Drums aren’t our primary instrument focus as many know (though we do have excellent drums in many of our digital ensemble pianos). However, we do know talent when we see it, and this little girl is doing some of John Bonham’s best work proud. Enjoy…
Jordan Kitt’s Music goes to DC with NAMM to lobby for music education in our schools!
Jordan Kitt’s Music is proud to be a part of the 2018 National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Music Education Advocacy D.C. fly-in. Each spring, Jordan Kitt’s Music is joined in its home town by other NAMM members to serve as advocates for the right of every child to learn and grow with music by visiting with their elected representatives on Capitol Hill.
NAMM Fly-In participants receive intensive training with policy experts to learn about the policies and priorities of the current administration. With guidance from veteran delegates and seasoned professionals, NAMM members prepare research-based talking points for visits with their Members of Congress.
These visits are not just a time to make demands of our legislature, however. It is also when we encourage Senators and Representatives to celebrate the school districts and schools that receive national recognition through The NAMM Foundation’s Best Communities for Music Education SupportMusic Merit Awards within their states and congressional districts.
The event included a Day of Service, where NAMM members commit a day getting involved in local music education, meetings on Capital Hill, and a number of NAMM hosted special events designed to maximize the impact of the event.
For more information about NAMM or the Fly-in Event, visit www. namm.org
Live Mother’s Day Celebration Webcast with Jim Brickman!
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Live Webcast with Jim Brickman Make Mother’s Day extra special this year with a free, live concert from Jim Brickman. Invite all the moms in your life and join us online for this free webcast featuring songs, stories, giveaways, and video dedications. When you RSVP, you’ll be entered to win a brand-new Roland RP102 Digital Piano! Plus, you’ll receive a link where you can share a personal video message to your mom which may be selected to air during the webcast. Click the button below to register, send your video, and let Jim make this a Mother’s Day to remember.
Registration closes May 10, 2018. |
Jordan Kitt’s Music provides the Yamaha C7X at the Folger GalaJordan Kitt’s was proud to provide the Yamaha C7X grand piano for a performance by jazz pianist Cyrus Chestnut at this year’s Folger Gala on Monday, April 16th. Described in Time magazine as “the best jazz pianist of his generation”, Cyrus has more than a dozen albums in his discography, and his leadership and prowess as a soloist has also led him to be a first call for the piano chair in many big bands including the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, Dizzy Gillespie Big Band, and Carnegie Hall Jazz Orchestra. The Folger Shakespeare Library’s annual gala is the organization’s largest and most significant fundraiser of the year, providing support to the Folger and its impact driving discovery, transforming education, and creating experiences. As one of Washington’s most elegant social evenings this special event is attended by the leaders of the social, business, government, and diplomatic communities. The British Ambassador and Lady Darroch are the Honorary Gala Co-Chairs, and Folger Board member Vinton Cerf of Google and his wife Sigrid are the 2018 Folger Gala Co-Chairs. In addition to Cyrus Chestnut, the eveing also featured entertainment by Sir Derek Jacobi and Richard Clifford, as well as singer and actress Erica Dorfler. The Jordan Kitt’s Music 2018 Piano FestivalThe 2018 Jordan Kitt’s Music Piano Festiva was a big hit, with tremendous participation by area teachers and students: Here were the winners: Div. 2B: Ages 7-9 Div. 3A: Ages 10-12 Div. 3B: Ages 10-12 Div. 4: Ages 13-15 (and Div. 5: Ages 16-18)
Piano Technician’s Guild holds annual DC Chapter meeting at Jordan Kitt’s MusicOn Monday, March 12th the Piano Technician’s Guild held their annual meeting at the Jordan Kitt’s Music Showroom and Music Education Center in Rockville, Maryland. The event featured Yamaha Concert and Artist Master Technician Ace Ugai and a fine Yamaha CFX Concert Grand. Ace called his class: “A Master’s Approach to Performance Preparation.”
Ace Ugai and action removed from a Yamaha CFX concert grand piano. In his words, a master of the craft must include consideration of the room acoustics ,tuning and action regulation specifically tailored for those conditions. The class identified the sounds and effects to look for, and demonstrated how to listen, evaluate and manipulate all of those facets.
