guns n' Roses' "Sweet Child o' Mine" and U2's "Beautiful Day", are now ready to go on your keyboard. Take a look below for previews of some of the new releases, and remember that you can find all these songs and more on Internet Direct Connection as well.

Haven't Met You Yet - Michael Bublé

The piano line is tons of fun to learn and play, and the vocals are croon-along gold - add this song to your repertoire today!

Telephone - Lady Gaga & Beyoncé

Lady Gaga does it again, with another great dance track that will certainly become a sing along favorite.

Sweet Child O' Mine - Guns 'n Roses

One of the most recognizable riffs in rock history, along with a soaring dramatic melody make this the perfect way to relive the 80's on your keyboard.

Beautiful Day - U2

With synths, strings, and guitars of all sorts that are tons of fun to play along with, this dynamic rock anthem will certainly brighten up your day.

Pata Pata - Miriam Makeba

This 60's hit from South African legend Miriam Makeba will add some exciting African rhythms to your keyboard's library.

Desire - U2

This U2 hit combines the best of early rock and roll and 80's style melodic pop to make one great song.

Friday I'm In Love - The Cure

The chiming, intricately arranged guitars are the real centerpiece of this 1992 modern rock hit, and they come through beautifully in this MIDI version.

Jambalaya - The Carpenters

A hit for Hank Williams, Jo Stafford and the Carpenters, "Jambalaya" is a must have for anyone playing country music with MIDI on their keyboard.

You Never Can Tell - Chuck Berry

Get some of Chuck Berry's characteristic rock on your keyboard, with some added accordion flourishes to accentuate the song's cajun flavor.

When You're Gone - Bryan Adams & Mel C

This upbeat pop rock track, originally sung by Bryan Adams and former Spice Girl Mel C, is a great choice for a karaoke duet.

Of course, that's just the beginning! There are a bunch more new songs available as well. Browse our catalog to find more.

- Doug