Seiler Selects PianoWorks As Atlanta’s Authorized Dealer
Newly added to PianoWorks’ impressive lineup of piano brands is Seiler. Since 1849, Seiler has represented amazing quality and value in pianos. We now carry pianos from their traditional SE-series as well as their new ED-series. This new partnership means new, high-value choices for Atlanta’s deserving audience. Visit us today to try these exciting new pianos!
NAMM 2012: Hanging out in Estonia Piano Booth
NAMM is the biggest music industry trade show in the world. Held annually in January, NAMM will attract 100,000 manufacturers, dealers and musicians for every music category. From accordians to zithers, microphones to stage lighting and, of course Pianos, NAMM is where new products are demonstrated and the business of music gets done. For several years now, my favorite booth has been the Estonia Piano booth where Dr. Indrek Laul has created an oasis of relaxing chairs and relaxed smiles that make business a pleasure and attract scores of great musicians to stop by and just play.
This year, Dr. Laul brought his family, making it the first NAMM for his two young boys. NAMM is also just down the street from Disneyland, so no convincing was required. This delightful family of musicians has successfully made it their business also.
Indrek with his boys
I coaxed Indrek’s wife, Triin-Maret Laul, into playing for us.
Indrek with new friend Rob Mullins and old friend Frank Baxter.
Indrek and Rebecca prepared some duets.
Estonia L190 Grand Piano in Pyramid Mahogany finish.
I captured this video while at the booth of just a few of the musical guests and also Indrek, his wife Triin-Maret and later a duet with his son, Bruno.
Mr. Hailun Chen of Hailun Pianos Visits PianoWorks
Last Thursday, PianoWorks was greeted by a surprise visitor. Perhaps not a total surprise, but we had only 4 days to prepare for Mr. Hailun Chen of Hailun Pianos. We were also joined by May Wang, Hailun’s Vice President of Exports, and a small cadre of business attorneys. He’s preparing for an IPO in China, I’m pleased to say his visit to our showroom will have played a small role in the future growth of Hailun Pianos worldwide. Though not pictured, we were also visited by Lauren Wallace, Vice President of Hailun USA. When possible, several of our customers made a point to attend and meet the chairman and founder.
The performers for our upcoming event, End of Summer, Back to Piano Concert, also stopped by. Larry Barker and Julie Ye join Hailun Chen in front of the chosen instrument, a 7’2″ Hailun model 218 semi-concert grand piano. This Free concert is Saturday, August 20 @ 6:00 pm.
I was most delighted to see customers that most recently purchased new Hailun grand pianos. We took the opportunity to request that Mr. Chen autograph their chosen pianos for these fortunate customers. David & Peggy McCleskey selected a Hailun grand piano for the Gwinnett Hospital Extended Care Center (part of Gwinnett Medical Center) to bring joy to the many patients and their long days of treatment. The McCleskey’s gave this generous gift of music, including a self-playing system on the piano.
The Williams family also selected a Hailun grand piano to nurture the musical education of their son. I learned that these were the first ever requests to sign customer pianos for Hailun Chen. Looking back, this will mark a great day for those able to attend.
In our business, we often have the opportunity to meet with the people responsible for our fine pianos. It is rare, however, to host one of the world’s larger manufacturers in our showroom. Hailun Pianos is not only an important manufacturer, but they are also growing. We thank everyone for attending.
Spring Recital Bookings: Now Open!
It’s August 1st, our annual opening day for all area piano teachers who wish to book recital time at our hall for the following year, Spring 2012. Over the years, PianoWorks performance hall has become not only popular, but important in the local community as the premier recital venue in Atlanta. Our hall, which regularly seats 120, is always outfitted with world class concert grand pianos. Performers enjoy the intimate setting, the friendly atmosphere, and the terrific acoustics. August 1st is all about booking that time slot.
(PianoWorks parking lot, August 1, 2011 9:00 am – FULL of piano teacher cars. For regular store hours, we open at 10:00 am)
Area teachers have learned to show up early as the most popular times (April & May weekends) go early. Spring Recitals aren’t just in Spring anymore as the seasonal demand now ranges from March to June. Today, PianoWorks opened its doors at 8:30, but some teachers showed up still earlier to take their place in line. Before 10:00 am, 25 teachers had booked their chosen times. PianoWorks offers extended hours from mid-April to mid-June to accomodate nearly 100 recitals, competitions, and auditions during that time.
So book now, plan ahead and keep in mind that some piano teachers have already set their date. We want your events to be the most successful they can be.
**UPDATE** 12:00 pm – We’re just a few hours in and the weekend timeslots in April & May are booked. There are still times available, but you should act now!
