<html> <body> Richard <blockquote type=cite class=cite cite>   Another consideration of performance instruments is that they really get played very little.... unless they are also used for practice.   If a concert grand gave three performances a week, the playing time would be, say, one hour per day or 3 hours a week?  Tuning of this should take about 1.5 hours a week.  What concert grand gets performed on as much as 3 hours a week?  Chances are they get practiced on much more than performance or tuning. Richard Moody</blockquote> Going to have to disagree here. At least in my case and I imagine in a lot of others. Just out of curiosity, I went through and counted the recitals scheduled for the month of April just in our primary student recital hall: 21 for voice & various other instruments and 17 for piano, at least half or so are at the Master's or DMA level, one using both 'D's. That's in addition to a few Masterclasses and all the dress rehersals. There are also 10-11 hrs. use per week for the piano teachers' studio classes. And are 3 weekend days not booked at all because of Easter! So I think ours are used just "little" more than 3 hrs. a week for performances. :-) Avery </body> </html>