recital piano usage

[Delwin D Fandrich]

----- Original Message -----
From: <afriend@alfleck.com>
To: <caut@ptg.org>
Sent: August 08, 2000 8:24 AM
Subject: recital piano usage


> Hi,
>
> I wonder what Horowitz would have said to limiting *his* practise time on
an instrument he was going to perform on. *evil grin*. Far too often
organizations end up serving the "staff" rather than the clients. The
student is the paying client, the rest of the infrastructure is there to
support the client. Replacing/repairing pianos is part of the cost of that
support, instead of limiting access, push for increased budgets so that the
clients can be better served.

-------------------------------------------------------

I expect that any university having a student with the international
reputation and money drawing capacity (for the university, of course) of a
Horowitz will have no problem providing any piano that student may desire
for practice.

In the real world, however, resources are limited.  Most of the music
departments I've worked with over the years simply did not have the large
pianos available for each student to have access to on an unlimited basis.
Pianos wear out with use.  It costs a measurable amount of money each time
any given piano is played.

If this becomes a real issue with an individual student, one can always
point out that most other serious music students provide their own
instruments -- many of which will cost close to that of a decent piano.

And, of course, you're right.  Music department budgets are nearly always
smaller than they should be.  But, until the music fans start making as much
noise as the football fans that is not likely to change.

Del