The California doctor and his wife spent more than a year looking for a grand piano for their three daughters and son.  The couple had a console, but the family’s piano teacher had told them that this instrument was impeding the development of their children’s considerable talents.

“You have a very musical family,” the teacher had said.  “Your daughters and son know how to express themselves through the piano, but their progress is being thwarted by the limitations imposed by your instrument.”

The doctor and his wife had a great deal of respect for their children’s teacher, Shirley Firestone.  A past-president of the Music Teachers Association of California Orange County Branch, and a past Certificate of Merit Chairperson, Shirley had been one of the more active teachers in the state for over 25 years.  So despite their initial hesitancy, the couple heeded Shirley’s advice.

Being careful consumers, the doctor and his wife researched the piano market thoroughly, traveling to different stores to evaluate all of the makes and models available.

Then, long after they began their search, they came across a 6’4” Petrof grand.  Although they were captivated by the sound of the Petrof, the couple wanted Shirley’s opinion of the instrument before they went ahead with the purchase.

“They called me and asked, ‘What do you know about Petrof?’  said Shirley.  “I have to admit that, at the time, Petrof was new here and I wasn’t familiar with it, so I offered to go to the dealership and take a look at the piano.”

Shirley was so impressed by what she saw, she not only recommended that the couple buy the piano, she purchased a 6’4” Petrof grand herself!

“As soon as I heard the Petrof, I wanted one too,” she recalled.  “I already had a grand piano that I liked, but the Petrof was really something special.  It has the touch that I’ve always dreamed about through all my years of teaching:  easy enough to avoid beginner’s broken nail joints, yet firm enough to allow an amazing level of control and expression.  And the Petrof sound-it’s full and rich, without even  a hint of brassiness.”

Today, the Petrof grand occupies a place of honor in Shirley’s studio.  Recently, when two of her young students brought their grandmother, a Swiss concert pianist, to Shirley’s for a visit, the woman exclaimed, “This is the piano I grew up with.  All the artists in Europe love to perform on a Petrof.”

Hearing this praise brought a smile to Shirley’s face.  “I didn’t know about the Petrof Piano’s exhalted position in Europe when I fell in love with it,” she said.  “I just knew it was a wonderful instrument that would bring out the best in my students.”