[CAUT] recital policy

[Dennis Johnson]

I would say the same situation applies here for the most part also.  The
only thing I might add is that over time basically those involved with each
event have gradually come to expect that it will be my responsibility to
decide exactly what is necessary to provide a satisfying piano, given the
limits of access.  It is often impossible to tune immediately before a large
event as one might expect.

I think my first year also was the only time I went out during intermission
for a faculty recital. If I remember correctly that wasn't even about tuning
but something happened to one of the dampers.  Afterward another faculty
member implied, or suggested that maybe I was asserting myself
inappropriately, or whatever.... "This wasn't my recital."  I could not
believe it, ....but I never did that again.

I do try and at least check pianos being used on the day of, except for
weekend student recitals and ensembles with non-prominent piano use also on
weekends. As much as possible I make sure pitch adjustments are never done
the day of an important piano event, and I think that partly explains why we
are able to have more solid work these days as Kent suggests.  In the past
departments did not have the luxury of that level service.

cheers,

Dennis Johnson
St. Olaf College

_______

On Sun, Mar 28, 2010 at 8:38 PM, Fred Sturm <fssturm at unm.edu> wrote:

> I would echo Kent's comments, all of them. I haven't been on official duty
> at a concert by the music department, ever. I think I touched up at
> intermission once 23 years ago (first year I was there). I tune for all
> faculty and guest recitals, and then If I haven't otherwise tuned each of
> the concert instruments within two weeks, I schedule a tuning for the
> department in general (student recitals). I have no problem with my tunings
> lasting through many concerts - not that unisons couldn't be refined a bit
> every day if I had that much time to spare. (I am on at concerts for other
> venues only when the artist's rider specifically calls for it. George
> WInston and one or two others from time to time).
> Regards,
> Fred Sturm
> fssturm at unm.edu
> "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness." Twain
>
> On Mar 28, 2010, at 12:58 PM, Kent Swafford wrote:
>
> Within the past week, my administrators have confirmed that we do not
> provide concert standby. Generally speaking, we have more than one piano in
> the halls, so if there is a disaster, the worst that would happen would be
> continuing the concert on a different piano. Hasn't happened yet to my
> knowledge.
>
> And by the way, even when I have happened to attend concerts, I have never
> provided touchups at intermission.  My thoughts are that the general level
> of tuning is better than in times past, and our tunings can withstand a day
> or so of playing, within reasonable limits and tolerances.
>
> In his recent article, Robert Weirich remarks on the passing of the one
> recital/one tuning norm. Our halls are simply too busy to tune for every
> recital, too busy to prohibit rehearsals on pianos between the tuning and
> recital. Weirich sees this as a budget issue, but as I mention above, I
> think that our tunings are generally better than they were 40 years ago, so
> we have chosen to forego some tunings in the halls before choosing cuts in
> other areas.
>
>
> Kent
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On Mar 28, 2010, at 12:01 PM, Dr. Henry Nicolaides wrote:
>
> Hi list...I was wondering about policy regarding the piano technician
> presence at/during recitals.  It does not appear that we, at SIU, have a
> written guideline or policy.  I prep and tune before the solo piano recitals
> and tune within a reasonable time (whatever that happens to be and
> considering the use of the piano and recital hall) before accompanied voice
> and instrumental recitals.  Just wondering if anyone was "required" to be
> present during any recitals to be available should the unthinkable happen.
>
> Henry Nicolaides
> Piano Technician, School of Music
> Southern Illinois University
>
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