FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Houston, TX – April, 2013
Hellene Hiner, Houston Musicologist and Inventor of the Elementary Grand Staff, speaks on the сurrent status of the invention after litigation.
Houston Musicologist Hellene Hiner, who invented and patented the Elementary and Interactive Grand Staff (US Patent No. 7,629,527), announces that she has been granted full and complete rights to her invention, Soft Way to Mozart® and the company she founded as Music Vision International LLC. Following a lengthy litigation process, a trial was held in the 270th Judicial District Court, Harris County, Texas in January with the jury finding in Hiner’s favor and the Court entering a final judgment based on the jury findings on February 25, 2013, allowing her to maintain control of her intellectual property.
Hiner began work on her invention in 1976 after graduating from music school in Ukraine. She then came to the United States in 1993 with the dream of providing music literacy to every child. To accomplish that goal, she created a unique approach to teaching music notation by breaking down the Grand Staff for beginners. Through pictures, graphics and computer interactivity, her system allows even very young children and children with special needs to gain access to an excellent music education. It is especially useful in maintaining mental acuity and developing neural connections that are resistant to dementia.
Hiner’s invention, patented in the USA and endorsed by the Moscow and Madrid Conservatories, has already proved its merits by producing several winners of piano competitions in Ukraine and Spain. Soft Way to Mozart® quickly builds strong hand-eye coordination and makes reading the Grand Staff possible for every individual. Currently used by people ranging from toddlers to retirees and individual teachers to entire schools from forty-eight different countries, this popular program successfully teaches music literacy through playing the piano.
“Considering the importance of learning piano for developing children’s brains, I created the perfect tool to make piano playing possible even for toddlers. Learning to actually play an instrument remains extremely difficult for the average person and the lack of music literacy impoverishes people’s lives,” Hiner says.
The court’s judgment brings an end to a 6-year battle for control over Soft Way to Mozart®. After thirty-seven years of research and hard work, Hiner is now able to make her complete vision for the invention a reality. She anticipates the next few years to be filled with rapid change and development for the company.
“Because we have been embroiled in this struggle for control, development of the program has been held up. The program is very good as it is, but we will finally be able to implement new ideas,” Hiner says. “Our growth, until now, has been built on the enthusiasm of our current users and students. The company has expanded by word of mouth and the success this program brings.”
To maintain the existing software and the teaching forums, Soft Mozart relies on hundreds of dedicated, volunteer members who help keep the invention going and promote it through word-of-mouth advertising. In addition, Hiner has created the Soft Mozart Parent-Teacher Organization to help fund the scholarships that the company offers to families who have children with special needs, to those who are financially unable to pay for the program, and to a select group of students who have demonstrated a love and commitment to learning how to play music and promoting Hiner’s method of teaching.
Soft Way to Mozart® is truly a program for everyone, and Hiner is committed to making it available to as many people as possible! To help expand the program, Hiner is now seeking additional volunteers and financial supporters who want to contribute to a better education for children worldwide. To find out more about becoming a part of this exciting company, contact the Soft Way to Mozart® through its website
softmozart.com
About the company: Music Vision International LLC is led by its founder, Hellene Hiner, who has a Master’s Degree in Musicology. Hiner is established and renowned with some of the most prestigious music institutions in the world including the Moscow Conservatory and the Madrid Conservatory. She has contributed many articles about music education to a variety of publications and has a wide presence on Youtube and many social networking websites.
For more information contact:
Sonya Post
Director of Marketing and Public Relations
641.780.7660
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