electronics replacing pianos?

[piannaman at aol.com]

I'm a late jumper into this one, and I missed a few posts, but being opinionated about the subject, I feel compelled to say something.
 
I like electronics.  I have a small (and antiquated at 10-15 years old) midi studio with a nice digital piano as the backbone.  I play it to lay down tracks when I'm composing a tune, or to get ideas for that purpose.  Do I play the digital to relax?  NOT!  
 
When I want to relax, electronics don't do the trick.  I find electronics to be useful, but in the end, agitating, be it in music, television, computer, what have you.  If I want something soothing, I play the piano or the acoustic guitar.  
 
Acoustic instuments are irreplacable to most of us on this list for many reasons--mostly because it's how we make our living, but I'm sure most of us were attracted this trade for other reasons as well.
 
The thing I fear most for my son's generation (he's six years old) is that they'll have so many virtual experiences at their fingertips via computer, they'll never know what it's like to experience many things that give pleasure in life.  Like going outside to see the world, or playing an acoustic instrument.  
 
I don't see the piano going away in the near future, but in the long term, who knows?  Disk or other digitally driven systems may, in the end, save the day for our beloved piano.
 
Dave Stahl

Dave Stahl Piano Service
650-224-3560
dstahlpiano at sbcglobal.net
http://dstahlpiano.net/




 
 
-----Original Message-----
From: kccs at netralink.com
To: dlawson at davidlawsonspianos.com.au; pianotech at ptg.org
Sent: Thu, 4 Jan 2007 1:28 AM
Subject: RE: electronics replacing pianos?


I do agree with you totally - for some reason, in the earlier years some
people also was of the opinion that the electric organs made by Yamaha
and Hammond could replace the acoustic piano, and shame, that never
happened.  I get calls from clients nearly every day, trying to get rid
of those, but unfortunately no retail value. You see, some of the models
components can not be purchased anymore here in South Africa.

Kallie Swanepoel
Piano Tuner/Klavierstemmer
Skype Name: KallieSwanepoel
Phone: +27 (0) 12 379 3762
Mobile: +27 (0) 83 261 6942
Voice Link: +27 (0) 88 129 8775
Fax: +27 (0) 86 633 2999
http://www.kallieswanepoel.co.za


-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On
Behalf Of David Lawson
Sent: 04 January 2007 10:14
To: Pianotech List
Subject: Re: electronics replacing pianos?


When was the last time you saw a recital on a EC? How many people would
go to hear a full classical concert played on one, -zilch. We are pretty
safe guys, just look at all the pianos out there that are still in need
of our services!! David Lawson Wangaratta Australia
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "RicB" <ricb at pianostemmer.no>
To: <pianotech at ptg.org>
Sent: Thursday, January 04, 2007 6:14 AM
Subject: electronics replacing pianos?


> Hi Alan, and others.
>
> I know my position on this is an uncomfortable one.  But I think I 
> really have to stick with it because I really do think sooner or later

> the electronic version of the piano will simply become to attractive 
> an alternative to the market for the industry to be able to sustain 
> itself.  I see the first serious stage of electronic replacements 
> happening already now in schools and in various less serious minded 
> concert situations.  In hotels over here there are very few acoustic 
> pianos left around.  They rip out the guts of a grand and stick a 
> keyboard in there.... literally.
>
> As the electronic piano becomes more and more like its acoustic 
> ancestor the market will realize that they are cheaper, do not need 
> tuning, are portable and can do all kinds of things the acoustic piano

> cant.  When that happens all the low end pianos will start to 
> disappear.... and the companies that make them as well.... the 
> knowledge base will be substantially weakened exasperating the 
> situation.  In the end.... not in my life time certainly... but sooner

> or later... only a handfull of makers will survive as 
> specialty/nostalgic builders who only put out a few hundred world wide

> each year.
>
> We are entering the age of virtual reality folks....  the industrial 
> revolution is going to look bleak compared to whats in store for us in

> the comming 100 years. (if we can keep from blowing ourselves to 
> smithereens that is).
>
> But for all you acoustic lovers out there... and I am one of them... 
> we can all hope I am dead wrong. :)
>
> Cheers
> RicB
>
>
>     Ric and List,
>
>     A hundred years ago the "home entertainment system" was a piano.
>     The piano's place took a hit when radio came along, but did not
>     disappear.  T.V. stole much of radio's thunder, but did not
replace
>     it entirely by a long shot.  Electronic keyboards are, IMHO, a
>     welcome replacement to the lowest PSOs, but haven't had a
>     significant impact on pianos of good quality.  Computers are
another
>     predominant distraction from all of the aforementioned
technologies,
>     yet we have new piano manufacturers throwing their hats into the
>     ring, satellite radio, more television stations than ever, and
>     electronic keyboards available for the price of a decent meal.
>
>     I guess what I am getting at is that the world has become more
>     crowded with things that vie for our attention, but the
competition
>     posed by the new doesn't necessarily mean the extinction of the 
> old.
>
>     Cheers,
>
>     Alan Eder
>
>
>
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