9-foot Steinway

[thomas_williams]

Two weeks ago I got to play a Steinway concert grand piano for the first time!  My teacher notified me of an upcoming recital which I was to play in, and after the lesson he took me to the recital hall to practice.  The recital itself was just three days ago.  It was an AWESOME experience!  The action was just a little heavier than on other pianos I have played, but it was very good.  And I was amazed by the sparkling beauty of the tone.  Out of the 23 or so pianos that I have played so far in my life, that Steinway is unquestionably the very best.

[eddie92099]

The Steinway Model D certainly is a very fine piano. I played on one just this Wednesday in the Duke's Hall at the Royal Academy of Music in London (auditioning),
Ed

[dinosaurtales]

ew, ED!  You lucky dog!!  How did the audition go?

[eddie92099]

It went very well thanks (I think!). I will hear soon whether I am in or not hopefully  :-/,
Ed

[Wired]

It went very well thanks (I think!). I will hear soon whether I am in or not hopefully  :-/

Hope you make it in. I would say good luck, but I'm slightly late for that

[eddie92099]

Hope you make it in. I would say good luck, but I'm slightly late for that

Thanks  . You can wish me luck for my audition at the Royal College of Music this Monday though  ,
Ed

[Wired]

Thanks  . You can wish me luck for my audition at the Royal College of Music this Monday though  ,

Will do, Good luck. Now, how about that 9-foot steinway? (Just noting how far off topic we've come)

[thomas_williams]

I'm not sure what model the Steinway I played is-- I'll have to ask my teacher at the next lesson.

[eddie92099]

I'm not sure what model the Steinway I played is-- I'll have to ask my teacher at the next lesson.

The big one is the Model D,
Ed

[eddie92099]

Will do, Good luck.

I got in   ! Obviously your wish was the deciding factor! I'm happy now  ,
Ed

[dinosaurtales]

CONGRATULATIONS, ED!!!!  So when do you start?  I take it you'll be in jolly old England?  Is that where the Royal Academy is?  (hope I got the school right)

[eddie92099]

CONGRATULATIONS, ED!!!!  So when do you start?  I take it you'll be in jolly old England?  Is that where the Royal Academy is?  (hope I got the school right)

Thanks! That is where the Royal Academy is yes, however I haven't heard from them yet. I was at the Royal College today and got my offer - confusing I know!  ,
Ed

[dinosaurtales]

So I know this is somewhat off-topic (gee, we've never done that before, eh?) but tell us a bit about these conservatories - where are they?  do you know who your teacher might be?  what are the degree programs like?

[eddie92099]

So I know this is somewhat off-topic (gee, we've never done that before, eh?) but tell us a bit about these conservatories - where are they?  do you know who your teacher might be?  what are the degree programs like?

They are all in central London. The degree programmes are very performance based which is exactly what I want . There is a list of staff and further information on the websites:

www.rcm.ac.uk
www.ram.ac.uk

Also, lots of famous people went there  ,
Ed

[eddie92099]

Additionally, as a bit of trivia, one of the professors on my final audition panel was the guy who plays Liszt's Prelude to the Transcendental Études on The Art of Piano,
Ed

[Axtremus]

Ed, congratulations, and I hope you will get good news from the Royal Academy as well. Assuming you do, though, which one would you rather attend, or perhaps more specifically, whom would you like to study with in which institution?

[xenon]

Alright Edward!  I am very proud of you!    I am sure great things will happen.  I always thought that RCM was the Royal Conservatory of Music (in Canada).  That's probably why it is also known as the Royal Conservatory of Toronto.  Meh.  I just checked the Royal College's website, and their founding date if 4 years earlier than the Royal Conservatory's.  Nooo...

Anyways, back on topic, yes, I do love the Steinway D.  It is probably one of the best pianos I have played in my life.  At the U of M S of M recial hall, I got to play Beethoven Sonata Op. 22 1st mvt on the Steinway D.  But, a few days ago when I played Chopin's Revolutionary Etude, it was back to the watered-down 7' or so model .  That was the first Steinway I ever played on.  Because it had a bad history, I thought all Steinways were bad .  But I was young then...  But seriously!  That piano has gone through several tonal and action changes in the 6 years I've known it.  First, the action was too resistant-less, and the tone too brilliant, almost like a harpsichord, but not that bad.  Then, it was almost normal.  Then it went to heavy action with a dull sound, then back to normal.  Now, it is heavy action with a dull and muffled sound .  Many students had trouble projecting on that piano, but I made sure that the Etude "raised 'un peu d'Enfer'".  Hehehe...

[eddie92099]

Ed, congratulations, and I hope you will get good news from the Royal Academy as well. Assuming you do, though, which one would you rather attend, or perhaps more specifically, whom would you like to study with in which institution?

I will go to the College over the Academy. The two teachers I have in mind are Andrew Ball and Neil Immelman, although I need to arrange some consultation lessons. I also got a scholarship offer from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama today but will have to turn it down,
Ed