Science & Technology
Science and Technology
Science and Technology
Wed, April 15, 2009
Tue, April 14, 2009
Polycom, Inc.: Polycom Telepresence Helps Manhattan School of Music Teach the World
NEW YORK, NY and PLEASANTON, CA--(Marketwire - April 14, 2009) - The Manhattan School of Music is taking the distance out of distance learning, thanks to its unique vision for educating music students and its extensive use of high-definition (HD) [ telepresence solutions ] from Polycom, Inc. (
[ Manhattan School of Music ] (MSM) launched the first program to use visual communication for music performance education in 1996. Since then, some 1,700 students throughout the world engage annually with MSM to take advantage of master classes, workshops, clinics and one-on-one lessons in classical music, jazz, opera, musical theater and orchestral training.
Daily use of Polycom HD visual communication solutions helps MSM connect world-renowned instructors and professional musicians with students who otherwise might never have access to top-flight performance talent. The conservatory relies on [ Polycom HDX 8000 ]™ and [ HDX 9000 ]™ series room telepresence and VSX 8000™ series video conferencing systems in its Manhattan concert halls and distance learning studio.
"Our use of visual communication has changed the way we do music instruction at this school in a very profound way," said Robert Sirota, the distinguished American composer, conductor and president of MSM.
For instance, some programs are taught from MSM's facilities, with schools, community orchestras and other groups participating remotely via their own visual communication systems. Other sessions might involve students in Manhattan working with a touring concert professional who teaches a class via a laptop computer equipped with a camera, microphone and Polycom desktop video collaboration software.
"It's effective because it quickly becomes invisible," added Sirota. "After 10 or 15 minutes of using the system, you're less and less aware that you're engaged in a high-tech video call. You're simply working. You're talking and you're teaching across the world."
Innovation Reaches Beyond MSM
For MSM's distance learning program to be successful, delivering a true-to-life experience was a must. Chief among its concerns, of course, is audio quality.
"We have acoustical requirements that typical conferencing systems, which were primarily designed for voice communications, traditionally hadn't addressed," said Christianne Orto, assistant dean and director of recording and distance learning at MSM. "For instance, features like noise suppression and automatic gain control are helpful when you're trying to hear someone speak, because they work to eliminate ambient noise. But when you're listening to music, that cymbal crash isn't nearby traffic noise you want to muffle. It's a crescendo you want to hear."
MSM's audio requirements led Orto and her colleagues to consult with Polycom engineers to develop audio settings that optimized Polycom's latest solutions and its renowned audio quality for music performance. Their efforts resulted in Music Mode, a now-standard feature on Polycom HDX and VSX® series systems that more faithfully reproduces live music picked up by microphones.
MSM also relies on a Polycom [ SoundStructure ]™, an installed audio processing solution for voice and visual communication that delivers immersive sound quality, to mix audio signals and monitor sound levels that are sent through the Polycom HDX 9000 room telepresence system. "This helps us get a very precise idea of the audio levels we're sending out," Orto said. "It helps us handle more complex sounds like music."
The Value of [ UltimateHD ]™
The value of Polycom solutions isn't limited to audio. "Teaching music is as much visual as it is aural," said Orto, "so the detail we see with Polycom HD systems is very important."
Recently, MSM upgraded to a Polycom HDX 8006™ system with 1080p HD video resolution. Pinchas Zukerman, renowned concert violinist and teacher, has noticed the difference full HD resolution makes: Working remotely with a student, the two-time Grammy Award winner noticed how the student shifted his weight slightly as he played a piece. Prior to the 1080p upgrade, Zukerman could not have made such a subtle but important observation of a student's performance technique.
Looking ahead, MSM plans to implement remote auditions. A recent survey revealed that three out of four MSM students stated a strong preference for auditioning remotely via visual communication, if performing in person isn't an option. "In our current freshman class, we have 109 students from South Korea alone," said Orto. "For international students, participating in a video conference is far more cost-effective than flying to the United States, and it's much more interactive than simply submitting a DVD. We expect this to be a significant growth area for the school."
Additional information:
Manhattan School of Music Telepresence Use Video Profile
[ http://media.polycom.com/usa/en/products/telepresence/manhattan_school_of_music.wmv ]
Whitepaper -- Music Instruction and Performance over High-Speed Networks
About Manhattan School of Music
Manhattan School of Music is a preeminent international conservatory of music granting Bachelor of Music, Master of Music, and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees. Established in 1918 by pianist and philanthropist Janet Daniels Schenck, the School is dedicated to the personal, artistic, and intellectual development of its students, who range from the precollege through the postgraduate level. Offering both classical and jazz training, Manhattan School of Music trains students in performance and composition and provides a core curriculum in music theory, music history, and the humanities. Students come from all over the world, drawn by a rigorous program that reflects the highest standards of musical heritage, and by the faculty, which includes some of the world's best-known artists. Much of the School's strength derives from its home in cosmopolitan New York City. Manhattan School of Music contributes to the city's musical life through an active community outreach program and with concerts and performances that are recognized as some of the finest events in New York's musical calendar. Manhattan School of Music's alumni are active in every aspect of contemporary musical life. Many are among the most distinguished artists performing in concert halls, opera houses, and on jazz stages throughout the world today.
About Polycom
Polycom, Inc. (
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