The Monster in the Living Room

It’s funny how, when reflecting on childhood memories, some adults recall the piano as a monstrous creature sitting in a corner of the living room.  The piano (or, more likely, the teacher) may have become a symbol to us of anxiety and fear, especially on piano lesson days.  Even at an early age, we may have vowed never to subject anyone else to this form of “punishment.”

Today, as parents, we look at our children and wonder if those little hands of theirs aren’t just the right size to take the world by storm.  “Maybe this kid’s going to feel the need to play the blues someday.  Or maybe Brahms!”  And for ourselves (whether we have kids or not), a voice inside may be saying:  “It’s time to stop merely listening to music.  It’s time to give yourself another chance.”

As we get close to Halloween, when ghost and goblins and monsters in costume abound, why not get a “monster” of your own—a piano—to put in your living room?  Get over your fears and make some beautiful music!

Thank you for visiting us at www.thePianoOutletCo.com, your source for new and good used acoustic pianos, new digital pianos, and piano benches for sale in Oxnard (and greater Southern California), Nipomo (and the Central Coast), and throughout San Luis Obispo County, Santa Barbara County, Ventura County, Los Angeles County, and beyond!

Kawai Fall Instant Rebate

Each fall, Kawai offers instant rebates of up to $1,000, on selected models, so now is a great time to buy Kawai pianos.  This rebate program has been extended to October 31, 2011.  Come in now and see why Kawai is the choice of so many musicians and instrumental artists around the world.

Thank you for visiting us at www.thePianoOutletCo.com, your source for new and good used acoustic pianos and new digital pianos for sale in Southern California and the Central Coast, and throughout San Luis Obispo County, Santa Barbara County, Ventura County, Los Angeles County, and beyond!

 

Kurzweil CUP-2 Compact Upright Digital Piano

We just received Kurzweil’s new Compact Upright, CUP-2, digital, the latest addition to their growing family of home digital pianos.  This instrument features the usual terrific Kurzweil sounds, including their famous Triple Strike Grand Piano (with a dedicated Grand Piano button), and world-class sounds in every category: rich strings and orchestral sounds, realistic electric pianos, drums, basses, guitars and synthesized sounds.

The Kurzweil CUP-2 has an 88-note “wood embedded” graded hammer action and genuine wood keys, for a balanced response and great feel.  Its sleek cabinet is classy-looking with an ebony polish finish, but, at 42” high and less than 17” deep, it earns the name “compact.”  It includes a slow-close fallboard, like high-end acoustic pianos.

And although the CUP-2 doesn’t take up much space, with it’s 130-watt, bi-amped, 4-speaker system, this digital piano fills the room with spectacular sound.

We have the Kurzweil CUP-2 model in stock in our Oxnard store.  Come in and try one out! (Kurzweil & other brand info: http://www.thepianooutletco.com/Brand_Information.php)

Thank you for visiting us at www.thePianoOutletCo.com, your source for digital pianos and new and good used acoustic pianos for sale in Southern California and the Central Coast, and throughout San Luis Obispo County, Santa Barbara County, Ventura County, Los Angeles County, and beyond!

A Parent’s Part in the Success of Piano Students

Students are heading back to school now, and many of them will begin piano, or other music, lessons.  We applaud you if your children are among those taking up an instrument, since various studies continue to affirm the benefits that learning to play music provides.  A piano student is required to use his or her aural, visual, and tactile senses all at the same time, which trains these young people to have better concentration and attention and helps the neural pathways in their brains to function at a higher level.  There are social and cultural advantages to learning music as well.

Part of our business philosophy as a piano retail store is to help you, the parent, find the best instrument for your child at an affordable price as she or he learns to play.  However, once the instrument is purchased (or rented), parents play an ongoing and important role in the success of their children’s piano lessons through the attitude they take towards practicing and learning.

How do you feel about music study for your child?  There are a couple of possible extreme attitudes, one being “My child is going to have music whether he likes it or not!”  This is a “cram it down their throat” approach.  Sometimes the child may be successful, but it’s usually in spite of the parent, not because of him or her.  The opposite extreme is “We’re going to give our child the opportunity to learn music, and if she doesn’t like it, she can quit because we’re not going to force it on her.”

There are many things that children don’t like to do but need to learn as they grow up, such as eating properly, brushing their teeth, going to school, getting enough sleep, making healthy choices, etc., and caring parents help their children to understand that these activities are good for them and provide a lifelong benefit to them.  These parents are firm in setting behavior standards, no matter how much crying, whining, or excuse-making the child may try.  Along the same line, music lessons are good for children and provide many benefits to them for years to come.  Learning an instrument takes time and practice.  If you are willing to help your children past the tough parts in music study, much more than music will be learned.  Help them to be successful, not only in music, but in life.

