[CAUT] Appropriate Piano for Small Recital Hall

[Roger Jolly]

Hi Jim,
               I'm with you and Don on this one,  Don's point about touch 
and control of a 9ft cannot be emphasized enough.  There is a dramatic 
difference in key length from a 7ft piano.
So do we deny our students the chance of performing on a full sized 
instrument? Giving them the experience of a full range of tone colour, and 
how to be sensitive and control the Beasty.
Voicing to a room or a client is what we do, I don't see where the problem 
would be.  I have several clients with concert grands in their homes, no 
big deal for me or them. Just don't let the instrument get too 'brassy'.

Regards Roger



At 09:04 AM 3/25/2010, you wrote:
>All,
>
>I agree with Don, and he is not only a world class technician, but a fine 
>pianist.
>
>The notion of "the size of the piano must be relative to the size room" 
>cannot be the foremost justification for why we select a piano. Following 
>that reasoning wouldn't we have 4' pianos for practice rooms and 12' 
>pianos for 3000 seat halls? While I'm being a bit ridiculous, my point is 
>that the smaller piano isn't the "same" as a full size grand, is it?? My 
>clients that have 9' pianos along with other smaller sizes much prefer 
>their 9' for recitals. (Granted, I only have a few clients with both.) 
>Don's post is also my experience.
>
>Respectfully,
>Jim Busby BYU and Snow College
>
>
>
>In my opinion, it is always best to have a concert grand for a recital
>space, no matter how small.
>
>A well set up concert grand will have the control necessary to not
>overpower the room.  If voiced and regulated appropriately, the full
>tone will give performers a much wider palette of sound to work with,
>and that range of tone from ppp to fff across the scale is what makes
>the pianist happy!
>
>I have serviced many concert grands in peoples living rooms, and they
>were wonderful when voiced appropriately.
>
>Don Mannino