Digital synthesizer

The digital synthesizer is a huge advancement in music technology.  It is important to understand a bit of history when considering how significant of an impact the digital synth has had on music in the last couple decades.  Before digital instruments, there were analog instruments and effects.  Both digital and analog instruments attempted to modify or imitate the sound of an acoustic instrument such as a violin or trumpet.  The difference is one uses a computer to achieve the sound (digital) an the other uses circuits and sound modification mechanics closer to an acoustical instrument (analog).  Although many musicians still prefer the analog instrument sound over digital instruments, the digital synthesizer has created a broad range of possibilities for music educators, students, musicians, producers and hobbyists. 
    As more people become consumers of digital music and electronic instruments, the competition to craft a digital synthesizer that is an all-in-one machine is progressing at a tremendous rate.  The possibilities with some of the most recent models let users choose between thousands of different sound options.  Multiple variations in style of just one musical instrument means there might be three different saxophone sounds built into the synth, or thirty depending on the make and model.  Imagine these options for every kind of instrument of the orchestra or wind symphony and boom, thousand and thousands of sound options with the toggle of a switch or even the click of a mouse.  Connecting digital synths to a computer is also a possibility where synchronizing with music software allows even more sound options and custom modifications of those sounds.
    What does this mean for educators and where are synthesizers seen in a school setting?  For band directors and general music teachers synthesizers can make their way into almost every musical setting.  In the orchestra for example, being able to demonstrate the first violin part without actually playing a violin might come in handy.  Or in the general music class, introducing different families of instruments through pictures with sounds accompanied by the synthesizer could be a fun way to utilize the technology.  There are also programs at some schools that include music industry classes into their curriculum.  In the classroom there are usually workstations for each student made up of a computer and synthesizer.  These students get very familiar with how this instrument works and how professionals might use them on a daily basis.  One more place the synthesizer might be found is the school’s auditorium especially if the regularly put on shows and musicals.  Instead of needing an entire pit orchestra to accompany the performers, the synth can replace many difficult to find parts of the band.  Even if the school doesn’t have too much room for a pit band, the synth can take on many parts of the show, or a team of synths could potentially take all the parts. 
    In so many ways this technology is changing the way classroom teachers and musicians interact with music on a daily basis.  Their affordability makes them very accessible to all schools and players as well.  It will be interesting to see how the digital synthesizer develops over the next few years and what new roles it will be able to take on.