Respect for PT's

[David Ilvedson]

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All of ProPiano's solo piano recordings list the piano technician, piano & serial number (Pro's # at least)  I received numerous copies of these excellent unknown artists..

David I,

----- Original message ---------------------------------------->
From: Z! Reinhardt <diskladame@provide.net>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Received: Mon, 22 Jul 2002 11:20:39 -0400
Subject: Re: Respect for PT's

Ain't it a shame ... and I often wonder.

Some thoughts.  How much are we considered as merely "a variation on the theme of a stage hand" ?  The sound engineer, lighting director, and stage manager all get credits, but their crew members are rarely listed.

In how many instances are the liner notes, program notes, or other published verbal materials already at the printshop by the time the piano tuner is hired for the job?  I don't know how it is in other cities, but here in Detroit, the performance venues have a habit of waiting to nearly the last minute to get hold of a piano, then finding a technician depending on which dealer the piano was rented from.

Here's another thought ... how much could the credits given be a reflection of what matters most to the performer?  All too often, the piano technician is the "value-hidden extra" who works the magic while the others are away.  I personally like to meet the performers and find out what matters most to them when it comes to the piano, but there are some performers out there who prefer to remain "unavailable" until after the job deadline.  That same performer may have much more interaction with the sound engineer, and all those other people whose names appear on the published output than they do with the piano technician.

Well yes, I too got to see my name in bold print recently ... across the TV screen for work I did for a live broadcast.  The woman in charge of the credits was very busy collecting all of the information she could about everybody who had stepped into the studio that day.  She certainly made up for the apparent lack of interest the performer had in everybody else except himself and his immediate entourage.

Z! Reinhardt  RPT
Ann Arbor  MI
diskladame@provide.net
----- Original Message -----
From: Billbrpt@AOL.COM
To: pianotech@ptg.org
Sent: Monday, July 22, 2002 1:08 AM
Subject: Re: Respect for PT's


In a message dated 7/21/02 11:34:47 PM Central Daylight Time, Richard.Brekne@grieg.uib.no (Richard Brekne) writes:



It never ceases to amaze me how ignored we are otherwise in
the industry. On stage productions, in films, on recordings,
virtually everywhere there is piano music there must be a
piano tuner who in no small way contributes quite directly
to the quality of the music. Heck, on records they even give
credit to who took the blinging picture of the artist, but
almost never is there mention of the instrument or who
prepared it.

The more I learn about tuning, and the more I explore in
what ways we are directly involved in the creativity that
ends up coming out of the instrument, the more aghast I am
that we as a profession have allowed (walked straight into
??) this state of affairs to evolve. The more I learn about
the instruments themselves the less I understand why they
are equally ignored thus.

A nice exception to the rule is a Classical album given out
by Maria Joao Pires who records Beethoven's Piano Sonatas
13, 14 and 30. In the very short list of credits on the
inside cover is the name of the Piano Technician.. one
Kazato Osato, and the piano used.. a Yamaha CF III S. It was
refreshing to see.


This is one of the facts of life that will probably never change.  The piano technician is almost never mentioned in a live music program or in the liner notes of any recording or film.  Sometimes the kind of piano is listed but rarely, almost never, is the piano technician.  I don't see this changing and for that reason, I don't see any information about *how* the piano is tuned as being something that would ever even be thought of as appropriate information to make public.

I'm glad you found an exception to this and fortunately, I was able to cause one too which will be available very soon.  A new Jazz CD will be coming out by the end of the month.  There are 2 pianos,  a Yamaha and Kawai, both grands.  The artist has been a customer of mine since 1978, 24 years.  He owns a Steinway A.  He knows about and believes in what I do, so he agreed to put the following in the credits:
"Piano Technician: Bill Bremmer RPT    Tuning: EBVT"

I have my copy on order and will receive it by The 30th or 31st.  I'll listen to it, review it and post the ordering information both here and on my website for those who would like to hear what a piano in my idea of what makes a better set of compromises than current standard practice, sounds like.

Bill Bremmer RPT
Madison, Wisconsin
Click here: -=w w w . b i l l b r e m m e r . c o m =-


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