Thank you for visiting us at www.thePianoOutletCo.com, your source for new and good used pianos for sale in Oxnard and Nipomo, and throughout Ventura County, Los Angeles County, Santa Barbara County, San Luis Obispo County, and beyond!

The Sound of Music?

In his foreword to Larry Fine’s The Piano Book, Keith Jarrett says that:

Pianos are complicated instruments.  Some have deep, dark secrets, some have sunny dispositions, some have no secrets at all.  There are pianos with a grey, metallic “European” sound; some with a stringier but brilliant “American” sound; some with a laser-sharp, “straight” “Japanese” sound.  There are pianos with a wealth of overtones, and some with very few; some thick-sounding instruments, some thin and weak but interesting.  But if a dozen people were asked to draw pianos, they would almost all look the same.

What piano sound do you prefer?  And how would you describe it?  Does your piano have any “secrets”?

Many piano professionals would say that Yamahas have a “bright” sound, whereas Kawai pianos are “warmer.”  American pianos tend to have a big, full sound, as do many European pianos.  Obviously, the size and type (vertical or grand) of piano make a big difference in sound, as do the age of the instrument and the acoustics of the room its in (size; carpeted or bare floors, for example).  Has it been tuned regularly?  Has a technician done any voicing to the instrument?

Keith Jarrett is right; pianos are complicated instruments, ones that transform wood and strings and all the thousands of intricate parts and pieces within them into wonderful, complex sounds and beautiful music.

Thank you for visiting us at www.thePianoOutletCo.com, your source for new and good used pianos for sale in Oxnard and Nipomo, and throughout San Luis Obispo County, Santa Barbara County, Ventura County, Los Angeles County, and beyond!

 

Summertime, Summertime, Sum-sum-summertime!

It’s been almost a month since our last post and the summer is in full swing!  We’ve been busy selling pianos at both stores and pursuing a new business venture.

Our Kurzweil products continue to be good sellers.  The new Kurzweil MP10 digital piano has so many great sounds and lots of popular features.  We also have two earlier Kurzweil models – the Mark Pro TWOi and Mark Pro THREEi – with the same Kurzweil quality.  If you’re not familiar with Kurzweil, come in and check out the great sounds and feel of their digital pianos.

http://www.kurzweilmusicsystems.com/ProductList.php?cat=15#mp_series

 

 

 

At the moment, Los Angeles is bracing for what’s being called “Carmageddon,” the closing of 10 miles of the 405 Freeway over this coming weekend, July 16-17.  (The Los Angeles Times has an interesting article about the history of the 405:  http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-405-history-20110714,0,633354.story).  Luckily, we’re up in Ventura County and shouldn’t be affected too much by the closure.  If you’re in Los Angeles County and want to head away from the 405 closure mess, come on up to the beaches in Ventura County.  Stop by and shop for a piano on your way!

Whatever you do this weekend and this summer, please support music and the arts!  Remember, learning to play an instrument, especially piano, is good for your brain!

Thank you for visiting us at www.thePianoOutletCo.com, your source for new and good used pianos for sale in Oxnard and Nipomo, and throughout San Luis Obispo County, Santa Barbara County, Ventura County, Los Angeles County, and beyond!

Piano Outlet – Nipomo Chamber of Commerce Ribbon Cutting – Photos

We received a few photos from last week’s Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, hosted by the Nipomo Chamber of Commerce, at our Nipomo Piano Outlet location.

Store Manager Ric Overton is all smiles as he gets ready to cut the ribbon.

The scissors do work – the ribbon is cut!

After the ceremony, one of the Nipomo Chamber of Commerce members had some fun with this beautiful 7’4″ Bechstein grand!

If you’re up in the Central Coast region, stop into our store – 485 N. Frontage Rd., Nipomo, CA 93444 – just off the 101 Freeway at the Tefft St. exit, two blocks north of the swap meet.  Ric would love to show your own inventory.  Phone:  (805) 929-8901.

Thank you for visiting us at www.thePianoOutletCo.com, your source for new and good used pianos for sale in Oxnard, Ventura, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, Nipomo, Santa Maria, San Luis Obispo, the Central Coast region, throughout San Luis Obispo County, Santa Barbara County, Ventura County, Los Angeles County, and beyond!