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<P><BR><BR></P>Tony, Lynn and list... </DIV>
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<P>Some good points about the place of pianos in the family entertainment world. Lynn wrote something like "Who wants to spend $7,000 on a 12 year old who doesn't know how to play?" Since I spend my evenings teaching piano and recruiting for a private music studio, I can tell you...not very many folks are willing to do that. Tony wrote that the industry needs to change all the way down to the teachers. This is what I tell a prospective customer when they ask me if they have to buy a piano to take lessons from us. "Well Mrs.. Smith...if you can get a working piano, that is great. But an electronic keyboard from Wal-Mart will suit a beginner student nicely." Flame if you wish...but the reality of the thing is that most people won't encourage their child into piano due to the cost and the size of a piano. In our studio, we use digital pianos (with unweighted and weighted keys) for our lessons. We have a couple of studio consoles for the very advanced students and we lease a parlor grand for recitals and group demonstrations. </P>
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<DIV></DIV>When I explain this heresy to Mrs. Smith, I tell her that the toy keyboard will take the child to a certain point of playing, then they will have to upgrade to a more advanced instrument. The plus side of it for Mrs. Smith is that when her child reaches the level when weighted keys and dynamic flexibility become more important, she can make a purchase confident in the investment she is about to make. I will have also had about a year or so to educate her on making a good purchase. One of the points in that educational process is that a real player will want an acoustic piano, not instead of an electronic instrument but in addition to one.
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<P>The technology out there for music making with electronics is impressive and fun. I don't believe that it will ever completely replace a fine grand piano for touch and richness of sound. Lamenting the piano's fall from primacy in family entertainment is all right, but we've got to deal with what is and not be afraid of the new technology. I am using new technology and new teaching techniques to endear a 300 year old instrument to kids that also love Gameboys and DVD players. Why? Because the educational value of playing the piano is great and if I want to do these children a little good by teaching them how to play, I've got to be willing to try instead of cry. </P>
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<DIV></DIV>FWIW
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<DIV></DIV>Mitch Ruth
<DIV></DIV>DeMossville, KY
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<DIV></DIV>"Nothing is fool-proof for a sufficiently trained fool."
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