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Coach House Pianos (CHP), a well-established family-run piano business based near Swansea in Wales, opened its glamorous London showroom on the New Kings Road the day before the UK went into the second Covid lockdown in November 2020. Not the most auspicious start to its new London retail venture, one might think, yet the lockdown proved beneficial to CHP: with so many people confined to their homes, many turned to music, and the piano in particular, to pass the time.

It’s a mark of CHP’s success and business savvy that they now have a London outlet – and one that is not hugger-mugger to the other major piano retailers. The showroom is in the Talisman Building, a striking white Art Deco building just a few minutes walk from Fulham Broadway and Parsons Green tube stations. The spacious, elegantly-decorated ground floor space is heaven for pianists and piano lovers, with a splendid range of some of the finest marques and instruments, and helpful, friendly staff.

I got to know CHP through my friend and (occasional) duo partner, Lee. Like me, a keen advanced amateur pianist, I visited CHP’s Welsh showroom just over 5 years ago to help Lee choose a new grand piano. We were in London a week ago to select another piano for him, an upgrade since he now has the space for a larger instrument. He had set his heart on a Shigeru Kawai, but on arrival at CHP’s London showroom, we were invited to play any, and indeed all (if we so desired!) of the pianos on display there.

CHP keeps Steinway, Bosendorfer, Sauter and Yamaha brands at its London showroom. Although most of the pianos on display are grands, of various sizes and prices, there are also uprights and even digital instruments, so the piano hunter has plenty of choice, and ample opportunity to compare instruments too.

Buying a piano, and especially a grand piano, is a significant undertaking – and not just in terms of financial outlay. Even though modern pianos are made to standard specifications, there are inevitably – because these are instruments made of natural products like wood – differences within a particular maker and model. Lee and I really understood this when we went to the Yamaha selection centre in Milton Keynes in 2018 to try 6 C3X grands – each one was different, in terms of both tone and touch). So the opportunity to try different pianos, and a range of repertoire, is very important.

In addition to the freedom to play so many fine instruments, CHP’s staff are friendly and knowedgeable – and there is absolutely no hard sell. They appreciate that buying a piano is a significant purchase for many people and they are keen for their customers to find absolutely the right piano.

Although it felt as if we had been let loose in a piano sweet shop, there was serious business too and it was important for Lee to make the right decision with regard to his new piano. So we played solos to one another, and our “party piece”, Schubert’s D940 Fantasie, and listened to one another playing various instruments from different parts of the showroom. We compared notes (no pun intended) over lunch and then Lee went back inside the showroom, a decision made.

Klimt Tree of Life art case Bosendorfer

In all my encounters with CHP, I have been impressed by the level of customer service and knowledge of the staff. Add to this, a beautiful London showroom (which has space for recitals and other events), and now pianophiles and piano hunters need not travel so far to seek the perfect instrument.

Coach House Pianos

More articles about CHP

Keeping it in the family

From Start-up to Steinway….

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CARITAS CONSORT releases May the Spirit Sing in your Heart

Music by Thomas Hewitt Jones, words by Canon Gordon Giles

A new choral anthem commissioned by soprano Susanna Gray-Jones in honour of the 70th birthday of Susanna’s father, Lindsay Gray, Founder and Director of Caritas Consort

Caritas Consort

Conductor – Lindsay Gray

Organist – Claire Alsop

Susanna Gray-Jones says, ‘The anthem’s soaring melody aims to reflect and celebrate the contribution Lindsay has made to choral music, both as a singer himself, choral conductor and in his various roles as a headmaster and as a former director of the Royal School of Church Music. The poignant words by Gordon Giles, Canon Chancellor of Rochester Cathedral, reflect on music, faith and spirituality and we hope will make an enjoyable and meaningful liturgical anthem, as well as being hopefully fun to sing. I’d like to thank Lindsay for being an incredible father – for me that includes being my singing coach, headteacher, cricket bowling coach, business support coach, choir conductor, counsellor and grandad to our children. Happy 70th birthday Dad!’

The music is available via YouTube, Spotify and other major streaming networks.

The sheet music is available from Encore Publications www.encorepublications.com

ABOUT CARITAS CONSORT

Caritas, Latin for ‘charity’, is a chamber choir based in Cardiff. They perform a range of music, unaccompanied or with organ, from the Renaissance period to the present day. Formed of professional and other high-quality singers, all members give of their own time and aim to raise at least £1,000 per performance for charitable organisations and good causes.

Since their first performance in March 2013, Caritas have presented 49 concerts and events, building a large and wide-ranging repertoire of over 300 pieces as well as raising over £63,000 for 66 charities and other good causes. With the release of May The Spirit Sing in your Heart, Caritas will be fundraising for the Cardiff Branch of Samaritans. 

www.caritasconsort.org

www.thomashewittjones.com

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A nerd is a person seen as overly intellectual, obsessive, [or] introverted…. Such a person may spend inordinate amounts of time on unpopular, little known, or non-mainstream activities, which are generally either highly technical, [or] abstract….to the exclusion of more mainstream activities – Wikipedia definition

The world of classical music is full of nerdy people, especially amongst its audiences. These people are also called fans, enthusiasts, geeks, obsessives or weirdos, depending on your particular point of view; most niche activities attract their own set of nerds – from cycling (I live with one) to computing, knitting to classical music.

There is nothing wrong in being a classical music nerd, and indeed being one may have some distinct advantages:

1. Enhanced listening skills. Being a classical music nerd means that you listen to music more actively and attentively. You are more likely to notice the nuances and subtleties of the music, including the dynamics, phrasing, and timbre. This can help to enhance your overall listening skills and make you a more discerning listener.

2. Increased cultural knowledge: Classical music is a rich and diverse art form with a long and fascinating history. As a classical music nerd, you will gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of the music, as well as the cultural and historical contexts in which it was created. This can help to broaden your knowledge and understanding of the world around you.

3. Improved cognitive function: Studies have shown that listening to classical music can improve cognitive function and enhance brain activity. As a classical music nerd, you are more likely to engage with the music in a way that stimulates your brain and improves your cognitive function.

4. Greater emotional intelligence: Classical music is renowned for its ability to evoke strong emotions in listeners. By immersing yourself in classical music, you can gain a greater understanding of the emotional content of music, which can help to improve your emotional intelligence and empathy.

5. Community and social connections: Being a classical music nerd can also provide you with a sense of community and social connections. Attending concerts, joining music groups or societies, and engaging in discussions with other classical music enthusiasts can help you to connect with like-minded individuals and develop new friendships and social networks.

Classical music nerdery also helps to debunk the notion that classical music is elite and shameful and exclusive to the select, highbrow few. Most classical music nerds are ordinary people who simply have a real passion and enthusiasm. Concert venues and promoters should actively support and encourage these people are they are the ones who are often the most regular and ardent concert-goers, who book a whole swathe of Prom concerts as soon as the new season is announcement, and support their favourite artists by attending concerts, not just in their home country but abroad too. While some classical music nerds may be regarded as “sticky fans”, there is no doubting their commitment – an addition to regularly attending concerts, these people also help spread the word by sharing their enthusiasm with others.

So if you’re a classical music nerd (as I am – and have been since my teens), don’t be shy. Embrace your nerdery and share it with others: you’re doing classical music a huge favour!

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In the latest episode of my Piano101 Podcast series, I meet Marc Yeats, landscape artist and composer, to talk about creativity, interpretation, artistic intent and more…..

Find previous episodes here

Audio only