YAMAHA HD-300 Harmony Director Instrumental Keyboard User Guide

: June 6, 2024
: Yamaha

Table of Contents

YAMAHA HD-300 Harmony Director Instrumental Keyboard
Introduction
Training one’s ability for listening and matching pitch (Sound Back*
- Practice using the Recording function
- Practice using Time Shift Recording
Introducing the “HD-300 Assistant” app for iOS
HD-300 Feature Basics
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YAMAHA HD-300 Harmony Director Instrumental Keyboard

Introduction

The Harmony Director HD-300 is packed with features that help a performer actively improve his or her abilities through independent and interactive learning. We hope that the act of listening back, reflecting on, and correcting one’s performance not only helps improve one’s abilities as a performer by internalizing what you have learned, but also offers new opportunities to enjoy music and helps provide a sense of enrichment.

This Use Guide describes the kinds of independent and interactive learning that can be incorporated into practice, and the kinds of band practice and instruction that is possible with the HD-300 using specific examples of each scene.

Overview

Training one’s ability for listening and matching pitch (Sound Back*

function)

Use the Sound Back function to listen and compare the performer’s tone and that of the HD-300. Use this to practice matching the pitch, training your listening and pitch recognition abilities in the process.

Practice using the Sound Back function

Scene: Individual practice, part practice
Practice goals: Develop the ability to match pitch by listening to the (surrounding) instruments without relying on a tuner. Fig
01 Training one’s ability to recognize areas needing improvement in a performance, or capturing and sharing a performance in its entirety (Recording function)

Listening to one’s performance objectively can provide new insight. Share new facets noticed with your peers to help deepen your understanding of your own performing abilities.

Practice using the Recording function

Scene: Part practice, ensemble practice
Practice goals: Develop one’s ability to analyze one’s performance objectively and to play towards a goal based on grounds.

Fig 02

Advanced: Quickly present points of concern (Time Shift Recording function)
You can record a part of concern during performance after when you have noticed it, starting at up to 10 seconds before. Facilitate efficient practice and develop each performer’s ability to play by themselves, by quickly recording and sharing parts that require additional instruction with them.

Practice using Time Shift Recording

Scene: Part practice, ensemble practice
Practice goals: Quickly present points of concern to the practice partner to help facilitate practice.

Fig 03

Introducing the “HD-300 Assistant” app for iOS

This is a useful iOS app that aids your daily practice routine. You can use this app to remotely control certain functions of the HD-300 by connecting to the HD-300 via Bluetooth®. This app also includes dedicated features for app, such as a chord detector, a tuner, and others.
*HD-300 Assistant is an app exclusive to the iPhone/iPad.

Example: Confirm chord while playing (chord detector) Fig
04

HD-300 Feature Basics

This at-a-glance introduction shows how the HD-300 features can be used in various practice situations, and provides basic instructions. Fig
05

Tuning

Use the VOICE buttons and the dial to select the desired Voice.
Use the HOLD unction to continue playing notes even after you’ve released your finger from the keyboard.
Use the OCTAVE slider to change the octave of the keyboard sound.

Imagining correct pitch

Turn the SOUND BACK function on, and then play in the direction of the HD-300 to have it play the correct pitch for the nearest reference note for a specific period of time.
This lets you practice imagining and matching the pitch as you perform.

Creating harmonies
Select the pure TEMPERAMENT nd play a chord so that the root key is automatically detected and a pure-tempered chord sound is produced.
The TRANSPOSE buttons are useful when playing the keyboard, while using a musical score written for the transposing instrument.

Using Demonstrate on the app enables you to hear minutely out-of-tune sounds (interference beats), or to sense changes in the sound of chords when the volume balance changes.

Effectively practicing basic techniques

In the TRAINING mode, you can play back the main practice pieces in the “JBC Band Method” library.
This can be used to automate the accompaniment, allowing the instructor to concentrate on listening to the student’s performance when used by the instructor. It also helps students practice independently on their own when they use it.

Confirming complex rhythms

Using the metronome function deeper.
By using the BEAT TEMPO MEMORY unction, you can set and save an irregular meter or a frequently used tempo.

Using the Rhythm Assistant function of the app enables you to create a set of rhythms of up to 2 measures by note input, and to play it on the HD-300.

Developing one’s sense of rhythm
By switching the rhythm playback mode to the RHYTHM STYLE mode from the metronome, you can play back various popular rhythms.
Rhythm styles include such as march, swing and samba. Practicing while playing back these rhythms helps develop a sense of rhythm that matches the piece.