WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF CREATIVE ARTS
DIVISION OF MUSIC
Policies Governing Use of CAC Concert Pianos
The Division of Music is fortunate to own four Steinway concert grand pianos, all in excellent condition at the time of this writing. Bloch Hall is also the current home of a fine Walter grand that provides good balance in almost every chamber-music situation. Each of these instruments deserves loving care. At the request of its donors, the Hamburg Steinway especially needs our protection, in order to minimize maintenance costs and to keep it sounding truly special as long as possible. For these reasons, the members of the Keyboard Faculty respectfully request your cooperation in observing the following guidelines, which take into account the fact that several fine recital instruments will always be available from which performers may choose. The Chair of the Division of Music, in consultation with the Keyboard Coordinator or the Piano Technician, may in special cases grant exceptions to these policies and can lend keys to faculty members on a case-to-case basis.
Examples of performances for which the pianist may choose the Hamburg Steinway:
- Solo piano recitals in which the performer is a designated guest artist, a WVU music faculty member, or a student of a WVU piano faculty member
- Chamber music recitals in which the pianist is a designated guest artist, a WVU music faculty member, or an accompanist for a WVU music faculty member
- Degree recitals, whether solo or ensemble, for which WVU piano majors receive a grade
- Piano-concerto performances with orchestra or other large ensemble at the CAC
- Recording sessions or appropriately scheduled dress rehearsals for any of these types of performances
Examples of performances for which the pianist should choose one of the other recital instruments:
- All rehearsals, except appropriately scheduled dress rehearsals for recitals that will be performed on the Hamburg Steinway
- Degree recitals in which the pianist is not being graded, regular Community Music recitals, convocations, routine accompaniments, etc.
- Performances other than piano concertos by groups not usually considered chamber music (e.g., piano used as an orchestral instrument or in jazz ensemble or choir, etc.)
- Any piece that involves deliberate physical changes (and possible unintentional damage) to the instrument, including “preparation” with chalk, tape, etc., to strings or other parts of the piano
- Recording sessions for any of these types of performances
Protecting the instruments when not in use:
- None of the recital pianos may be used for routine practice or teaching at any times other than appropriately scheduled dress rehearsals for CAC recitals, except as requested by the Piano Technician.
- All recital pianos should be locked and covered at all times when not being used. To avoid accidents, never set beverage containers on any piano! Under no circumstances may the Hamburg Steinway or Steinway #5 be moved outside the CAC.
- Possession of keys, especially for the Hamburg Steinway, should be restricted to WVU faculty and staff members who truly need them on the basis of this usage policy. Faculty members will normally be present for students’ dress rehearsals that use the Hamburg and should not lend Hamburg keys to students, in part to help prevent unauthorized duplication of the keys.
- The Bloch Steinways need to be locked, covered, and returned to the storage room adjacent to Bloch immediately after each use; the Walter piano should remain on the Bloch stage. Please be especially careful to avoid injury to fingers, pianos, and doorways while moving between the stage and the storage room! As a courtesy, please avoid blocking this pathway with the audio-visual control cart, music stands, chairs, etc.
- Until a stage manager can be hired, performers and supervising faculty members share primary responsibility for locking, covering, and carefully moving the Hamburg Steinway or other instruments immediately after each recital or rehearsal. The recording technician has secondary responsibility and can provide a key for locking or unlocking the instruments for an officially recorded recital.
