Yamaha Awards Outstanding Clavinova Connection Facilitators
BUENA PARK, Calif. — Yamaha Corporation of America, Piano Division, honors Judy Hanley of Piano Distributors in Melbourne, Florida, and Terri Sunderland of Lentine's Music in Akron, Ohio, with awards for their exemplary involvement with the Clavinova Connection recreational music making program, presented in recognition of their "outstanding dedication" and to "bringing the joy of music making to so many people."
"Yamaha's commitment to promoting recreational music making programs like Clavinova Connection extends far beyond simply growing our business and customer base," notes Clavinova Marketing Manager Jim Levesque. "More importantly, we're enabling – and empowering – people to experience the joy of making music, many of whom never thought it possible. This is tremendously gratifying."
Terri Sunderland oversees Clavinova Connection for all five Lentine's locations, and has demonstrated initiative and creativity in promoting the program, including overseeing the production of a Lentine's "infomercial" to promote the program in the local market. With degrees in both marketing and music performance, she began her career as a public relations coordinator for the Canton Symphony Orchestra, becoming passionate about the music industry and about educating children on the benefits of music. She then moved into radio where she became an advertising account executive for an adult contemporary station.
Sunderland joined Lentine's Music in the early '90s as Marketing Director, ultimately expanding her role to include General Operations Management, and encompassing such areas as human resources, customer service, marketing and public relations. After a brief sojourn with a children's record label called Twin Sisters Productions, LLC, she returned to Lentine's in 2005 to continue her work and to develop new programs such as the Clavinova Connection.
Terri's passion for the program compelled her to not only head up the initiative for the chain, but to facilitate the program herself. She has presented the classes at nursing homes and hospitals, trains facilitators in the market for the program, instructs the staff on recruitment, and does all of the marketing.
"Clavinova Connection is the future for the music dealer," states Sunderland. "This program can change peoples' lives; it gives people a gift, by inspiring and affecting their lives. It sells pianos too! I have found promoting and facilitating this program to be the most personally rewarding aspect of my career."
For Judy Hanley, piano sales and education has always been a family affair. With a mother who sold pianos and instructing her first piano students at age 15, Hanley's retail career seems more an inevitable progression than a conscious choice. She first made her mark as president and owner of Judy's Music, a well-regarded retailer with three Pittsburgh-area locations. The full-time staff included her late husband John, as well as her daughter Rhiannon and son Buddy. Hanley brought her strong belief in music education initiatives to Piano Distributors, when she joined the company four years ago as store manager of its Melbourne location.
A participant of the original Clavinova Connection test market program, Hanley's hallmark is to present the program to "everyone who walks into the store – even if they happen to come in and ask for directions," and putting people at ease by jokingly assuring them that "if you're too good, you get kicked out." She has taught over 200 students over the past three years, several of whom still enjoy her ongoing classes.
"Clavinova Connection isn't a new way of learning," declares Hanley. "It's the same method as teaching someone how to read. You start by talking, not learning to spell words. With this program, you don't start with notes, you start by playing songs."
According to Hanley, this methodology enables students to immediately play music with feeling, rather than concentrating on notes and hand coordination. "Clavinova Connection is first – and foremost – about the music."
"A good facilitator is the key to the success of any Clavinova Connection program, and both of these ladies have an incredible amount of enthusiasm and passion for the program and its benefits," explains Yamaha Clavinova Connection Market Development Specialist Dan Rodowicz. "They do a great job of supporting and encouraging their students."
The Clavinova Connection is a group-based experience for adults that enables even beginners to play music they've always loved on the very first day. Each Clavinova Connection session includes a wellness exercise, a keyboard drum circle, an opportunity to improvise and a "song of the day." Recent research using the Clavinova Connection shows that music making can reverse the DNA switches that can trigger the human stress response.
Rather than emphasizing musical performance or mastery, this innovative fun-filled program enables participants, regardless of prior musical experience, to creatively express themselves in a multifaceted group activity.
The sessions use Clavinova digital pianos along with a scientifically designed program of music and wellness exercises that include breathing and guided imagery to help calm and relax the mind. Up to eight students can take part in each group session, using pianos that are linked electronically to the group facilitator's instrument. The facilitator uses the piano's guide lamp system to transmit easy-to-follow cues directly to each participant's keyboard, which they play note for note. Learn more at www.clavinovaconnection.com.
