[CAUT] Grand piano size

Paul T Williams pwilliams4 at unlnotes.unl.edu
Mon Oct 27 14:36:51 MST 2008


Jim,

Do you have pics or contacts?  This sounds like a good thing.  I really 
want to replace some 60's Baldwin R's (too many for all at once,, but one 
or two at a time would be a good thing for the practice rooms.. I think we 
have 4 in practice rooms and a bunch in faculty studios.. and very, very 
poor quality for our fine musicians.) As you know, These pianos are old 
and ( you may not know..) are in need of lots of work mounting to $$$$$$$ 
How much are they? Do you know any dealers in the midwest? I'm really 
tired of the "the C above middle C is stuck" kind of thing which is 
usually the dreaded pencil.  I thought of designing something to make my 
retirement flow, but haven't come up with anything yet ;>). I really like 
Schimmel pianos.  Can they handle the abuse?  In my past self-employment 
days, the customers that owned them were really nice pianos...easy to 
tune. sounded great. etc. Do they offer multiple purchase discounts?

Please expand on these nice instruments for me, my Music Director and 
Business Manager!! 

 
(BTW, Dr Richmond and Michele, I add you to this e-mail as it could be a 
good way to improve our piano inventory!.  I admire and respect this man's 
opinion on great pianos and his expertise.  BYU has, I think over 500 
pianos...(am I right, Jim?) 

You can respond privately, if you wish, Jim, but I think all CAUT's need 
to know!!!

Best,

Paul











Jim Busby <jim_busby at byu.edu> 
Sent by: caut-bounces at ptg.org
10/27/2008 02:18 PM
Please respond to
College and University Technicians <caut at ptg.org>


To
College and University Technicians <caut at ptg.org>
cc

Subject
Re: [CAUT] Grand piano size






All,
 
Last year we bought a Schimmel K-189. WONDERFUL instrument! For much less 
than a Steinway. It is an “institutional” model which has many features, 
like a music desk that goes clear across. This is the biggest selling 
point for me; the keys are as long as their 9’ piano so the player gets 
the feel of a full sized concert grand action. 
 
All in all, I think we counted about 30 things that make it a good choice 
for institutions. For instance, there is a “Pencil catcher” on the 
fallboard so when you tip the fallboard up the pencil can’t go into the 
action, there is a dip on top of the stretcher so pencils, etc, set there 
can’t roll off. Lots of things
 
Jim Busby BYU
 
From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of 
Douglas Wood
Sent: Thursday, October 23, 2008 12:51 PM
To: College and University Technicians
Subject: Re: [CAUT] Grand piano size
 
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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