[CAUT] unusual repair

[David Porritt]

From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Willem
Blees who wrote:

This is interesting. I've got 74 pianos, of which about 15 are in 
teacher's rooms who play very little. What could be the factor(s) that 
contribute to more broken strings in one school as opposed to another?

Wim:

Teaching style!  Our piano artist-in-residence emphasizes forte playing.
His reasoning is that your piano means nothing if your forte isn't forte.
If you're going to have a wide dynamic range you have to have a real forte!
You can only play so softly in a recital hall (unless you don't want to be
heard) so your pianissimo is really only piano.  To have some range your
fortissimo has to be fortissississimo.  Playing in that range will break
strings.  He does, his students do.  His students also win competitions and
do well.  I think he and I agree that his job is to teach students to win
competitions and launch successful performing careers and my job is to
repair the damage.  

dave