CLP Rental Leads to
Church Sale

Madison Foundation Receives
CVP for Alzheimers Unit

Spring 2003Volume 12Issue 1 Clavinovas Star at NAMM in Grand Style hen the music products world came to Anaheim, CA in January for the 2003 Winter NAMM trade show, it gave several new Yamaha Clavinova digital pianos their first chance to shine. From their use in special performances to their reception back in retail showrooms "The Clavinova Advantage" made quite an impression. Yamaha Corporation of America President Mitsuru "Mick" Umemura and Ray Charles "The NAMM show is what we all look forward to when debuting new instruments," says Yamaha Electronic Keyboard Marketing Manager Jim Levesque. "With professional retailers, prominent musicians and members of the press all gathered to see what you've got, it's a real moment of truth. They all went away happy — so we did too." Among the models spotlighted at NAMM were the CVP900 and the CLP175, both of which offer elegant "grand-style" cabinets and Yamaha's amazingly lifelike Natural Keyboard to go with their other impressive musical features. And, like all members of the line, they offer "The Clavinova Advantage" — quality features, support from Yamaha, and dealer support that bests the competition at every level. One signature event of every NAMM show is a performance by some of the young artists from Yamaha's Junior Original Concert program. This year, one of the three prominent artists was 14-year-old Jason Barney of Mesa, AZ, who took to the keys of a CVP209 to perform his original work Big Brother Blues, accompanied by M.B. Gordy on drums and Steve Pandis on bass. JOC performer Jason Barney Yamaha artists David Benoit and Mike Garson were also on hand to lend support at the Yamaha booth. What's more, keyboard legends Stevie Wonder and Ray Charles were among many surprise celebrity visitors during the show. Dignitaries from Yamaha Japan made appearances as well, including Yamaha President Shuji Ito, Group Deputy Manager Noriyuki Egawa and Mitsuru "Mick" Umemura. Other visitors may have been less famous, but just as impressed —Yamaha retailers. One was Sam Varon, general manager of Frank & Camille's Fine Keyboards in New York. "The CVP900 made a positive impact — it was great to see the exciting features of the CVP209 in a grand case," says Varon. "It's definitely a piece of the market that we need to serve, and I think that will serve it well." CVP900 Sales associate Bob Baker of Wells Music in Denver, one of the nation's top piano salesmen, agrees: the new models are already moving out his door. "The CVP900s are phenomenal," he says. "We got one in and sold it right away. Now people have the sound that they want in a case that they want." With new models from Winter NAMM already in showrooms and other products arriving at retailers this summer, it's clear the annual gathering in California sounded the first note on what will be an impressive year.

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