“We held a

humorous

and spooky

variety show

at the finale.”


















“We gave a lot

of prizes to the

teachers, too.”

Clavinova Festivals
continued from page 4

Lisa Humpherys, music buyer and Clavinova Festival coordinator at Keith Jorgensen’s Music Center in Idaho Falls, ID, describes their second Festival as spectacular. “We held a humorous and spooky variety show at the finale,” she said. “It was a really fun program for the kids, after which the drawing for a free Clavinova digital piano was held.” The Phantom of the Festival featured several staff people in key roles, including brothers Douglas and Mike Brown, store owner and general manager, respectively, in the starring roles: each served as MC for two simultaneous festivals last October. A monster ensemble of eight costumed teachers performed “In The Hall of the Mountain King,” and all the kids dressed up too. “We had Batman, Uncle Sam, and a host of others,” says Humpherys.

“Our evaluations from last year indicated most kids enjoy performing without the pressure of competition,” she continues. “The kids that perform have a great time. They love getting their Yamaha T-shirts, and all the goodies that come in their Festival bag. The teachers like the change of pace, and the creativity of it.” Jorgensen’s Festival attracted 400 students from age three to adult, 28 teachers, and a capacity crowd of 800 fans.

Participants came in costume during the Clavinova Festival hosted by Keith Jorgensen’s in Idaho Falls Doug Brown, Shari Chadwick, and Mike Brown

“One teacher said she would never try a digital piano,” adds Humpherys, “but she ended up buying her loaner Clavinova because some of her struggling students started working again. She realized it was really adding to her regular teaching curriculum.”

The Piano Gallery held its first Festival at its stores in South Jordan and Murray, UT, and its third year of Festivals at its Riverdale location. “We had about 575 participants in all three stores, with approximately 800 people attending our finale concerts,” says Sandy Bryan, Festival Coordinator.

Though prior Festivals were organized as competitions, The Piano Gallery decided to have a non-competitive event last fall. “We had more turnout, because pieces didn’t have to be memorized,” says Bryan. “It took the pressure off the kids, and made it more fun. We had a Monster Number, featuring ten teachers, and then kids, performing ‘Arkansas Traveler.’ It was really fun! Performers ranged from age four to adult, and kids dressed up to match their pieces.” One boy painted half his face black and half white to perform “Phantom of the Opera,” and two girls who played a duet were dressed as mice. “We gave a lot of prizes to the teachers, too,” she continues. “They like to get really involved—we had 35 participating teachers at the three stores—and we didn’t limit them as to the number of students they could enter, as long as they fit into an hour.”

Store owners Stan Beagley and Ken Turner “really support the program and help out any way they can," says Bryan. “They believe the Festivals are a great tool to sell pianos." Bryan reports 40 percent of teachers involved in this year’s Festival, and several students’ families, purchased Clavinova digital pianos this year. In fact, the first named called for the grand prize drawing was not present, so the piano was awarded to the next person drawn. “The little girl who didn’t win was so upset when she found out, that her dad came in and bought her a Clavinova,” says Bryan.