Bosendorfer Execs Visit PianoWorks
In late May, PianoWorks was pleased to welcome nine members of Bosendorfer and Yamaha’s management team to visit our showroom and restoration facility here in Atlanta. Yamaha proudly acquired Bosendorfer Piano Company in 2008 and has slowly and carefully incorporated their distribution management team. Bosendorfer dealers will now have greater access to representatives, to parts supplies, and to Artist services though Yamaha’s larger organization. Among the visitors were Bosendorfer’s current CEO Brian Kemble, the former CEO Yoshichika Sakai, also Bob Heller, Yamaha’s National Sales Director of Piano Division as well as other key members of the distribution team.
[Sam Bennett, Brian Kemble, Don Bennett, Yoshichika Sakai, Masaya Furuta around the Bosendorfer model 280 Concert Grand Piano in PianoWorks’ Recital Hall]
We see a strong future for Bosendorfer in Atlanta, throughout the U.S. and around the world.
An Evening of Chamber Music with LYRA, Robert Spano and a Bosendorfer
Several weeks ago, I circled this event on my calendar. PianoWorks regularly supplies pianos in support of many recitals, concerts and other musical events around Georgia. This concert, I wanted to attend personally. Last Sunday, I attended a wonderful evening of chamber music at Callanwolde. LYRA performed with special guest Robert Spano on piano. And the outstanding conductor for the Atlanta Symphony can really play. The quartet chose for their program pieces that really showcased Robert’s talents on a Bosendorfer concert grand piano. Not that I ever expected any less, but that evening was a real treat for me.
Callanwolde creates a perfect setting for chamber music. The audience gathers just inches from the performers under lamp lighting. The strings gather almost in the curve of the concert grand piano in one corner of the elegantly appointed chamber. Behind the chairs set out for visitors, the grand staircase serves as a balcony for latecomers. This concert was also a fundraiser to support a strings program for students that have had music cut from their public school budgets.
The night began with the strings, Franz Shubert’s Trio No. 1 in Bb Major for Violin, Viola and Cello, D. 471. This set the mood and I began to know the players. Spano joined for Mozart’s Piano Quartet No. 1 in G minor, KV 478. After the intermission, I enjoyed Piano Quartet in Eb Major, Op. 47 by Robert Schumann. The 3rd movement of this piece was my personal favorite.
Afterwards, I spoke with the both Robert Spano and LYRA founding member, Raymond Leung curious about their impressions of the visiting instrument, our Bosendorfer concert grand. Among other positive comments, Robert Spano stated the piano was, “absolutely wonderful” and Leung delighted how much better suited this piano was for them over their second choice instrument. I hope to have video to share in a future update.
Steinway of Chicago Closes: Symbolic or Not?
I recently learned that Steinway of Chicago is closing. Is this just another in a long list of prominent piano dealerships to lose their footing in this long recession or is it a reflection on the viability of iconic brands? Or is it something deeper? Quite a few established Steinway and Yamaha piano dealers around the country have closed, and I think it is worth evaluating. In an online forum, someone’s reaction to the Chicago new was to complain that Steinway’s high prices were to blame, but I don’t see it that way.
The industry evolves with the economy. When stores open and close frequently, part of the support structure for local piano culture is lost. The full factors at play in Chicago are unknown, but there is the symbolic effect of an iconic brand in flux…others look to them to see what they are doing. I don’t see price as the big issue. The best information available to me indicates that Steinway’s recent sales numbers are reflected in the piano market as a whole. If they wish to beat the market, they have to focus on value. Most reports indicate the factory is working to improve execution which I believe is the best way to raise value. The Essex line offers good value (though best value is hotly debated) and I anticipate even more changes to the Boston line. When the economy finds new footing (at whatever level that is) Steinway should be better positioned than before this recession. A lot can go right or wrong, but I haven’t seen a challenger for top dog emerge. Some other great makers captured significant market share before the global recession, but that’s as far as it went. It’s within Steinway’s ability to stay on top if they do the right things.
As it relates to pricing and demand, if Steinway grands were suddenly $10k less, the effect would be shortsighted. Of course, Steinway now has other lines to consider….
For now, supply and demand need to find some predictable relationship. This would be good for everyone, not just Steinway dealers, but let us work on growing real demand. We dealers need to plant more seeds and nurture the seedlings so there will be something to harvest year in, year out. I’ve watched many dealers spend all there efforts harvesting, not planting, and guess what?
25 years ago, few people could afford Steinways but nearly everyone aspired to have one. 10 years ago, few people could afford Steinways but among those who could, some discovered Schimmel or Estonia or Mason & Hamlin. Steinway will never be affordable for everyone, but as another 10 years goes by, a generation could grow up dreaming of something other than Steinway. This is the challenge Steinway faces beyond the immediate downturn.
