[CAUT] Unauthorized "prepared pianos"

[Fred Sturm]

Hi Paul,
	The best approach, IMO, is to develop a cordial relationship with  
faculty and students to the extent possible, to let them know your  
interest in making such use of pianos a positive for everyone involved  
(which does include other students and faculty using the same pianos  
in a more traditional manner). In my situation, I more or less DO have  
a veto "power" (that is, the chair would "defer to my judgment" which  
is more or less the same thing). But that only works if I know about  
it and am consulted in advance. And that will only happen if the lines  
of communication are wide open, which really means that the piano  
technician shouldn't be an invisible behind the scenes guy, but  
someone who takes the initiative in developing relationships. I ask  
people what they are up to, and take note of what is on programs. The  
comp faculty know I want to hear if there is inside the piano stuff  
going on, and they know that I will be supportive if no damage will be  
done to the instrument. And, of course, the stage manager is a vital  
ally.
	The student was certainly out of line. Whether or not a faculty  
member was aware is an unknown, but rather than rant and rave, it is  
better to point out damage done and potential damage, and possibly  
suggest different ways of getting the same effect without causing  
damage. I figure we are educators in this situation, and if we don't  
step in and do it, who will? Who can do it better? What happens when  
that student becomes a prof?
	About the visiting guest artist, I'd say he was probably within  
bounds. Ie, not actually having observed it, I would be hard pressed  
to argue against pounding on cheekblock and/or rim with fist. If the  
screw came loose, that is a defect caused by the wood in the  
cheekblock being stripped, not his fault. This kind of percussive  
effect with hand slap or fist is quite common and to be expected. When  
you get to mallets and other implements, that becomes another matter,  
though as long as they are felt or leather covered, I see no  
particular harm.
	It sounds like you already have an alternate, designated piano for  
things that are "pushing the limits" and policy understood by stage  
manager, and that this fell through the cracks - which is bound to  
happen from time to time. At which point, we clean up the spilt milk,  
politely make people aware, and go on about our business.
	In Rochester a couple years ago, Alan Eder showed a great rap video  
he created at Cal Arts, called commUUNicate! I guess it is shown at  
some sort of opening assembly, and makes the point that the piano tech  
wants to hear from you. A great attitude, and a very amusing video.
Regards,
Fred Sturm
University of New Mexico
fssturm at unm.edu



On Apr 12, 2008, at 9:26 AM, Paul T Williams wrote:

>
> Hi List,
>
> In the last two weeks, our best Steinway D has been damaged by  
> unauthorized "prepared" piano use twice!  The first occurrance was  
> three weeks ago during our "Clarifest Day" where a guest artist,  
> without permission started banging on the right cheekblock and side  
> of the rim with his fist.  He pounded so hard it knocked loose the  
> cheek screw and was causing a clicking in the upper regesters.  I  
> was called from home to come down to fix it, and fortunately it was  
> indeed only the loose screw.
>
> The second time was this week; a student composer used a mallet and  
> banged on the plate and severely bent up several bass damper heads  
> AND strumming the strings with a wire brush.  The stage manager, the  
> professor of composition, and I were not told this was going to take  
> place and this student beleives he is going to demonstrate it again  
> in the same hall and in our smaller recital room that also has a  
> "D".   The assistant stage manager (in charge that evening) SHOULD  
> have stopped the pre-performance rehersal and swapped out the  
> Steinway for our semi- decent Yamaha C-3.   I'm not sure how to  
> prevent the abuse of prepared pianos.  The faculty doesn't seem to  
> care or think about it, except for the piano faculty, of course.
>
> Do I have a right to prevent such use/abuse?  Could I actually step  
> in and stop a performance?  Should I?  How do you all get faculty  
> and students to get this in their fat heads that this behaviour is  
> not OK? He could have cracked the plate!!!
>
> Concerned
>
> Paul T. Williams

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