[CAUT] Practicing on concert hall pianos piano

[Avery Todd]

Jim,


Sorry for the length but I just felt like I needed to explain a few things
“along the way”, so to speak. <grin> If you want to use any of this, please
feel free to edit as you see fit.


After reading all the responses to your question, I noticed that most are
“allowed” 1 hr. practice time before a recital. When I was at University of
Houston, the students were allowed a 2-hr. practice time (once) and almost
always, the instructor was with them to give last minute coaching. That time
was booked at the same time the recital itself was booked. Exceptions
happened but not too often. If time was available, Master & DMA students
might be allowed a second time, especially if the recital involved a chamber
group, which I believe DMA piano performance majors were required to do.
Maybe the Master students, also. I can’t remember for sure.



UH had a recital hall and the main performance hall. We also had a “Choral
Performance Hall” which was used fairly extensively, especially for
non-piano recitals. We had 2 D’s in each major hall with a B in the Choral
Hall. With few exceptions, all student recitals were given in the smaller
two recital halls. Faculty and large groups used the main hall, again with
few exceptions. One exception was when a student (usually a DMA) was
performing a concerto with orchestra. The recital hall stage isn’t very
large, so there’s no choice.



One advantage it seems I had there was that I could book my own tuning times
on the computer scheduling program we used. I did that before the semester
even started and the general rule (mostly honored) was that no one could
usurp or change my 2-hr. block without my permission. That gave me time to
do any quick voicing, replace a broken string if necessary, etc. It was also
nice to have that when the recital included a concerto using two pianos.



The 5 piano faculty we had all also had a 2-hr. block in the hall for their
studio classes, one instructor each day. My tuning time was immediately
after that. Nothing was allowed then except for warm-up for the recital! We
had a fairly heavy performance schedule, with such frequent tunings that
many times I didn’t have to do more than a “touch-up”. They tended to get
pretty stable. After our move into a new music bldg, we still had to share
the hall with the art dept. in the AM for their large classes, so rarely was
there any piano use then.


 Most weekends were pretty heavily booked so I usually did my tuning(s) in
the early AM. Recitals were booked 2 hours apart, so I usually did nothing
else that day. Sunday recitals were only booked starting at noon. It made
for a lot of weekend work but at least it was early and the rest of the day
was mine.


On Mon, Feb 23, 2009 at 6:01 PM, Jim Busby <jim_busby at byu.edu> wrote:

>  All,
>
>
>
> I know we have had this on the list before, but what policy do you have
> concerning students practicing on concert hall instruments? Here is ours;
>
>
>
> -          Students are allowed only one rehearsal prior to their recital,
> and then only if time/schedule allows.
>
> -          Students cannot practice w/o their teacher being present.
>
>
>
> Does this sound unreasonable? Does excessive practicing wear out the piano,
> or make it more difficult to keep in the best condition? Mind you, we have
> had up to 19 concerts in one week. What would you consider excessive,
> considering the rigorous concert schedule that the pianos must already
> endure?
>
>
>
> Thank you!
>
>
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Jim Busby BYU
>
>
>
> P.S. You can guess why I’m writing.  We’re being pressed to allow students
> to play more than our “policy” allows. Please do let me quote your short, to
> the point comments, as well as your policies to our piano faculty. You may
> quote me on the above.
>
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