This year, Metro State's Music Department received a welcome shipment—two, stunning grand pianos from the Yamaha Corporation.

On loan for two years, the instruments, Yamaha C7s, are typically used for concertizing and international piano competitions, but at Metro will be used for classes, lessons and student practice sessions. Yamaha selected Metro State as one of a handful of locations nationwide as a test site to see how the pianos perform under heavy use and in an arid climate.

Outfitted with temperature and humidity recording devices, the pianos will stay at Metro for two years and then returned to Japan where the company will analyze the data and condition of the instruments so as to improve future design.

"This is a great honor," says Tamara Goldstein, assistant professor of music-piano and artist-in-residence at Metro. "And we get to use these gorgeous pianos. We feel very privileged that they chose Metro State."