KeyAction Spring 2001: Page 6

Clavinova Festival Participation Swells to 10,000 in 2000!

Many dealers hosting a Yamaha Clavinova Festival for the first time ask the same questions – will students, teachers, and audience members enjoy themselves? And will increased sales result? A resounding “yes” was the answer last autumn when two first-time Clavinova Festivals were staged in Kentucky and Arizona. And, as two of 80 Clavinova Festivals held in 38 states, they helped Clavinova Festival National Coordinator Lori Frazer tally an impressive participant total of “10,000 in 2000,” up by more than 2,500 over the year before.

Top: Cousins Jeremy and Jamae Troxler perform split keyboard and auto accompaniment duets at Pied Piper’s first Clavinova Festival, "Saturday At The Mall.” Bottom: Participants in Ashland’s first Piano Showcase – held during the Imagination Celebration Education Outreach Program – pose together.

“Word has gotten out,” states Frazer. “Dealers recognize that Clavinova Festivals work, and they’re repeating the events. We only added two new Festivals this year, but the established ones are gathering huge momentum.” Frazer cites Schmitt Music in Kansas City, among many others, with steadily increasing attendance. “Last year, they had 465 participants, and this year they expect to break 600,” she explains. “Clavinova Festivals are an excellent marketing tool, since they attract teachers and students and increase store traffic in addition to elevating the store’s stature in the community.”

Hachenberg & Sons in Tucson, AZ, is a case in point. “Their first Clavinova Festival last November put them on the map,” says Frazer.

“Everyone had a blast!” explains Anne Neff, co-coordinator with Linda Collins Lazzeroni, both private teachers. “It was a great experience for teachers, students, and the dealer. It will be an annual event. We are already planning our next one in October.”

Local television stations KGUN-9 and KOLD-13 came to dress rehearsals and aired broadcasts prior to the Festival. Lazzeroni countered Tucson’s 50-mile urban sprawl by offering convenient on-site rehearsals at each teacher’s studio – another first, and a boon to teachers and students alike.

“This personal touch was great for the kids because they rehearsed in a familiar place, making for a lot less nerves,”adds Lazzeroni. “Hosting the Festival opened up a whole new market in Tucson, and it’s a great way to sell Clavinovas.”

“I’m working and having fun!” continues Lazzeroni. “I take my kids with me when I visit the teachers’ studios, so it’s been great for them musically, too.” Her five-year old son and three-year old daughter performed at the Festival, the latter becoming the youngest Festival performer to date.

continued on page 7

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