← Steinway.com ← Boston Pianos ← In the News ← Fall/Winter 2008 Boston Newsletter
Abundance of talent
The Rev. and Mrs. Martin Jones recognized the importance of a high-quality piano for their son, Preston.
When asked by his father if he would like to play the piano, 9-year-old Preston Jones, being the special son he is, replied, “I’ll give it a shot.” Now, three and a half years later, the 12-year-old has shown such promise that his parents decided to invest in a Steinway-designed Boston grand for him.
“Preston loves that Boston,” chuckles his proud father, the Rev. Martin Jones, pastor of New Life Church in Arkadelphia, Ark. And Preston echoes his father’s sentiment when he chimes in, “I just love playing it!”
Preston began taking lessons from a student at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, but once she graduated and left the area, he was without a teacher.
That, however, wouldn’t keep him from the joy of playing. He took the initiative, continuing to play on his own … learning chords, improvising and playing by ear while watching and listening to other musicians.
It wasn’t long before Preston asked to audition for keyboard player in church.
“Everyone should think their kid’s special,” his father says with obvious pride, while admitting he wasn’t sure Preston played well enough for the church assignment.
However, since trying out at a rehearsal – which went “remarkably well” – Preston has been playing with the church’s musicians every Sunday morning since.
Such dedication made his parents decide that Preston needed a quality instrument to play at home. Their research led them to Colaianni Piano in Little Rock, Ark., the exclusive dealer for the family of Steinway-designed pianos in Arkansas. In turn, the Joneses selected a 5-foot-10-inch Boston grand piano (GP-178), because they recognized the importance of having a high-quality piano.
“Most kids need something to motivate them,” Rev. Jones says, “but not Preston. He’s highly motivated, and having a quality piano has helped him. It’s given him a sense of pride.”
Preston is back on track with his classical-music training, having been accepted for lessons by Susan Monroe, a piano teacher at Ouachita University. “His ear and memory are phenomenal,” she says, “and he is really ahead in his conceptual thinking.”
His father couldn’t agree more. “His rate of progress has increased dramatically since getting his Boston piano,” Rev. Jones says, adding that Preston’s recent performance of a “jazzed up” version of I’m Gonna Praise the Lord received a standing ovation.
“He has an abundance of talent, loves to perform and is not intimidated by an audience,” Rev. Jones adds.
Playing by ear trained Preston to immediately hear the difference in the Boston’s sound, which he called “crisp.” Fact is, he loves everything about the grand piano.
But piano isn’t Preston’s only forte. He also plays drums at Sunday-evening worship services, sitting in for his older brother, Jeremy, who switches to bass.
And while he also spends time playing baseball, basketball and golf, his mother, Jana, keeps him balanced.
As for the future, Preston thinks he’d like to be a pastor who plays sports on the side, but plans to keep his musical skills, too. He especially likes to play old hymns, naming The Old Rugged Cross and Amazing Grace among his favorites.
“What impresses people about Preston is that he obviously enjoys performing,” says his father. “He loves the Lord and he loves to play praise and worship music… especially on his Boston piano.”