Is this happening anywhere else. Friday I got a letter form the St. Louis Symphony sent by the Executive Director Bruce Coppock. It seems that the Steinway Piano Gallery here is having a special sale in conjunction with the symphony music school for pianos used in the school and others on special sale. This sounds like a normal university sale except that: 1. The symphony is part of a recipient of special tax monies in this area that everyone pays. 2. The symphony has its own music school that competes with private music teacher for the same students. 3. Since when does the St. Louis Symphony have as its official piano the Steinway. They say in the letter, "the same brand of instrument you hear us play in concert". Last I heard Baldwin, Kawai, Yamaha, Petrov, Bosendorfer, and Fazioli were all competing in this market. True most pianists use the Steinway but that doesn't make it "THE OFFICIAL PIANO". Could it be that it is chosen many times cause the Steinways are already there? I am totally against institutions receiving public money and then using part of that money to compete against the private businesses doing the same thing. Same thing with public educational viewer supported television that begs for our money every few months. I watch 'The New Yankee Workshop" as well as 'This Old House" regularly. Before and after each program of viewer supported programs we are subjected to commercials by Builders Square, a travel agency, Porter Cable Tools, Stanley Works, Delta, etc... How can all these institutions get away with this! James Grebe R.P.T. from St. Louis pianoman@inlink.com "Only my best is good enough"
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