Category: Hickies Music Store Posts

At Hickies Music Store, we’re passionate about making music accessible to everyone. We understand that buying a musical instrument can be a significant expense, which is why we’re delighted to offer the Take It Away scheme—a simple and affordable way to help you bring music into your life.

What Is the Take It Away Scheme?

The Take It Away scheme is an initiative funded by Arts Council England and operated by Creative United, a not-for-profit organisation. It provides interest-free loans to individuals looking to purchase musical instruments, equipment, or even tuition. This means you can spread the cost over time without paying any extra.

How Does It Work?

Here’s how you can take advantage of the scheme at Hickies:

1. Visit Our Store – Drop by our shop in Reading and have a browse. Whether you’re interested in guitars, pianos, brass instruments, or something else entirely, we’ve got a wide selection for you to choose from. Our friendly staff are always on hand to offer advice and answer any questions.
2. Choose Your Instrument – Take your time trying out different instruments to find the one that’s right for you. We’re here to help, whether you’re a complete beginner or an experienced musician.
3. Apply for the Scheme – Once you’ve made your choice, let us know you’d like to use the Take It Away scheme. We’ll guide you through a straightforward application process right here in the shop. You’ll need:
   • Proof of ID: Such as a passport or driving licence.
   • Address History: Details of your UK addresses for the past three years.
   • Income Information: Confirmation that you have a gross annual income of at least £5,000.
   • Bank Details: A bank or building society account capable of handling direct debit payments.
   A quick credit check will be carried out, and you’ll need to pay a minimum deposit of 10% of the instrument’s price.
4. Take Your Instrument Home – If your application is approved and the deposit is paid, you can take your new instrument home straight away. Your first monthly payment will usually be due about 30 days after your purchase.

Who Can Apply?

To be eligible for the Take It Away scheme, you need to:

• Be over 18 years old.
• Be a UK resident with at least three years of address history.
• Have a gross annual income of at least £5,000.
• Hold a bank or building society account capable of handling direct debit payments.

The scheme is open to a wide range of people, including students with part-time jobs, those who are self-employed, and individuals who are unemployed but meet the income requirement. You can also use the scheme to purchase an instrument for someone else, such as a child or family member.

Why Use the Take It Away Scheme?

• Interest-Free Loans: Spread the cost over 9 or 18 months without any interest charges.
• Flexible Amounts: Borrow between £100 and £5,000 (some retailers can offer up to £25,000, subject to approval).
• No Early Repayment Fees: If you decide to pay off the loan early, you won’t be penalised.
• Accessible: Designed to make music accessible to people from all walks of life.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I buy a second-hand or reconditioned instrument?

Yes, you can. The scheme covers both new and reconditioned instruments purchased from approved retailers like us.

What if the instrument costs more than the loan limit?

You can use the loan as part-payment towards the instrument’s cost and pay the remaining balance by another method, such as a larger deposit.

Can I use the scheme more than once?

Absolutely. There’s no limit to how many times you can use the scheme. Each application will undergo a separate credit check.

Get Started Today

If you’ve been thinking about getting an instrument but are concerned about the upfront cost, the Take It Away scheme might be just what you need. We’re here to help you make your musical aspirations a reality.

Visit Us

Come and see us at Hickies Music Store in Reading. Our team is ready to assist you in finding the perfect instrument and guiding you through the application process.

About Hickies Music Store

Established in 1864, Hickies is a family-run business dedicated to supporting musicians at every stage of their journey. We believe in the power of music to enrich lives and are committed to making it accessible to all.

Start Your Musical Journey with Us

Don’t let cost hold you back from experiencing the joy of making music. Visit us today and discover how the Take It Away scheme can help you take home the instrument you’ve always wanted.

Have you been playing on a digital piano or acoustic that has seen better days and feel it might be time for an upgrade? If you’re looking for a quality acoustic then a great new deal from Yamaha is now available in-store at Hickies. This blog will give you the scoop on a fantastic new offer that’s just rolled out from Yamaha for their top-tier acoustic piano!

Yamaha is now giving a minimum of £150 contribution when you part-exchange your current digital or acoustic piano towards a new Yamaha b series acoustic. This deal also includes the Silent (SC3) and TransAcoustic (TC3) models of the b series piano too!

What are the requirements?

