A Personal Tribute
A Tribute to Colton Piano & Vern Schafer
The man and the company that shaped five decades of my life in music
In 1981, I walked through the doors of Colton Piano & Organ Co. as a young man eager to make his mark. I had no idea that decision would change the entire trajectory of my life. What I found inside those showroom walls was not just a job — it was a masterclass in excellence, discipline, and the art of connecting people with music.
I owe my five decades of success in the piano world to Vernon "Vern" Schafer and the extraordinary institution he built. This page is my small way of honoring his legacy and the legacy of Colton Piano & Organ Co.
Vernon "Vern" Schafer: A Life in Music
Vernon "Vern" Schafer (December 8, 1929 – December 8, 2014) was one of the most remarkable figures in the American music retail industry. Born with an entrepreneurial spirit and a deep love for the piano, he began his career in the family piano-moving business as a teenager — learning the trade from the ground up, one instrument at a time.
In 1955, Vern founded Colton Piano & Organ Co. in Colton, California. What started as a single storefront grew into one of the most prolific regional music retail operations in the United States, with flagship showrooms stretching across Southern California — including the massive Santa Ana location off Dyer Road and the Carson organ showroom.
Vern was more than a businessman. He was a mentor. He helped launch the careers of industry leaders like Dennis James (The Piano Warehouse in San Diego) and Bill Shaw (Desert Pianos in Palm Springs). His Schafer & Sons private label established major manufacturing partnerships with Currier, Kohler & Campbell, Kimball, Schimmel, Samick, and Young Chang. On January 18, 2004, the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) recorded an extensive oral history interview with Vern — a testament to the lasting impact he had on the entire industry.
Vern Schafer passed away on December 8, 2014, at the age of 85 — on his own birthday. He left behind a family, an industry, and thousands of people whose lives he touched through music.
The Training That Changed My Life
When I joined Colton Piano in 1981, I entered one of the most rigorous professional training programs I have ever experienced — before or since. Vern Schafer and his executive team, including the legendary Harry Heiden, treated sales as a precise craft, not a casual retail job.
Product Mastery
We spent weeks learning the exact acoustic specifications, manufacturing origins, and musical attributes of every keyboard line the company carried — from entry-level consoles to high-end grands and organs. You could not step onto the floor until you knew every instrument inside and out.
Motivational Psychology
We studied structured motivational frameworks and classic sales programs — including Joe Weldon's motivational series — to master closing techniques, customer profiling, and the art of overcoming objections with grace and confidence.
Videotaped Role-Playing
New hires were videotaped in intensive role-play sessions. Senior managers critiqued our body language, vocal inflection, closing cadence, and ability to read a customer's needs in real time. You did not step onto a live showroom floor until you were ready.
The Showroom Experience
The Santa Ana flagship maintained an inventory of 60+ grand pianos and 400+ uprights and electronic keyboards simultaneously. Walking into that showroom was an overwhelming, inspiring experience — and we were trained to make every customer feel that same sense of wonder.
What Colton Piano Gave Me
The training I received at Colton Piano did not just teach me how to sell instruments. It taught me how to listen. How to understand what a family truly needs. How to match the right piano to the right student. How to build trust. Those lessons have been the foundation of everything I have done in music for the past five decades.
Harry Heiden oversaw roughly 150 salespeople across 10 regional stores. The culture he and Vern created was one of accountability, excellence, and genuine passion for music. I was proud to be part of that team.
To Vern Schafer, to Harry Heiden, and to everyone at Colton Piano & Organ Co. — thank you. You gave a young man from Southern California the tools, the training, and the inspiration to spend a lifetime bringing music into people's lives. I carry that gift with me every single day.
A Legacy in Milestones
Vern Schafer founds Colton Piano & Organ Co. in Colton, California
Dr. Arthur Scott joins Colton Piano as a sales professional
Peak expansion era — flagship stores across Southern California with 150+ salespeople
NAMM records Vern Schafer's oral history on January 18 — a landmark industry archive
Vernon Schafer passes away on December 8 at age 85, leaving an enduring legacy
A Musical Tribute
In honor of Vernon Schafer and the legacy of Colton Piano & Organ Co.
“The piano is not just an instrument. It is a doorway to a life well lived. Vern Schafer understood that better than anyone I have ever known.”
— Dr. Arthur George Scott