[CAUT] Presentation

[Keith Kopp]

I have done several of these presentations the most recent just a couple of weeks ago. I echo David's suggestion to use the Q&A format. This allows you to determine what level you need to be on. There is nothing more eye opening to do a presentation on advanced voicing and regulation just to find out later the many of those you had in the class didn't even know the names of the pedals, how they worked or even that an action could come out the piano. I found out toward the end of one class I did that the majority of the teachers didn't even teach on grands! I quickly changed my direction and showed them how to open the bottom of the piano (a surprise to many that it was so easy) and talked about pedal adjustment. It is very easy to do a presentation that will go over the heads of the majority of those attending. On the other hand, it would be rather embarrassing to talk about adjusting a practice bar to find out that everyone in the class was teaching on a Steinway B. Get to know those in your class and getting them to ask questions will help prevent that.

Keith Kopp
BYU

-----Original Message-----
From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of David Love
Sent: Monday, January 31, 2011 8:30 AM
To: caut at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [CAUT] Presentation

I'm giving a 1+ hour lecture to a small group of pianists/teachers next
month and will address the issue of why different makes of pianos have
different tone qualities.  It will involve a non-technical discussion of the
role of scale, soundboard and hammer in the production of tone.  It will
attempt to answer simple questions such as why does my Yamaha sound
different from my Steinway or why doesn't my Yamaha sound like a Steinway
when I put Steinway hammers on it?  It will also attempt to answer questions
like why does my Steinway sound different than yours and outline the issues
of hammer selection and the limitations of voicing.  The purpose is to help
them understand differences in tonal character between different makes of
pianos and why it is that they may like or not like certain pianos.  It's a
lot to do in an hour (with a q&a to follow) but it's something this
particular group has expressed interest in and something I've done before.  

One thing you might consider doing is structure the entire lecture as a Q&A.
Have them write their questions in advance (say when they come in) and put
them in a pile which you then review and preselect or just do it on the fly.
That way you address questions that you know are of interest.  You can be
prepared with some general information as well about things that you think
are important to communicate.  The myths idea is a good one but likely
you'll have the opportunity to address those within the framework of the
questions they ask.     

David Love
www.davidlovepianos.com



List,
 
I am giving a technical presentation to a group of about 30 piano teachers
on Feb. 15th.  I looking for ideas on subject matter.  I don't want to get
too technical.  Some ideas I have thought of so far,
 
Humidity control in the home.  
 
A kind of "state of the union" type message, about the current condition of
our profession.
 
The differences in the soft pedal operation in uprights vs. grands.  And
how, habitual use of the soft pedal in grands will "unmate" the hammers.
 
The differences in the "inertia" component in touch between digitals and
real pianos. 
 
 
This should be a lot of fun.  Midland Michigan was just voted the 4th nicest
small town to live in the US by Forbes.  They have a fantastic venue, the
Midland Center For The Arts.  And considering that the population there is
about 40,000, I think "per capita" they have more piano teachers than any
other place.
 
Any other ideas would be greatly appreciated!
 
Thanks,
Denis Ikeler