<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; = charset=iso-8859-1"> <META content="MSHTML 5.50.4134.600" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV><FONT color=#000080></FONT> </DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; = BORDER-LEFT: #000080 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV> <DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: = black"><B>From:</B> <A title=LHudicek@AOL.COM = href="mailto:LHudicek@AOL.COM">LHudicek@AOL.COM</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A = title=pianotech@ptg.org href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> February 16, 2002 4:38 = AM</DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: Prepared Pianos question</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV><FONT face=arial,helvetica><FONT size=2> <DIV><BR>I'm sorry you feel this way.  However, pianists are = going to do it whether or not you say "no."  Wouldn't it be better to teach = them how to do this without harming the piano rather than pretended you don't = see it?  May I suggest Alan Eder's video, Non-Traditional Piano Techniques?<BR><BR>Respecting your opinion but trying to open the mind,<BR>Laurie</FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV></BLOCKQUOTE> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Lucida Sans" color=#000080>Laurie,</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Lucida Sans" color=#000080></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Lucida Sans" color=#000080>I doubt you will find = many piano technicians who will agree that the practice of <EM>preparing</EM> a = piano for a performance is a good thing. This will be especially true among those of = us who have had the misfortune of following up some of those performances the = day after and being then faced with the task of repairing the damage done by = ignorant and thoughtless performers. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Lucida Sans" color=#000080></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Lucida Sans" color=#000080>There is probably not = much you can do about the thoughtlessness, but it will be a good thing if you can = dispel some of the ignorance by including in your thesis information on how easily = damaged are certain parts of the piano. Following some of these concerts I've personally repaired (more often than not this means replacing) = damaged dampers, hammers and strings. In one case both the soundboard and = even the cast iron plate were damaged by a (in this case) so-called = artist. </FONT><FONT face="Lucida Sans" color=#000080>Perhaps the guiding = motto of the prepared piano artist might be, "First, do no harm...."</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Lucida Sans" color=#000080></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Lucida Sans" color=#000080>After a few of these experiences my recommendation to all piano managers became simply = to allow the artist to do whatever he/she wished to do to the piano--as you've = pointed out, they are probably going to do so anyway--but only after signing a = binding financial responsibility agreement. It has been my observation that most = folks--even artists--are much more careful with their <EM>preparing</EM> = when faced with the prospect of paying out hundreds (sometimes thousands) of their own dollars for the <EM>unpreparing</EM>. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Lucida Sans"><FONT = color=#000080></FONT></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Lucida Sans"><FONT = color=#000080>Regards,</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#000080></FONT><FONT color=#000080></FONT><FONT color=#000080></FONT><FONT color=#000080></FONT><BR><FONT color=#000080>Del</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#000080></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#000080>Delwin D Fandrich<BR>Piano Designer & Builder<BR>Hoquiam, Washington  USA<BR>E.mail:  <A href="mailto:pianobuilders@olynet.com">pianobuilders@olynet.com</A><BR>= Web Site:  <A href="http://www.pianobuilders.com">www.pianobuilders.com</A></FONT></F= ONT></DIV></FONT></BODY></HTML>