Mr. Ugai and PTG DC Chapter President Robin Olson The Piano Technicians Guild, Inc. is the largest non-profit organization serving piano tuners, technicians, and craftsmen throughout the world. Formed in 1957 by the merger of the American Society of Piano Technicians and the National Association of Piano Tuners, the Guild was organized to promote the highest possible service and technical standards among piano tuners and technicians. The Washington DC Chapter was the first chapter in the Piano Technicians Guild (PTG). We have approximately 70 members in our chapter and over half of our members are Registered Piano Technicians. A Registered Piano Technician (RPT) is a piano technician who has passed a series of rigorous tests given by the PTG. Learn more about the PTG here… Towson University Keyboard DayOn Friday, March 16th, Towson University is proud to present Keyboard Day from 8:30am – 5:00pm for more information and to register, visit here! A Piano Cake Recipe!What better way to celebrate the purchase of a new piano than with a piano cake? Although we can’t personally vouch for the taste until we’ve made one ourselves, here are the basic ingredients and instructions from Tastemade. See the instructional video on their website here. For the chocolate cake: 3 cups all-purpose flour 2 cups sugar 2 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 1/2 teaspoons salt 2/3 cup cocoa powder 1 1/2 cups butter, softened at room temperature 4 large eggs 1 tablespoon vanilla extract 1 cup sour cream, room temperature For the chocolate chip meringue: 6 large egg whites 2 cups superfine sugar 1 cup mini chocolate chips For the chocolate buttercream: 1 1/2 cups butter, softened at room temperature 4 cups powdered sugar 1 1/2 cups cocoa powder 2/3 cup whole milk 1 tablespoon vanilla 1 teaspoon salt For the chocolate ganache: 2 cups dark chocolate chips 1 cup heavy cream 2 tablespoons coconut oil For the decoration: 16 white chocolate Kit Kats 10 milk chocolate Kit Kats Instructions Make the chocolate cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees, and line a 13 by 9 inch pan with baking spray and parchment paper. In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cocoa. Using a hand mixer, blend the butter, eggs and vanilla into the dry mix. Fold in the sour cream. Pour into prepared pan and bake for 25 to 30 minutes until fragrant and a toothpick comes out clean from the center of the cake. Set aside to cool. Make the chocolate chip meringue: Turn the oven to 250 degrees, and line a quarter sheet pan with baking spray and parchment paper. In a large bowl, whip egg whites and sugar until stiff peaks form, approximately 10 minutes. Gently fold in mini chocolate chips and pour into prepared pan. Smooth out to create an even layer. Bake for 10 minutes, and then turn the oven down to 200 degrees and bake until stiff, approximately 4 hours. Turn the oven off and allow the meringue to set and cool completely in the oven. Make the chocolate buttercream: In a large bowl, whip softened butter and powdered sugar together with a hand mixer. Add in cocoa powder and milk and mix until smooth. Add in vanilla and salt and set aside. Make the chocolate ganache: Set chocolate chips in a medium-sized bowl, and heat the cream to a near boil. Pour cream over chocolate and whisk to combine. Add coconut oil, and divide ganache into two bowls. Refrigerate one to set and leave the other at room temperature. Assemble the cake: Cut baked chocolate cake in half. Place one of the cakes on a large platter. Cover with one cup of chocolate buttercream and top with the meringue layer. Top with another cup of buttercream and finish with the remaining cake layer. Cover the entire cake with the remaining buttercream and set in the refrigerator to chill for approximately 30 minutes. Remove from fridge and pour the room temperature ganache over the top of the cake. Carefully drip ganache down every side of the cake for a dramatic effect. Place the chilled ganache in a piping bag and create a border around the bottom of the cake. Place the white chocolate Kit Kats across the middle of the cake, keeping them together in fours. Break up the milk chocolate Kit Kats and place them on top of the white Kit Kats, mimicking piano keys. Serve immediately. Cake will keep up to 4 days covered. Firefighter calms with piano after emergency callA firefighter from Monroe, Washington helped calm residents after a stressful night of emergency calls – with a serenade on their vintage piano. Greg and Meagan Bennett were home when one of their carbon monoxide alarms went off. They checked the batteries and the alarm stopped. But two hours later, the other alarm sounded, so the couple called for help. An emergency crew arrived, but found conflicting readings from the alarms and decided to call for backup. Meagan says a second crew responded to their home, and all of the excitement proved too much for the couple’s dogs. She took them outside while 5 firefighters and EMTs kept working inside her home. As the emergency call was finally wrapping up, firefighter Bryan Kerr inquired about the couple’s piano, which was a family heirloom from 1920. He asked if he could try playing it, then surprised everyone with a snippet from Coldplay’s “Clocks.” Greg recorded video so he could show Meagan when she returned with the dogs. She tells KING 5: “It started out as a super stressful, annoying situation and this just really made our night. It was awesome!” Deaf man is amazingly self taught on the pianovia the Hamilton County Times Does Kyle Thomas know how beautifully he plays the piano? During Westfield’s play rehearsals, I watched and listened as Thomas sat at the baby-grand piano in his borrowed black tuxedo with tails, loud crazy-patterned socks and long, thick beard that he’s he’s been growing for a year. |
