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.
Bosendorfer Selection: Take a Trip to Vienna!
Yesterday, Ray Chandler of Bosendorfer Pianos, a Yamaha Keyboard Division visited our store in Duluth, GA. We welcomed Ray both as a caring and knowledgeable business partner and also because he’s such a nice guy. His travels brought him from Boise, Idaho looking for better weather. We spent the evening catching up on business matters including a fantastic new program from Bosendorfer this Winter.
For our very special Bosendorfer customers, we keep a select inventory in our showroom, but for the full compliment of Bosendorfer’s offerings, a trip to their home in Vienna may be a once in a lifetime opportunity! Starting December 1, 2010 until February 28, 2011, Bosendorfer will welcome you to their New selection room including a factory tour and a demonstration of the ultimate reproducing piano system, the CEUS. For full details, contact us or your local Bosendorfer Piano dealer. We would love to welcome you to the Bosendorfer family.
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Upright Obsession: Grotrian Concertina special order
Okay, so I’m having some fun with the title of Perri Knize’s Grand Obsession, but since her novel stars (spoiler alert!) a Grotrian grand piano and this blog stars a Grotrian upright piano, I didn’t think anyone would mind. Among the many fine pianos we represent, Grotrian are among the most exclusive, and it takes just the right customer to dig past the usual names to uncover this crafted masterpiece.
To know our market is to recognize that spacious homes usually accompany the purchase of our top brands. Here in the South, our homes and rooms tend to be bigger than other markets, so when someone crosses into the price range of grand pianos, they rarely look back at top-of-the-line upright pianos. As long as we have represented Grotrian, I only remember one serious inquiry into their upright pianos, though we always find a few grand customers that are perfectly matched with a Grotrian. I was certainly surprised this fall when a customer visited our store unannounced looking for Grotrian, and specifically their uprights.
We met after he had traveled a bit, visited with other dealers and comparing other pianos and at first, our progress was slow. I could tell he had become overwhelmed when his desire to bring truly fine music into his home had become, well, less than fun. My second challenge was that I did not have a Grotrian upright for him to try. After breaking the ice, we spent hours delving into learning his preferences, comparing the design philosophy of different makers and clearing a path to match his expectations. When we parted, I could tell we had made progress and what he learned of Grotrian exceeded his expectations. Over the next week, we finalized plans to bring him a Grotrian Concertina upright.
While checking with the factory, there was one Concertina in production nearing completion. The piano would then be crated and flown to the airport where we would pick it up. This process, normally quite smooth, was held up because of new enforcement of an old regulation called the Lacey Act. I became an instant expert while naming the wood species and quantity of all the different woods used in the construction of the piano. I had never been asked down to the species. Still, the piano was well protected during the efforts of Customs to comply more than we’d ever complied before!
The piano was gently uncrated and given final preparation before delivery. The piano was outstanding, delivering on each careful promise.
The piano was safely delivered to an excited family where I’m sure it will be cherished for generations.
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
Do I Need Piano Insurance? Guidance For Piano Owners
We field so many questions for our customers, and one that comes up from time to time is, “What kind of insurance do I need for my piano?” Thankfully, the answer for most people is that your piano is covered under your homeowner’s policy, however there are precautions you can take should the unexpected happen. There are so many kinds of pianos and so many kinds of insurance that you should also make a phone call to your agent to clarify your own needs. This article addresses questions from the piano owner’s perspective.
A piano is a significant investment for most people, and because of its long lifespan, it will travel with you through life…come what may. One of the most basic protections you can give yourself is to make a good record of what piano you actually have. Keep a record of the piano’s brand, serial number, model if possible, and size. I also recommend taking a few photos. Replacement value is often determined by this information. Any time a piano changes ownership, it’s good to have an estimate of value. Your receipt can serve as this, but if you inherit a piano, it is worthwhile to have an appraisal.
Most homeowner’s policies have coverage limits as well as special limits on certain items like jewelry, computers, firearms, collectibles, etc. Your piano will probably fall under general household goods, but it may warrant a personal property insurance rider. It is also worth reviewing your policy for terms like “market value” or “replacement value.” When insuring a piano, you want “new replacement value” or the option to make satisfactory repairs to your original piano. It is increasingly difficult to replace a used instrument with a similar used instrument either because of availability or establishing equivalent condition.
What to do when something bad happens.
You’ve had a small fire in your home. The piano received smoke damage. You may not realize, but the piano also likely experienced damage from intense dry then wet condition (putting out the fire). Or you had a tree fall and damage your roof allowing the rain to come in. Or you had a pipe burst leading to flooding. You need to call a professional piano mover to remove the piano and place it into climate controlled storage right away. You do not want the piano in the home when they are doing standard reclamation and further subject the piano to a harsh climate. You can later get detailed evaluations of the piano’s condition and consider your options.
