The Future of Electone?
Hi
It seems an impossible task to try to keep alive an instrument that is no longer produced or supported by the supplier. Every day I see in my work teaching at schools that young people are still interested in this field of musical education, they are the ones who have no preconceived ideas as to what they want ‘things to be’ or superficial ’snob’ value… ” my little Jane want to the learn the piano & NOT a keyboard thing” and it’s normally because they don’t know the difference and mainly just because they want something polished, wooden or black sitting in their lounge! So many people from the outside view this instrument as a ‘toy’ and group it with keyboards and not REAL instruments! RUBBISH i say!! those sort of blinkered people will never view the Electone as it really is. AN AMAZING INSTRUMENT!
Every time I introduce a new young student to the Electone they are all, without exception, absolutely amazed! It’s a shame that a lot of the 30-45 mid-generations age groups have this unfounded, blinkered view of the Electone (organ) - born through ignorance.
I think one BIG way Yamaha went wrong with the Electone was that they never produced a ’serious’ version, like the way they produce the CL range of Electronic Clavinova as opposed to the CVP Clavinova range of Electronic Pianos, the CL pianos have been widely accepted throughout the musical world and Yamaha have successfully shielded the CL Clavinova from the prejudice that the CVP suffers, what a shame that they didn’t see this clearly with the Electone!!!!!
Forgive my rant. It’s just so VERY annoying when I see this going on.
I will try as much as possible to keep this Electone alive in my world, I believe that it is truly a fine instrument, all my students will get exposed to it’s potential and hopefully, in time, ‘Yamaha’ will have the foresight and breath life back into this fantastic instrument.
Stephen
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