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Grant Billings with the legendary Wally Boot at the Steinway & Sons factory, June 29, 2010

It was a great honor (and a whole lot of fun) to spend a hot June day at the Steinway & Sons factory in Astoria with the selection committee from Sun Prairie High School and other special guests. The task: find the perfect piano for the new Sun Prairie High School and Performing Arts Center.

The Steinway Project, consisting of teachers, parents and other community members, raised $145,000 in only eight months to purchase a Steinway & Sons Model ‘D’ concert grand piano and establish a maintenance fund to keep it playing for generations.

Congratulations, everyone, on a job well done!

Stay tuned for the arrival of Steinway & Sons #586953 later this month.

Click on any photo to download the high resolution version

All photos by Grant Billings

Steinway Piano Gallery's Grant Billings

Including myself, more than 30 NAMM Members took time away from their businesses and day-to-day schedules May 10-13 to travel to Washington D.C. and engage lawmakers in discussions about funding music and arts programs in public schools as part of NAMM’s annual Member “Fly-In.” It was truly an experience of a lifetime.

Our mission was simple; insure that Music and the Arts continue to be part of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. While the legislation is often known as “No Child Left Behind,” NCLB was actually the name that Congress gave to the reauthorized and amended ESEA in 2002. The ESEA is supposed to be reauthorized every five years; yes, Congress is three years late.

Greg & Sara Billings, Sesame Street's Bob McGrath and Grant Billings

Activities kicked off on Monday with a reception honoring former MENC Executive Director John Mahlmann in the shadow of the U.S. Capitol Building which included special guests including “Sesame Street’s” Bob McGrath, “Funky Winkerbean” cartoon creator Tom Batiuk and representatives from GAMA, VH1 Save the Music Foundation, Music for All and MENC.

On Tuesday, the group underwent an entire day of training and briefings. Much of the events were streamed worldwide on namm.org, which encouraged questions from viewers via e-mail and Twitter. Later that day, the delegation took a trip to the Department of Education offices to take part in a press event featuring U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan outside of the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus.

"Let's face it—it is a fight," Education Secretary Arne Duncan (l) with former Secretary Richard Riley discussing keeping music and the arts in our schools.

“I’d like to thank all the students, teachers and NAMM for your passion in this area,” said Duncan. “We’re trying to put a lot of money around giving kids a well-rounded education—not just high school, but our 5, 6 and 7 year-olds too. I wish it wasn’t a fight, but let’s face it—it is a fight. This is about giving these kids a chance to develop their skills, their abilities and their self-esteem. Together, we have to win this and win it for every single child in this country.”

Wednesday the delegates held more than 80 meetings on the Hill culminating in a special reception in the Capitol Building put on by NAMM, VH1 Save the Music Foundation and dosomething.org. The crowded roomful of NAMM delegates and Washington insiders listened to passionate remarks from GRAMMY-nominated singer Taylor Dayne and Journey keyboardist/songwriter Jonathan Cain about why music education matters to them.

Grant escorts special guest Taylor Dayne through the halls of the Capitol

“Miss Kyzowski, Mr. Dagan, Miss Edwards. 30 years later I can still remember their names because these people were three of the most influential people in my life,” said Dayne. “They were my music teachers and they helped me find my own voice. My music teachers believed in me more than I believed in myself and music class was my safe place.”

"Music was my escape and my salvation," Journey keyboardist/songwriter Jonathan Cain

“In 1958, I went to a school that burned to the ground and 100 kids died. My way out of it was music,” shared Cain. “My father bought me an accordion after the fire and it became my best friend. And that’s what we have to remember when decisions are made to cut music classes out of schools.”

On Thursday, the delegates held their last few Congressional meetings and re-grouped for a final feedback session. When it was all over, each of us left Washington with a deeper understanding of these issues, positive energy, new friendships and a renewed passion shared by our industry to ensure every child has the opportunity to experience the powerful, proven benefits of music education.

For more information about the importance of music education, visit…

www.nammfoundation.org/music-research

www.vh1savethemusic.com

Or just get your child started in lessons.

Scott Robertson contributed to this blog.

]]> http://steinwaymadison.com/2010/06/14/dont-stop-believin-in-music-education/feed/ 0 http://steinwaymadison.com/2010/06/14/float-video-testing/ http://steinwaymadison.com/2010/06/14/float-video-testing/#comments Mon, 14 Jun 2010 17:30:00 +0000 admin http://steinwaymadison.com/?p=1082

We make it fun and easy to find the right piano!

Welcome to Steinway Piano Gallery of Madison, home of Your Piano Guy, Grant Billings. Locally owned and operated, we make finding the right piano a fun and educational experience.

Our site is one of the leading sources of reliable piano information on the web. You will find great resources here. If you are new to pianos, take a look at our Finding a Piano pages. If you already have a piano and are looking to take care of it, explore our Service & Moving area. And if you are simply a music lover, check out our Making Music section and the Calendar of Events.

