The Globe-Trotting Pianos
BUENA PARK, Calif. Connecting its fleet of 350 world-class pianos with its roster of classical artists performing throughout the U.S., Yamaha Artist Services, Inc. and Yamaha Corporation of America routinely perform the musical equivalent of managing an air traffic control center. If Olga Kern or Mei-Ting Sun "need a nine-footer next Tuesday!" an elaborate set of systems are in place to ensure that the artist's piano arrives on time, in tune and in optimum condition. Elaborate spreadsheets of time-sensitive information, the ability to not take no for an answer, the occasional forklift, and as Yamaha Artist Services, Inc. Director James Steeber says, "the ability to be unfazed by sometimes horrific logistics," are all key factors in keeping these remarkable instruments on the move.
For over two decades, Yamaha Corporation of America and Yamaha Artist Services, Inc. in New York City have been providing artists with the pianos they so cherish for years no matter where, when or how much it will cost.
"The connection between our classical artists and our pianos is critical," notes Steeber. "Serious performance is a requirement in being a Yamaha artist, so we need to help our artists obtain their instruments easily no matter where they might be in the world."
The process typically begins with an artist submitting a Piano Performance Order request form. Yamaha Artist Services then researches the infrastructure of the location. Freight requirements must be scrutinized, moving companies chosen, temperature controls met and equipment arranged.
The next step is to check in with Yamaha's Artist Services dealer network. Dealer involvement is critical to event success, in most cases, and dealers have made the vast majority of YASI's Piano Performance Orders possible ם from arranging moves via local movers to offering tuning services.
The most high-profile venues, however, typically offer little advanced notice, as in the case of the death of Diana the Princess of Wales. Yamaha needed to deliver a concert grand piano to the U.K. in just a few days for Elton John to pay tribute to his dear friend at her funeral service.
When the piano arrives, whether it's by cargo plane for overseas venues, or by truck the pianos must be "tuned and prepped" according to strict standards of voicing and regulation. Yamaha's highly trained tuner/technicians fly around the country to ensure that each piano symbolizes the company's commitment to the highest quality piano care. Masahiro ("Max") Michimoto is one of three tuner/technicians who primarily deal with performances in New York City, but his skill is legendary, and he is often called upon to work nationally and abroad for Yamaha's most celebrated artists.
"Additionally, nationwide, Yamaha Technical Consultants including Tom Kaplan, Craig Fehrenbacher, and Greg Rorabough may fly long distances on literally a day's notice to a venue in order to shore up a situation in which a local piano, already in place, needs expert regulation and voicing, in addition to stable tuning," adds Steeber."These technical consultants all have had factory training in Hamamatsu, Japan and can keep pianos playing up to the Yamaha standard part in parcel to keeping alive the famous consistency of its pianos."
"Some presenters have been known to make bizarre demands," remarks Steeber. "We've had to ensure that a piano is sufficiently tuned and prepped in 30 minutes and quickly removed right after the artist finishes a performance, particularly when we've supplied for television networks. There are instances where presenters will request that a piano be tuned to a higher pitch than the standard 440."
While "demand and demanding" have widely different meanings, with the fall/winter concert season underway, there has been plenty of both.
Steeber, however, puts it all in perspective. "While the voyage from 'Point A to Point B' may not be simple, the outcome when an artist has his or her piano of choice to perform is all that really matters."
For more information, write Yamaha Corporation of America, P.O. Box 6600, Buena Park, CA 90622; telephone (714) 522-9011; or e-mail infostation@yamaha.com.
 A concert grand piano is delivered to Yamaha's New York piano salon |
"The connection between our classical artists and our pianos is critical," notes Steeber. "Serious performance is a requirement in being a Yamaha artist, so we need to help our artists obtain their instruments easily no matter where they might be in the world."
The process typically begins with an artist submitting a Piano Performance Order request form. Yamaha Artist Services then researches the infrastructure of the location. Freight requirements must be scrutinized, moving companies chosen, temperature controls met and equipment arranged.
The next step is to check in with Yamaha's Artist Services dealer network. Dealer involvement is critical to event success, in most cases, and dealers have made the vast majority of YASI's Piano Performance Orders possible ם from arranging moves via local movers to offering tuning services.
The most high-profile venues, however, typically offer little advanced notice, as in the case of the death of Diana the Princess of Wales. Yamaha needed to deliver a concert grand piano to the U.K. in just a few days for Elton John to pay tribute to his dear friend at her funeral service.
When the piano arrives, whether it's by cargo plane for overseas venues, or by truck the pianos must be "tuned and prepped" according to strict standards of voicing and regulation. Yamaha's highly trained tuner/technicians fly around the country to ensure that each piano symbolizes the company's commitment to the highest quality piano care. Masahiro ("Max") Michimoto is one of three tuner/technicians who primarily deal with performances in New York City, but his skill is legendary, and he is often called upon to work nationally and abroad for Yamaha's most celebrated artists.
"Additionally, nationwide, Yamaha Technical Consultants including Tom Kaplan, Craig Fehrenbacher, and Greg Rorabough may fly long distances on literally a day's notice to a venue in order to shore up a situation in which a local piano, already in place, needs expert regulation and voicing, in addition to stable tuning," adds Steeber."These technical consultants all have had factory training in Hamamatsu, Japan and can keep pianos playing up to the Yamaha standard part in parcel to keeping alive the famous consistency of its pianos."
"Some presenters have been known to make bizarre demands," remarks Steeber. "We've had to ensure that a piano is sufficiently tuned and prepped in 30 minutes and quickly removed right after the artist finishes a performance, particularly when we've supplied for television networks. There are instances where presenters will request that a piano be tuned to a higher pitch than the standard 440."
While "demand and demanding" have widely different meanings, with the fall/winter concert season underway, there has been plenty of both.
Steeber, however, puts it all in perspective. "While the voyage from 'Point A to Point B' may not be simple, the outcome when an artist has his or her piano of choice to perform is all that really matters."
For more information, write Yamaha Corporation of America, P.O. Box 6600, Buena Park, CA 90622; telephone (714) 522-9011; or e-mail infostation@yamaha.com.