Connect With Music at The Music Connection

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MUST SEE: Yamaha Limited Edition SBG3000 solid-body electric guitar in Black.
We just sold the last Limited Edition Yamaha SBG3000 in Wine Red, but we have one in black! This is an incredible and very collectible guitar. Only 40 were made world-wide and this is the very last one available from Yamaha. Comes with Glass Display case worth $400 too! See it NOW at Music Connection Forest Lake.
more info
Music Connection Rents Grand Pianos and Disklaviers for Concerts and Special Events.
The same pianos used in concert by Alicia Keys, Josh Groban, Chick Corea, Jim Brickman, Norah Jones, and scores of other Yamaha Artists.
Yamaha & Music Connection reveal the revolutionary piano... AvantGrand.
With its highly advanced sound reproduction and sampling technology, the AvantGrand is the first piano ever crafted to truly capture the sound, touch, action and physical resonance of a concert-quality grand piano without the tuning, cost or footprint of a comparable stringed instrument.

See it now at Music Connection Pianos in Edina.
more info
USED COLLEGE PIANO SALE - INCREDIBLE VALUES! PUBLIC SALE: Sunday, January 31st from Noon to 5:00PM held at Music Connection Piano Showroom, located in Edina, MN.
The Music Department of Hamline University has had the great benefit of using new Yamaha pianos through the educational loan program created by the Yamaha Corporation of America and implemented locally by Music Connection. This program involves a periodic renewal of the pianos, and now these fine instruments are available for purchase by our associates and the public.

All pianos used in this program will be on sale to faculty, alumni, students, and friends of the colleges at prices significantly lower than market value. In addition to these, a wide selection of new Yamaha Acoustic, Digital, and Yamaha Disklavier Pianos will also be available. All of the loan program pianos and new pianos are covered by the Yamaha 10 Year Factory Warranty Bond. You will also have an opportunity to examine fine quality, previously owned instruments from Yamaha, and others. Attractive financing and delivery are available on all instruments. Cash, checks and all major credit cards will also be accepted.

There are two ways to view and purchase the selected pianos at Music Connections Piano Showroom, 3525 W. 70 th St., Edina, in the Brandon Square Center. You may attend the public sale on Sunday January 31st , or to better assist you (and help avoid the crowds), a private appointment can be arranged for Friday, January 29th , or Saturday, January 30th , by calling the toll- free appointment number 1-866-920-5397. This is highly recommended for best selection and value. The hours are as follows:

Friday, January 29th 10:00 a.m. 7:00 p.m. By Appointment
Saturday, January 30th 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. By Appointment
Sunday, January 31st Noon - 5:00 p.m. Open to the Public

LINE 6 NIGHT AT MC FOREST LAKE - TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29TH AT 7:00PM
* GREAT ONE-NIGHT DEALS AND GIVE-AWAYS * TALK TO FACTORY REP *

*** Amazing Demos and Training By Line 6 Expert - David Seal ***

Call to Reserve a Seat: 651-464-5252

FEATURING THE INSANE ROCKSTAR TONES OF THE NEW SPIDER IV AMPS - AMAZING!

Spider IV guitar amplifiers redefine what is sonically possible from modeling amplifiers. Feast your ears on the sophisticated touch response, complex distortions, and tube-style compression of the most advanced Line 6 amp modeling to date. Get one-touch access to almost 200 tones based on the best guitar songs of all time. From the switchblade-swinging slapback of the 1950s to the high-gain distortion of the 2000s, get the tones of Master of Puppets, Back in Black, Whole Lotta Love, Daytripper, Toxicity, Purple Haze, Head Like a Hole, Smells Like Teen Spirit, Crazy Train and more. See it, hear it, play it, at Music Connection on Tuesday, Sept 29th at 7PM.

Music Connection Proud Yamaha Disklavier Sponsor to Piano-e-Competition
Music Connection Pianos will be supplying instruments for the judges and contestants as they prepare for this prestigious international event that is made possible by the Yamaha Disklavier.

