[CAUT] CAUT endorsement

[Jim Busby]

David,

True.

An interesting thing about Eric Schandall is that he doesn't say S&S are the "best". I liked the dignified responses he would give. For instance, he said about Fazioli "They're really good, but not exactly what we look for in a Steinway". That's about as "disrespectful" as he got. In all the PTG classes and three weeks with him at Steinway I never heard him disrespect other brands. Our local dealer, on the other hand, trashes anything non-Steinway. I wish they would take Eric's high ground.

At Snow College it's nice to have Steinways. It's easy to work on one type of piano, use the same parts, etc. However, at BYU we have a nice Shigeru EX-1, a Bosey, Yamahas, Baldwins and Kawais, etc. and our students can see for themselves the 10 or so brands we have. I guess I'm one of the few technicians that can see both sides of it. I like both gigs!

Jim


From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Porritt, David
Sent: Monday, May 17, 2010 2:32 PM
To: caut at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [CAUT] CAUT endorsement

Jim:

I think familiarity is a big thing in the preference for Steinway.  Pianists and organists are the only ones who have to play a "strange" instrument when they do a concert.  Everyone else (violinists, cellists, trombonists.....) take their own favorite instrument to play.  Pianists play what's there.  Seeing a piano that is familiar makes them more comfortable.  None of us is naïve enough to believe that all Steinways are alike or all are wonderful, but they are familiar.

Steinway's push for All Steinway School status is very smart.  This prepares yet another generation of pianists who are the most familiar with Steinway.

I have not been taught - by PTG or anyone else - that Steinway is a bad piano.  When someone does set themselves up as "The Best" they are inviting pot shots.  Even more so when you uncover some truly substandard work on a new instrument.  When one claims the highest ground one has to maintain that consistently or you will take some hits from those who know.

dp


David M. Porritt, RPT
dporritt at smu.edu<mailto:dporritt at smu.edu>


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