[CAUT] Grand piano size

[Douglas Wood]

It seems to be the big question is why. The actions on the S, M, L,  
and O are identical except for the individual fitting details. The A  
has a different number of bass notes, but it is more important that  
the keys are the same length as the SMLO group. Same feel. So if the  
pianos are there to work on notes and technique, as opposed to  
musical interpretation, the differences are less important.

The musical palette available gets disproportionately larger with the  
piano size. So if the purpose of the instruments is to develop  
musical concepts, then larger pianos are MUCH better. It is much  
easier to bring a fully-developed musical sense from a large piano to  
a small one than vice versa. This is where having access to a well- 
prepared concert grand makes a HUGE difference in the musical  
development of even an accomplished player. In fact, it probably  
makes disproportionately more difference for the accomplished player,  
as he or she will have the technical ability to follow the piano as  
it leads him/her into the larger world of piano tone.

So I would contend that, yes, the O outshines the M any day of the  
week (all else equal-- rarely the case, of course). And the A will  
greatly outshine the O. It is my experience that the A has nearly the  
full palette available, but it is a bit like working on a miniature  
screen. Full resolution, color, etc, but very small. The B is  
glorious, and the D is like the 50-60" HDTV with full home theater.  
The small Steinways, as nice as they are, rarely provide the full  
range of musical character.

Doug


On Oct 22, 2008, at 9:58 AM, VESELY, BLAINE wrote:

> David:
> I guess I never thought of them as practice studios, but practice  
> rooms.  The teaching studios I am thinking of are voice, string,  
> woodwind, brass studios.  Piano studios are set with B’s.  The  
> reason I ask is that a second series of cost cuts have pared down  
> all teaching studios to S’s and M’s where they were O’s and A’s.  I  
> think O’s outshine M’s and S’s.  Looking for additional feedback to  
> shore up my argument in the face of cuts.  Blaine
>
> From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf  
> Of Porritt, David
> Sent: Wednesday, October 22, 2008 10:28 AM
> To: College and University Technicians
> Subject: Re: [CAUT] Grand piano size
>
> Blaine:
>
> Are you thinking teaching studios, practice studios, what kind?   
> Here at SMU we have Bs in the piano teaching studios, Ds in the  
> artist (pianist) in residence studio, Ms, Ls, & 1 B in piano  
> practice rooms (the B is not a good idea in a room that small, but  
> you use what you have).  Voice studios have 3 Bs and a Boston  
> GP163.  Most other studios just have what will fit.
>
> dave
>
> David M. Porritt, RPT
> dporritt at smu.edu
>
> From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf  
> Of VESELY, BLAINE
> Sent: Wednesday, October 22, 2008 8:52 AM
> To: College and University Technicians
> Subject: [CAUT] Grand piano size
>
> List:
> I am inquiring what size grand pianos (specifically Steinways) you  
> would suggest for studios?  Space is only a minimal concern.  Would  
> you put an S or an M in a studio?  Is the model O worth the extra  
> cost?  Why or why not?  What are the merits and demerits(?) of one  
> versus the others?  Thanks, Blaine

Doug Wood
School of Music
University of Washington

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