The competition will take place June 29-July 10, 2009, with all solo and chamber performances taking place at Sundin Music Hall, Hamline University, and concerto finals with the Minnesota Orchestra at the Orchestra Hall. All events of the Minnesota International Piano-e-Competition will be free and open to the public. more info
EXCEPTIONAL PERCUSSION OPPORTUNITIES!!! DRUMLINE FOR SALE!
AS THE SUPPLIER TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA MARCHING BAND, THE MUSIC CONNECTION HAS A DRUMLINE FOR SALE FROM THE COLLEGE SAMPLER PROGRAM. THIS EXCLUSIVE OFFER IS ON THE U OF M- YAMAHA MARCHING PERCUSSION USED IN 2007 and 2008. more info
Disklavier Remote Lesson Demonstration at MacPhail Center for Music
As the Exclusive Yamaha Disklavier dealer for Minnesota and supplier to MacPhail Center for Music, we are pleased to inform you of this unique event:

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

TIME: 1:30PM-3:00PM

Location: MacPhail Center for Music - Room 607, 501 S. 2nd St., Minneapolis, MN

PRESENTED BY: Dr. Stella B Sick and George Litterst, Rehoboth, MA

Imagine being able to take a lesson with a Chopin specialist who lives in Poland without ever leaving Minneapolis. It is now possible, with the help of exciting technology that enables two or more pianos to be connected over the Internet.

The Disklavier is capable of capturing every key and pedal stroke as high resolution MIDI data and accurately reproducing the performance. Yamaha Disklavier Mark 4 Pro is a piano used in the preliminary rounds of the Minnesota International Piano-e-Competition. Yamaha's new technology called Remote Lesson makes it possible for two or more such pianos to be connected to one another over the Internet.

This presentation will offer an engaging demonstration of technology currently available for remote instruction, as well as give teachers and students immediate hands-on experience in using Remote Lesson. Stella (locally) and George (from Rehoboth, Massachusetts) will talk about a variety of possibilities that this technology offers, as well as share their own innovative ideas for using it.

The demonstration portion of the session will include Dr. Stella Sick teaching Deborah York in Massachusetts and George Litterst teaching one or several MacPhail piano students.

The hands-on portion of the session will give an opportunity for teachers to use the technology. Audience members can ask Stella and George questions. They will also be able to speak with Deborah York, who has been taking lessons with various teachers all over the country using the Remote Lesson technology, and thus can provide a first-hand, personal impression of the Remote Lesson process.

This event is free and open to the public. more info
Music Connection Presents: A Disklavier Archive Concert Session Featuring Legendary Minnesota Pianist Jeanne Arland Peterson
An Intimate Evening with her Family & Friends honoring Jeanne Arland Peterson

Monday, January 12, 2009 at 7 PM At Music Connection Pianos 3525 W 70th St. Edina, MN.

This performance will be recorded and archived to audio and video using the amazing Disklavier Mark IV ... the worlds most advanced reproducing piano.

Admission is free, but seating is very limited.
Please call or email to check on availability and reserve your seat.
(952) 920-5397 event@ConnectWithMusic.com

Although she began playing the piano at age three, Jeanne Arland Peterson did not take a formal lesson until she was 15 shortly before she had her first paying gig. From then on, her career as a pianist/vocalist was on star trajectory, her approach heavily influenced by the great Art Tatum and Oscar Peterson. She spent 22 years performing on WCCO radio as well as around town on club stages and in recording studios. She was the organist for the Minnesota Twins from 1969-71, and built a resume that included work with Perry Como, Bob Hope, Dianne Carroll, Sonny Stitt, Roy Eldridge, Bud Shank, and George Benson. Two Minnesota governors, Rudy Perpich and Arne Carlson, declared days in her honor. Additionally, Jeanne was the first woman to receive the prestigious Arts Midwest Jazz Masters Award for excellence in jazz musicianship (1977) and one of only two women in the Minnesota Music Hall of Fame (along with Judy Garland).
Almost as amazing as her 70 year career in music is Jeannes role as head of Minnesotas First Family of Music. She now heads three generations of talented musicians including five musician offspring. Its hard to find a gig or recording in the Twin Cities that does not include at least one Peterson. And Jeanne is not content to sit back and enjoy the talents of her family as she is still gigging and arranging.
JamVox Wins Best in Show - Available Now at Music Connection
Winner of the 2008 Summer NAMM "Best of Show" award, JamVOX has finally shipped and Music Connection is an authorized dealer of this amazing new product.

