Welcome to Pianoshop Newsletter August 2001 List of Contents: 1. Site Ratings 2. About Pianoshop 3. IMPORTANT NOTICE – for all Piano Dealers and Advertisers 4. Advertisements. 5. Competition - Win a Piano Stool 6. Music CV’s 7. Calling all writers, journalists, and poets 8. Concert News 9. Advertisements 10. What’s coming up in the next issue 11. A Selection of e-mails we receive – the good, the bad and the ugly. ************************************8 1. Site Ratings. They’re up again. Yes our visitor numbers are up again and we are getting a lot more feed back and the real bonus is many more of the e-mails are full of praise and compliments about the site. The Forum’s busier too – if you haven’t visited the Forum please do – you can either post a question or there are plenty there for you to answer. http://www.pianoshop.co.uk/forum/ ******************************************* 2. I’d just like to point out at this stage that Craig and I work alone on this project and to date Home of the Arts includes The Virtual Pianoshop, Music CV’s and Treading the Boards. There are more to come in the not too distant future. We don’t have financial backing on this huge project – just an idea we would like to have every aspect of the Arts in a single place – Home of the Arts. We still don’t earn anything from the advertising we have on any of the sites. We rely on our ‘day jobs’ for wages. Any money we earn from any of the sites is swallowed up and ploughed back into Home of the Arts. It’s rather like a very expensive hobby! We do like contact and feedback from you. We like to think we do ok at the moment, but would like to do better – so eventually we can give up the day jobs and concentrate full time on Home of the Arts. ************************************************** IMPORTANT NOTICE – for all Piano Dealers and Advertisers. Existing Customers As from the 1st September 2001 Pianoshop will change the format of the way in which it advertises pianos for sale. To list up to 50 pianos on the site will cost £25 a month excluding VAT. This will, for the time being, be payable by Standing Order. To list up to 100 pianos on the site will cost £35 a month excluding VAT and will once again be payable by Standing Order. Special Offer - All dealers that have a listing at present and subscribe to the new format before the 20th August, will receive a discount of £5 a month for the first twelve months. As from the 1st September all private sales will be charged at £10 per piano, excluding VAT. The above conditions will apply to all new customers as from July 1st and existing customers from the 1st September 2001. The new procedure will take time to put in place. We therefore intend to give a three week ‘over lap’ time in which we can set up the new stock system and issue Standing Order forms. All dealers who have not taken up the new option by Friday 28th September 2001 and have stock remaining on Pianoshop will have that stock removed. In order to make the new set up we will be issuing new usernames and passwords. If you would like to talk about your stock listing and how the new set up will effect you please do contact me. If you would like to take up the standing order scheme your stock listing will remain and the listing procedure will remain exactly the same. Don’t wait until the deadline – contact me now. ************************************************ 4. Advertisements. Pianoshop is an excellent and cost effective way of advertising. Why not e-mail or phone me and we can talk about the best way to promote your company, concert, event, or your latest recording. We have over 100,000 visitors every month so you can be sure you will be noticed and it costs a fraction of the price of the printed alternative. I look forward to hearing from you. These have made a wise decision and are advertising with us and reaching over 100,000 potential customers every month – for example … SPECIAL OFFER FOR OUR READERS Pianoshop have arranged a special offer with Information Pioneers. Between now and August 31st, all Virtual Pianoshop newsletter readers can get a "Cut and Paste Database" at 20% off the normal price. The offer extends to their new FAQ package. With it you can have a Frequently Asked Questions searchable database "in less than 24 hours". For further information go to: http://www.informationpioneers.com/virtualpianoshopoffer.htm *************************************************** Piano Exams - A Guide To Preparation A Video by Jeffrey Whitton An illustrated guide to piano preparation at all levels by Jeffrey Whitton, author of The Art of Practising the Piano. To order a copy at £14.95 post free in the UK (£19.95 Overseas), please contact Jay Music, 12A Oakmead Road, London SW12 9SL. Tel. 020 8673 1864. Scales and arpeggios spells out several ways of enlivening scale practice... Preparing pieces, Sight-reading, Aural Preparation and The Examination are given a thorough and unimpeachable coverage - invaluable not just to candidates, parents and teachers, but also to new teachers in general. Music Teacher Magazine, January 2000 ************************************************** Situation Vacant Small piano restoration company recently established near Norwich requires equity partner(s) to join the business with experience in any or all of following skills. Management, sales (import & export), marketing, administration, any aspects of piano re-building, from cabinetwork through to toning and tuning. The company specialises in high quality German grands made in the first part of the C20th and seeks to build up a close knit team. Apartments usually available within walking distance of workplace. Contact: Fergus Hoey: Tel/Fax: 01603 872783, or E-mail:fergus@alcyonis.co.uk Alcyonis Ltd., 4 Townsend