<HTML><BODY style="word-wrap: break-word; -khtml-nbsp-mode: space; -khtml-line-break: after-white-space; "><DIV>I was called yesterday to tune at a local private college. A colleague usually cares for their pianos, but he was booked and I was called to fill in. There was to be a choral concert tonight. Somehow the tuning date had been overlooked when scheduling their normal tuner, and this was an emergency. I was fortunate to be able to fit it into my schedule.</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>I don't know the history of the piano or its placement in this charming little venue. Though I didn't see any plaque to forever etch Mr. and Mrs. Jones' name in the the lore of the school, considering the vintage, I'm guessing it was probably a donated piano. But I could be wrong. A 40-year-old, five-footish, walnut Kawai grand, with a model number that predated anything I was familiar with, none of its parts looked to be anything but original. It had a really bright, uneven voice, especially in the bass and low tenor, although the high treble sang well and clear, and I was told it hadn't been tuned in a while. When I arrived, I found the tuning a little "dirty", but right at pitch, just like its usual caregiver prepared me to expect. It needs a good cleaning, and could use a new set of strings, hammers and dampers, but it could be a decent little piano again with some work.</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>What made such an impression on me to inspire me to write this note was something else. And this "something else" jumped out at me as if that little piano was actually speaking. This old "piano shaped object" seems to be treated by the faculty and students with more respect than we treat our own Baldwins and Steinways, almost all of which are newer than this little old Kawai. The outer doors to the building were unlocked, and the auditorium doors standing wide open. Anyone could just go right in and sit down and go to pounding anytime, but it is pretty obvious that is not happening. I found it covered with a $400 custom made cover that we here don't deem our finest concert grands worthy of. In comparison to even our newest treasures, the cabinet was relatively scratch and ding free. This isn't their concert piano, mind you. It sits on the floor in front of the stage in the drama auditorium, which is the only venue on campus large enough to stage a chorus. But if this one little piano is any indication of how the faculty and students treat pianos at this small private college, we, here at the big state university downtown, could learn a lesson from them. They aren't able to spend much money on instruments and maintenance, but it appears, at least from this one example, that they demonstrate a higher level of respect and appreciation for the instruments they do have.</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>The small private school may not be able to afford the lengthy resumes that fill our studios and may not attract the overachievers who occupy practice room after practice room in our basement , but the life lessons learned and the music that is taught and performed there are no less important. I rest assured tonight's experience will be a musical event worthy of being a part, and that the little piano will sing its heart out right along with the choir.</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>We really take what we have here for granted.</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>Jeff</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><BR><BR><DIV> <SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: auto; -khtml-text-decorations-in-effect: none; text-indent: 0px; -apple-text-size-adjust: auto; text-transform: none; orphans: 2; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; "><DIV>Jeff Tanner, RPT</DIV><DIV>University of South Carolina</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><BR class="Apple-interchange-newline"></SPAN> </DIV><BR></BODY></HTML>