Attendees at one of this summer's Yamaha Piano Pros events.

AUGUST 2 I YAMAHA I COMPANY
Yamaha Holds Piano Pros Sessions

Yamaha Corp. of America is in the process of conducting its Piano Pros, a series of solutions-oriented sales and product training sessions at the company's Buena Park, California, headquarters.

More than 160 dealers from across the nation are gathering to take part in the multi-day course, which has been held in four separate sessions beginning in July and finishing up this month. Training includes hands-on labs and sales demonstration techniques, sessions covering Web-based and traditional marketing, as well as social media and music technology apps. The program also marks the launch of a new curriculum by Yamaha, which was structured by customer-oriented solutions, instead of specific product lines.

Training is divided into two key components: one day-long session devoted to the company's digital pianos, including Clavinova CVP and CLP series, while the second day covers the company's range of acoustic piano products. That session features training on the multiple iterations of the Yamaha acoustic piano line, including the acclaimed CF series, the award-winning Disklavier line, Silent series pianos, as well as TransAcoustic and AvantGrand hybrid models.

According to Yamaha, a key objective of the training is to offer dealers a better understanding of and appreciation for the company's "DNA."

"Yamaha Piano Pros represented the best investment of my time in quite a while," said Dennis Hagerty, president of Keyboard Concepts in Sherman Oaks, California. "It was two days of intense, thorough and inspiring product training that you just cannot get at your store. Above all, it reminded me why the music business - and in particular selling Yamaha products - is so much fun!"

The training sessions were also supplemented by evening entertainment and social activities. This included the Disklavier Enspire Launch, which offered many dealers the first-ever opportunity to see the seventh-generation Disklavier in action at the Cerritos Performing Arts Center in Cerritos, California. "Yamaha Cabana Night" featured American Idol semi-finalist Adam Lasher, who demonstrated and performed on the Yamaha Slient guitar.

Finally, Game Show Night offered dealers the chance to test the knowledge they'd gained during the training sessions in a game show event, complete with video kiosks, buzzers and a professional game show host. Teams competed for gift cards.

"We've worked very hard to develop new programs that will benefit our dealers and their customers," said Paul Calvin, general manager, keyboard division of Yamaha Corp. of America. "Piano Pros truly demonstrates Yamaha's commitment to them and the success of their business."

usa.yamaha.com