As I write this, Atlanta is without a Yamaha piano dealer. Neighboring Birmingham lost their Steinway dealer of over 100 years. Phoenix Steinway has closed. The Denver Steinway dealer is closing. Even the piano store in Beverly Hills is closing. The economy will turn, and new businesses will take their place, but what lessons will be learned in the changeover. Will it be a Steinway dealer? Will it be another brand? Or will some other pasttime further displace the piano in our culture? For my part, I will run my business by continuing to plant seeds and nurture the next generation of pianists.
Recent Customer Letter: Knabe Upright Piano
We work very hard not only to represent many of the finest pianos made, but also to play matchmaker for our customers. This Thank You note was recently shared with us by a family that selected a new Knabe piano. It lets me know our work is appreciated.
Dear
Sam,
Our family just wants you to know how pleased we have been with our new
Knabe piano. My son and I actually argue over who gets to play it at
the end of the day!
Your service was excellent and you made purchasing a piano a real
pleasure. Thanks for all your help and we’ll be sure and recommend you
to our friends.
Sincerely,
Ron, Shannon & Dean
………………………………………………
They selected a new Knabe WKV-131 Professional upright
GA Baptist Conference – Toccoa selects new Roland Digital Piano
A few weeks ago, I was approached with a complex problem – the Georgia Baptist Conference Center in Toccoa had a baby grand piano that was struggling to serve its original purpose. A baby grand piano had resided in a large, multi-purpose space for many years. The space had its challenges. First, it was carpeted with a high ceilings and most often located toward the middle of a round room – more than that piano could acoustically handle. Second, it was never practical to maintain the space at the ideal, stable environmental conditions that a piano requires. This problem was compounded by its rural location and limited access to piano technicians. We were given the choice of repairing the fatigued piano or proposing another solution that was still cost effective. I arranged for them to audition the newest Roland Digital Piano, LX-10F to see their reaction.
Repairing the baby grand they bought years ago seemed futile when going back into the same situation, however I have a strong preference for acoustic pianos. Nothing yet delivers the way a great acoustic piano will, but we had to face the facts that no acoustic piano would stay great without the right care. The Roland LX-10F just seemed better prepared to live in the space, making no special maintenance demands. The Roland cabinet is also very attractive; built to look like a studio upright piano, it satisfies the visual need as well. The ultimate test was performance, of course. Here the Roland fared better than any purist would imagine. I won’t go into the tech specs here, but lets just say that Roland understands and delivers what pianists want in stunning fashion. My generation is a little numb to technological, electronic marvels. What stirred me about this Roland is my own experience, my ability to sink into the instrument and forget I’m playing a digital.
The Roland auditioned well and was delivered just in time for its first real test at the 2010 Geogia Baptist History Conference last weekend. George Houston of the Georgia Baptist Historical Commission greeted us when we arrived, and today I learned the weekend reviews were great. On Friday evening, the centerpiece program was Legacy of Praise: Worship Through Music. Pianist David Carnes was on hand and he loved the new Roland. He confessed that he greatly preferred it to his studio digital (of another famous brand) and the audience loved his music. And between the various musicians, the audience mingled to the digital library on board. Pianists are now invited to come record on the piano and add to that library for future use.
I believe this was the right instrument for the right purpose, an example of good problem solving, and as our relationship grows, another happy customer.
PianoWorks on YouTube Celebrates a Landmark
PianoWorks wishes to celebrate a small landmark for our YouTube Channel. Two years ago, we created our YouTube Channel, however for the first year, videos were few and far between. We’ve ramped up our efforts to bring valueable video content to our customers and the piano community with nearly 50 videos. This weekend, our humble channel passed 30,000 views!
When I think about 30,000 views, our videos are hardly viral, but they are relevant and helpful. I have ambitious goals for our future videos, but I want to take this moment to reflect on the success that so many views represents for our little slice of life. We have many piano demos, some for digital pianos, some customer performances + a few random videos related to our business.
We educate customers as a fundamental element of our business approach. An educated customer is, in fact, more likely to be a PianoWorks customer. YouTube has offered us a platform, not to sell pianos, but instead to share information and experiences (and hopefully some entertainment) in the true spirit of the YouTube community. Music is a satisfying, enriching, and hopefully fun pursuit; we hope by being responsible members of the piano community to lead customers away from poor, unsatisfying sales experience. Instead, you can spend some time in our world, learning, spending time with family, and sharing our passion for music.
Our you tube Channel:
