<HTML>In a message dated 10/13/01 5:50:02 AM Central Daylight Time, tito@PhilBondi.com writes: <BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px">they teach piano maintenance 'appreciation' in Russia to the performance majors, and she's a player. Is that something that is taught here?..I know when I went to college many centuries ago, Piano Maintenance wasn't a 'requirement', but it was offered (thanks Tom.). </BLOCKQUOTE> When I interviewed for the job here at UA, I asked about this. The School of Music does not offer any kind of "taking care of your piano" type course. Right now there is a budget crisis in Alabama, and the chance of a new course being offered are pretty slim. But the chairman of the department wants me to put together something for consideration in a year or two. I think it is imperative that all piano majors, and even those studying seriously in the private sector, need to be exposed to a general piano overview. Certainly not one that delves into repair and regulation, or even tuning. But piano players should know something beyond that a note plays when depressed. I am appalled sometimes with the lack of knowledge of some good piano players. Wim  </HTML>