<html> <head> <meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; = charset=us-ascii"> <meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 10 (filtered)"> <style>  </style> </head> <body bgcolor=white lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple> <div class=Section1> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span = style='font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'> </span></font></p> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 = face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>I might be barking up a = very tall tree, but I don't see a need to "prepare" a piano other than = having it tuned and voiced. I don't consider those who ask to have = the piano strummed like a guitar, plucked like a chicken, or otherwise misuse = the instrument, should be called composers.  I more or less agree = with Jim, that any tampering should be off limits. Period.</span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 = face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 = face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Just my thoughts on the = matter.</span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 = face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 = face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Wim </span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span = style='font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'> </span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span = style='font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'> </span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span = style='font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>------------------------------------= ----------------------------------------------</span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span = style='font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Whether or not you consider these = people composers, or see a “need” for prepared piano is not the point.  The music is out there, and <i><span = style='font-style:italic'>has</span></i> been out there for quite some time now, and I’m very interested in hearing what other techs have come up with as far as guidelines on this matter.  I’m dealing with two teachers in this very situation = right now and we’re doing our best to work together to come up with an agreeable solution.  It’s very true that politics within the institution or between you and the teacher determine how well or poorly = the situation can go.  Doesn’t this also depend on how much time = we’re personally willing/able to spend working with the performer/piano to = make sure everything goes well?</span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span = style='font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'> </span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span = style='font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Sincerely,</span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span = style='font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Cassie Van Gelder</span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span = style='font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'> </span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span = style='font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Resident Piano = Technician</span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span = style='font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Interlochen</span></font><font = size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span = style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial; color:navy'> </span></font><font size=2 color=navy = face=Arial><span = style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Center</span></fo= nt><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span = style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial; color:navy'> for the Arts</span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span = style='font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>vangeldercj@interlochen.org</span></= font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span = style='font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'> </span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span = style='font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'> </span></font></p> </div> </div> </body> </html>