JamVOX, VOX Amplification's first-ever software product, allows users to import their MP3/iTunes library or their favorite CD tracks, and, by utilizing the proprietary GXT Guitar XTracktionTM technology, guitarists can extract or "solo" guitar parts or reduce and essentially "mute" guitar parts from any prerecorded track. Using JamVOX's recording capabilities, guitarists can record their own guitar performances over their favorite tracks. more info
For The Eighth Stunning Year In A Row, Yamaha's Disklavier Prevails As 'Dealer's Choice' Product Of The Year
BUENA PARK, Calif. For an historic eighth consecutive year, the Yamaha Disklavier piano has taken top honors as "Product of the Year" in the Musical Merchandise Review (MMR) "Dealer's Choice" Awards. The remarkable performance-reproducing instrument finished ahead of 33 other products that received votes in the highly competitive category. Yamaha acoustic pianos are often awarded "Acoustic Piano Line of the Year" honors and the company's P Series and CP Stage Series instruments consistently are named as "Pro Digital Keyboard Line of the Year."
Music Connection is the newest Line 6 Dealer in the USA.
We are stocking the best selection of these innovative products. Stop in and hear what Line 6 can do for 'Your Sound". more info
KARE TV Channel 11 features piano from Music Connection
KARE TV Channel 11 in the Twin Cities has chosen a Yamaha C3 from The Music Connection for their in- studio piano. This Conservatory Model will be used on many live shows that feature local and national artists.

Yamaha has appointed Music Connection as the Exclusive Yamaha Piano Dealer for Minnesota! For over 100 years, Yamaha pianos have been valued for their artistry, quality, and craftsmanship. Since 1981 Music Connection has served Minnesota Musicians, Music Educators, and Students. Music Connection can now offer the Best-Selling Pianos in the World, as well as brass, woodwinds, strings, guitars, drums, keyboards, and professional audio.
Yamaha Provides Piano Gear to American Idol
MPC7 and PC7 Grand Supports Contestant's Quest for Stardom on TV's Most Popular Show MPC7 and PC7 Grand Supports Contestant's Quest for Stardom on TV's Most Popular Show more info
Just Arrived! S Series Pianos - The Complete Yamaha Concert Collection!
We now have the complete line of Yamaha Concert Collection Grand Pianos in stock. Including the : C7, S4, S6 and CFIIIS ! Stop in to experience some of the finest handcrafted pianos on the planet at one of the largest Yamaha pianos displays in the USA. more info
Music Connection is the Official Yamaha Piano Supplier for the Suzuki Association of The Americas National Conference May 23-26th.
SAA's 13th Conference, Expanding the Vision, will be held in Minneapolis, MN and Music Connection is proud to help make it a success by being the official Yamaha Piano supplier.

The Suzuki Association of the Americas (SAA) is a coalition of teachers, parents, educators, and others who are interested in making music education available to all children.

The Pianos used for this 4 day national conference will be available at special Yamaha Factory Authorized Educational Pricing at our Edina Location.

These include:
7 Yamaha Grands
5 Yamaha Studio Verticals
2 Yamaha Digitals
All With Full Factory Warranty!

