ABOUT US
We believe in music! And playing the piano is an incredible musical experience. Having the right piano to play will ensure that your experience is even more fun and fulfilling. Whether you are looking for a piano for your home, school, or church, we can provide expert advice to help you select the perfect instrument. We are proud to be Central and Southern Illinois’ only dealer for Yamaha Grand and Upright Pianos, Disklavier™ Interactive Player Pianos, Clavinova™ Digital Pianos, Yamaha Silent Pianos and the Yamaha Hybrid Piano collection. We also have in stock Yamaha Portable Keyboards and Digital Pianos and a wide variety of affordable pre-owned pianos that have been gone over by our technicians, starting at less than $1000. Pick the store most convenient for you and let us help you find the instrument of your dreams.
HISTORY
PIANO NETWORK of ILLINOIS
Back in July of 1959, a young Larry Waldhoff left the family farm for work after graduating from Teutopolis High School when he was only 16. He was advised by his high school band director (Larry Uptmor) that Samuel Music may be hiring. Larry interviewed with Lowell Samuel and a life-long career in the music business began. Larry credits Lowell Samuel as being his mentor for the training and knowledge received throughout the years to operate a successful music business.
Several years passed. And in 1965, Larry became general manager of Samuel Music. He helped develop Samuel Music into a fantastic full line retail music operation in Central/Southern Illinois with six music divisions - Piano, Guitar, Band, Church Organ, Finance, and Service. In 1994, he assisted Samuel Music in acquiring the Byerly Music stores in Peoria and LaSalle/Peru, followed by the Byerly Music stores in Springfield, Decatur, and Champaign in 1995. In 1993, Matt Waldhoff had joined Samuel Music part time while majoring in Business at EIU. He assisted with distribution, warehousing, and off-site keyboard sales. In 1996, he became a full time keyboard sales associate in the Champaign location. In 1998 he accepted the store manager position in Springfield, IL and moved there.
ALONG COMES 2001
Everything changes as the saying goes, and in 2001, LML Enterprises, Ltd purchased the Allen Organ Church Division from Samuel Music. The new company, formed by Larry and Matt Waldhoff, was called WWW.CHURCHORGANNETWORK.COM, and it was to service 52 counties in Central and Southern IL. In addition to the new company, Larry and Matt continued to assist Universities, Colleges, Churches from south of I-80 in Illinois through Southern Illinois, representing Samuel Music with Yamaha Pianos and Clavinovas.
EXPANSION IN 2004
In 2004, WWW.CHURCHORGANNETWORK.COM was asked by Allen Organ to represent them in additional territory. Fifteen counties in Southwest Indiana, and nine counties in Northern Kentucky were added. This was great news. It required additional talent. Dennis Carr in the Evansville, IN area, Don Bauer in the Peoria, IL area, and Al Murphy in the Springfield, IL area were added. Effingham was the central hub for the Il region; and by opening a showroom/office in Evansville, all areas could be serviced.
JUMP TO 2012
Yamaha was looking for a qualified dealer to represent Yamaha Keyboard Products in the Peoria, Il market. Church Organ Network worked with Yamaha to finalize the franchise agreement. Thus, Piano Network of Peoria was formed and opened its doors June 1st, 2012. Piano Network of Peoria represents the full line of Yamaha Piano, Digital Piano, and Keyboard products for the 14 counties surrounding Peoria, IL (Warren, McDonough, Fulton, Tazewell, McLean, Livingston, Woodford, Marshall, Knox, Stark, Putnam, LaSalle, Bureau, and Peoria counties).
Effective June 1st, 2012 Matt Waldhoff accepted the position with LML Enterprises to market, sell, install, train, and service the operations of Church Organ Network; representing Allen Digital Organs in 74 counties (Central/Southern IL, Southwest IN, and Northern KY, and Piano Network of Peoria (representing Yamaha Pianos & Clavinovas in the 14 counties listed above).
MORE EXPANSION in 2013
Samuel Music, rich with music history, ceased operations of their retail operations in June of 2013. That provided the opportunity for further expansion for Piano Network. Yamaha Piano again was looking for a partner to represent them to the market formerly serviced by Samuel Music. So fast forward…The Piano Network opened additional locations in Effingham, IL and Springfield, IL. Along with the piano expansion, Capital City Music (www.LearnBand.com) was opened in Springfield IL to cater to the guitar and band instrument enthusiasts. With that, the Springfield location became a full line store with many instruments to choose from. Lessons are also offered for piano, guitar, bass, drums, voice, violin, brass, and woodwinds. In 2014 Capital City Music partnered with Kidder Music from Peoria to provide quality band instrument rental service in the Springfield region. Kidder Music was chosen because of their high standards, years in business, top band franchises, and proven great customer service. The Springfield location now offers full band instrument and violin/viola/cello rentals. Repair service is also offered. Capital City’s bi-weekly trips to the Kidder Music Repair Center offers an easy way for Springfield area customers to keep their instruments playing.
NEW IN 2015 - Champaign Store
The Piano Network of Illinois has found another new home located in the Round Barn Center in Champaign. It also carries all of the Yamaha Piano, Digital Piano, and Keyboard products along with Allen Church Organs serving the C-U market as well as the surrounding area.
2016 ADDED MORE GROWTH
Capital City Music in Springfield IL now represents the Fender Guitar and Amp line, the Jackson Guitar Line, as well as the Martin Acoustic Guitar line. This adds more choices to our ever expanding product showcase. Customers can now browse through Fender, Epiphone (Gibson), Martin Guitars, Taylor Guitars, Jackson Guitars, Yamaha Product Lines, Peavey Products, Orange Products, and a huge assortment of cables, pics, stings, band instrument accessories, violin/cello supplies, and a large selection of music books and popular sheet music.
2020 - A LITTLE BIT MORE
Capital City Music attended the January NAMM 2020 industry Tradeshow in Anaheim, CA and picked up the "Jackson", "Charvel" and 'Gretsch" Guitar lines. These extra franchise lines compliment the great selection all ready housed in the store. Additionally, The building Piano Network operates from in Effingham IL, has become under company control. This will help to ensure continued operations for a LONG DISTANT FUTURE!
2023 - MORE TO TELL
In Piano Network we moved our Peoria location to a new place very close to the older spot. We are now very close to Avanti's off of Sterling Ave. The place looks great, and with reduced overhead we can help our customers save some on their new purchases.
In Capital City Music (Springfield, IL), we keep on trucking picking up some new lines and adding more selection. There is a great selection of Sound Gear, Guitars, Amps, Keyboards, Band Instruments, and Print Music. We have a great guitar pedal section, tons of accessories (strings, cables, parts, tuners, picks,... you name it, we probably have it!
Our Current product lines include - Yamaha - Peavey - Fender - Martin - Breedlove - Charvelle - Jackson - Epiphone (by Gibson) - Orange - Gretsch - and many brands of Accessories - Stop in!.....We seem to get new gear in each week!
And today…
The Piano Network of Illinois, Church Organ Network of IL-IN-KY and Capital City Music look forward to assisting you, and adding more to this story!
