How I Became the PianoLady

How does one get into the piano business...
Open doors.
Here's my brief story.

Craigslist. Friend or Foe?

5 Friendly tips we offer to make YOU the informed buyer.

• If a listing claims a piano was purchased new for $ X,XXX, then you should ask to see that invoice.  It is possible, the seller is inflating its value to make their selling price look better.
• Acoustic Pianos require maintenance.  Ask for these records (as you would oil changes, tires, and mechanic records for a used car.)  Pianos are the best thing a tree could hope to become, but there are some parts that are better off not made of wood. Ask any engineer.  Pianos have thousands of moving parts and hundreds of joints.  These things need regulating every now and then.  A responsible owner will have records of this maintenance with their piano.  Or ask to contact their technician for records.  (Jim's Pianos keeps great service records of pianos both purchased from us and/or serviced by us.)
• Ask "Where was this piano made?" It should be inside the lid, on the back of an upright, or behind the keybed on the treble end of a grand.  Foreign can be a good thing, if it is a reputable brand AND factory.  (For example, most newer Baldwins are NOT made in the US and quality control in recent years has not been consistent.  Used Baldwins should at least be "Made in the U.S.A." and will say so.  KAWAI was the first piano company to be awarded both the ISO9001 and ISO14001 recognizing their environmental responsibility. They were "green" before green was cool!)
• If you want a Steinway piano, then buy a Steinway.  "Steinway Designed" pianos are NOT made in the U.S.A. and they are NOT built with the same quality of engineering and materials found in Steinways.  Again, beware of inflated value on pianos that do not have the quality build that other brands do.
• Ask to see the INSIDE of the piano.  Under the hood, so to speak.  This is best done with a reputable technician there to point out things that their expert eyes will see. 

Want to know how Steinway, Yamaha, Pearl River and KAWAI all compare... in one place... come to Jim's Pianos and I will be happy, happy, happy to help you answer questions such as, 

          "If this piano doesn't have what the others do, why are they priced so high?"

If you don't want to pay full price for half the quality, call Jim's Pianos.

You 'll pay a fraction of the price for a TOP quality piano!

www.jimspianos.com
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Great parties start around a piano....

Take it from one who knows how cherished the memories are when people are gathered around a piano to belt a rousing Billy Joel number, dance to smooth jazzy piece, or even weep over beloved hymns.
It's the music life is made of.
But what if you haven't learned to play the piano?  What if you have a grand and had hopes of entertaining guests with your own song and dance?  Well, keep the dream alive, honey!  Upgrade your piano with a player system!
I'm sure you're thinking, do they still make those old paper rolls?? In fact "they" do.  And "they" are the same company that is now also making the most of advanced materials and technology that give you the ultimate player piano fun! QRS !

Whether your piano is an antique family heirloom or just purchased last year - whether 4 feet or 9 feet, I will tell you here is one way to make the most of your piano: PNOmation II.

Perhaps you've caught an episode of "How It's Made" and have seen how old paper-roll player pianos used to be made!  Well, just like that rockin' cell phone in your hand, player systems have come a LONG way!  Today, you can use that little wi-fi phone to tell your player piano to "Hit it!"  There's no extra box hanging from the side or fumbling with CDs.  You can now tap your finger to see the song list to Billy Joel, Taylor Swift, Harry Connick Jr., Miriah Carey, Journey, as well as the wealth of musical genres including  classical, jazz, oldies, nostalgic... just to name a few!

What if you don't have an iPhone? No problem! Android, Kindle Fire, iPad, or your wireless laptop can all connect to the wireless processor!

To see how the screen works, QRS provides you with a SIMULATOR experience on their website.

To take a glance at how it works at my store, visit Jim's Pianos Player Page.
Try it. I just KNOW you'll love it!

www.jimspianos.com
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When storms come...

In Oklahoma, today, the resilient are rising above the dust and rubble yet again.  I wish I could be there in person to give a helping hand.  Resilience and optimism are two of my favorite and most valuable traits. Of course, there is only so much we can do from a distance, but no matter where we are, we can all be thankful--counting our blessings.

We usually begin with being grateful for surviving lives--our own and loved ones. Then a few things stand out as important to us: intrinsic values and intangible memories that are often captured in pictures and other treasured memorabilia. Some objects can even be carried to shelter, if there is time to do so. 

But then there are meaningful parts of our lives like the music we cherish and the instruments which ring with the songs we love. While love for music is priceless and intangible... our precious pianos would not be able to fit in our pockets or arms when preparing for such a disaster like massive storms, tornadoes, and in the case of Florida and neighboring Gulf Coast and Atlantic states... hurricanes. 

June 1 is the first day of hurricane season. I know records on your piano won't be and shouldn't be the first part of your preparedness plan.  But for as much as your piano might mean to you, this is your PianoLady's gentle nudge to know these things about your piano just in case something terrible should happen to it.

1. Brand, Model, Size, & Serial No. 
2. Color/Finish
3. Who last tuned it and might have an appraisal or idea to its value? ...As well as other records on its purchase and service or even restoration history?
4. Do you have replacement value insurance on your piano? Or depreciated value?
5. Do you have pictures of your piano?

If you need help with any of these records, I am glad to be of service. 

We are always on the spot for restoration and cleaning services after such occurrences as water or fire damage, but if your set of keys and strings can't be helped... We can still guide you through the search for the next musical love of your life.