If you own a cabinet digital piano (this can be any brand), a second-hand acoustic piano (again any brand is fine) or a standard Yamaha b series acoustic (to upgrade to a SC3 or TC3 version), then you’re eligible. This great deal is only around for a limited time and while stocks last. So please come along to Hickies Music Store soon if you are interested. Once you’re in-store we can show you both the Yamaha b series acoustic to demo and give you an exact prices for trading in your old instrument!

Why a Yamaha b Series?

Choosing a Yamaha b Series is all about getting top-notch sound in a sleek, space-saving design. Yamaha doesn’t cut corners; every bit of these pianos, from the soundboard to the keys, is crafted to give you great sound and performance. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, these pianos have got your back. The b1 and b2 are super compact, so they’re perfect for smaller spaces. Plus, with finishes from polished ebony to warm mahogany or even trendy white, they’re sure to look great anywhere. So, if you’re after a solid piano that looks and sounds awesome, the b Series is a brilliant choice.

Now this offer also extends to both the Silent and TransAcoustic models so let us elaborate on these if you’re not familiar:

• Silent Piano: The Yamaha SILENT Piano™ SC3, part of the revered b Series, is an innovative blend of traditional acoustic piano craftsmanship and cutting-edge silencing technology. When activated, its SILENT mode halts the hammers just before they strike the strings, ensuring no sound from the piano itself. Instead, advanced sensors capture your playing dynamics, which are then converted to lifelike digital tones heard exclusively through headphones. This means you get the authenticity of an acoustic piano, but with the freedom to play anytime without disturbing others. Beyond its silent capabilities, the SC3 boasts features like grand expression modeling, virtual resonance modeling, and the esteemed voices of Yamaha and Bösendorfer grand pianos, truly making it a standout in both performance and versatility. Whether you’re practicing in solitude or performing for an audience, the SC3 promises the best of both worlds.
• TransAcoustic Piano: Yamaha’s TransAcoustic™ TC3 piano seamlessly melds the rich, evocative sounds of an acoustic piano with cutting-edge technology, offering players an unparalleled auditory experience. At its core, the TransAcoustic™ system utilizes the piano’s soundboard to amplify and project digital tones, without the need for traditional speakers. This innovative technology harnesses a transducer to transform digital sounds into vibrations, resonating throughout the entire piano. Notably, this system can reproduce the sonorous tones of two world-renowned concert grand pianos, the Yamaha CFX and the Bösendorfer Imperial, captured with precise binaural sampling. Beyond its acoustic capabilities, the TC3 is a marvel of modern tech with Bluetooth® audio playback, recording functions, a dedicated app for intuitive operations, and a rich palette of additional instrument sounds. Whether played at full volume or in quiet mode with headphones, the TransAcoustic™ TC3 offers a real acoustic performance, tailored for any environment.

Try the b series in Hickies Music Store!

So there you have it folks! A golden opportunity to upgrade your piano to a quality acoustic with Yamaha’s brilliant new deal. The b Series combines the best of traditional craftsmanship and modern innovation! And remember, with a minimum0f £150 contribution when you part-exchange now’s is a great time to upgrade. Just pop by Hickies Music Store to try these pianos, ask us any questions you might have, and then simply upgrade with us taking care of all the rest in-store!

Cheers, from Hickies Music Team.

Hello, piano enthusiasts! We have some exciting news for you today. Yamaha, a name synonymous with quality musical instruments, has unveiled their new Clavinova CLP 735 series, and it’s a game-changer. This new series packs some amazing upgrades and stunning features, perfect for both the seasoned pianist and the budding musician.

At the heart of the CLP 735 are the sounds of two world-renowned grand pianos, the Yamaha CFX and the Bösendorfer Imperial, each with their unique tonal colors and nuances. The Yamaha CFX is a full-sized concert grand piano known for its wide palette of tonal colors and the ability to create the most subtle expressive nuances. It can even project over the sound of a symphony orchestra, even in very large halls! On the other hand, the Bösendorfer Imperial Grand is the legendary 97-key piano with the largest soundboard of any piano. Its rich history of artist endorsements range from Bartók and Debussy to Tori Amos and Oscar Peterson. With the CLP 735, you can have the majesty of these grand pianos, worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, right at your fingertips.