If you are looking for a starter instrument or fulfilling a lifelong dream of having your very own Steinway, you will enjoy our friendly service and unbeatable selection of quality pianos. Enjoy our site and we look forward to seeing you in our gallery soon.

If you’d like an example of just so serious we are about great pianos, click the video on the left for a tour of our state-of-the-art piano rebuilding facility.

Visit our new Virtual Roland Showroom where you can see actual demonstrations and hear performances that will help you decide if a digital piano is right for you. Then, visit your source for quality piano – Steinway Piano Gallery – to experience Roland in person.

Steinway Piano Gallery's Grant Billings

Unlike the great Jimmy Stewart in the 1939 Frank Capra classic film, I went to Washington as an advocate instead of a senator.

Including myself, more than 30 NAMM Members took time away from their businesses and day-to-day schedules May 10-13 to travel to Washington D.C. and engage lawmakers in discussions about funding music and arts programs in public schools as part of NAMM’s annual Member “Fly-In.” It was truly an experience of a lifetime.

Our mission was simple; insure that Music and the Arts continue to be part of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. While the legislation is often known as “No Child Left Behind,” NCLB was actually the name that Congress gave to the reauthorized and amended ESEA in 2002. The ESEA is supposed to be reauthorized every five years; yes, Congress is three years late.

Greg & Sara Billings, Sesame Street's Bob McGrath and Grant Billings

Activities kicked off on Monday with a reception honoring former MENC Executive Director John Mahlmann in the shadow of the U.S. Capitol Building which included special guests including “Sesame Street’s” Bob McGrath, “Funky Winkerbean” cartoon creator Tom Batiuk and representatives from GAMA, VH1 Save the Music Foundation, Music for All and MENC.

On Tuesday, the group underwent an entire day of training and briefings. Much of the events were streamed worldwide on namm.org, which encouraged questions from viewers via e-mail and Twitter. Later that day, the delegation took a trip to the Department of Education offices to take part in a press event featuring U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan outside of the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus.

"Let's face it—it is a fight," Education Secretary Arne Duncan (l) with former Secretary Richard Riley discussing keeping music and the arts in our schools.

“I’d like to thank all the students, teachers and NAMM for your passion in this area,” said Duncan. “We’re trying to put a lot of money around giving kids a well-rounded education—not just high school, but our 5, 6 and 7 year-olds too. I wish it wasn’t a fight, but let’s face it—it is a fight.  This is about giving these kids a chance to develop their skills, their abilities and their self-esteem. Together, we have to win this and win it for every single child in this country.”

Wednesday the delegates held more than 80 meetings on the Hill culminating in a special reception in the Capitol Building put on by NAMM, VH1 Save the Music Foundation and dosomething.org. The crowded roomful of NAMM delegates and Washington insiders listened to passionate remarks from GRAMMY-nominated singer Taylor Dayne and Journey keyboardist/songwriter Jonathan Cain about why music education matters to them.

Grant escorts special guest Taylor Dayne through the halls of the Capitol

“Miss Kyzowski, Mr. Dagan, Miss Edwards. 30 years later I can still remember their names because these people were three of the most influential people in my life,” said Dayne. “They were my music teachers and they helped me find my own voice.  My music teachers believed in me more than I believed in myself and music class was my safe place.”

"Music was my escape and my salvation," Journey keyboardist/songwriter Jonathan Cain

“In 1958, I went to a school that burned to the ground and 100 kids died. My way out of it was music,” shared Cain. “My father bought me an accordion after the fire and it became my best friend. And that’s what we have to remember when decisions are made to cut music classes out of schools.”

On Thursday, the delegates held their last few Congressional meetings and re-grouped for a final feedback session. When it was all over, each of us left Washington with a deeper understanding of these issues, positive energy, new friendships and a renewed passion shared by our industry to ensure every child has the opportunity to experience the powerful, proven benefits of music education.

For more information about the importance of music education, visit…

www.nammfoundation.org/music-research

www.vh1savethemusic.com

Or just get your child started in lessons.

Scott Robertson contributed to this blog.

]]> http://steinwaymadison.com/2010/06/01/mr-billings-goes-to-washington/feed/ 0 http://steinwaymadison.com/2010/03/02/an-interview-with-xiayin-wang/ http://steinwaymadison.com/2010/03/02/an-interview-with-xiayin-wang/#comments Tue, 02 Mar 2010 22:00:15 +0000 Grant http://steinwaymadison.com/?p=1764 It is only when she lifts her body to punctuate the notes of the Steinway that one becomes aware that within Steinway Artist Xiayin (pronounced sha-EEN) Wang’s petite frame lies a source of seemingly endless energy and power. Her passion for the piano may only be rivaled by her passion for music education.

In between being interviewed by The Capital Times and her performance at Overture Center on February 25, 2010, Wang took the time to visit Steinway Piano Gallery where she played nearly every piano and discussed her love of music and desire to share it with others.