The Beauty of Japan

There has to be a word for this in the Japanese language. You know the kind. It is the word that a local person tells you what it mostly means but that there isn't a term for it in the English language. There is more than manicured shrubs, vibrant rose gardens, undisturbed mountainsides, and meticulously arranged foods... which delight the senses at every turn. There has to be a word which includes but is not limited to the peoples' quietness, respect, humility, pride in excellence, dedication to one another, adherence to tradition, vision for the future... It's Japanese culture. It's the Japanese way. It's good and pleasant. All translating into the treasured music of the piano... patience and progress are shaping a company, a product, a business, a musician. Perhaps then, the word is the embodiment of a country's flagship piano: their biggest advocate and facilitator of music education and the maker of the first concert grand piano in Japan... KAWAI.

Thank you, Kawai, for a magnificent Japan Experience... that I will remember every time I play my own piano. 

Sincerely,

The Senters

 Beautiful Music Rack on the first concert grand built in Japan, by Mr. Koichi Kawai. 

Headed to Japan! How did I get HERE?

This morning, my husband David and I boarded this large plane alongside of about 50 people on behalf of the Kawai America Corporation. Kawai: the Future of Pianos.  All things considered, I would like to share how I got to this point so far. 

It is a moment of reflection 1) as a point of professional achievement, 2) the Exec. VP of our company was just sharing with us the providence in his own story of how he began working with Kawai, and 3) today is David's 30th birthday... Which is how old I was turning as I began this job, myself. 

Turning 30 is really just like every other age in that upon its mention you are found either looking ahead or behind to remember what your experience was. But we know it to be a bit of a benchmark in life. 

As I approached 30, Dave and I had just left behind what we considered to be a failed mission to revive a small south GA church. In short, I could recall to you that the movie Julie & Julia was therapeutic. And I should not leave out a significant set of realizations encouraging me from the story of Joseph in the Bible--he who was appointed a major role of leadership at the age of 30. 

It was October 2009--the middle of a semester. In the move, I had left behind a perfectly wonderful job as a music educator, a job to which I could not return. I thought, Lord, shall I just reinvent myself?! What do you want me to do now? But of course, I wasn't really starting from scratch. God had already helped me develop so many gifts so far in my life. He said, "Let's use what you've got and what you've done so far and the connections I have given you, and watch what I will do for you."

Having met the owner of Jim's Pianos a time or two at fundraisers for local music scholarships, I called his business to see if he had any openings. Despite downsizing to a smaller set-up in our local mall, the current manager had one spot open for a part-time salesperson. She saw I had potential. Then Jim, the owner Jim, was pleased with her hire.  He remembered me as a successful raffle ticket seller!  Then, in a turn of events (I like to call the providence of God), the manager decided to step down from her rank and Jim offered me the job.  

By the end of that month, I was writing up a great sale on a very nice grand piano, thanks to help from Jim. He became a great coach and mentor to me, the novice... the sponge... the one eager and curious as to where this road would lead.  

Five months later, I was touring the factory of Steinway & Sons. Two months after that, I owned a nice Essex upright piano.  By January of 2011, Jim was taking me to Anaheim, CA for the annual NAMM trade show. In May, I returned to California for Kawai Keyboard Academy. Continuing in great connections, we returned to the trade show this past January 2013 with the realization that I could have actually worked my way up the leader board for top salesperson in small markets of North America. 

For the 50th Anniversary of Kawai America, Kawai announced a contest measuring sales from October 2012-February 2013 offering a paid trip for two to Japan to their top dealers and top salespeople. There was only one salesperson ticket for small markets. I worked hard with my admirable team of professionals at Jim's Pianos, and then I got the call from my rep that I had won and I would be going to Japan!

So, here we are. On a plane to Japan... which carries the comforting feeling that we are not just propelled in the air by these jets, but remembering we are always carried in the hands of the God who has the whole plan in mind. He knows what's coming next in the story. 

I'll keep ya posted. 

"Rosey", a new antique in our midst

While I'm in the airport... I'm eager to post pics if the most recent treasure at my store. Local lady looking to downsize living space gave us the opportunity to acquire this 6'2" Viennese grand which was made by a F. V. Buchta (Burhta) who was a student of Bösendorfer (Schuler von Bösendorfer). We are just beginning some fun research on antique and Viennese action and other pianos made by students of Bösendorfer.  But here are pics which show what great condition she is in, especially compared to several others we have seen out there. 

I especially love the music rack, which--I like to say-- "crowns" the piano with a royal aire. I am fascinated with particular designs which represent each brand and era of completion. 

We believe the wood to be rosewood, thus she is named: "Rosey". 

"Small town" winner heads to the Big Cities

Have Piano, Will Travel

Of aaaaaaaaaall my adventures which the music world has brought me to enjoy... the biggest one lies ahead in only 3 days!  I will be traveling along with other top-selling piano professionals to tour Japan and the Kawai Piano factory in Hamamatsu, Japan.

I'll be taking this little piano ornament (a gift from a local piano teacher & customer of mine) on my travels ... to be documented right here.  Upon my return, I'll share more along the way about being a "rookie" in the piano business... and other various interests we "artsy" people like myself seem to get ourselves into.

See what I do everyday inside our store at Jim's Pianos.

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