AI-assisted instrument enables disabled musicians to play Beethoven on the piano
In a highly esteemed concert hall in Tokyo, Kiwa Usami, a 24-year-old pianist, effortlessly produces the grand crescendos of Beethoven’s Ode to Joy with a single touch of her index finger. The magnificent performance is enhanced by the harmonious collaboration of an orchestra and choir.
Usami, who has cerebral palsy, was one of three disabled musicians who performed Symphony No. 9 with the Yokohama Sinfonietta at Suntory Hall on Thursday on an AI-powered piano.
To help players, “Anybody’s Piano” follows the notes of the music and improves performance by adding any keys that are needed but not pressed.
Usami, who started playing the piano in elementary school, helped inspire the AI program. His dedication to practicing with one finger led his teacher to work with Japanese music giant Yamaha.
Their collaboration resulted in a revised version of Yamaha’s auto-playing piano, released in 2015. Thursday’s Christmas performance was the first such concert.
“It’s a really powerful experience to play with an orchestra,” 10-year-old Yurina Furukawa told AFP after Wednesday’s rehearsal.
“Anybody’s Piano” allowed Furukawa, who has a rare muscle condition called congenital myopathy and needs help breathing, to perform from a bed placed in front of the grand piano.
He kept the rhythm by moving his left arm and pressed the keys hard with the back of his right hand as the AI-assisted piano filled in the notes to complete the performance.
Unlike traditional autoplay, “Anybody’s Piano” stops if the player hits the wrong notes.
“When I miss a key or slow down, I feel the pressure of the piano to keep going and hit the right key,” said performer Hiroko Higashino, 39.
Higashino, who was born with three fingers on his right hand, only started learning the piano after the “Anybody’s Symphony No. 9” concert program was announced.
“If the piano helps me and adds the two missing keys for me, I can more faithfully recreate the rich harmony, the music that Beethoven intended to express,” he said.
Members of the 130-person audience described the Christmas performance as uplifting.
“I haven’t had such a heart-pounding experience in a long time,” said 60-year-old concertgoer Teruko Imai.
“It was the best Christmas present for me.”
Another participant, Koki Kato, 16, said he was “so moved”.
“With the piano, anyone can perform, which is also a very good thing for music.”
