One of the most important things that The MIDI Association showed off at NAMM 2026 was The Piano Profile.
The Piano Profile standardizes the velocity and pedal curves and the registered controllers used to control a piano’s performance via MIDI.
It was adopted by The MIDI Association just before NAMM 2026. The model is based on the acoustic piano which is why it was important to have Kawai, Steinway and Yamaha involved in the project.
Kawai Artist David Snyder and Steinway Artist John Beasley
Kawai Artist David Snyder and Steinway Artist John Beasley explored the creative possibilities that the Piano Profile opens up.
“John Beasley, the one-time keyboardist for Freddie Hubbard & Miles Davis, whose playing reflects a variety of generational influences, incorporating the emphatic chordal clusters of Herbie Hancock, the rhythmic quirkiness of Monk and the lush intelligence of Art Tatum into a highly refined personal voice.”
-The Los Angeles Times
David Snyder is a pianist and composer raised in rural North Dakota and now based in the vibrant city of Los Angeles. With over twelve years of classical training, he has delicately translated his expertise into creating breathtaking solo piano and instrumental tracks.
These artists performed on a Roland A88 MKII controller playing Synthogy’s Ivory software. At the show Roland released a firmware update to the A88 MKII and Synthogy released a software update for Ivory.
The goal of the Piano profile is to improve the interoperability between different manufacturers whether they make digital pianos, keyboard controllers, software synthesizers or acoustic pianos driven by MIDI like the Yamaha Disklavier and Steinway Spirio.
Lachi performs at NAMM 2026
Not only did John Beasley and David Snyder perform on the MIDI 2.0 Piano Profile, we also had a performance from LACHI the Award Winning Artist and CEO of RAMPD.
Lachi is an award-winning recording artist, global renowned disability advocate, Recording Academy National Trustee, who’s produced a GRAMMY-Nominated album.
Lachi is the Founder/CEO of the U.N.-recognized organization RAMPD.org—a consultancy group working with music industry giants on disability-inclusive solutions, as well as a global network of music creators and professionals with disabilities and neurodivergence. Her 2023 peer-reviewed work on accessibility in the recording industry has been published by the Audio Engineering Society. Named a USA Today Woman of the Year and included in Forbes Accessibility 100 list, Lachi’s work amplifying access in the music industry has landed in Billboard, TIME Magazine, Good Morning America and the New York Times.
Indi Robinson, a groundbreaking deaf actress provided American Sign Language for Lachi performance with expressive artistry.
Ellis Hall closes the NAMM Show 2026
The final performance of the 2026 NAMM show at The MIDI Association wasa three songs set from The Ambassador of Soul, Ellis Hall also performing on a Roland A88 MKII controller playing Synthogy’s Ivory software with the MIDI 2.0 Piano Profile enabled.
After years of painstaking effort to get bi-directional MIDI 2.0 communications to work and thousands of hours of prototyping, we are thrilled to see the whole reason for MIDI 2.0 come to life with great performances by world class musicians.
They don’t have to think about technology and can just focus on what they do so well- play great music.
The reason The MIDI Association works so hard is to make it easier for musicians to play.