[CAUT] endangered European piano- newspaper article

[Wigent, Donald E, Jr]

A Men brother. 
Don 

-----Original Message-----
From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of
Elwood Doss
Sent: Wednesday, April 30, 2008 1:26 PM
To: College and University Technicians
Subject: Re: [CAUT] endangered European piano- newspaper article

As the Asian market takes over more of the piano production, the workers
will demand more income and a more lavish lifestyle.  That will continue
to raise the price of overseas pianos.  The energy crisis will make it
more expensive to ship overseas pianos to the US.  All of this will
cause the piano manufacturers to move their operations back to the US.
The electronic keyboards will be made more and more cheaply which means
that, instead of having a life of 50 to 100 years, consumers will only
get 5 to 7 years out of one, and the cost of repair will be prohibitive,
let alone trying to get parts for them, and the consumer will continue
to purchase new and used pianos.  The cost of purchasing a keyboard that
has the same touch as an acoustic piano will continue to go up and be
comparable to a used upright so the consumer will opt for the instrument
that will last the longest...I could go on....
Is the acoustic piano doomed?  Not on your life!
Joy!
Elwood

Elwood Doss, Jr., M.M.E., RPT
Piano Technician/Technical Director
Department of Music
145 Fine Arts Building
The University of Tennessee at Martin
Martin, TN  38238
731/881-1852
FAX: 731/881-7415
HOME: 731/587-5700

-----Original Message-----
From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of
Richard Brekne
Sent: Wednesday, April 30, 2008 1:07 PM
To: caut at ptg.org
Subject: [CAUT] endangered european piano- newspaper article

It is as I have said many a time... the acoustic piano is doomed. Sooner

or later the public market will not be large enough to be able to 
support the industry.... and factories will close.  The public... too 
huge a majority will opt for cheaper and, to their ears.... just as good

an option be it the cheaply made asian instruments or later on in our 
immediate future inexpensive, highly versatile, portable and maintenance

free electronics.  The piano industry... and the acoustic industry as a 
whole will be reduced to what is left of the Harpsichord industry 
today.... if that much.

Its a Brave New World out there folks... few seem to be very much aware 
of whats just around the next corner.  You think the Matrix movies were 
all that far fetched ??? Think again, and ponder the consequences.

Cheers
RicB