Thanks, Jeff, for putting so succinctly. Wim Quoting Jeff Tanner <jtanner at mozart.sc.edu>: > > On Jan 22, 2007, at 5:06 PM, Willem Blees wrote: > > > That's because we're not in that economic stratus. If we had the > kind > > of money some of these people have, we'd think those items are > right > > up our ally. :) > > > > Wim > > > > Exactly, Wim. > > We must remember that we are the beneficiary of that lifestyle. We > > live on the crumbs of those in that economic status, moreso today > than in years past. Gluttony has always been a pursuit of the > wealthy and the arts are a part of that gluttony. Who else is paying > > to support the high arts? The only reason we are able to exist today > > is because high art is and always has been seen as a part of the > lifestyle of nobility and the upper crust. > > (It's also a pretty dang good tax deduction) > > Face it. Look through the audience at your next school event. Who > > do you see? The wealthy and the students who are required to be > there for class credit. Classical music doesn't exactly appeal to > your average middle and lower income concert goer. 99% of our > concerts are free to the public and we can't even fill the seats. > > For the most part, schools which become All-Steinway schools are not > > buying Steinways with their own money. Steinway dealers go out and > > find donors who can use a tax deduction and that is where much of the > > funding for supplying instruments to colleges is coming from today. > > State governments certainly aren't budgeting for it. > > Steinway's strategy of putting its name on other products and > publishing this magazine is merely to keep its name in front of the > > elite, maintaining its status with potential donors, so that when it > > is time for that donor to fork out that donation for the school of > music, Steinway is the only donation they consider worthy. It is > brilliant, actually. > > Jeff > > > Jeff Tanner, RPT > University of South Carolina > (Bachelor of Business Administration, 1993, University of Georgia) > > > > Willem Blees, RPT Piano Tuner/Technician School of Music University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, AL USA
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