Few things could be more indicative of the revival of a recently run-down and moribund suburban high street than the opening of a smart new shop selling pianos costing up to £35,000 and providing a Music Academy to help plug the gaps in musical tuition in the present-day English school system. So when Paul Handley moved his piano shop from Alexandra Park Road to Bowes Park's Myddleton Road last year, he chose the most appropriate name: Renaissance.
Renaissance Men: Paul and Daniel Handley watch as Catherine West MP formally opens the shop in November 2015As a Bowes Park resident himself, Paul was well aware of the changes under way in Myddleton Road and was keen to contribute to the process. So not only has he brought to the street a showroom to act as the shopfront for his business selling new and refurbished upright, baby grand and grand pianos to clients throughout the world, but he has also created a suite of rooms at the back of the shop for music tuition and rehearsal and set up a Music Academy to provide tuition for young and old in piano, voice, music theory, guitar, strings, woodwind and brass instruments.
The piano showroom (note the state-of-the-art phonograph)Paul is himself a well established songwriter and musician (piano and keyboards), as is his son Daniel, who is also involved in the business (see Paul's profile on StarNow and Daniel's on Music Network Pro).
Paul and Daniel also contribute to the local community through their membership of the committee of the We Love Myddleton Road campaign and by organising the music at the quarterly Myddleton Road Market and at local venues, including Mum's Bistro.
Renaissance Music, 81 Myddleton Road, London, N22 8NE
020 3773 1115
www.renaissancemusic.co.uk