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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>With regard to the issue of technician =
training,
supply and demand, etc. I wanted to share some of my experiences. In =
many years
of employment as a pianist and teacher of piano technology in a State
University, as well as my experience as a concertizing pianist, I can =
say with
some confidence that of all applied musicians, pianists are the very =
most
ignorant about their instruments.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Vocalists can describe their larynx, =
diaphragm, and
the mechanics of voice production. Brass players can talk about the laws =
of
vibrating columns of air and valving ratios.</FONT> <FONT =
face=Arial
size=2>String players can adjust bridges and sound posts. But pianists =
only know
for sure that depressing the end of a piano key usually produces a
sound.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The technician - a very able one - at =
the
university from which I recently retired was a one time piano student of =
mine
who went on to get the training and skills necessary to pursue this =
somewhat different pianistic path. During his student years he also =
had a
one semester course in piano technology, designed to familiarize =
students with
the instrument, learn the names of all its parts, and be able to =
communicate
intelligently with their technicians.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Our school was unique in requiring ALL =
piano majors
to take this course. When the technician who had initiated that program =
left for
greener pastures his replacement had no interest in continuing the =
program, so
it fell to me to try to keep it going. After I left my position, my =
successor - also a pianist - saw no value in such a course, so the
university is now just like all other universities. It turns out =
pianists who
are ignorant of their instrument. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>If all university based PTG members =
would encourage
their piano departments to offer a simple, one credit course in piano =
technology
familiarization, it would make a HUGE difference in what the future will =
look
like. Of course that might mean teaching a course on top of an already =
full
schedule of piano maintenance, but if you're serious you'll need to bite =
the
bullet.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>David Pope</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Bowling Green State
University</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>