(Editor: This is the second in a weekly series on Tuesdays of interviewing Tech Stars on the Cape in every technology industry and position. If you know of a Tech Star that is worthy of an interview, please email us at feedback@atbar.com.)

Who are you and what do you do?

I am Gary Girouard, President and CEO of Galileo Music Corporation – a company that focuses on technology-enhanced pianos and music-learning systems for recreational music makers. I co-invented the “ePiano” – a software powered piano, and I’m a musician and composer that has released a series of CD’s called “The Naked Piano” – which feature original solo-piano compositions. I’m currently helping set up music technology labs for the Cape Cod Conservatory and I’m actively involved in promoting the arts on Cape Cod. I sit on several boards including “JazzFest Falmouth” and “ArtsFalmouth”. I’m seeking to make a positive difference through music and donate a portion of my CD proceeds and company profits to children’s charities.

What services/products do you offer?

The primary focus of Galileo Music is technology-enhanced pianos – called “digital pianos” – these instruments offer many advantages, but most importantly they help ‘non-musicians’ have fun creating music. The mission is always to “enrich lives through piano”, and our goal is to help people of all backgrounds enjoy the many healthful benefits of actively making music.

Who/where is your audience?

Our primary market has been piano-retailers throughout the United States and parts of Canada. We are now focusing our efforts on “recreational music makers” in the Northeastern US – and especially on Cape Cod. For the music technology labs at the Cape Cod Conservatory, we’re trying to bring our experience and connections in music technology to offer a world-class program locally.

What is the website?

For Galileo Music, www.galileomusic.com – for my personal music, www.nakedpiano.com – and for the Cape Cod Conservatory, www.capecodconservatory.org

Well-Funded or Bootstrapped?

Up to this point, the growth of our business has been funded through bootstrapping and ‘guerilla-marketing’. At the same time, we have been positioning ourselves to roll out a ‘turn-key’ music learning system that leverages our exclusive technologies, and this will require a well capitalized and committed equity partner. The first round of funding is scheduled for 4th Quarter 2008 and will require $1M in financing, and a second round will require $5M. This will allow us to franchise our program in the Northeast. If we decide to go national with our franchise concept, additional rounds of financing will be required.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years?

In 5 years, we will have 10 franchise locations in the NorthEast that are successfully implementing our music technology systems. We will be offering people of all ages the opportunity to learn and create music in a fun and exciting way. We’ll leverage technologies to provide a consistent, high-quality, dependable system for learning music at a significant advantage to the consumer, and a substantial profit to the owner and investors in our company. In 10 years time we can visualize over 200 franchise locations throughout the United States. The goal is to empower a whole new market of recreational music makers to enjoy the benefits of active music making – we feel there is a huge opportunity.

Where were you born - where do you live now?

I was born in Boston and grew up in Lexington, MA. I spent many of my young-adult years living in Cambridge, and even spent a year living in Italy. I moved to Falmouth 5 years ago when my wife and I heard the news that we were having a baby.

PC or Mac?

Well, I started out in the Mac world, and switched “to the dark side” about 15 years ago. I love the Mac user interface, but still use PC. Now that Mac is promoting ‘parallels’, we’re revisiting the Mac platform.

Where did you go to school?

I received a BS at the University of Connecticut, and then did some graduate studies at the Najjar School of Music.

What Social Networks are you on?

For my music career, it’s essential to be actively involved with my “fans”, so for this part I’m very active on MySpace and have a presence on Facebook and Classmates. For business networks, I use LinkedIn and I check in on several forums that pertain to the music products and music education industries – primarily the piano forums at Pianoworld.com. It really is a challenge to balance time and energy, so I spend about an hour (no more!) each day staying current with my networks.

Greatest invention ever?

This appears to be a loaded question…. My higher self says “the human brain” – because it really is what allows us to invent in the first place. But if we’re speaking about “physical products” (of course, I’m biased!), the piano-forte by Bartolomeo Cristofori. Here is an invention that has stood the test of time – over 300 years and counting!

Person you believe has contributed most to the world of technology?

Galileo Galilei. He is the father of independent thinking and of modern science and innovation. It is the reason we have adopted his name for our company – but he really was an extraordinary man who set the stage for all the great thinkers of our modern age.

Where have you traveled in your life?

I count myself very fortunate. I’ve seen much of the United States (including Hawaii). For foreign countries, I’ve spent considerable time traveling throughout Europe. My wife is from Portugal, so we’ve spent a lot of time there, and I lived in Italy, so I’ve spent considerable time in this great country as well. I recently visited China for a music show. Now that I have young children, I prefer exploring all the wonderful surroundings right here on Cape Cod.

Why set up shop on Cape Cod?

For short – lifestyle. We have beautiful natural resources, stellar health services, a skilled labor-force (think proximity to Boston), and excellent infrastructure. In Falmouth, we have a low tax-base and absolutely breathtaking scenery. As an artist and innovator, the Cape provides inspiration and idyllic settings for creativity.

5 Websites you go to every day?

I’ve setup a personalized home page on Google, so that is where I go every day – this includes feeds from all over the internet (CNN, YouTube, Art of the Day, Boston.com, etc..)
The only other sites I visit EVERY day are MySpace, iTunes, and the Piano Forums at pianoworld.com

What’s on your iPod right now?

Wow – I’ve got the 80GB version, so we could be here a while! here’s the shortlist:
Lots of Piano Music (Thelonius Monk, Brad Mehldau, Chick Corea, Dave Brubeck, Bill Evans, Keith Jarrett, Ahmad Jamal, Oscar Peterson, Herbie Hancock)
Jazz (Pat Metheney, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Diana Krall, Joe Sample)
Pop (Sheryl Crow, Coldplay, Avril Lavigne, Pink Floyd, Norah Jones, Puddle of Mudd, Tori Amos,)
Country (Keith Urban, Shania Twain, Vince Gill)
Classical (Andrea Bocelli, Josh Groban, Beethoven, Mozart, Tchaikovsky, John Williams, Vladamir Horowitz)
New Age (George Winston, Kitaro, Jim Brickman)
PodCasts (Entrepreneurial Thought Leaders, Harvard Business Review)
Video PodCasts (Buzz Report from CNET, Gadget of the Week, CNN Show and Tell)

What is on your desktop/screensaver right now?

A picture of a hillside that looks like something from “The Sound of Music” –

You are on a deserted island - do you bring a laptop or book?

Is there a power generator? LOL. Definitely a book. But a REALLY long one! Wait a second, are those solar-powered laptops available yet?…..

Phone call or text message?

It depends. If there is something of significance to discuss, definitely a phone call. Otherwise, text message. I know texting is the convenient way, but things often get mis-interpreted – and a phone call is more effective.

Feel free to tell us anything else….?

I think there’s a vibrant technology community here on Cape Cod, and it’s wonderful that the Cape Cod Technology Council and @Bar are creating networks to uncover these rich resources.

Thank you for your time, Gary!

Maybe we can get Gary as a guest blogger and post some cool digital music/iTunes/MP3 stories on @Bar! Hint, hint…