fter three successful years, the TouchStone program is adapting to the needs of its long term members with new tests for membership renewal and a completely revamped TouchStone Training Manual that keeps members up to date on the latest product features.

     In addition, the program recently welcomed its newest members: Tom Swanson of the F. J. Renier Company in Omaha, NE; Kirk Davis of the West Music Co. in Coralville, IA; Ronald Martin and Steve Gulley of Karnes Music in Elk Grove Village, IL; Steve Datz of Netzow's Pianos in Milwaukee, WI; and Brian Henderson, Jr. of Henderson Music Co. in Covington, KY.

     "We put the plaque up at the store," says Datz, a 20 year veteran salesman and the fourth member of Netzow's staff to earn TouchStone recognition. "It really tells the customer about who you are and what you've done. I'm very proud about it."

     Yamaha has instituted new practices designed for TouchStone members who first earned their certifications in past years. The first time admission test consists of questions that applicants have to answer from memory, while the new second and third year tests are open book "refreshers" relying more on essay style questions.

     Finally, the TouchStone Training Manual is undergoing changes. According to National TouchStone Administrator Dick Cruise, the revised version includes new sections and also replaces the many updates to the old manual that Yamaha has sent to dealers.

     "It's very comprehensive," Cruise notes. "We sent out the updates as they occurred, but we really had no check on who inserted them in their manuals."

     Included in the new manual, according to Cruise, will be new sections on the Thomaston, GA plant, Yamaha Artist Services, the Yamaha Pianos web site, the Disklavier® GranTouch™, and more comprehensive information on the MIDIPiano™.