[CAUT] Unauthorized "prepared pianos"

[Alan Crane]

Strangely enough... here's an e-mail I got this afternoon from our Performance 
Facilities staff __________ and my answer (aimed mostly at the student and 
the theory/comp faculty).  It pretty much sums up my approach.

==================================================== 

On Saturday 12 April 2008 01:56:58 pm David R. Muehl wrote:
> Alan:
> Yoshiko Watanabe has a Senior Comp recital in Miller on 4/24/08 at
> 1:30pm.  She has a piece for prepared piano with audio amplification
> that she and/or performer will be providing.  I told her that I would
> let you know so as 1 - you were aware and 2 - can inform her of which
> piano is to be used...  

Hi David,

I'm sorry to say that this is the first I have heard about this!
I am not sure that Yoshiko will be able to include this piece on the recital.
I would encourage the student performer and/or their supervising professor to 
contact me first thing Monday to determine whether this piece can be 
accommodated on the perfomance instruments currently in Miller Concert Hall.

Even though endeavours of this type do fall within the realm of legitimate 
music, their use tends to be very expensive in terms of wear & tear on the 
instruments and the extra work needed to return the pianos to a condition 
able to accomodate the needs of pianists, and the music for which the 
instruments were actually designed.  
Unfortunately, in many cases non-traditional techniques are employed without 
notice or planning and subsequent performances on those pianos must contend 
with either substandard capabilities of the instruments (ie. things don't 
work right any more) or the added expense of "cleaning up after" (as it were) 
the non-traditional performer.

It is our policy to not allow non-traditional (ie. prepared piano, inside 
playing, etc.) techniques on our concert instruments without prior 
consultation by the performer(s) with the piano technician.

It is our intent to assist student and faculty performers in their musical 
endeavours and explorations here at WSU, except when they compromise the 
performances of others or add unduly to the expense and difficulty other 
perfromers must deal with as a result.

This is an extremely busy time of year for us all (made more so by the 
imminent on-campus interviews for the Director's position) but I will do my 
best to help facilitate the performance needs of this student, as well as 
those of their fellow students, faculty members, and guest artists.

My contact info appears below and, should I not be in my office, the Music 
Secretary can page me if need be.
I look forward to hearing more about this on Monday morning.

Thanks again for the "heads-up", David!

-- 
Regards,

Alan B. Crane, RPT
School of Music
Wichita State University
alan.crane at wichita.edu
office:  (316) 978-6167