refuse or rebuild?

[Alan W Deverell]

Thanks Elian - my sentiments exactly - and I certainly argue these
points from personal experience as a child.

AlanD (who might have been a Virtuoso, instead of an Engineer, where
it not for the poor/un-rewarding piano he was required to practice
upon)

>-----Original Message-----
>From: owner-pianotech@ptg.org
>[mailto:owner-pianotech@ptg.org]On Behalf
>Of Elian Degen
>Sent: Saturday, October 10, 1998 8:05 AM
>To: pianotech@ptg.org
>Subject: RE: refuse or rebuild?
>
>
>Rob, and list
>
>>On the other hand, I was called last week to look at an old, painted
>upright
>>that had been in the basement playroom (untuned) for years.
> There were at
>>least 10 jacks unglued,  missing bridles,  a minor 3rd
>below pitch, bridge
>>problems and worn parts etc.  for starters.  But the small
>daughter was
>>going to start taking lessons, they weren't going to get a
>different piano
>>until they found out whether the kid "liked piano" and
>couldn't I please do
>>something?
>
>
>This is the most wideley used excuse.
>
>I work for several piano teachers, and I find this excuse
>very often, and I
>developed an answer that seems to have worked, and it is
>true also as I
>stated afterward.
>
>Now I always tell the customer on behalf of his kids, to
>either fix the
>piano well or to buy a new one if it is the case, because an
>unexperienced
>student, specialy a small one, who doesn´t know how a piano
>is suposed to
>feel and sound. He will not know what is wrong, but if when
>he plays the
>instrument doesn´t respond, the touch is uneven and it doesn´t sound
>pleasent, he will become frustrated ( he doesn´t know if is
>the piano´s
>failt or his ) and will soon live the piano lessons.
>
>After several years, I realy noticed that from the ones who
>took my advice
>in conjunction with a good teacher,  a very high percentage
>is stil using
>the piano, the others even with good teachers, have dropped out.
>
>Now  when a piano teacher calls me for his students, I even
>lecture him on
>this point.
>
>Result Teacher happy, Students happy and technician happy.
>
>Elian
>
>
>
>
>
>