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BAC K TO S C H O O L / M U S I C & DAN C E ŵ SU PPLE M E NT TO TH E W I N N I PE G F R E E PR E SS ŵ SAT U R DAY, AU G U ST 17, 2013 5 OACsomeconditionapply.AvailableonlyatSt.John'sMusic 1330PORTAGEAVENUE (204)783-8899 RENT A PRE-OWNED PIANO & BENCH FROM $ 49 95 /MTH LEASE TO OWN AN 88 NOTE YAMAHA STUDENT DIGITAL PIANO $ 68 56 / MTH LEASE TO OWN A YAMAHA CLAVINOVA DIGITAL PIANO $ 99 95 /MTH LEASE TO OWN A YAMAHA UPRIGHT PIANO $ 110 03 /MTH THE ROYAL CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC. PIANOS FIRST CHOICE OF ByWendyKing FortheFreePress W ith its roots planted down deep in Winnipeg, St. John's Music is a company that has grown steadily to where it stands today as the leading supplier to music education programs, teachers and students in Western Canada. This year marks 90 years in business for the company, started by the Douglas family in 1923 on Main Street in the neighbourhood known as St. John's. It's changed hands since then, but you could easily find more than 90 years of combined sales and musical experience right in the Portage Avenue store. "We are a very passionate group and we are all musicians in the store. Fifteen years is not a long period of time for our staff to remain with us," says store manager John Balsillie, himself a 20- year veteran of the firm. That's experience parents can count on when it comes to choosing the right instrument for their child, whether it's an acoustic piano for traditional piano lessons or something a little "brassier" for the school band. In fact, it's that experience and enthusiasm that was behind an innovative idea developed by St. John's in the late '70s to help school band teachers get students into their programs. "The company has been very successful at getting kids involved in music. We started a program where the band teacher would go to the Grade 5 class in the spring and introduce all the instruments. We supplied all the instruments and the people to help them out with that," Balsillie says. "It's no coincidence that school bands have flourished in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta, where St. John's presence has been very strong." Once the student has settled on an instrument, St. John's can provide rental, repair and even in-store financing for leasing instruments. "The relationships with our customers are long-term," Balsillie says. With its distinctive piano mural on the Portage Avenue storefront, the company is housed in the building that was Yamaha's first headquarters in Canada. Balsillie says St. John's is proud to be associated with the brand, a company that has become the world leader in pianos, band instruments, various electronics and drums. General Manager Keith Brenneman is looking to a bright future, with plans to provide sales and service to early years programs right from the time students start kindergarten. "One of the things that the company wants to stand for is music as a lifestyle choice. And we think it's a great lifestyle choice. It helps to round out a person," Brenneman says. "We want to be the company that supplies the musical equipment for all things educational, right from those classes for age 3 and up, all the way to senior citizens taking up a musical instrument for the first time in their retirement years." PortageAvenuestoremanagerJohnBalsillieandallstorestaffarealsomusicians. PhotobyDarcyFinley

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