Nordstrom bids farewell to in-store piano players

Most people pay scant attention to the lilting elevator music that wafts through most department stores. Intended to be soothing, unobtrusive and barely there, the music functions more or less as aural wallpaper. One of the big exceptions has been Nordstrom, the high-end department store that has traditionally employed piano players to perform live for shoppers — a modest touch of class in a world of soulless muzak.

But Nordstrom has been gradually cutting back on its in-store pianists in recent years. The Nordstrom store at Brea recently laid off many if not all of its piano players — an in-store manager declined to comment — while the store at South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa also has terminated a number of people from its musical team.  Some newer Nordstrom stores lack pianos altogether. Last year, the Orange County Register reported that the new Nordstrom at Fashion Island in Newport Beach opened without a piano.

Ron Kobayashi, who was a pianist at the Nordstrom at South Coast Plaza and Brea, said in an email that he was laid off from both locations after more than 20 years of service. He said that he was called into a meeting this week and was given the boot with no notice.

"The piano is one of the things that sets Norstrom apart. To get rid of that branding is baffling," he said by phone.

Stephan Haager, a pianist at the Brea store for nearly 20 years, said that all of the pianists at his location were laid off as part of a staff reduction. "It's such a small price that they pay," he said. "They're not thinking about their brand name."

Nordstrom has traditionally hired its pianists part time, with many performing one or two days a week. The repertoire is varied, but pianists tend to perform a mix of jazz, Broadway tunes and pop.

Joaquin Nunez, a manager at the Nordstrom at South Coast Plaza, said that the reduction in piano players at his location was a practical matter. He said that the company operates in a decentralized way and that it is up to individual stores to decide whether to employ pianists.

The Nordstrom at South Coast Plaza continues to employ pianists, but they will appear mainly for special occasions.

A spokesman for Nordstrom said in a statement that the company has "learned that most customers like the energy and environment that a more contemporary, recorded music offering helps create."

The spokesman also said the company is "not getting rid of pianos in our stores completely, but the fact is that most of our stores across the country don't feature a piano... We’re really sorry if some of these changes may disappoint some of our customers."

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— David Ng

Photo (top): A Nordstrom store in the Los Angeles area. Credit: Associated Press.

Photo credit (bottom): Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times.

Comments

[Onboard skeptic]

I wonder if this has also happened with the piano at the Glendale Galleria. I once serviced it when I just happened to be there(so it was great timing). But if these pianos aren't maintained on some kind of basis, it's not doing any real justice to the players anyway.

[Ramo]

As a classical musician and a Nordstrom shopper, this is very sad news! I always loved seeing and hearing live piano players in their stores - so classy and chic!

[Michael]

Fry's Electronics still has them, but the player is not human, fitting for an electronics superstore.

[Anna]

That's a shame. I'm surprised they didn't replace the musicians with piano-playing robots.

[Nova Yos Galen]

What a pity. I usually take a moment from shopping to listen to the piano being played. It added a touch of class to the experience of shopping at Nordstroms.

[malsings07]

I've always wanted to just start singing with the pianist I wonder what Nordstom what do?

[FJLinSoCal]

What a crock! Nordstrom sales are up 5.1% last month and increased its revenue 10%. This is just greed from the money grubbers at the top. I never ever heard anyone say, the piano is nice, but I prefer muzak.

[Sc]

Nordstom's is going through very tough times.

If and when the company can recover, hopefully they will bring back the music.

[Frances]

What a shame. Recorded music is no comparison to live music, no matter what your musical taste is. I often saw customers interacting with the pianists. You can't do that with muzak. Such sad news.

[Marley]

Et tu, Nordstrom? The piano player is one of the things that sets them apart from the other department stores.

[disbelief]

I don't even usually like classical music, but I love hearing a live piano player at Nordstrom when I shop. It sets the chain apart. I won't say I'll stop shopping there, but this is certainly disappointing.

[BigJImSlade]

I for one will never darken the doors of Nordstrom until the piano players return.

If I want to shop at Target, I will shop at Target.

[John F. Boehme, Jr.]

A spokesman for Nordstrom said in a statement that the company has "learned that most customers like the energy and environment that a more contemporary, recorded music offering helps create."

So let's make sure we blend in with the "ambience" over at Target.

[dgabbard]

I believe the Macy Plaza mall in downtown L.A. still has a piano player during lunch hours.

[Solstice1221]

@ Onboard skeptic: The Glendale Galleria Nordstrom replaced their piano player with a player piano years ago. But even that piano sits derelict and unappreciated at times as evidenced by all the worn marks and careless scratches left by customers.

[Hot-Rod]

This is a sad sign of the times. Nordstroms isn't expending that much money to differentiate themselves from the competition. The music was pleasing to shoppers. It is a horrible decision.

[spoon]

Nordstrom is taking a cue from Walmart.

[Ucvbn Bjfyuvs]

Maybe the can get a homeless guy with a guitar. Customers could toss coins into his guitar case.

[tony]

How disappointing but proof positive that Nordstrom (and Macy's) have no soul.
Oh how I miss Bullocks Wilshire and I. Magnin.

[Craig]

It's really a shame that Nordtrom's marketing people do not recognize the piano players set their store apart from every other brand like Saks, and Boomingdales. The piano players make for a nice respite from the hustle of the shopping mall and I regularly sit with my daughter to listen and watch the magic of live piano.