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NEWS
RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FreeHand
Systems' MusicPad Pro Revolutionizes Music Instruction Through Distance
Learning; Cleveland Institute of Music Uses FreeHand Systems' Digital
Music Notebook to Conduct Remote Master Classes
LOS
ALTOS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 21, 2006--The MusicPad Pro(R)
Plus, an easy-to-use digital music notebook created by FreeHand
Systems Inc., wholly owned subsidiary of FreeHand Systems International,
Inc. (OTC:FSYI) is revolutionizing distance music learning at the
Cleveland Institute of Music. The leading international conservatory
is now using the MusicPad Pro to conduct remote master classes,
as it demonstrated at the Internet2 Conference in Miami Beach recently.
The MusicPad
Pro Plus allows users to store and annotate sheet music, scores
and more. It is already being used worldwide in studios, orchestras,
school ensembles, and by recording artists and touring musicians.
When paired with video conferencing technology, the MusicPad Pro
becomes a powerful learning tool, allowing music educators to lend
their expertise to students around the world.
"Master
classes are an integral part of any classical music program. You
used to have to get on a plane. It's a lot easier now. You can work
with students off site through other peer institutions and the MusicPad
makes the experience more like the professor is there," said
Mark George, Cleveland Institute's Director of Distance Learning,
and music theory instructor.
Attendees
of the Internet2 Conference, a hands-on audio/video production workshop
for distance learning and remote event technologists, observed a
violin master class held in Miami Beach, but conducted by violin
professor and president of the conservatory David Cerone at the
Cleveland Institute in Ohio. Both he and the master class students
were able to not only see and hear each other, but also use the
MusicPad Pro to view the same scores, and annotations made by Cerone.
Even the audience was able to view the annotations made on the MusicPad
Pro on the screen projection and see and hear Cerone's interactions
with the student.
After the
student had played through selected passages from Johannes Brahms'
Violin Concerto (or Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D Major,
Op.77), Cerone was able to work very closely on several complex
passages, pointing out stylistic options, fingering and rhythm,
opting to use the original Brahms manuscript, already loaded on
the MusicPad Pro.
"We find this is a lot easier than regular video conferencing.
We can import multiple versions of the same piece, have it already
loaded into the MusicPad, and then switch back and forth as needed,"
said George.
Cerone also
praised the ease-of-use in annotating music right on the MusicPad,
and being able to save the teacher's notes, a record of changes
and what was discussed week to week.
"Every
week there are new markings. It's hard to tell which is which. You
can mark this up with all these details -- then take the details
out and save as a pdf. Next time it's fresh again," said Cerone.
"At the same time, you can go back to your teacher with ideas
you have noted. It's very handy. It does save that confusion."
Distance
learning applications for the MusicPad Pro are not limited to master
classes. Future applications may include performances via video
conference, where the audience can see the score and the musical
progression through the piece; competitions where judges will want
to see a clean score as well as any special markings; and even remote
auditions, especially for international students for whom the expense
of traveling would create a hardship.
FreeHand
Systems, Inc. (www.freehandsystems.com), a wholly owned subsidiary
of FreeHand Systems International, Inc. (FSYI), is the global leader
in digital sheet music publishing (through its two online digital
sheet music sites, sunhawk.com and sheetmusicnow.com) and is the
manufacturer of the first digital music delivery system through
its digital music site and its music tablet, the MusicPad Pro®
Plus. The pad provides innovative technology to the music industry
for displaying and publishing digitally delivered sheet music.
Investor
Contact:Karen Kupfer
650-941-0742 (Investor Relations)
investorrelations@freehandsystems.com
Media
Contact: Clyde Beswick, VP Marketing
FreeHand Systems, Inc.
95 First Street, Suite 200
Los Altos, CA 94022
310.275.9269
cbeswick@freehandsystems.com
Note
to editors: For additional information visit FreeHand System’s
website, www.freehandsystems.com. FreeHand Systems, Inc., MusicPad
Pro®, MusicPad Pro® Plus, MusicPad Maestro™ are trademarks
of FreeHand Systems, Inc.
*****
This
press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning
of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
(the "Exchange Act"), including statements regarding potential
sales, the success of the company's business, as well as statements
that include the word "believe" or similar expressions.
Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks,
uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results,
performance or achievements of FreeHand Systems International, Inc.
to differ materially from those implied or expressed by such forward-looking
statements. Such factors include, among others, the risk factors
included in FreeHand Systems International, Inc.'s Annual Report
and any subsequent reports filed with the SEC under the Exchange
Act. This press release speaks as of the date first set forth above
and FreeHand System International, Inc. assumes no responsibility
to update the information included herein for events occurring after
the date hereof. Actual results could differ materially from those
anticipated due to factors such as the lack of capital, timely development
of products, inability to deliver products when ordered, inability
of potential customers to pay for ordered products, and political
and economic risks inherent in international trade.
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