Richard,
I haven't done this during intermission, but I have done it just before the concert when the artist said he would have prefered the piano a little bit brighter, and I knew a pass with a warm hammer would make a difference. This slight change did nothing to harm the hammers.
The artist spoke well of me to the department head, who was a former student. The department head has since sent me $20K in action work referrals, and the school continues to hire me for their recital pianos as they are laying off other people.
My reputation and business (since I am self-employed) depend on the good will of people who play the pianos I prepare. I enjoy solving piano problems. That is my profession.
People who can play difficult music in front of audiences have skills I cannot approach or comprehend. They are the ones who create the demand for my work, and as long as they don't ask me to harm the piano, I will do the best to deliver what they ask.
There was a time when I felt differently. I learned fast enough to save my job and career. I am comfortable with my attitude. Each of us must find the approach to our work that makes us happy.
Kissen is another performer who has a reputation of practicing to the last minute. Has anyone been able to correct him? Perhaps part of this story is a warning to to do the best we can to keep performance pianos in tolerable condition at all times. I would prefer trying to change the situation over trying to correct the attitude of the artist.
Best regards,
Ed
----- Original Message -----
From: rwest1 at unl.edu
To: Ed Sutton ; caut at ptg.org
Sent: Wednesday, March 03, 2010 10:30 AM
Subject: Re: [CAUT] Warning to you hosting the Van Cliburn gold medalist
I strenuously object to this. It's pandering to pianists who should know better. If the piano is well prepped and well maintained, there may be a few minor voicing adjustments the day of the concert, but nothing like trying to brighten everything up at intermission. That's ludicrous. A visiting artist may have his own overall voicing preferences, but in a university situation, it's the local pianists that set the rules. A well prepped piano will always fall within a range of concert acceptability, depending on the DNA of the piano. Most visiting artists understand that and adapt. It's part of being a concert professional who doesn't transport her own piano. We need to stand up for our profession.
Or maybe I misunderstood your remark, Ed. I should be laughing and shaking my head, right?
Richard West
On Mar 3, 2010, at 8:30 AM, Ed Sutton wrote:
How about a quick pass with a hammer iron?
There are often floor outlets on stage.
es
----- Original Message -----
From: Porritt, David
To: caut at ptg.org
Sent: Wednesday, March 03, 2010 9:16 AM
Subject: Re: [CAUT] Warning to you hosting the Van Cliburn gold medalist
How can professionals be so ignorant of their chosen instrument? Next time you take your car in to get the oil changed, ask them if they can add about 50 horsepower to it while you wait.
dp
David M. Porritt, RPT
dporritt at smu.edu
From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Paul T Williams
Sent: Tuesday, March 02, 2010 9:26 PM
To: caut at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [CAUT] Warning to you hosting the Van Cliburn gold medalist
Funny thing was..he very seriously asked me at intermission, "could you please make it a bit brighter?" I had to hold my howling laughter inside and said, "if you could please come back next Tuesday and play I can make it happen!" :>)
From: "David Love" <davidlovepianos at comcast.net>
To: <caut at ptg.org>
Date: 03/02/2010 08:48 PM
Subject: Re: [CAUT] Warning to you hosting the Van Cliburn gold medalist
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
What’s the matter, you can’t tune a newly strung D in 20 minutes J. Complain, complain. Welcome to the club. In those situations I always very politely go to the pianist (after they’ve played awhile and can tell if it needs tuning) and say something to the effect of “I need about x amount of time with the piano before the doors open at 7:00. If you find that it’s fine the way it is then please practice as long as you like but if not then I’ll need to get on it by x:xx. I’m sorry but I was expecting you a bit earlier.”
The thought that the piano will go untuned before the concert usually convinces them that if they don’t know the piece by now and extra 30 minutes of practicing probably won’t help.
David Love
www.davidlovepianos.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
To: caut at ptg.org
From: pwilliams4 at unlnotes.unl.edu
Date: Tue, 2 Mar 2010 18:18:11 -0600
Subject: [CAUT] Warning to you hosting the Van Cliburn gold medalist
Hi all,
Tonight, the Van Cliburn gold medalist is playing. He blew off the afternoon practice and showed up at 4:30 instead of 3:30 to warm up. He is supposed to go until 6:30 with a half hour to tune before the doors open at 7pm.
I'm not a happy camper. He gets what he gets!! a two hour program with many major pieces each half. I will have the great opportunity to tune during the intermission. (a joke). This piano has just been freshly restrung and is not stable at all.
Why do so many great pianists have no @#$% clue about their instrument?? for any of you hosting Mr. Khang, please tell him something resembling a clue on piano prep time. I was caught totally off guard on this one.
Can you tell I'm pissed off??
Paul
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://ptg.org/pipermail/caut.php/attachments/20100303/e0a91505/attachment-0001.htm>
This PTG archive page provided courtesy of Moy Piano Service, LLC