Practicing on a not so good piano: was RE: tax deductions?

[Richard Brekne]

David Love wrote:

> I would say that the idea that practicing on a not so great piano 
> makes you a better pianist is at least counterintuitive, at most, pure 
> BS. Much of learning and refining piano skills has to do with 
> developing your sense of hearing and connecting what your hands do to 
> what your ears hear. It is not, afterall, the same as learning to 
> type. The poorer the piano, the more you learn to not listen, to 
> ignore what you hear and therefore surrender control over what you are 
> trying to accomplish musically. Wondering whether the mechanical 
> problems you are encountering in executing a difficult passage belong 
> to your fingers or the action can only serve to confuse the issue more 
> and force you into some bad habits with respect to relaxation that 
> will not serve your technique or tone production at all. And as far as 
> advocating poorer pianos for our adult piano students to improve their 
> technique…well that would be counterproductive.
>
I certainly dont think its wise to advocate playing on <<poor pianos>>. 
But beyond that (whatever that as yet not precisely defined term is) I 
would have to dissagree entirely with the above. Playing on pianos with 
varying degrees and types of response is a reality all pianists must 
face. Indeed, given the widely varying types of action configurations 
espoused by respected technicians around the world it would seem to me a 
very wise thing indeed to be very well familiarized with how to approach 
that diversity.

> Remember, critical thinking is a privilege, not a right. You have to 
> earn it.
>
I'd rather say its a skill one simply needs to devope.

> David Love
> davidlovepianos@comcast.net
>

RicB