[CAUT] FW: Concert hall pianos

[David Skolnik]

Jim -
Kent beat me to the question I also pondered.  Why?  What's the 
reason tor the policy? It seems very much to the point.  All the 
rational arguments you might muster are useless if the motivation for 
the policy is irrational.  The other missing components from your 
presentation are the voices of the other constituents.  What do the 
faculty think about this?  Can they be allies? This is clearly not 
something that you can affect all by yourself.
Finally, if the issue is giving piano students access to a concert 
instrument to familiarize themselves with the concept, why not 
dedicate an instrument for that purpose?  Not a wreck, mind you.  The 
kind of instrument they might encounter in their professional careers.

David Skolnik
Hastings on Hudson, NY

At 08:22 AM 12/4/2009, you wrote:
>All,
>
>This from Kent Webb was an interesting blend of "restraint" and 
>"compromise". Very well-put. Thought you all might like to read it. 
>Note paragraph 3, Kent looks to the "why"; reasons for this being 
>prompted in the first place.
>
>Thanks to all who responded. I think I have enough "fuel" now. It 
>should help, or get me fired...
>
>Jim Busby
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Webb, Kent [mailto:KWebb at steinway.com]
>Sent: Friday, December 04, 2009 5:03 AM
>To: Jim Busby
>Subject: RE: Concert hall pianos
>
>Hello Jim,
>
>I agree that to "open the door" to anyone for practice on the 
>concert instruments will certainly compromise the performance with 
>these instruments unless the maintenance schedule is adjusted 
>accordingly to ensure the the performance standards are maintained. 
>Plus, the wear and tear on the instruments will create a need for 
>more frequent parts replacement and repairs.
>
>I would think that perhaps a reasonable compromise can be met - 
>perhaps with allowing only the serious performance majors controlled 
>access to the instruments. A criteria could be developed that would 
>qualify the students that would have access to the pianos. Sign-in 
>sheets could be used but these sheets would need to be approved by a 
>person that would have the authority and ownership of the schedule 
>and this person would be responsible for ensuring the system is not misused.
>
>I suspect that there was some issue that was brought before 
>Administration that prompted the School of Music Director to 
>consider a change in the access to the instruments and this change 
>in access to the instruments is a proposed way to address the issue. 
>If that is the case, there needs to be a review of what the problem 
>is, who is affected, and a full exploration of possible solutions. 
>(For example, are there more students requesting practice time than 
>existing practice studios can accommodate? Have students expressed a 
>desire to have access to the concert instruments due to issues in 
>the practice rooms? Have students complained that there is 
>insufficient rehearsal time to get to know the instruments? )
>
>Within reason, I think that controlled continual access to 
>performance instruments is a significant benefit to the serious 
>performance majors and I can understand their desire and the desire 
>of the SoM Director to consider this. It just needs to be formatted 
>with all the other factors such as maintenance, instrument storage, 
>hall access, and other "support issues" to ensure that the 
>instruments deliver as expected for their PRIMARY PURPOSE which is 
>the deliver the best tone and touch for each performance.
>
>Hope this helps.
>Kent
>
>Kent Webb
>Manager, Technical Service and Support
>Steinway & Sons
>New York