You can’t own something called “Hollywood Piano” without dropping names, and co-owner Glenn Treibitz doesn’t disappoint: Justin Bieber just bought his mom a piano there; Captain America (Chris Evans) put his shield down long enough to get himself a set of 88s; and Jay Leno and Stevie Wonder also came away some black and whites (presumably one doing a bit more with the instrument than the other).
Hollywood Piano opened the year after the first talking motion picture, The Jazz Singer, debuted in 1927, and rode a “talkie” wave that allowed them to provide pianos to studios for musical rehearsals and movies (that piano in Casablanca? Here’s lookin’ at you, Hollywood Piano). In addition to celebrities, they report to have served more than 300,000 Southern California families through their 85 years.
In November, they celebrated their anniversary in style, with over 200 guests including celebrities and politicians, like their congressman Adam Schiff and Burbank Mayor Emily Gabel-Luddy. The event was held at their new location in Burbank (they have a showroom/warehouse outlet in Pasadena as well).
Treibitz (president) and his sister Cheryl Fox (vice president) showed off the Irwin & Rhoda Treibitz Memorial Hall, which was designed to be one of the best recital halls of its size in the area and was dedicated to their parents.
It’s About Value
The new location is a state-of-the-art 8,000 square-foot facility selling pianos that Treibitz says gives customers the greatest value possible. “Some of the larger Japanese brands make good pianos, but the value isn’t there any more,” he says. “But some of the premium pianos from China are just the most exceptional value because you can sell them for the wholesale price of those Japanese brands.”
He says one brand they are doing well with is the “new” Baldwin, now manufactured in China. “The Brodmann grands are wonderful, too, and we just sold one to singer/songwriter Tim Miner because he completely fell in love with it. And we carry Estonia pianos, which are one of the best values for European pianos I’ve found.”
Treibitz is bullish on Young Chang products. “The redesigned models by Del Fandrich are impressive, and their Weber pianos do well for us, too.” The store also features digitals by Roland and Casio Privia, along with reconditioned Steinway pianos.
There are celebrating a marriage of sorts as well – Hollywood Sheet Music, formerly on Sunset Blvd., is now part of their facility. “The print music business has been difficult to maintain in these times – even Colony Music in New York City is gone,” Treibitz laments. “So for anyone in L.A. proper looking for a good variety and selection in print music, it’s here. Also, there are more than 50,000 songs that are out of print here, too. This draws cabaret artists who like to come in and look through those, and we’ve had [actor] Jeff Goldblum and other celebrities come in and browse.”
Their new facility sports a high-tech aesthetic and features dozens of flat screen displays, gobos, projections, and sophisticated lighting – the Apple store vibe is not by accident.
The Treibitz Era
There’s another anniversary beyond the store’s 85th – it’s also been 10 years since the siblings purchased Hollywood Piano. It’s not like they are new to the business though, as Treibitz was one of the first “Hammond Organ Piper Boys” at age 10. Outfitted in a green leotard (with matching hat no less), he would perform on the then-revolutionary Hammond Piper Organ to “prove” how easy it was to play. “I was obsessed with pianos and organs, and taunted every local store in New Jersey until I got a job out of it,” he laughs. He sold pianos in college, and would seek his fortune out west in L.A., the plan being to become a film composer. Alas, he landed in L.A. in 1987 right in the middle of the writer’s strike. “I got here at the wrong time!”
He sold pianos around L.A. until his parents helped he and his sister purchase Hollywood Pianos. (Fox is a graduate of the Boston Conservatory of Music and an actor, singer, and dancer.)
The siblings wisely make the most of their star-studded history, and on their website is a list of productions that have featured the store’s pianos, including TV shows like All in the Family, Everybody Loves Raymond, and Will and Grace, and films from Meet Me in St. Louis and Easter Parade to contemporary fare like Austin Powers, Ray, and Spider Man 3. You learn about this in their store, too, which of course has pictures of the stars that have been their customers over the years. They even display the original sign from 1928.
The Music Academy
Along with the focus on the shop’s rich heritage, Treibitz says he aims to be more than nostalgic.
“The entire upper level of our new facility is for our Hollywood Piano Academy of Music, which Cheryl administers. It includes four private practice rooms, a group piano classroom, and a large multi-use room,” he says. “We started the music school because we felt there was a need for ‘Mommy and Me’ classes, Story Time Piano for toddlers, and places for adults and kids in the area to take lessons.” He adds that the academy features the patent pending Andrew Weitz Miracle Piano Course. “My sister never played the piano, and in two lessons she was playing ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’ with both hands and with the pedal.”
While some are skeptical of this segment of the market, Treibitz and Fox are not. “If we didn’t believe in the music industry, we wouldn’t have made the investment,” he states. “We work with the community, the schools, non-profits, and the L.A. Chamber of Commerce to promote music making. Last year we supplied pianos for the ‘Play Me I’m Yours’ street piano project. We’re passionate about pianos, music, and music education.”
