Keyboard Magazine...

[Ted Simmons]

Hi Kent,
Keyboards are O.K. if they would only stick to that name.  Around here they
are called pianos, with no distinction between electric or acoustic. The
store I used to tune for no longer sells acoustic pianos, only Yamaha
Clavinovas.  The only pianos they sell are those which were traded in for a
Clavinova.  I had a long discussion (almost an argument) with the dealer
about calling the Clavinova a piano.  Why do they call it a piano when it
could just as well be called an organ?  It's really closer to an organ
because of all the stops, bells, and whistles,  But they call them pianos!
I would like to see Yamaha and other keyboard makers stop this nonsense
and advise their dealers to call them electric keyboards, not pianos!

When I was tuning for this store and a customer came in to buy a piano,
they were steered over to the Clavinova section to "pianos" that "never
needed tuning".  That was the sales pitch they used and I resented it, but
what could I do?  I wanted to tell the customer that 5 years from now his
electric keyboard will be obsolete, but an acoustic piano will just be
broken in and ready to go for 50 more years at least.  But I was doing work
for that store and to complain would have been considered sour grapes and
would have invited giggles from the sales people.  They didn't care what
the customer bought as long as they got their commission.

When I enter a home and see a nice grand piano in the living room I think
nice things.  It's a pleasant experience.  A spindly-legged keyboard
doesn't give me the same warm feeling.  But notice how they are making them
look like grand pianos now!  What a farce!

O.K.  I'll get off my soapbox.  I feel better now.

Ted Simmons, Merritt Island, FL


>The piano is 300 years old and is mature, fully developed.  Electronic
>instruments are closer to just 30 years old and still in their initial
>stages of development.  The various manufacturers of electronic
>instruments have a big incentive to advertise their lastest innovations
>if they are to survive the cut.
>
>I think the staff of Keyboard loves the piano.  Regular contributors Andy
>LaVerne and Fred Hersch are associated with the piano.  The feature
>article this month on Top Music of '97 includes many recordings of piano
>music, including that of the young rocker, Ben Folds, who insists on
>playing a real piano. (Or at least, he was still insisting on a real
>piano when I tuned for him during the Lollapalooza [sp?] tour last year.)
>
>I think the piano is holding its own fairly well.
>
>Kent Swafford