Foster Family Music Center to Close

After 30 years of serving the Mississippi Valley region, the Foster family will turn their energies towards personal pursuits and close their 8,000 square foot store on December 20. Foster Family Music Center houses one of the largest selections of pianos and sheet music in the state of Iowa. NAMM named this piano specialty store a Top 100 Dealer in 2012 and 2013.

Foster Family Music Center founders Jim and Marilyn Foster, along with their daughter and co-owner Christi Foster Nunnally, said they were unable to find a buyer for the niche business. Beginning the week of November 10, the store will offer discounts of 30 to 60 percent to sell off its inventory of acoustic and digital pianos. The collection includes 30 new and used grand pianos including Yamaha, and many used Steinway family instruments.

The Foster family created and supported a number of events that became Quad City-area talent competition and performance staples.

Independent piano music teacher Lynn Kroeger, Eldridge, says she’s going to feel the effect of the store’s closing. “Whether it’s the Federated Music Teacher’s Annual Baroque Competition, the Clavinova Festival, or the Festival of Trees, the Foster family has actively supported students, teachers, technicians and arts organizations,” she said. “I work with young children in groups and the ability to use the store’s recital hall and equipment at no charge has been great. They’ve done so much for our community and I’m not sure how I’ll handle things moving forward.”  The store has hosted several thousand people annually for piano competitions and performances.

The family introduced a competition featuring students performing live with their electronic compositions on the Yamaha Clavinova piano. Not only has this event been a hit in the Quad Cities, it sparked  similar events throughout the United States and world. The Quad Cities’ 25th Clavinova Festival concluded November 2 in the Galvin Fine Arts Center at St. Ambrose University, Davenport, with 300 persons participating. Yamaha instrument representatives were on hand to honor the Foster family for their contribution.

Piano Celebrations raised $354,000 in the last 12 years for Ronald McDonald House. Collaborating with area piano teachers and technicians through the Piano For a Richer Life organization, the family helped organize this event. More than 500 persons were involved annually in the event and raised funds to benefit the Iowa City charity.

For 17 years the family sponsored Quad-City Music Teacher Association concerts throughout the area. The events featured multiple pianos and hundreds of players performing together under a conductor’s baton – something ordinary piano players never experience.

The store closing is bittersweet for the family. After 44 years in the retail music business, Jim and Marilyn Foster will be retiring to a farm on the north fork of the Maquoketa River in Jackson County Iowa.

"Retiring the business was a difficult decision for me, too. My husband and I have resolved that we want to raise our family without the pressing demands of running a business," said Christi Foster Nunnally.

Jim Foster says he’s seen a lot of change in the industry through the years: “I got my start with a Cedar Rapids music store in the ‘70s. At that time, the industry was selling more than 250,000 pianos a year. Today, that number is less than 35,000 for an acoustic piano. Through the years, our partnerships within the Quad Cities music community have kept Foster Family Music healthy and vibrant. We lament the fact that we’ve been unable to find a successor. We’re closing only because of our new family priorities.

“We opened this store 30 years ago during an economic recession. We had 10 competitors in the Quad Cities. Of those competitors, we were the last piano specialty store remaining,” he said. “The industry may be changing, but there will always be a community dedicated to the piano. There is good evidence that piano students enjoy success in school, have more confidence, and go on to achieve as adults. And all those competitions and concerts we sponsored were important in encouraging students to continue to study and perform.”

The store will offer full services through its closing. Competitive bank financing, factory warranties, and delivery service are available. Private appointments are available by calling 800-367-8372. Store hours are Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The store is located at 2967 State Street in Bettendorf, Iowa.