Wang auditions Roland digital pianos during her visit to Steinway Piano Gallery of Madison

SPG: You are incredibly active in promoting music education. What sparked that passion in you?

XW: There are a lot of younger people eager to know about and learn about music, to learn the beauty of being able to make music. Even if they do not choose to go the career path, knowing music will change their lives.

SPG: What can you tell us about the piano teachers you have studied with?

XW: I am lucky to still have all of my teachers in my life. Each taught me a different way. A lot of the technical part I learned from the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. The education system is very, very strict in China. My teacher was very firm with the training of technique, theory, (and) ear training. Like a tall building, you need a foundation.

When I came to the United States, it was a different system. At the Manhattan School of Music, they gave me much more opportunity to have my own style; create my own language. It was the right time to explore what I wanted to say with my music.

Xiayin Wang with Grant Billings

SPG: As a student, teacher and concert artist, what would you want to say to piano teachers?

XW: If you enjoy doing this there will be much to be learned from your students. Even my youngest students taught me something I did not know about myself. It’s fun.

SPG: And what advice would you offer students?

XW: You should practice, practice, practice, as much as you can, but I think that balance is very important. Have fun time, but get your fingers on the piano every day. You will not notice the difference until you get older, but now is when the foundation is built.

Keep in mind that learning the piano is supposed to be hard; there needs to be a sacrifice. I wanted to go to the movies with my friends when I was a kid, but my mother said, “piano bench, piano bench, go back..”

SPG: And now you thank her?

XW: Now I thank her, but not enough. I can thank her to the end of the world, absolutely.

Learn more about Xiayin Wang at her website

Committed, Connected Parents

While their role is often underestimated, parents make or break the musical experience. There are a few simple things parents can do on a daily basis to promote the importance of piano lessons.

First, set a regular practice time. Just like dinner, homework, sports and baths, piano practice should happen around the same time every day. Child psychologists report that the happiest children are those who have a regular routine. Be firm about practicing from day one and your child will get used to the schedule after just a few weeks.

Second, practice times instead of time. Setting practice sessions based on “how many minutes” only gets students watching the clock; practicing repetitions gets them focused on their music. A realistic expectation is to practice each song 3-5 times every day. Just like dinner, homework and baths, practice is done when it’s done, regardless of time.

Third, encourage your child. Even today, parents remain their child’s main influence. A few words of praise after every practice session will increase your child’s desire to make music… and make you proud. Finally, have face time with the teacher every week. Spending two minutes talking with the teacher after each lesson reaps huge benefits. During these short conversations, you will find out how the lesson went and where help may be needed. This also sends a clear message to your child that you take their piano lessons seriously.

A Good Teacher

Your child’s first experience with music will likely be the most lasting. While referral services and suggestions from friends can point you toward people who teach, you will need to dig a little deeper to find the right teacher for your child. Just as you set high expectations for your children, you should set high expectations for their teachers. Find someone who demonstrates a commitment to teaching, is well organized and has a good piano.

While the approach to finding a good teacher is the same whether the teacher operates independently or as part of a larger lesson studio, your child should never take lessons at a store that sells pianos. Although they present themselves as studios, piano store lesson programs are overwhelmingly focused on selling pianos. In “The Teach-to-Sell Model” (Music Inc Magazine, November 2009) one owner even admitted that “the entire sales team… is trained to teach classes” and added that “teaching keeps her staff busy during slow times.” Your child deserves a teacher who’s top priority is music education.

A Good Piano

The piano is where the ‘rubber meets the road’ for a student. The abilities of the piano itself vary depending on how well it was built, how old it is and how it is maintained. The best piano will be one that your child will grow ‘into’ instead of ‘out of.’

The easiest and most cost-effective way to find a good piano is to visit your local piano dealer and work directly with the owner if possible. They will want to spend about ten minutes talking with you to get a good idea of your needs. With the help of this expert, you should be able to find a great piano in your price range in an hour or so.

A new, well-built piano is always the best option for any student, but if you can’t purchase one right away, consider renting a new piano. The store owner who really wants to see you and your children succeed will offer student rental programs that apply the first several rent payments toward purchase. This typically costs less than purchasing a portable keyboard or used piano and greatly enhances the value of lessons. If your student does stop playing, you’ll have peace of mind in knowing that it was not because they were practicing on a poor quality instrument.

Parents build the environment for practice, teachers provide the instruction and the piano rewards the player. By building a sturdy stool, you can make your child’s musical journey a fun, rewarding and lifelong experience.

Here are some questions that will help you learn more about potential teachers:

1. Why did you decide to become a teacher?

2. How long have you been teaching?

3. How do you go about setting goals and measuring progress?

4. How do you communicate with parents?

5. What can you tell me about your student recitals?

6. How old are the pianos in your studio?

7. How often do you have your pianos tuned?

The response has been incredible and we have received several additional pianos for the Piano Bank. Our thanks to the WSJ for helping to get the word out.

Read the entire feature by clicking this link.