On the topic (from another tread) of album covers, and their oft' imbecilic booklets; I unwrapped Stephen Chatman's disk "Proud Music of the Storm" (the musical content about which I will not speak) and was perusing the booklet contained therein.  Now, the paragraph on the piece "Tara's Dream" ended with the absolutely inane "And who is Tara? You'll just have to judge for yourself" (I paraphrase from memory).  At that, I just said "f**k me, that better not be by the composer, or else I'll be *seriously* prejudiced towards the music"; so I went to the back to check out the credits; turns out they were written by someone called Tara.  So I'm figuring that it *could* be a pretty cute psychological ploy.  But I'm overall feeling a bit cynical.

(actually, I didn't like that particular track too much; maybe because Schnittke (who I've been listening a lot to recently) does the "poly-stylism thing" much more effectively to my ears)).

You're welcome; incidentally this clavinova what I have is what got me kicked out of my digs first year in college; I hadn't even played a key; it had just been delivered my landlady (strange woman that she was) refused to let such a large instrument as that into the upstairs room (it had just been delivered and left in the hallway).  Thankfully, my piano teacher at the time was an absolute life-saver; I ended up staying with his sister-in-law's family for the rest of the year.

A friend of mine is having great trouble getting a clavichord off some people who've promised to sell it him(he, indeed, may already have paid them)...causing no small havock with his continuo practice schedule, let me tell you!  You'd have no interest in going retro yourself?

eruanto... I have bought a piano... a casio PX310... it is super , the best money I have spent for a long time. It did knock me back just under £500 but worth every penny! Thanks for your advice,  walked in the shop and there it was ... a casio... and 'I thought of you!!' I couldn't afford some of the others but it was nice to know that you had recommended a similar one !

 

Fantastic; has it been delivered yet, or?  Let us know how you get on!

My own feeling has always been that there is no substitute for an acoustic instrument, but I accept the necessity of modern technology sometimes to adapt to different circumstances. I would recommend waiting to see how lessons go (is he an enthusiastic player at home? I would consider that an important cue). We have a languishing violin because step-daughter was actually doing quite well at one point, then the horrible business with her father came to light and she's more interested in rap music now.

Thanks I'll wait and see how he takes to it.  I haven't tried to teach him anything myself having failed miserably with his father and uncle when they were small.  Consequently he hasn't begun to play at all.  I decided to leave this one to a teacher from the beginning.  He is otherwise musical - sings nicely - and says he'd like to have lessons.  I'll see how it goes.

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Yes, amazingly when  sort of looked at him in excitement he gave me, and my partner who I had dragged there to check it out also, a lift home in his van + piano.
It is great. I play it whenever I like as loud as I like and it is glorious!!!!!!!!... Bach/Mendelssohn/York Bowen/Scarlatti/Chopin..... all been re-explored with such delight and with such privacy ... it has changed my life!!!!

A