Piano sale benefits UNLV music program

Pauline Bell

Monday, June 2, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

Between 85 and 100 used pianos were sold by Southern Nevada Music and Yamaha Corp. at UNLV over the weekend with the event indirectly benefiting the school's music department.

Eighteen of the pianos, together worth about $300,000, had been on loan to the UNLV music department for one year by Yamaha as part of a nationwide program developed by the manufacturer in response to severe budget cuts at colleges nationwide.

"They are donated to us for one year and then sold as used pianos," said Paul Kreider, chairman of the music department.

The proceeds go to Yamaha, which then donates a new batch of pianos to UNLV for use next year, he explained.

UNLV doesn't own the pianos, doesn't get any money from the sale but does get the free use of new pianos every year and does provide display space for the sale, he said.

"It's a way for them (Yamaha) to advertise that certain schools of music are using their equipment and it's easier for them to sell a piano with a year's proven quality on it," Kreider said.

The program also gives musicians and aspiring musicians exposure to the Yamaha product, he acknowledged.

Yamaha and other piano manufacturers offer this same program to a number of colleges across the country, Kreider said.