Because a piano is so environmentally sensitive, it is sometimes the reclamation period that does the worst damage. As an example, there was a business in Atlanta that had damage to the roof, rain coming in for several days. The piano was in the room, but not in the direct path of the rain. To dry out the room, large heaters and fans were brought in and the room sealed. We arrived to remove the piano just a few days later. The indoor temp was near 100 degrees, and humitidy very low. The ribs were now separated from the soundboard initiating the need for full restoration. The necessary level of repair would have been much less had we gotten to the piano sooner.
Should your piano be in the direct path of the damage, it will be your records and accurate description that will be most valuable in satisfying your claim.
What to do if your piano is damaged in transportation.
Home movers have varying degrees of experience when it comes to moving pianos. They also tend to have less specialized equipment than professional piano movers. If your piano is damaged in transportation, it most likely falls to the responsibility of the moving company and their insurance. It is probably not covered under your homeowner’s policy. If the damage is superficial, document the incident and speak with the moving company. Most will sub-contract the repair work or just ask for the repair bill. There are finish repair specialists for pianos to handle the variety of finish types. You may need to contact a local piano dealership for a recommendation.
If, however, the damage seems more than superficial, it may be best to refuse delivery and initiate the claim offsite. If you have already accepted delivery of an internally damaged piano, contract a reputable repair company to assist you. Be patient. Sometimes these cases can be very slow to resolve. You may or may not be able to negotiate a loaner piano during this period. Keep in mind that your piano’s value may be tough to determine, but replacement value is much simpler. The important question for the policy holder is, “Do the repairs have to cost more than the current value or more than the replacement value to be ‘totalled’?” Keep that in mind as you review the suggested repairs.
If you are in the extended metro-Atlanta area and are in need of support for your piano as part of an insurance claim, please contact us and we can assist you from beginning to end.
[contact-form-7 404 "Not Found"]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.
Recent Customer Letter: Hailun Grand Piano
This is a much belated thank you to you, Don, Cindy,
Chris, Dennis, and now Fred, as well as Hailun Chen and Mrs. Chen for this magnificient piano.
I most humbly thank GOD for this extrodinary “dream come true” and all of the people that brought it to fruition.
Anything, and everything in my association with PianoWorks has exceeded my expectations in excellence and professionalism.
Piano Works is simply the very finest in the piano spectrum from start to finish. Period.
I look forward to a long term association with the PianoWorks family… the Hailun Grand is just amazing, Chris delivered it flawlessly, Dennis Nunnelley is simply brilliant and I am grateful for his patient instruction, Fred Brown is a phenomenal piano technician that has the unique gift of matching the “voice” of the pianist to the piano. He has a discerning quality of “sounding”, just as you and your family match the prosepctive owner to the piano.
That is whats sets PianoWorks apart from all the rest in the industry.
Casio Celebrates Anniversary with Limited Edition Celviano AP-6 Digital Piano
Casio has making keyboards for 30 years now, and when the bean-counters reviewed their books, they found that Casio had produced over 70 million keyboards & musical instruments. 70,000,000 ?!?! Casio has committed to making good quality, always affordable digital pianos and keyboards, and with those numbers, they have changed the world. Marking their anniversary, in contrast to their usual mass produced efficiency, Casio has created a limited edition (just 2000 worldwide) digital piano with a polished ebony finish befitting a grand piano. The Casio Celviano AP-6 is beautiful…and our small allotment arrived today!
The Celviano AP-6 is based on their flagship AP-620 design. Like the AP-620, the AP-6 is full of great features you can read all about, but I want to keep this a blog and not just a sales pitch. Casio also introduced another limited edition stage piano today, the Privia PX-3. I’m speculating, but if this model is successful, I can see Casio putting some future pressure on the established stage piano brands in the same way their successful Privia & Celviano lines have in the digital piano market. People like Casio, and with their great instruments of recent years, they can also take them as a serious contenders in the home market for digital pianos. A digital piano like the AP-6 makes a statement, “Casio makes beautiful contemporary pianos that consumers are proud to display in their homes.” Okay, that’s my statement, but it’s just as true as their old statement, “We’re good…just look at our low price!”
Casio is an ally to consumers during tough financial times. Just today, 3 career piano technicians sat around a table in my store after hours and all agreed that they’d rather see their customers buy a good digital piano to start with rather than the terrible hand-me-downs and neglected, unwanted pianos that are financial mistakes. They went on to share a few recent horror stories where a family would’ve been better off with something like our Casio & Roland digital pianos. At the risk of taking a few less calls to tune-up grandma’s old clunker, these tuners, like me, would prefer to see customers evolve with us. Casio’s improved products now dominate the market especially $1000 and under. The AP-6 is now Casio’s top of the line product, but has kept a street price of below $2000. Remarkable.
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:
