[CAUT] Non-Traditional Piano Use

[Porritt, David]

Alan:

Thank you for your expertise in this area.  I wish Laurie Hudicek could
publish this work in Adobe Acrobat (.PDF file) format.  Frankly, I wish
everything were available in .PDF format!  It's inexpensive; it's
universally readable; very legible and pictures are clear. Programs to
make .PDF files can be obtained free though much more can be done with
more adequate programs.  

dave

David M. Porritt
dporritt at smu.edu
-----Original Message-----
From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of
ReggaePass at aol.com
Sent: Thursday, May 24, 2007 10:17 AM
To: College and University Technicians
Subject: Re: [CAUT] Non-Traditional Piano Use

Joe and List,

There is a relatively new text on the subject, a doctoral dissertation
with the (I think unfortunate) title of "Off Key" by Laurie Hudicek.
Like our video, it incorporates Bunger's book (long out of print) and
picks up where it leaves off.  Hudicek extensively interviewed many
technicians (including yours truly) and new-music pianists.  (She also
quotes frequently from our video.)  Her work is the most up-to-date
compendium of what is possible in terms of extended techniques on the
piano, dos and don'ts where piano conservation is concerned, and advice
on playing techniques (the NTPU equivalent of scales and arpeggios)
which we don't address at all in the video.

Huducek's work is available through the U of Michigan Press, although,
after a long wait and hefty price tag, what you get is a poor photocopy
(which renders most of the photos unviewable).  I have encouraged her to
revise and publish it.  Not that it's going to become a best seller, but
it does meet a demonstrable need that will probably still be there for
decades to come.

Another doctoral student recently contacted me about the video with
regards to her own dissertation.  She is aware of Hudicek's work, and
it's hard to imagine what she might do that would be original.  We'll
see, and I'll keep the list posted.

Cheers,

Alan Eder

Alan, thanks a bunch for your input. I am ordering the Eder viddy plus
the Well Prepared Piano (I should, since my brother works at Colorado
College). I have a request for further info into the manufacturer
regarding the string breakage, but I am interested in investigating as
per your advice. By the bye (or however that expression is spelled), I'm
not clear on what procedure is needed to determine the scale. Mike the
string and measure speaking length? How do you determine the tension?
I'm fairly green in this subject, but eager to take it in. Thanks, Joe