Piano Lessons Are a Hit with All Ages

The Yamaha Clavinova digital piano is making life a little easier for the people of Scottsbluff, NE.

Through a six-module Keyboard Encounters program at Scottsbluff's Music and More, students are learning more than just the basics of playing the piano. Thanks to the Clavinova, they're learning how to play a tune after just a few lessons.

Music and More partners Diana Shaddick and Pat Hyland are amazed at the diversity of people flocking to the classes. "There are people from all walks of life," says Shaddick. "Professionals, non-professionals, singles and couples, parents and teens - even those who have retired. With the Clavinova, they're learning to play an instrument they never thought they would have time to learn."

As previous private music instructors, Shaddick and Hyland opened Music and More in February of 1997. They received information on Yamaha's Keyboard Encounters program shortly thereafter. After taking the Keyboard Encounters training in April, Shaddick was impressed with the curriculum and the pedagogy of the program. She also found the chord approach both practical and useful for students.

The classes eventually started to bring additional traffic into the store. "Every time we attended a social event around town, people wanted to talk to us about the classes," adds Pat Hyland. "People commented that the program was meeting a need in the community."

Shaddick and Hyland are pleased with the enthusiastic response they receive from their students. "People find the program to be a wonderful stress reliever," explains Shaddick. "They enjoy the group atmosphere and some have started to practice two hours every night."

"We know that the students are the best advertisement our store and the Clavinova could possibly have," adds Hyland.

Music and More recently held a graduation party for its first two classes. Many of the students asked for a list of local instructors so they could continue their lessons. Their only complaint was having to say good-bye, wondering if there really was life after Module 6.