View the SAA Conference Schedule

INCREDIBLE SAVINGS ON COLLEGE LOAN PIANOS
SAVE THOUSANDS ON COLLEGE LOAN PIANOS - STILL AVAILABLE
Numerous exceptional piano values are still available from the University & College Loan Program Sales. These loan program pianos from Yamaha have been professionally maintained and represent many one of a kind exceptional values. A Yamaha new owner 10 year warranty will be included with these college program pianos. You can schedule an appointment to view and purchase your piano by calling (866)920-5397. Yamaha Grand and Vertical Pianos, Yamaha Digital Pianos and interactive Disklavier Player Pianos are included. Financing & moving available. All major credit cards accepted. Don't miss out... schedule your appointment today before they are gone!
The Stratocaster® of the future is here.
After a 10-year research and design partnership with music technology pioneer Roland Corporation, Fender is proud to unveil the first modeling instrument worthy of being called a Strat. The revolutionary new Fender VG Stratocaster offers guitarists instant alternate tunings, a selection of dead-on electric guitar models, acoustic and 12-string guitar sounds, and more all with the turn of a knob. No special outboard gear, cables, or accessories required.

This breakthrough instrument means that guitarists no longer have to drag multiple guitars to a gig to get the right sound for each song, or make audiences suffer through mid-set delays while they re-tune instruments or adjust amp settings. In the studio, the VG Stratocaster is equally advantageous, letting guitarists whip through a collection of breathtaking guitar tones without breaking a sweat.

But just as importantly, the Fender VG Stratocaster is at its heart a rock-solid U.S.-made American Series Strat, with all the innate signature tone and feel for which the instrument is so revered. So guitarists can simply pick it up, plug it in, and play.

The Idea Behind the Innovation: Wouldn't it be nice to flip a switch on a Stratocaster and, all of a sudden, be in an alternate tuning? Wouldn't it be nice to turn a knob on its pickguard and suddenly have a clear acoustic guitar sound, the roar of a humbucking pickup, the signature snap of a Telecaster guitar and the lush fullness of a 12-string?

That was the idea behind the VG Strat: a single, incredibly versatile instrument that delivers 37 serious Fender Stratocaster, Telecaster, humbucking, 12-string and acoustic sounds, plus five alternate tunings, all at the simple flip of a switch or the twist of a knoband all in the gracefully familiar form of the Stratocaster.

"We felt strongly that keeping the instrument simple was the way to go," said Justin Norvell, Senior Marketing Manager for Fender. "Usually, the more functionality you add, the more complicated an instrument becomes. So we kept the VG Stratocaster pared down to the essentials, making it easy to pick up and play. After all, playing a Fender Strat shouldn't require the study of a phone-book-sized owner's manual".

The VG Stratocaster features that classic sleek, contoured body shape, three American Series single-coil pickups with five-position switching, a maple neck with a maple or rosewood fingerboard, a synchronized tremolo bridge, a three-ply parchment pickguard and chrome hardware. In other words it's a Strat in every sense of the word, with all the magic intact.

But two additional knobs on the VG Strat's pickguardplus a small LED and an inconspicuous Roland GK bridge pickupbring with them some new magic. These two knobs, a Mode Control knob and a Tuning Function knob, serve up incredible and seemingly limitless new sonic possibilities.

The Mode Control knob governs five distinct modeling modes: Normal, Modeled Stratocaster, Telecaster, Humbucking Pickups and Acoustic. In the "Normal" mode, the guitar's three single-coil pickups bypass the VG circuit, for a straight Stratocaster guitar sound.

The Tuning Function knob lets guitarists choose among five alternate tunings (Normal, Drop D, Open G, D Modal, Baritone) and a 12-string sound. And since guitarists don't have to turn a single tuning key, a major benefit of all these instant tuning changes is that the string tension remains the same and the guitar itself feels the same.

Even better, the VG Stratocaster delivers level, balanced tone and volume across all these remarkable functions, so that guitarists needn't continually readjust amp settings with each change in guitar sound.

For more information, call or stop by the Music Connection