The teacher's piano

[Jay Mercier]

Greetings Clyde and list,

Clyde wrote:

Isn't it likely that the progress of the student can be helped or hindered 
by the quality of the teaching piano?

Yes.  There are many piano compositions that cannot be successfully played 
on an unregulated, poor quality piano.  Many 20th century pieces along with 
today's New Age piano music uses much repetition, which some of the pianos 
we're talking about don't respond very well ( mostly due to lack of 
servicing).

However, my experience with students, specifically children, tells me that a 
good piano teacher is one who has a good piano, but more importantly 
understands each student, their potential and knows how to reach that 
potential to the fullest degree possible.

My piano professor in college had two well-maintained Steinways in her 
studio, a Ph-D in piano performance from Julliard, studied with Eugene Liszt 
but she has the social skills of a mosquito.  Sad to say we didn't get along 
those 4 years and I'm still in the average bunch of grade 4's. She doesn't 
know how to work with people, but man can she play.

Sorry I got a tad off subject.

Jay Mercier





>Jay,
>
>I think I was actually objecting to teachers having inferior pianos
>(piano-shaped objects) PLUS not keeping their pianos well maintained,
>which I failed to state.  Isn't it likely that the progress of the
>student can be helped or hindered by the quality of the teaching piano?
>
>I was not aware that Baldwin made any Hamiltons that are consoles.  All
>the ones I service are studios, and studios are in general of better
>quality than the average console.
>
>And, just in case you're wondering, I do not have an expensive piano.
>We still have the 1965 Hobart M. Cable console we bought before we got
>married 27 years ago, well before I knew anything about pianos.  I am
>not a pianist or a piano teacher, so my choosing to trade it in on a
>better quality piano or a grand would be largely symbolic.  :-)  Feel
>free to respond.
>
>Regards,
>Clyde Hollinger
>
> > Why is it sad?  I am also a piano teacher with 41 students.  I teach
> > beginning through advanced on the 4 periods plus jazz piano.  What do I 
>use?
> >   A Baldwin Hamilton console.  Do you think I would ever let 41 students
> > play (or pound in some cases) on a weekly basis on a grand piano if I
> > actually could afford one?  If I ever save up for one, it certainly goes 
>in
> > my living room and not in the studio.  I have to regulate and replace 
>minor
> > parts every summer.  Most piano teachers cannot afford to do the same.
> >
> > All but one of the piano teachers I serve all have good quality 
>consoles.
> > The teacher with the grand has a spinet for students, a grand for 
>herself.
> > She only lets her top students play it once in a while before recitals 
>and
> > such.
> >
> > Just my 2 cents,
> >
> > Jay Mercier
> > Piano Technician / Teacher
> > Glenwood, MN
>
>
> > Clyde wrote:
> > Unfortunately, for every teacher I serve who has a decent grand
> > >piano, there is one (or more) who has a spinet, console, or old
> > >upright.  Sorta sad, in my mind.
>
>


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