AI-assisted piano helps disabled musicians perform

In the wood-panelled auditorium of a prestigious concert hall in Tokyo, a remarkable event took place that showcased the power of technology and inclusivity. Three musicians with disabilities, including 24 years old Kiwa Usami, who has cerebral palsy, performed Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 with the Yokohama Sinfonietta using an artificial intelligence-powered piano called “Anybody’s Piano”. 

This unique instrument, developed through a collaboration between Yamaha and Usami’s teachers, tracks the notes of the music and automatically plays the keys that are needed but not pressed by the musician.

Usami’s dedication to practicing with just one finger on the piano inspired her teachers to work with Yamaha to create a revised version of their auto-playing piano. The performance at Suntory Hall for their Christmas concert was the first of its kind. Another musician, 10 years old Yurina Furukawa, who has congenital myopathy, a rare muscle condition, performed alongside Usami from a bed stationed in front of the piano.

Using her left arm for rhythm and the back of her right hand to powerfully press the keys, Furukawa relied on the AI-assisted piano to fill in the missing notes and complete the performance.

Unlike traditional auto-play pianos, “Anybody’s Piano” stops playing if a player hits the wrong notes. Performer Hiroko Higashino, who only started learning to play the piano after the concert program was announced, expressed how the pianos pushes her to press the right keys when she makes a mistake. Higashino, who was born with only three fingers on her right hand, believes that with the pianos assistance, she can faithfully recreate the rich harmony and express the music intended by Beethoven.

The concert was attended by 130 people who described the performance as uplifting and heart-trembling. Teruko Imai, a concertgoer in her 60s, said it was the best Christmas present she had received in a long time. Likewise, 16 years old attendee Koki Kato was deeply moved. She expressed her appreciation for the piano’s ability to enable anyone to perform, emphasizing that it is a positive development for music as a whole.

Through the collaboration between Yamaha and the dedicated teachers and musicians, barriers have been broken, leaving a lasting impact on the audience and setting the stage for a more inclusive and accessible future in the world of music.