Do SOME Advanced Instructors Require Steinways For Students

[bigsound1]

We have been told by a local piano dealer that SOME advanced intructors will require that the student play on a American Steinway. We are currently looking for a 6'-7' grand (We do like Steinway pianos, especially the B, however we have been impressed by other German piano's - Bluethner & August Forster)

I would like to know if this is true for any instuctors - Please comment.

[ptmidwest]

I would urge you strongly to take your business elsewhere.  (Besides, who would want to study with any instructor who would insist upon such a thing?)

[wintervind]

 I would definately question their motive for saying such a thing. I am sure there are teachers out their who have such ridiculous rules but that certainly doesn't make them any good. Quite the contrary. In fact, that would be a teacher I would steer clear of if I were you!
Bon Chance

[bearzinthehood]

Plus not every great pianist plays/played Steinway anyways.  Richter played Yamahas, maybe "advanced" instructers should start requiring those. 

[hgiles]

Interesting.  There is one prominent teacher I have observed that seems to think Steinway is the only piano on the planet and insists on using one for recitals and such when there are obviously much better instruments in the store for her to use.

She is a much better pianist than I will ever be and maybe she knows/hears/feels something I do not.   She seems the type to insist on Steinways, but do not think she has officially mandated it, however many of her clients do end up with Steinways.

[happyface94]

No, for practicing, a lot of brands of piano offer excellent quality. For instance, our conservatory replaced all the practice pianos (Steinways) with Kawais, (Shigaru marked), and their concerto piano to Yamaha. The Steinway only becomes accompany piano.

My teacher is a big fan of Steinway, she has one, and she has also played on a Faziolli, and she thinks the Steinway still has the edge on them, but they're too new to tell anyway.

[nomis]

We have been told by a local piano dealer that SOME advanced intructors will require that the student play on a American Steinway. We are currently looking for a 6'-7' grand (We do like Steinway pianos, especially the B, however we have been impressed by other German piano's - Bluethner & August Forster)

I would like to know if this is true for any instuctors - Please comment.

Don't go to those advanced teachers. It is possible that the piano dealer wants you to buy one of the most expensive piano brands, though hopefully this is unlikely.

ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS go for a piano that you like, rather than a brand. Though on the whole Steinway makes good pianos, when it comes down to the minutiae, they will have inferior pianos. This goes for all other reputable companies.

It is possible that these advanced instructors have been brainwashed by marketing e.g. Rachmaninov used it, Horowitz used it, and also because they are familiar with the tone of Steinway pianos, as they appear to be in many concert halls. It is also possible that they have a Steinway themselves.

Also for my personal experience with Steinways, I intensely dislike the sound of the bass notes, particularly when it is unpedaled. However, the power you can achieve with a Steinway D can swamp an orchestra, given that you are Vladimir Horowitz.

[pianonut]

i got my kawaii from a woman who was moving.  a sort of estate sale, if you will.  she used the piano for furniture, and noone had really played, so it remained new but not used for 6-7 years.  i got a pretty good price at the time, and it has held up really well.

suppose if you really want a good steinway, go to upscale neighborhoods and look for estate sales.  you can bargain, don't have to pay tax on it, and only have to worry about moving it.

[lostinidlewonder]

We have been told by a local piano dealer that SOME advanced intructors will require that the student play on a American Steinway.

Steinway's are expensive pianos, a dealer would tell you anything to make them sound better and a must have. Sure there will be some instructors in this world who require it, but are you going to buy a Steinway then search for the instructors who teach only on those? If you bought lets say a Yamaha grand and the teacher says, "Oh no no no i cant teach you on this, it is not good enough." You  should laugh in his face and show him the door.

[Bob]

I've never heard of a certain brand as a strict requirement.

The student might ask the teacher if that teacher can tell what brand of piano they play on.

Or...

"Sure, teacher.  I play on a Steinway."   













("That's Steinway, spelled C-A-S-I-O.  And I can reach two octaves cause the keys are so small!" )

[bigsound1]

That would not work if the instructor came to house(LOL). As you could probably guess this was a salesman at a Steinway dealer. However, although we have not made our final decision, we still think the Steinway B is the best we have heard folowed by a Bleuthner 6 and  August Forster.

[ako]

We have been told by a local piano dealer that SOME advanced intructors will require that the student play on a American Steinway. We are currently looking for a 6'-7' grand (We do like Steinway pianos, especially the B, however we have been impressed by other German piano's - Bluethner & August Forster)

I would like to know if this is true for any instuctors - Please comment.

I was playing on a Yamaha upright until I was about 13. My piano teacher then  recommended that I start playing on a grand piano and she recommened a Steinway "L" (5'10"?). So my parents bought one and I've been playing on it for over 20 years. I enjoy playing on my Steinway very much. If you purchase one, it is really an investment for  both your student's playing and for your own finances.

However, since this comment came from a piano  dealer, I would be skeptical. My suggestion is to find a good teacher first. If you wanted to purchase a grand piano nevertheless, go for it. There are some books that analyzes the different manufacturers of grand pianos. That might be your best source of determining which brand to buy.

Good luck!