The new series offers some stunning upgrades including Grand Expression Modeling, Virtual Resonance Modeling, and a new GrandTouch-S keyboard. These features are a fancy way of saying that the CLP 735 feels and sounds more like a grand piano than all previous generations. Grand Expression Modeling and Virtual Resonance Modeling add the richness and tonal quality to the high-definition sound of the instrument. Virtual Resonance Modeling, in particular, calculates the various states of strings for each of the 88 notes on the keyboard, from one instant to the next, and the timing and depth of the damper pedals pressed. This technology allows for vivid, bright, richly-varied expression that reflects the limitless number of factors inherent in piano performance.

Touch is just as important as tone and sound, and Yamaha has brought the authentic grand piano touch to the CLP 735. The series features a GH3X action for an authentic touch. It simulates the heavier hammers in the bass section and gets lighter towards the treble section, just like a grand piano. The three-sensor configuration senses and interprets the key depth and force with which each note is played, giving you the natural feedback you would find on a concert grand piano.

But that’s not all. The CLP 735 also offers the benefit of smooth release. Yamaha’s Smooth Release technology provides a finely-nuanced response to the pianist’s playing, offering the crisp tone heard when playing staccato, as well as the lingering sound produced by releasing the keys more.

One of the major advantages of the Clavinova series is the lack of maintenance. Unlike traditional acoustic pianos, which may require regular tuning and upkeep, the Clavinova series stays in perfect tune, saving you a significant amount of money over the years. The touch remains consistent, the sound in perfect tune, and the functions in perfect order for decades to come.

And for those moments when you want to practice without disturbing anyone or being disturbed by the noise of the house, the CLP 735 offers the ability to practice silently with headphones. Yamaha uses Binaural sampling, a sophisticated recording technique using a special combination of microphones, to reproduce the sound of an acoustic piano to the human ear through headphones. It provides a truly immersive experience, allowing you to lose yourself in the music

Here’s a summary of the key features and benefits of the Yamaha Clavinova CLP 735:

1. Grand Expression Modeling and Virtual Resonance Modeling: These technologies emulate the subtle nuances and intricacies of a grand piano’s sound, making the digital piano feel and sound more like a grand piano than all previous generations.
2. GrandTouch-S keyboard: It has synthetic ivory and ebony key surfaces that provide a realistic touch and feel similar to a grand piano.
3. Graded Hammer 3X Action: The touch response of the keys is designed to simulate the heavier hammers in the bass section and get lighter towards the treble section, just like a grand piano. The three-sensor configuration senses and interprets the key depth and force with which each note is played, providing natural feedback similar to a concert grand piano.
4. Smooth Release Technology: The piano offers expressive sound that responds to the player’s touch, from staccato to legato. It features Yamaha Smooth Release technology, which provides a finely-nuanced response to the pianist’s playing.
5. Yamaha CFX and Bösendorfer Imperial grand piano samples: The Clavinova CLP 735 incorporates samples from two renowned grand pianos – the Yamaha CFX Concert Grand Piano and the Bösendorfer Imperial Concert Grand Piano, both of which are known for their distinct tonal colors and expressive nuances.
6. No Maintenance: Unlike acoustic pianos, digital pianos like the Clavinova CLP 735 require minimal maintenance. This means you’ll save money over time because there’s no need for regular tuning, and the sound remains consistent and in perfect tune for decades.
7. Silent Practice with Headphones: The digital piano allows for silent practice through headphones. This feature is particularly useful if you live with other people or in an apartment setting where noise can be a concern. Yamaha uses Binaural sampling, which uses a special combination of microphones to reproduce the sound of an acoustic piano to the human ear through headphones.
8. Other features: The Yamaha Clavinova CLP 735 includes other useful features such as LCD Display, 36 voices, 16 track – 250 song recorder, 3 pedals (Soft, sostenuto, and damper with half damper effect), drum rhythms and metronome for timing, USB and Midi for computer connectivity, and compatibility with Yamaha apps.

In conclusion, the Yamaha Clavinova CLP 735 is an instrument that offers an immersive, high-quality, and sophisticated piano-playing experience. It embodies the blend of tradition and technology, offering the feel and sound of renowned grand pianos, like the Yamaha CFX and the Bösendorfer Imperial. Its impressive array of features, such as Virtual Resonance Modeling, Grand Expression Modeling, and the GH3X action, enables this digital piano to reproduce the subtle nuances of an acoustic piano in extraordinary detail. This extends to the unique character of each note, the expression of your playing style, and the atmospheric resonance that fills a room.