[CAUT] Unauthorized "prepared pianos"

[David Ilvedson]

I think I would be pushing for a prepared performance piano.   Do they expect to use the best concert instrument?

David Ilvedson, RPT
Pacifica, CA  94044

----- Original message ----------------------------------------
From: "Kent Swafford" <kswafford at gmail.com>
To: "College and University Technicians" <caut at ptg.org>
Received: 4/12/2008 9:15:45 AM
Subject: Re: [CAUT] Unauthorized "prepared pianos"


>Here at UMKC, just down the road from you, 3 of the 4 piano  
>performance professors actively perform and teach prepared piano  
>pieces, so it would be pointless for the piano tech to oppose such  
>performances. Actually, I performed such pieces when I was a student,  
>so I guess I'm part of the opposition. The best you may be able to do  
>is regulate non-traditional piano use; you will not be able to stop it.

>Run, do not walk, to purchase a copy of "Non-traditional Piano Use",  
>the video from Alan Eder at ReggaePass at aol.com. It describes  
>responsible inside-the-piano techniques, and you should try to get as  
>many pianists as possible to watch this video.

>A problem I have had this school year is pianist's believing that they  
>should be able to leave preparations in between the time of their  
>rehearsals and recitals. This is forbidden, of course, but it has  
>still created resentment when I have had to explain the obvious, that  
>in busy halls with multiple pianists using the pianos each day, no  
>preparations of any kind are allowed to remain in a piano after a  
>given rehearsal or performance are over. I remove all marks and  
>preparations on sight, of course. Pianists should leave pianos with  
>absolutely no evidence of any kind that inside-the-piano techniques  
>were used.

>We _are_ making special arrangements to dedicate a piano for a few  
>days to an upcoming series of dance performances for which a prepared  
>piano will provide the accompaniment, but that's the only exception of  
>which I'm aware.

>All the best,

>Kent Swafford



>On Apr 12, 2008, at 10:26 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