Has it begun again? (long)

[Ron Nossaman]

To whom,


>Stephen Birkett wrote:
>>
>> We cannot escape the fact that the modern acoustic piano is an incredibly
>> non-ergonomic device. Children can become frustrated with it for
>> good reason. Similarly many adults can't, or don't want to, invest the
>> enormous amount of time required to overcome these physical difficulties
>> that have nothing to do with making music.
>> 
>> The alternatives - keyboards, electric home organs, etc - simply can be
>> played much more easily by children and amateurs. I've seen the same with
>> children who get a chance to play harpsichords or early pianos...the
>> universal response is "why aren't pianos made this way now?" - "This feels
>> and plays great" etc. Obviously the answer is complex, but clearly a
>> radical re-design of the acoustic piano is necessary, at least if this,
>> the bulk, of the market is not going to be lost. Even the professionals
>> are complaining finally. Why else would we see the likes of D. Stanwood.
>> Listen to the consumer...it's their money.  There is nothing quite like
>> the complacency of the piano industry. And few better illustrations of the
>> "snooze you lose" principle in action.

*Stephen, very few of any industries problems can be successfully overcome
with a devolutionary approach. We are already raising a nation of kids who
are so thoroughly trained toward the path of least resistance that they will
starve to death in dirty clothes when Mom gets tired of the little parasites
and boots them out. Trust me, they need the exercise. Let's give them a
'responsive', rather than an 'easy' action, and a sound worthy of the effort
expended.



>
>Uhhhh..... No, I must disagree.
>
>A piano is a piano. A harpsichord is a harpsichord. An organ is an
>organ. A digital piano is not an accoustic piano. These are different
>instruments and not interchageable. Are we to encourage kids to learn on
>a digital because "It's Easier". What did kids do before digitals were
>invented?

>>>>>>>> Do we encourage kids to do poorly in school "Because it's easier". 

*Yes, that's exactly what we do by periodically lowering the standards to
meet the diminishing performance of kids who were never held accountable for
their own actions, thoughts, or lack thereof. Back when life was harder and
psychologists were less plentiful, (some) people learned to appreciate what
it took to learn something difficult by taking it in their own three hands
and wrestling with it. They got some on them and were better people for it,
in my opinion. Now there's an electronic simulation of any passing flicker
of ambition you might name so the potentially ambitious can vegetate and
watch someone else struggle with it until the urge mercifully passes. It
ain't just pianos gang.   


>If someone wants to learn how to play a piano they had better
>darn well learn what a piano is. If they want to play a harpsichord,
>(which uses a completely different technique with no velosity
>expression, might I add), then they need a harpsichord, not a piano. If
>they want to learn organ, they need an organ, not a digital piano, etc.
>
>Rob Goodale, RPT
>

*Here here!


EndRant #11,234.5

 Ron