While Yamaha has found new ways to incorporate technology into musical instruments — some of which were around for hundreds of years before computers were invented — the president of it's America division says the company is still looking for ways to modernize and has taken seriously the issue of sustainability.
Yamaha Corp. of America President Tom Sumner told Cheddar the company has worked to find ways to combine traditional craftsmanship and technology to create a more "compelling" instrument for musicians.
He says they wanted to make an instrument that creates a better musical experience and give musicians another option when shopping for new ones. "There really isn't a demand out there for musicians, we're trying to create a more compelling thing for them."
One of the first instruments they focused on was the piano, recalled Sumner. "We started with the digital piano and we said it needs to sound better (as opposed to a piano that is 2 feet in front of your face). You need to feel like you are sitting in front of a 9-foot concert grand, so we developed a sound system that would do that."
Meanwhile, many traditional acoustic instruments are made with wood and Yamaha has made an effort to provide sustainable resources in the communities they source from. "We went to Tanzania and worked with communities and said let's plant some trees. And we actually planted 5,000 African Blackwood trees to get some sustainability there and provide the community with resources," Sumner said.
The effort to make electronic instruments sound like the 'real' thing has been an ongoing battle for many instrument companies, but Sumner says compromise is inevitable and is more focused on creating innovative products for musicians.
"We try to make it so when the musician sits down they go 'wow,' something that makes them respond. If they're responding that way we know we're getting the right thing," Sumner said.
The House of Representatives recently passed a bill aimed at increasing transparency in healthcare.
If you have a flexible spending account, here's some short information for you so you don't leave money on the table.
With high healthcare costs, bills can quickly add up. In some cases, it is possible to negotiate your medical bills. Barak Richman, law professor at George Washington University, joined Cheddar News to discuss the easiest way to talk to medical debt companies about what's owed.
Millions of people have selected insurance plans for 2024 but sometimes navigating them can be tricky time consuming and expensive. Paula Pant, host of 'Afford Anything' podcast, joined Cheddar News to break down what's needed to know about their insurance plans.
The European Union is investigating Elon Musk's X over alleged illicit content and disinformation on its platform. Cheddar News breaks it all down and discusses what it could mean for users.
Adobe and Figma called off their $20 million merger, Southwest Airlines gets fined, Nippon Steel is buying U.S. Steel and oil and gas prices surge after a pause in shipments.
With more employees being called back to the office, many workers are suddenly protesting by being in the office for as little time as possible. As the term suggests, coffee-badging means coming in for just enough time to have a cup of coffee, show your face, and swipe your badge.
Japan's Nippon steel is buying U.S. Steel for $14.9 billion.
Southwest Airlines will pay a $35 million fine as part of a settlement over a 2022 holiday season disaster that saw the airline cancel thousands of flights and leave millions of people stranded.
Cheddar News' Need2Know is brought to you by Securitize, which helps unlock broader access to alternative investments in private businesses, funds, and other alternative assets. The private credit boom is here and the Hamilton Lane Senior Credit Opportunities Fund has tripled in assets under management in just six months from November 2022 through April this year. Visit Securitize.io to learn more.
