[CAUT] Pianos for piano performance majors

[Porritt, David]

Robin:

I think we would have great latitude in the choice of instruments but
frankly the U118 has never been my favorite instrument either.  When I
think of the "All Steinway" designation the feeling I get is a confined,
cramped one.  I couldn't even fantasize about a Shigeru Kawai EX or some
piano that another manufacturer introduces next year because we'd be
contractually obligated to only the instruments of one manufacturer.  I
can't think of a reason to limit our options like that.  I might be a
little dull, but I can't figure out what we'd gain for giving away all
those options.

dp

David M. Porritt
dporritt at smu.edu

-----Original Message-----
From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of
Robin Blankenship
Sent: Thursday, March 30, 2006 6:47 PM
To: College and University Technicians
Subject: Re: [CAUT] Pianos for piano performance majors

David,

Would not your school have some choice in which species of verticals it 
got?? Mine does. It has gotten several Boston UP-118S's over the past
couple 
of years. I, too, held my breath about not being swamped with 1098's.
But, 
when I beheld the new Bostons, I felt positively like..........like
having a 
tea party!!!

Yep,
Robin Blankenship
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Porritt, David" <dporritt at mail.smu.edu>
To: "College and University Technicians" <caut at ptg.org>
Sent: Thursday, March 30, 2006 7:39 PM
Subject: Re: [CAUT] Pianos for piano performance majors


Jim:

I tend to agree with you about the variety but the S'ways do hold up
pretty 
well.  We are a keep-em-and-rebuild-em school.  We have bought 6 new
pianos 
since 2000 but I really encourage rebuilding rather than trading. 
Fortunately the head of piano is the daughter of a piano technician and
she 
is firmly convinced that you get better instruments for less money that
way. 
I certainly agree with her.

Our grand pianos are 75% Steinway.  Steinway Hall is trying to get us to

become an "All Steinway School".  I can't see any benefit in that myself
- 
well, except for only having to keep parts for Steinways.  I certainly
would 
not want to see a truckload of 1098s come in as I don't want to retire
yet 
and I'm sure I would if we had 50 of those!

dp

__________________________
David M. Porritt, RPT
Meadows School of the Arts
Southern Methodist University
Dallas, TX 75275
dporritt at smu.edu

________________________________

From: caut-bounces at ptg.org on behalf of Jim Busby
Sent: Thu 3/30/2006 1:39 PM
To: College and University Technicians
Subject: [CAUT] Pianos for piano performance majors



List,



I've noticed that several of you have practice rooms "locked" or
reserved 
for piano performance majors. Many reserve Steinways for those rooms,
but 
isn't a diversity of brands better? We currently have 6 of these rooms
and 
have the following breakdown;



2 Steinway Ms

1 Yamaha C3

1 M&H A

1 Kawai GS-40

1 Baldwin L



All these kept as optimal as possible.



Any arguments for going all S&S? I'd especially like to hear from those
of 
you who majored in piano performance.



Thanks.



Jim Busby BYU




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