I have a new toy. It is a very nice toy, and like most good toys, it has a real educational purpose. But it is still fun, and I am finding new ways to enjoy it. The toy is a Disklavier. That name (this is going to be an unabashed sales pitch, so get ready) is derived from the CD (Compact Disc), which can provide playable info to the piano, and the German word for upright piano (Klavier). The first Disklavier was a Yamaha U1 upright piano...but more! (See all the stuff I am learning!). 

As you must know by now,  a Disklavier is a technologically enhanced piano. In this case, it can play all by itself, reproduce exactly with incredible nuance anything that you play into it, and perform from a remote source, say, a flash drive or the internet. 

Not long ago, Paul and I had the pleasure of watching a research librarian from the College of St. Scholastica, as he witnessed a performance derived from an old piano roll (designed to play on ancient player pianos) of former CSS piano professor Jan Chiapusso. We were reliving an incredible bit of history. Once again, a toy that can educate!

So, one of the cool things this piano can do, is play Disklavier Radio stations from the internet. There are musical styles for every taste among the 30+ channels. Twenty-four hours a day. Live, acoustic piano playing. It is playing right now in the store, and has been amazing customers, and piano students, and parents of piano students, and me, since we hooked it up. 

Now, there is something more. Disklavier TV.

It was there before, but now we have a way to demonstrate it in the store using our laptop. It is ridiculously easy to use, and amazing to experience. Now, a performance, even a live performance, can be watched, while the Disklavier in front of you plays it in perfect synchronization. Eventually, we hope to have a regular TV monitor along side the piano. That will come. But, in the meantime, come on down and play! 

Sitting in the store, listening to Clair de Lune on the Disklavier, looking out the window at something like this, and remembering a Facebook post I made this morning:
"The thermometer reads 7 degrees Fahrenheit. Taking out the garbage, and then sweeping off the front steps, one inch of fresh powder, listening to chickadees, the sky, light with a sunrise, delayed by lake effect clouds over the south shore, wearing just a hooded sweatshirt and light gloves, the air crisp, cold, clean, and quiet, no wind. White. The thermometer reads 7 degrees, but it feels like spring. "
What a beautiful place to live. And a great place to 'work' every day, doing something meaningful, beautiful, musical. 

The next 2nd Friday Art Crawl is slowly approaching. I am reminded of this today, because, as I sit listening to Angela practice, I am also observing Esther and Christa hanging art. Always an interesting experience. Art in motion- moving from the car to the store floor to the wall. 

This event should be worthwhile. Angela and Alex Tengesdal on piano and cello will provide live music, there will be some refreshments, a new visitor will grace us with her presence and her calligraphy, namely Brenna! And, of course, there are lots of pianos.

The store was busy yesterday. A delivery with lots of stuff for new dealers from Yamaha came. My Yamaha District Manager, Mark Barrett was in the store, thank you!, and was able to help me unpack all the stuff, explain some of the stuff, and help talk to customers as well. I am still recovering.

One of the fun things that I get to do in this business is refinishing. I am working now on a grand piano lid. Very soon there will be pictures here, before and after, to show the progress. I get a lot of pleasure returning wood to its original splendor. And this mahogany lid will be pretty splendid.

Stay tuned!