ABOUT
A B O U T
D A N
Dan Shykind began his music industry career in management for one of the largest piano retailers in the United States where he was quickly promoted to Director of the E-Commerce division, and then to Vice President and Regional Manager, with responsibility for over $15 Million in revenue. Dan further honed his executive management skills as the Director of Retail Operations for a large, iconic chain of wilderness/outdoor outfitters, and finally as an Operations Executive for a $6 Billion dollar retail company before returning to the music industry and starting Downtown Piano Works with his wife Theresa.
Dan is actively involved in the community, having served on the Board of Directors of the Weinberg Center for the Arts, (Secretary and 2nd VP) the Advisory Board of the Frederick Gorilla magazine, the Board of Directors (Treasurer) of New Spire Arts, The Mount Vernon Virtuosi, and the Board of Directors of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra.
A B O U T
T H E R E S A
Theresa Shykind has been involved with music all her life. She earned a Bachelors of Music degree, concentrating in education, and a Masters of Arts in Studio Composition/Engineering. She first sold Yamaha when she began her career as a sales associate for Sam Ash Music in New York City. Theresa went on to teach courses for primary, secondary and college music curriculum, as well as manage a Performing Arts Center and a recording studio. She has been teaching for the past 30 years, and is the former President of the Frederick County Music Teachers Association, as well as the former head of the IB (International Baccalaureate) music program at Baltimore's famed City College High School. Theresa believes that the connection between instrument and artist is a personal one, and loves to match people with particular pianos.
A B O U T Y A M A H A
We are often asked "Why do you choose to only represent Yamaha?". Having worked with all of the major piano manufacturers for the past few decades, we strongly feel that Yamaha makes the best quality, best performing instruments currently available on the market. Whether you are purchasing a concert piano for your performance hall, school or house of worship, purchasing a student piano for teaching, learning and practice or purchasing a digital home piano for recording and integrating technology, Yamaha does it all and no one does it better.
​
We are proud to represent Yamaha and their Kaizen (Japanese for continued improvement) philosophy.
T H E L O C A T I O N
Downtown Piano Works occupies a noted 1800's era building on Frederick's historic Market Street. On October 4th, 1862, during the second year of the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln gave a speech in front of the building.
​
The plaster walls and 15-foot high tray ceilings of our historic building produce excellent acoustics in the store. These acoustics, coupled with the expert tuning, voicing and regulation of our technicians, make for a world-class playing and listening experience.
Additionally, we are fanatics when it comes to the care and preparation of our instruments. We precisely control, monitor and record the temperature and humidity levels of the store to provide the best possible conditions for our (and your) pianos!
At Downtown Piano Works we take pride in offering "exquisite instruments, expert advice." Come hear what people are talking about!
Downtown Piano Works building pictured on left, circa 1862 in Harper's Weekly.
​
President Lincoln pictured on the train.
October 4, 1862
​
FELLOW-CITIZENS: I see myself surrounded by soldiers, and a little further off I note the citizens of this good city of Frederick, anxious to hear something from me. I can only say, as I did five minutes ago, it is not proper for me to make speeches in my present position. I return thanks to our soldiers for the good service they have rendered, for the energies they have shown, the hardships they have endured, and the blood they have so nobly shed for this dear Union of ours; and I also return thanks not only to the soldiers, but to the good citizens of Maryland, and to all the good men and women in this land, for their devotion to our glorious cause. I say this without any malice in my heart to those who have done otherwise. May our children and our children's children to a thousand generations, continue to enjoy the benefits conferred upon us by a united country, and have cause yet to rejoice under those glorious institutions bequeathed us by Washington and his compeers. Now, my friends, soldiers and citizens, I can only say once more, farewell.
​
Annotation
[1] New York Tribune, October 6, 1862. Lincoln spoke to a crowd gathered at the railway station before the departure of his train.