Yamaha Reaches Out To Support Promising 7-Year-Old Piano Prodigy
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BUENA PARK, CA Often, Yamaha Cares works to benefit a large group or institution like a children's hospital, or the Special Olympics. But sometimes, it feels just as good to make a difference in a single life. That's the case with Kodi Lee, an eight-year-old from Irvine, Calif. who has become a friend and inspiration to the Yamaha family.
Kodi, the oldest of three siblings, suffers from both optic nerve hypoplasia which has taken his eyesight and autism. According to his mom, Tina Lee, he's been into music his whole life. “We sang to him in the hospital before he was one,” she says, “and he'd be banging the rhythm with his feet. He is music, he literally is.”
Indeed, Kodi is so musical that he has a website devoted to his passion, www.kodilee.com, and has attended several Special Olympics Southern California games as a performer, not an athlete. It was at the games in Fullerton last winter that he encountered a group of Yamaha employees who were there using Clavinova digital pianos to give the gift of music to people who might not otherwise get to experience it and a relationship was born. At the June games in Long Beach, Kodi performed in the Yamaha booth, and attracted so many fans they had to take down several promotional banners so more people could see.
In July, Kodi paid a visit to Yamaha headquarters in Buena Park to perform some of his tunes and meet more people from the company. He was accompanied by Tom Folenta of MIDITainment, who produces the “Watch & Learn” video series for Yamaha Clavinova digital pianos and PSR portable keyboards.
“He's an amazingly talented young man,” Folenta says. “His singing intonation is like an adult's; he listens to albums and imitates the intonations of all the voices. His piano playing is good, and he has a great ear.”
During the visit, which Yamaha recorded onto DVD for Kodi's later enjoyment, Kodi started with “Shout“ and ended with Billy Joel's “Piano Man,“ playing both the piano and the harmonica.
Kodi has his own Clavinova at home, and his parents say it's one of his favorite possessions. “He plays every day,“ says mom Tina. “He does not stop. He loves it. It has really done wonders for him.“
“Yamaha has given us a new assurance in human kindness, Kodi's dad Eric said after the July visit. “They have graced Kodi and our family with a priceless, unequalled experience that will touch our lives forever. They embraced the magic and spirit within Kodi and reached out their welcoming arms without prejudice-which has helped beyond our imagination.“
For more information on Yamaha Cares, write Yamaha Corporation of America, P.O. Box 6600, Buena Park, CA 90622-6600; telephone (714) 522-9011; or email infostation@yamaha.com.
Kodi, the oldest of three siblings, suffers from both optic nerve hypoplasia which has taken his eyesight and autism. According to his mom, Tina Lee, he's been into music his whole life. “We sang to him in the hospital before he was one,” she says, “and he'd be banging the rhythm with his feet. He is music, he literally is.”
Indeed, Kodi is so musical that he has a website devoted to his passion, www.kodilee.com, and has attended several Special Olympics Southern California games as a performer, not an athlete. It was at the games in Fullerton last winter that he encountered a group of Yamaha employees who were there using Clavinova digital pianos to give the gift of music to people who might not otherwise get to experience it and a relationship was born. At the June games in Long Beach, Kodi performed in the Yamaha booth, and attracted so many fans they had to take down several promotional banners so more people could see.
In July, Kodi paid a visit to Yamaha headquarters in Buena Park to perform some of his tunes and meet more people from the company. He was accompanied by Tom Folenta of MIDITainment, who produces the “Watch & Learn” video series for Yamaha Clavinova digital pianos and PSR portable keyboards.
“He's an amazingly talented young man,” Folenta says. “His singing intonation is like an adult's; he listens to albums and imitates the intonations of all the voices. His piano playing is good, and he has a great ear.”
During the visit, which Yamaha recorded onto DVD for Kodi's later enjoyment, Kodi started with “Shout“ and ended with Billy Joel's “Piano Man,“ playing both the piano and the harmonica.
Kodi has his own Clavinova at home, and his parents say it's one of his favorite possessions. “He plays every day,“ says mom Tina. “He does not stop. He loves it. It has really done wonders for him.“
“Yamaha has given us a new assurance in human kindness, Kodi's dad Eric said after the July visit. “They have graced Kodi and our family with a priceless, unequalled experience that will touch our lives forever. They embraced the magic and spirit within Kodi and reached out their welcoming arms without prejudice-which has helped beyond our imagination.“
For more information on Yamaha Cares, write Yamaha Corporation of America, P.O. Box 6600, Buena Park, CA 90622-6600; telephone (714) 522-9011; or email infostation@yamaha.com.
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© 2009 Yamaha Corporation of America
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