Hi Dave, I regret that I wasn't at all clear that I was talking more about politics than pianos. I've heard about the fine pianos you maintain at SMU, and I enjoy working on Yamaha pianos myself. Best regards, Charles >Charles: > >I have to ask: Why would a young artist harm his/her career by >associating with Yamaha? I've been trying to think of a reason on >my drive home and I've failed. > >We do have a CFIIIS here at SMU and it is used a lot. I've found it >to be a very nice instrument and is used by many fine players. I'd >drop some names but I don't want to get anyone in trouble with S&S. >I don't know the history of all of Yamaha's concert grands - I know >of the old CF and we have this CFIIIS. I'm not familiar with any in >between. > >Our larger recital hall has a D and this CFIIIS and I tend to prefer >the one that has been regulated and voiced last. Others agree >though a few are the S&S faithful regardless. > >I'm just curious! > >dp > >__________________________ >David M. Porritt, RPT >Meadows School of the Arts >Southern Methodist University >Dallas, TX 75275 >dporritt at smu.edu > >________________________________ > >From: caut-bounces at ptg.org on behalf of Charles K. Ball >Sent: Tue 3/7/2006 1:02 PM >To: College and University Technicians >Subject: Re: [CAUT] The Well-Prepared Piano > > > >Dear Craig, > >Thank you for the post and background info. As best as I could tell, >the only rebuilding the piano has had since you last saw it was some >new Steinway hammers on the original shanks. The stringing looks >pretty good, with no evidence of string breakage, although the pins >are just a bit loose. There is still good bearing, and the ring time >is okay. The action and damper action are another story... > >The fate of this instrument is a familiar one. Either there is no >competent technician nearby to maintain the piano, or, as in Austin, >the organization or business is unable or unwilling to pay the cost >of specialized service. I tell groups like this that purchasing a >Steinway performance piano is a bit like purchasing a high >performance race car that is expected to win races. You wouldn't >take such a car to the mechanic at the corner garage, although that >mechanic may well have many skills that the specialized technician >may not possess. The first order of business is to educate these >organizations, but there are still many obstacles to overcome. > >I understand that the two last Cliburn winners, Olga Kern and Alex >Kobrin, have become Yamaha artists. This is causing quite a stir at >S&S. Apparently Yamaha has a new concert piano that is better than >the CFIII. Have you seen one of these? I feel that these young >artists may be doing some harm to their careers in associating >themselves with Yamaha, but the short term inducements may be >difficult to refuse. In the long term, I feel that they need to >maintain a good relationship with Steinway. Feltsman and Kobrin have >played in El Paso during thie current season, and both made a >justifiable fuss about the piano, which instigated my visit. Kobrin >told the management of the orchestra that they need to get a new >Yamaha, and offered to put them in touch with the president of >Yamaha. Of course, that would not be in their best interest, as most >of their visiting artists will want a good Steinway, but I am sure >that Kobrin wants to ingratiate himself with his new sponsor, and >there may be other inducements as well. > >How are things in Waco? I seldom make it to the PTG meetings these >days, but would love to meet for dinner or lunch sometime when you >are in town and catch up. Many of the pianists at Baylor are UT >graduates, including Bradley, Brian, and Vincent. I am sure that >they are grateful to have you there. > >Best regards, >Charles > >>Hello Charles, >> >>Forgive my intrusion, since you were speaking to Fred. I couldn't help >>responded to your message because I know that instrument, or at least I used >>to when it was new. I was working at the Steinway dealer in Dallas at the > >time (mid to late eighties). I believe I prepped it for delivery and flew >>out there on two occations to tune for visiting artists (Lorin Hollander and >>Horacio Guttierez). >> >>It was a pretty good instrument, but frankly I was horrified by the >>condition it was in. It took me a whole day's work just to make it >>playable. There were, I believe, two principle reasons for this. First of >>all, of course, the radical climatic change from Dallas to El Paso. >>Secondly, the piano was not receiving proper maintenance. I was told at the >>time of my arrival that a local tuner had "tuned it yesterday so it would be >>in shape for my visit." There simply was no one available that was capable >>of maintaining a new concert grand. I know that this is not very >>encouraging news, but thought I'd better throw my two cents in. I think >>that this piano has languished, neglected and uncared for most of its life. >> >>Respectfully, >> >>Craig Waldrop, RPT >>Baylor School of Music >>254.710.1723 >>Craig_Waldrop at baylor.edu >> >> >>On 3/7/06 8:19 AM, "Charles K. Ball" <ckball at mail.utexas.edu> wrote: >> >>> Dear Fred, >>> >>> The photo copy arrived on Friday and I appreciate it very much. >>> >>> I flew out to El Paso last week to take a look at the El Paso >>> Symphony Orchestra's piano. It is a 1985 Steinway D that stands >> > desperately in need of action and damper work. I think that >>> potentially it is a good instrument. It has an ivory Kluge keyboard >>> and was from the brief period when S&S was using Renner shanks and >>> reps in its B's and D's. I think that it might have a Renner >>> backaction as well. >>> >>> Apparently they had just started using Guy Nichols to do their prep. >>> Do you know any other techs in that area who are capable of high >>> level concert work? Their board may decide to purchase a new piano >>> or to rebuild the present one, or both, but whichever option they >>> choose, they will need a good technician to maintain the piano. Is >>> that too far for you to travel? >>> >>> Best regards, >>> Charles >> >> >>_______________________________________________ >>caut list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives > > >-- >Charles Ball, RPT >School of Music >University of Texas at Austin >512-471-0763 >mailto:ckball at mail.utexas.edu >_______________________________________________ >caut list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives > > > >_______________________________________________ >caut list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives -- Charles K. Ball, RPT School of Music The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX 78712 512-467-1535 mailto:ckball at mail.utexas.edu
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