For more information, write Yamaha Corporation of America, Piano Division, P.O. Box 6600, Buena Park, CA 90622, telephone (714) 522-9011, or e-mail infostation@yamaha.com.
About Yamaha:
Yamaha Corporation of America manufactures a complete line of musical instruments, professional audio products, customer-driven support products and computer-based products targeted to both the amateur and professional markets.
 Terri Sunderland is joined by Clavinova Marketing Manager Jim Levesque, Clavinova Connection Specialist Paul Dykstra and Clavinova Connection Market Development Specialist Dan Rodowicz. |
Terri Sunderland oversees Clavinova Connection for all five Lentine's locations, and has demonstrated initiative and creativity in promoting the program, including overseeing the production of a Lentine's "infomercial" to promote the program in the local market. With degrees in both marketing and music performance, she began her career as a public relations coordinator for the Canton Symphony Orchestra, becoming passionate about the music industry and about educating children on the benefits of music. She then moved into radio where she became an advertising account executive for an adult contemporary station.
Sunderland joined Lentine's Music in the early '90s as Marketing Director, ultimately expanding her role to include General Operations Management, and encompassing such areas as human resources, customer service, marketing and public relations. After a brief sojourn with a children's record label called Twin Sisters Productions, LLC, she returned to Lentine's in 2005 to continue her work and to develop new programs such as the Clavinova Connection.
Terri's passion for the program compelled her to not only head up the initiative for the chain, but to facilitate the program herself. She has presented the classes at nursing homes and hospitals, trains facilitators in the market for the program, instructs the staff on recruitment, and does all of the marketing.
"Clavinova Connection is the future for the music dealer," states Sunderland. "This program can change peoples' lives; it gives people a gift, by inspiring and affecting their lives. It sells pianos too! I have found promoting and facilitating this program to be the most personally rewarding aspect of my career."
 "Clavinova Connection isn't a new way of learning," according to Judy Hanley. "It's the same method as teaching someone how to read. You start by talking, not learning to spell words. With this program, you don't start with notes, you start by playing songs." |
A participant of the original Clavinova Connection test market program, Hanley's hallmark is to present the program to "everyone who walks into the store – even if they happen to come in and ask for directions," and putting people at ease by jokingly assuring them that "if you're too good, you get kicked out." She has taught over 200 students over the past three years, several of whom still enjoy her ongoing classes.
"Clavinova Connection isn't a new way of learning," declares Hanley. "It's the same method as teaching someone how to read. You start by talking, not learning to spell words. With this program, you don't start with notes, you start by playing songs."
According to Hanley, this methodology enables students to immediately play music with feeling, rather than concentrating on notes and hand coordination. "Clavinova Connection is first – and foremost – about the music."
"A good facilitator is the key to the success of any Clavinova Connection program, and both of these ladies have an incredible amount of enthusiasm and passion for the program and its benefits," explains Yamaha Clavinova Connection Market Development Specialist Dan Rodowicz. "They do a great job of supporting and encouraging their students."
The Clavinova Connection is a group-based experience for adults that enables even beginners to play music they've always loved on the very first day. Each Clavinova Connection session includes a wellness exercise, a keyboard drum circle, an opportunity to improvise and a "song of the day." Recent research using the Clavinova Connection shows that music making can reverse the DNA switches that can trigger the human stress response.
Rather than emphasizing musical performance or mastery, this innovative fun-filled program enables participants, regardless of prior musical experience, to creatively express themselves in a multifaceted group activity.
The sessions use Clavinova digital pianos along with a scientifically designed program of music and wellness exercises that include breathing and guided imagery to help calm and relax the mind. Up to eight students can take part in each group session, using pianos that are linked electronically to the group facilitator's instrument. The facilitator uses the piano's guide lamp system to transmit easy-to-follow cues directly to each participant's keyboard, which they play note for note. Learn more at www.clavinovaconnection.com.
For more information, write Yamaha Corporation of America, Piano Division, P.O. Box 6600, Buena Park, CA 90622, telephone (714) 522-9011, or e-mail infostation@yamaha.com.
About Yamaha:
Yamaha Corporation of America manufactures a complete line of musical instruments, professional audio products, customer-driven support products and computer-based products targeted to both the amateur and professional markets.
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