(Ben and Abby Larson with classical pianist, Josh Wright)

Nearly twelve years ago, my husband and I had our first date in February of the year 2000.  I would later learn that the girl he took out the night before our first date, and for many months prior to that night, had just sealed her fate and closed the door to any future relationship, by making this well-intentioned, yet horribly stated pronouncement of her affection to my future husband, “I like you soooo much… that I would marry you “EVEN THOUGH” you are a piano technician!”  Ouch!

How mistaken, misguided, misled and misinformed this Miss-foot-in-her-mouth was.  I was of the opposite camp and was instantly intrigued, inspired and interested in discovering the world of a piano technician, even attempting to contribute where I was able to help.  Who knew where we were headed or if the bills would ever get paid.  Yet I did know that to be a piano technician took artistic skill, passion, drive, discipline, vision, mastery, talent, initiative and dedication.  I knew I couldn’t go wrong with a man exhibiting those traits, matched with the confidence to be his own boss and to start his own business.

Our first date was at a piano and fittingly, our Friday night dates now are also gathered around a piano as we host our community for our weekly concert series at our piano store.  We launched our concert series last year with guest artist, Josh Wright, a classical pianist who debuted at #1 on the classical billboard charts.  It was a surreal moment, an unforgettable life milestone as he began to play that night to a packed venue of friends, family and strangers, all gathered around the piano to celebrate the beauty and soul inspiring depth of rich music.

His first song was How Great Thou Art.  As I swayed to the music in the back corner, rocking my baby, I thanked God, “Indeed, How Great Though Art and how blessed we have been!  Thank You-Thank You for all of this!”  I looked over the crowd and saw my other children in the front row absorbing the inspiration just feet in front of them.  Then I closed my eyes and let the moment soak in.  I basked in gratitude as the instrumental piano played, the words of that great hymn ran through my mind as a background to the mental slide show of heaven sent blessings running across the panorama of my mind, reviewing the journey of the past decade.  These passing images were a quick review of the blessings of being married to a piano technician; our beautiful self-employed life, working together as a team to achieve the American dream and build something from scratch, our recently expanded business and new piano store, our children immersed in music, the satisfaction of promoting the arts in the community, involving our children in our piano charity to gift free pianos to struggling families, customers thanking my husband for making music come alive in their homes again, and the joy of raising our children in concert, gathered around pianos!

All of this, “even though” I married a “piano technician”.

“The highest form of marriage

is when husband and wife

engage in a mission higher than themselves

and invite children to join them.”

Well… I think it’s working and we’re having so much fun doing it together as a family!!  So we started the concert series to “Promote the arts in Utah”, however, it’s also to promote the arts to our children.

Ben, our 9 year old, has always refused to prepare for a solo recital (memorizing 10 songs to perform himself as a solo concert),  We haven’t made him or forced him in this direction as his siblings have done their solo recitals and received their trophies from Mrs. Norman.  He just always sits in the back like he’s bored out of his mind and not interested… BUT THEN…. after attending the Josh Wright Soiree at our store and meeting Josh afterward… Ben says this, “I want to do a concert like Josh.  You know, where I play on the big piano and I get to stand up and talk in between each song to tell about why I chose it or why I like it, or listen to this one part because…”   He has since typed up his own list of 8 songs to perform plus 2 of his own compositions and is excited to perform at “Daddy’s Store“.  It worked!!  A little inspiration goes a long way!  Bring your kids to an event and share the joy of music with them.  We have some really inspiring artists lined up.  If you haven’t been to one of our concerts yet, request by e-mail a set of free tickets and we’ll hook you up as a VIP guest for your first outing to Brigham’s Concert Series!  While you’re at it, you can enter to win a free piano!

-Karmel

Here’s a slide show of all of our guests who came to our grand opening!  It was truly a delight to be in the company of so many of our close family, friends and loyal clients.  We were especially thrilled to be surprised by Basillios Strmec, President of Hailun USA who flew in for the occasion.  Thanks everyone for making it such a grand success!

Occasionally, Brigham will have a late work night to finish up a project to meet a deadline.  On one such night, Brigham Jr. wanted to be with his dad the whole time.  He wouldn’t give up and go to bed despite his exhaustion.  Finally, he just curled up in his spider man blanket and decided he’d sleep right next to dad….  The moment begged for photography.   Our little Briggy likes to tell everyone that it is “his” piano shop because he is “Brigham” and it’s “Brigham’s” Piano Shop.  We don’t argue with him!

Here is Brigham 8 years ago with our first son, Ben, who is now 9.  This was shot while he was restringing his first complete restoration job.  Back then the piano shop was our garage.  Below are some links to resources we use when doing rebuilding projects.

Call Brigham for a bid 801-830-0011 on restoring your piano.

Moving:

We use a variety of local and national piano movers depending upon the required move.  Some of those movers are:

Steve Ostler: local

Restringing:
Bass strings Arledge music wire in Nashville, TN www.pianostrings.com
Felts, tuning pins, and coil wire Schaff Piano Supply in Lake Zurich, IL www.schaffpiano.com

Action:
Hammers www.abel-pianoparts.de/content.php?sprache=2
Boring, shanks, butts, whippens, damper levers, damper blocks and felts in Clawson, MI www.pianoteksupply.com

Soundboard and plate:
Premier Refinishing in Lindon, UT www.preimerpianorefinish.com

Keys:
key tops, sharps, and rebushing Kreger piano service in Faribault, MN www.kregerpiano.com

Pinblock:
Les Pianos Andre Bolduc in Montreal, Canada www.pianobolduc.com

Nickel plating:
Swain plating in Provo, UT www.swainplating.com

Check them out!

Here’s a blast from the past… filing piano keys with a sleeping baby 7 years ago in our first piano shop (garage), helping to restore a grand.  We’ve come a long way since then and now have more kids, more pianos, more shop space and we’re having a lot of fun!  Today’s birthday party was at the shop helping this morning while another baby (Joshie) was sleeping.

Here is the video of Abby and Brigham’s recent duet.

Happy Valentine’s Day from Brigham & Karmel Larson, Brigham’s Piano Shop

PS-Our first date was partially spent side by side on a piano bench.  How could I not have married him when I heard how well he played.  Happy Valentine’s Day!