I now have access to a Bechstein grand piano. Its a massive 8ft thing. I can use it till March. I might have access from March to May a Steinway.

It has a wonderfully light touch and an incredibly rich sound.

To compare my CDP feels so inadequate.

Seeing as Casio/Yam will never make a DP with a touch and sound as nice as a Bechstein grand. Nor can I ever afford a Bechstein grand piano either.

Am I now cursed to a life of comparatively inadequate pianos?

Maybe a good time to look at the doughnut instead of the hole? Enjoy that Bechstein while you can!

Our church organist has a Steinway grand, and i have an open invitation. But as you say, i think it's only going to give me the fever.

I love that; I think it's going to be my new mantra!

I'd be so down with the loan on that Bechstein...no matter how short a time.

8ft Bechstein? What a luck! Enjoy it every moment and don't stress yourself with the fact that such fairy tail is going to end sometime...Relax and play, just nothing more's needed.

I faced the same problem. I have my little Yamaha DGX-640, but had the opportunity to play a beautiful Fazioli and a C. Bechstein, both concert grands over seven feet long. It was more than a night/day difference. I didn’t touch my piano for 2 days because I knew I’d be terribly disappointed with mine after playing those beauties. It took a lot of mental discipline and reminding myself that what I own is still more than what I need right now. I certainly don’t play beyond what I own yet, so I’m still satisfied with it. Not that I wouldn’t love one of those other ones!! I mean… they even made me sound good!

Being on very good terms with the sales lady, I can go visit her and play the latest Fazioli or C. Bechstein she has in stock whenever I want, and still be at peace with the dramatic difference between what I own and those pieces of art. Joy!

I know exactly what you mean, but I don't believe you need a high end grand in order to have that musical transcendental experience. It can happen on a more modest instrument. It has to be an acoustic piano though.

Seize the piano...

What about all the other, and much less expensive, grand pianos? Once you start to explore them I am sure you will easily find something that is not "inadequate". I have a lower end AP myself and I am very happy with it.

Would you rather not play such a beautiful instrument at all? I think not

I have never played a grand - must be awesome! I like your Murray Perahia quote Bob! He is right! I have a CD of him playing Chopin's etudes- he is great.

Not in my opinion. And sorry to poop on anyone's parade. But I don't see what all the hype is about for these behemoth grands.

Of course they are great instruments and are amazing for filling a room with sound. But for playing? The sound seems so far away and not right at you at all. Takes some getting used to. Personally I don't prefer it. For a home setting, unless I had a really big room, plus the moolah of course -- and do not on both counts, -- I think I'd be quite happy with a good quality upright. Much better quality than I have at the moment mind you.

When I was in college, I had access to a 9' Steinway. In the years since, I have largely been confined to a keyboard. It sucks. I can't lie to you and tell you everything will be fine, or that keyboards are awesome. Enjoy the piano while you can, and then hopefully someday you'll be able to afford the high-priced ticket.

Cursed? You're blessed. Be grateful, Privileged One. You're obviously in a situation where good pianos happen and will probably happen again. I'm 59 and I've never been within sight of a Bechstein or caught more than an all too fleeting glimpse of an ancient Steinway.

The dream is over!



Access has been denied forever.

I was wondering why the room had been locked, and spoke to the director about it. Somebody has vandalised the piano badly and they aren't going to repair it. It pains me to write about it, but there is damage all over it and its now just an ornament.


How could they?

That's just sickening.
Where does anyone get off thinking they can damage other people's property?

Oh no, that's terrible news

There was no camera/watch over the expensive instrument?

This is worse than just an attack on property--more like sacrilege! I'm really sorry to hear it.

That is really sad news. I do hope the responsible party is found and held responsible.

I wish the door had been locked before the damage occurred...

How could anyone vandalise a PIANO?!!! That is totally appalling. I'm upset to read this. A beautiful instrument silenced. DISGRACEFUL.

There is something really wrong with people who do that. Sorry to hear about this! Such a shame...

About the smashed piano - When I was 7, my adopted brother arrived in my father's truck. My father went to a big city to pick the kid up. What I remember being told was that he was malnourished. His legs were very thin and weak. I was told every word out of his mouth was a swear word. He was 4 years old. I soon learned that he would pull out all his eyelashes if he was unhappy about something. He told my mother that she could hit him or break his arm but he would not do anyting he didn't want to do. When I was a teenage, I got a transistor radio. A some point he smashed the transistor radio to pieces. I am not sure why. In his teens he carved his name into his arm as a tattoo. He always said he would marry rich women and both his wives were rich. When he was married to his first wife he punched a concrete wall and broke his arm. Later he became addicted to some drug and eventually he committed suicide at about 50. I left home to go to college when he was 16 so I don't really know about his life. But I tell you this to give you an idea of what kind of people would break or destroy a piano. I was adopted as a baby as opposed to 4 years old - and I had an awesome life.

About the piano - Lang Lang could play your digital piano or any piano and it would sound awesome. Why? - because a master has the facility to do what is necessary to make it happen. I have a secondhand acoustic grand yamaha and am humbled by its presence. Sure it sounds good, but when I use the same phrasing the cheap digital sounds good, too. I am just a beginner and am happy to practice or play on any piano - especially after midnight. I remember not so long ago when digtal pianos didn't exit and the steinways and all acoustic
pianos were silent after 8:00 p.m. if you live in or close to others who could hear the piano.

I only wished the price of the piano is what makes the quality of my playing sound better. A wrong note on any piano sounds the same.

I'm wondering now if that decision not to repair the piano is irrevocable. Of course it depends on what the damage is, but 8-foot Bechsteins are not so easy to come by, and I can't help wondering whether it could be repaired. A situation like this might even be a good occasion for fundraising to cover the costs. Nobody wants the vandals to win.

Yes, but would he still make his ridiculous gyrations?

The offender should be sentenced to a minimum of 12 months of community work.

How about 20 to life on the rock pile?

(If I weren't opposed to capitol punishment on principle - - -)

But that's not capital punishment... Capital punishment would be dropping the thing on the offender's head (capital in two senses in that case).

My preferred punishment would be to require restitution. Once repaired, put the piano in a soundproof room, then force the offender to watch in silence from the outside as Lang Lang plays. He would have to watch endless gymnastics and gyrations, without getting the benefit of actually hearing anything.

The only thing I can think of that's actually worse than watching Lang Lang play would be to just watch him.

If they're not going to repair it, maybe you could offer to take it off their hands. I have no idea what it'd cost you to eventually get it repaired, but probably less than buying a new one.

Ah no! Lang Lang is brilliant- I love watching him play on the you tube videos and BBC concerts.

A real punishment would be Barry Manilow!

I was thinking this, but I don't have space for a concert grand.

The bigger problem is how on earth I would get out of there. Without knocking a wall out.