I agree whole-heartedly with Newton, who as usual says it best! The most serious confrontation of my 30+ years in this career came with the chair of our piano faculty over a similar issue. In this case, we did have a designated piano (ancient Knabe concert grand) for 'alternative performance practices'. The chair of the piano faculty wanted to use instead the primary S&S 'D' "just this once" since she was to be the pianist, and it was a significant ensemble performance, etc. I said, "No," and we had previously arranged that these calls were mine to make. I said that if she insisted on overriding my call, I would reluctantly resign my responsibility for enforcing the Piano Use Policy from that point forward. (This was a responsibility she was loathe to resume.) In the end, the winning consideration was that her example, in either using the 'designated piano' or the Steinway, would have far-reaching consequences. We had about 55 piano majors at that time, and it was assumed that nearly all of them would be in attendance for this particular performance. To her, the prospect of, say 10%, of them wanting to use the Steinway for alternative performance practices was most unwelcome. A few days after our initial very heated confrontation over this issue, we met by chance in the mailroom. She gave me a warm hug of apology and our relationship was wonderfully collegial from that day until the end of my career there. She had been very impressed by the sincerity and tenacity of my concern for the pianos under my care (and her use). The well-being of the pianos in your care should be your concern, and may be your responsibility. Be professional and assertive on this, but try not to loose your cool as I almost did! - Tom McNeil - Vermont Piano Restorations In a message dated 99-03-05 18:47:58 EST, Newton wrote: << Tell the department chair about the potential damage to the instrument and ask him to require the artist to be responsible for any such. I did that once, the artist wanted to put tacks in the hammers. I hit the roof and the chair agreed with me and suggest they rent their own piano for such abuse. I HATE this kind of shit. Newton >>
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