Court, Reepham, Norwich, NR10 4LD *********************************************************** 5. Competition - Win a Piano Stool It’s easy – all you have to do is answer the question below and when you have the answer tell us what city that person was born in. Easy. You can e-mail me your answers or send it via post. If you e-mail I will print off a copy and put it in the ‘hat’ ready for the draw. Question: Who was born on 27th January 1756? Was it Bach Mozart Beethoven When you’ve done that tell me what city they were born in. It’s as easy as that The prize is a piano stool delivered to the lucky winner anywhere in the world All entries will be placed in the ‘hat’ and the draw will take place on Monday 20th August 2001 and the results will be published on the web site and in the next newsletter. ************************************************* Music CV’s In the last newsletter I mentioned the new web site – www.musiccvs.com. If you haven’t had chance to have a look at it then please do. The database is increasing and we are proud to say we have an array of well-known names listed there from all fields of music. Names like Acker Bilk, Kenny Ball, The BBC Big Band, The National Youth Jazz Orchestra, the pianists Peter Katin and James Lisney, ‘cellist Richard Harwood, the Brodsky Quartet and hundreds more. The site is aimed at musicians, teachers, conductors, adjudicators, retailers; anyone in fact connected with the music world. Please spread the word and tell your musician friends that they can enter their details in the database – and it’s completely free. We have musicians from throughout the world – this week saw additions from the United States, China and Macedonia. ***************************************************** Calling all writers, journalists, and poets, Please don’t be shy. We really do want to hear from you. We’ve had an excellent article from Mark Playford regarding Cadby Pianos. It can be on any musical topic, because as you know we have several sites, so if it’s not piano related we will publish it on another site. If you have an event during the autumn send me details and I will publish it in the next newsletter. ********************************************* 8. Concert News This part of the newsletter is for you and provides free advertising space for your events. To take advantage of another free space go to www.musiccvs.com, click on Forum in the top bar and then go to Events. Queen Elizabeth Hall, London. Tuesday 13th September 2001 – 7.45.p.m. Peter Katin - Piano SCHUBERT: Impromptu in B flat major, D935 LISZT: Sonata in B minor CHOPIN: Fantaisie in F minor, Op.49 RACHMANINOV: Five Preludes from Opp.23 and 32 Tickets – £15.00-£6.00 ************************************ Purcell Room, London. Wednesday 19th September 2001 – 7.30.p.m. Schubertreise - A Piano Recital by James Lisney in aid of Muzika of Romania Schubert Sonata in A flat, D 566 Chopin Waltzes Opus 34 and 42 Ballade in A flat Opus 47 Enesco Pavane and Toccata from Suita Opus 10 Chopin Sonata in b minor, Opus 58 Tickets - £12.50-£10.00 ************************************************* 9. Advertisements Harpsichord for Sale HARPSICHORD Casework: Blue Painted Price: £ 4750 Size: 5 octave F - F Approx. Year: 1983 Area: Emsworth, Notes: Flemish Harpsichord by Andrew Garlic. Decorated soundboard, revoiced and re-reeded 6 months ago 2 8 ft stops. Selling due to upgrade. Contact: Ian Graham Jones: Tel/Fax: 01243-371128 , or E-mail:ianjg@pianoshop.co.uk ********************************* AB Piano exam ahead? Pieces - Great? How about your scales, etc? Test yourself with: Pocket Piano Practice Packs. a comprehensive set of cards, designed for everyday use, covering the current syllabus in random order. Used regularly - proven excellent results, painlessly achieved. 6 sets Set 1 Grade 1 - 3 Set 2: Grades 4 - 5 Set 3: Grade 6 Set 4: Grade 7 Group 1 Set 5: Grade 7 Group 2 Set 6: Grade 8 Prices: £2 a set & 30p P&P Teacher's Pack - all six sets: £8 + 60p P&P Available from: Mrs Margaret Huntington BSc FTCL LRAM 10 Marquis Avenue, St Johns, Newcastle upon Tyne NE5 1YF Tel / fax 0191-267-7225 e-mail margaret@pianohlr.freeserve.co.uk Also available for theory Pass Those Early Grades, £5 + 75p P&P Pass Your Grade 5 Theory £6.50 + 80p P&P Pass your Grade 6 theory and beyond £5 + 75p P&P ***************************************************** What’s coming up in the next issue. Concert news – why not take advantage of this free advertising space Results of the Competition. ***************************************************** A Selection of e-mails we receive – the good, the bad and the ugly. Hello Again, I wholeheartedly agree with your ratings and admire the fact that you have the courage to print them. I have been in the piano industry for over 50 Years, I want to thank you for the great insight into the piano business in the UK. Musically, http://www.bluebookofpianos.com ***************************** Dear Sir, I have much enjoyed looking at your excellent website. Would you please have a look at my own site, www.paythepiper.co.uk, **************************** "I am still awaiting your reply please!" This e-mail was received from a very irate ‘surfer’, who had asked me to quote a price for her piano, 36 hours before. It was as a result of this that we now have an automated reply, which states we will reply within 3 working days, and that we do not give price estimates from this office. ******************************** We have omitted the one very Ugly e-mail we received on the grounds of good taste! ******************************************************** That's all for now, we hope you enjoy this newsletter. To unsubscribe from this newsletter send a blank message to newsletter@pianoshop.co.uk with the subject UNSUBSCRIBE