teacher evaluations

Farrell mfarrel2 at tampabay.rr.com
Fri Feb 2 07:18:33 MST 2007


Ahhh, Okay, I see your point. Again, I agree with your language. I also would not characterize most piano teachers being capable of providing an "informed opinion" on the condition of a used piano. 

However, "informed opinion" is taken out of context. I stated that "any experienced piano player could provide a more informed opinion regarding a piano's general condition than a non-player buyer.

And I'll stand by that. Kinda like a cab driver or a race car driver would better evaluate the condition of a used car than someone living in the Aussie outback who had never driven a car or seen one up close. But of course, again in similar fashion, a qualified automobile mechanic would be able to give the best opinion on a used car's condition.

Seem so logical to me. You? All I'm suggesting is that it's better than nothing.

Terry Farrell

----- Original Message -----  
> The words I object to are "informed opinion". Most teachers are not in a
> position to offer that on a used piano. Most of the teachers in my area
> have never regulated their studio pianos and very few tune them regularly,
> so how would they be able to offer an "informed opinion"?
> 
> At 07:40 AM 2/2/2007 -0500, you wrote:
>>While I agree with most of what you state, there seems to be an implication 
>>that I was suggesting that a typical piano teacher can provide an adequate 
>>inspection of a used piano. I think if you read my post I basically say (or 
>>at least was trying to) that a piano teacher's opinion is better than 
>>nothing for the non-playing piano shopper, but in most situations, only an 
>>experienced piano technician can provide the most thorough evaluation of a 
>>used piano for purchase.
>>
>>IMHO, "a little knowledge" is better than shopping blind, but not nearly as 
>>good as shopping fully informed.
>>
>>Terry Farrell
>>
>>----- Original Message -----
>>> I believe that the old saw "a little knowledge is a dangerous thing"
>>> applies to teachers that attempt to evaluate pianos for students. If all
>>> the instruments are new--then the teacher's opinion may be helpful. If the
>>> instrument is used--all bets are off. I've had to be the messenger once 
>>> too
>>> often to ever suggest that a teacher evaluate a used instrumnet, unless a
>>> technician has looked it over first.
>>>
>>> The last such occurance was an ancient 60" tall monster with rocker arms
>>> and a linked action. The pin block came with both metal and leather shims
>>> around the rather rusty tuning pins. The bass bridge was split from end to
>>> end. There were plain steel strings among the wound ones. Some hammer
>>> flanges were so bad that if the sustain pedal was depressed a hammer might
>>> hit c or b or c#. (good instrument for "chance music"?) The white key tops
>>> had been replaced in such an manner that the black keys buried themselves
>>> just to make this gem shine. Did I mention the case was lovely? It was. Oh
>>> yes--that was the other good thing--the sustain pedal actually did work.
>>> The client paid about $800.00 US for it. I left a bill for a service
>>> call--and am still waiting to be paid.
>>>
>>> The teacher that approved of this instrument is quite excellent and has
>>> turned out many good pupils. The studio pianos are well maintained and
>>> serviced regularly.
>>>
>>> At 07:42 PM 2/1/2007 -0500, you wrote:
>>>>I would be willing to argue that a piano buyer who brings along their 
>>>>piano
>>>>teacher to evaluate a piano is not stupid. I think a qualified piano
>>>>technician could provide a much more thorough evaluation, but certainly 
>>>>any
>>>>experience piano player could provide a more informed opinion regarding a
>>>>piano's general condition than a non-player buyer.
>>>
>>>>Terry Farrell
>>> Regards,
>>> Don Rose 
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>-- 
>>No virus found in this incoming message.
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> 2:28 PM
>>
>>
> Regards,
> Don Rose, B.Mus., A.M.U.S., A.MUS., R.P.T.
> Non calor sed umor est qui nobis incommodat
> 
> mailto:pianotuna at yahoo.com http://us.geocities.com/drpt1948/
> 
> 3004 Grant Rd. REGINA, SK, S4S 5G7
> 306-539-0716 or 1-888-29t-uner
>
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