[CAUT] practicing on concert instruments

[David Ilvedson]

How big is the ante room?   

David Ilvedson, RPT
Pacifica, CA  94044

----- Original message ----------------------------------------
From: "Martin Snow" <martinsnowpianos at yahoo.com>
To: caut at ptg.org
Received: 12/3/2009 4:38:50 PM
Subject: [CAUT] practicing on concert instruments


>What I initiated 24 years ago when I started as head tech. at Boston University, 
>was to block out in the Master Schedule for the Concert Hall [our main student recital 
>performance venue]  from 7.30-9.30 am Monday through Friday for ''pianoshop''. 
>This is our time, no dress rehearsals, no nothing. We actually share this  time  block 
>with stage crew, in case they need to   fix risers, change bulbs , get set ups 
>organized for the day. Our ''fleet'' of concert grands which are housed in an ante 
>room with double wide door entry to the stage consists of an American  'D' from the 
>late 1970's,  a Hamburg 'D' same vintage, another Hamburg 'D' from 1987 and a 
>Baldwin SD10 from 1984, AND a Kawai KG2 that is the only permitted instrument for 
>non-traditional piano usage ie. prepared piano. Also in this room are 2 of the 
>harpsichords.  Occasionally we do give up this reserved time for special occasions, or 
>when there is absolutely no time left for dr. reh's. It has
> helped enormously in setting these guidelines to more effectively maintain the 
>concert pianos. The students can schedule a two hour dr. reh. in the Concert Hall 
>prior to their recital.
>Another smaller recital room we  have reserved for one two hour block at the same 
>time every week. The  8 classrooms around the building,  that are used for ear 
>training, ensembles, and  general usage we have reserved  also on a weekly basis. I 
>generally do this right at the very start of the semester,  actually over the summer 
>before anything is booked. Again we don't always need all this time every week, but 
>it's there.


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