Piano Master International

 

 

Cissy Lim playing the piano, and Cissy with Jason Tan, her colleague.

The little advertisement in the Classified caught my attention. A second hand piano at $100/-. Yamaha and Kawai brands? Wow! It's too good to be true. "Perhaps it's a sales gimmick. When you go there they will tell you that all the $100 pianos have been sold out, and then they will coax you to buy some other expensive models", I thought to myself.

Nevertheless, I still rang the number, as I always believe in giving others the benefit of a doubt.

"The $100/- Yamaha models are all sold out", replied the voice on the other end.

Just as I thought! Caught you!

"However, we still have two more of the Kawai models". Mm.... this company is not so bad after all.

I took the MRT to Paya Lebar, and just as I was wondering where Block 1016 was, I saw a red banner with the word "PIANO" displayed at Piano Master - The Piano specialists. Even the visually impaired could not miss the banner!

I was greeted by a friendly lady, Cissy Lim. I tried all the pianos and was surprised that the baby grand pianos, Wendl & Lung, are priced quite reasonably at $7,500/-. It was very tempting to buy a baby grand, but if I were to do so, half my living room would disappear! I should settle for a simple upright piano.

I noticed one upright with beautiful grains of wood. The brand name - Schulze Pollman.It costs $1,800/-. I did not like the sound at all. Cissy explained that the owner traded in his piano because he too did not like the sound. A new Schulze Pollman costs $10,000/-! Cissy explained to me that it is the company's policy to buy trade in pianos so that their customers could take up the new pianos. Since the company already makes some profit from the new piano, they often do not make from the used pianos. They often sell at cost, and sometimes, even below cost. For example, the $100/- models were actually traded in at higher prices of three to four hundred dollars.

To my surprise, the $100/- Kawai model produces fantastic sound. The touch was also just right for me. I told Cissy I would take the $100/- Kawai model. Cissy did not even try to coax me to buy the other more expensive models. To my surprise, she complimented me on my sharp hearing! Cissy told me that she was amazed at my ability to detect the various sound quality in her pianos. I was over the moon! For the first time, I realised that I am actually quite musical after all. I always consider myself to be the least musical in the family. I don't have very sharp hearing and only play the piano and violin. Whereas my other siblings all play more than five instruments. I guess I have to be musical since papa himself was very musical, being a self taught musician who could play over 20 instruments! Papa's genes must have rubbed a little on me after all!

Cissy also played some jazz and popular pieces for me. I asked her if she is allowed to play the piano if there were no customers, and she replied in the affirmative. Wow! When my legs are too wobbly for me to run around as an agent, I will apply for work in a piano shop. This way, I would have the chance to play the piano and at the same time, try out many different models!

Cissy owns an antique piano. She showed me a book featuring antique pianos found in Europe. Wow, they are really beautiful with lots of intricate carvings.

Hence, you can imagine how light hearted I was when I took the MRT back to my office. I sms to my colleagues about my $100/- piano and they too, found it incredible! "Just like you, Choo, you are such a bargain hunter. We'll look forward to good food and great music when we go for your housewarming!" Aveline replied.

Music makes my world go round! Thank you God for restoring my hearing! My world is all the more colorful because of M - U - S - I - C!

Gan Chau