I liked the building too. The pianos are very good. There are different models. John O'Connor is doing a good job. People like him very much. He gave a solo concert here to celebrate 30 years of his debut or something. Everybody loved it.
I did not meet anyone who did not like him yet. And he is a pianist. So I like him.
His concert was not organized by our organization and in fact there was a lot of bitterness when he came here. But it was not his fault at all. He is a nice man. He supports everybody.
I don't think he plays much of contemporary music (at least I did not see it). May be it is because he plays his old pieces. I don't really know.
Other pianists play contemporary music. I don't know if Hugh Tinney plays contemporary music. He is a good pianist. The other one is young pianist that comes here some times and I like him: F. Collins. I think he is a student of John O'Connors.
I am not critical of the academy. I am just saying that they have to fail people and keep the standard up. Otherwise I have student in grade 6 who should be in grade 3 at best. The pieces are too difficult, they have no technique.

They have classes for teachers in Dublin. They are too expensive for many teachers. Also teachers like me have different needs than teachers that are just one grade above their students.
I need help of a different kind. I do need help because it is difficult to be on your own, isolated and no good professional people close by.

In Cork they have a nice place. They just finished a new building. It is not finished yet. I wish I could see it when it is finished.
I don't know much about both of these places. In any case my student did not play that well this year. I still have two students more to go for their exam in Associated Board. I usually get nerveous, but I don't tell them and I don't go with them.

We have a big problem with renting pianos here and it is even difficult to rent one for exams some times. It is so bad really. Some times (often) I feel like crying.
I am trying to hope that things will improve.

roslynmuse,
Thank you very very much for your post. Now I am developing a good list of pieces that I am going to order.
Ian gave me a good list of contemporary pieces (modern) of middle level that I either could learn myself or give to my students if the situation presents itself.
And now I am delighted to have your suggestions. I need duet pieces very much. I do have Faure pieces and Stravinsky duet, Ravel Mother Goose, but I need more (for my knowledge as well as for possible use).
I was fascinated with Alkan's piece (the mad woman at the sea) that they played. I never heard anything like that.

I am going to copy everything in my book now. Thank you very much again.

I am going to accompany clarinet student on the 24th (Thursday). We played and he recorded us today. We had a friend listening for a little stress.
I think it can go either way. We can play kind of ok, or we can play badly.
Weber duo is really challenging and by now I know better that I should avoid it. (I probably won't, but I don't think the opportunity will present itself).

Thank you very much for your help. I could not even think that one could get so much help by writing. We don't have anybody here who can help in anyway. The best they can do is to wish us well. So I will have to go on  Thursday with positive mind and hope for the best.

t-p

Duets;
You may well know this already, but I really wouldn't want to be without Debussy's Petite Suite. I find Bizet's Jeux D'Enfants is very attractive too.

As far as Alkan goes I would also add Trente Chants opus 38, I think the opening piece has such a lovely tune (although that might come under the classification 'downright vulgar' ).

Very interested to hear about the Chabrier.

Thank you Daniel and maratle. I did not know about Debussy 4 hands pieces. I have to put them on the list.
I have played one or two Mozart Soantas for 4 hands and I have seen Beethoven, but I don't have them at home.
To play something for two piano would be good. For now we don't have two pianos here standing side by side. I have to dream about the time when it will be possible to try music for two pianos.
I heard Mozart sonata (don't remember which) for two pianos. I loved it.
Thank you so much for your help. Lettle by little I could build up my library at home. There is no music library here and very few scores are available to borrow even to look at. Music book shop has very limited scores on offer. Mostly they are geared for exam books. Everything has to be ordered (if they feel like it). It is really good that one can buy music scores on the net now.

On the subject of different piano manufacturers I am not very clear too.
I like Petroff pianos. They are not as expensive as others and are good value for money (I thought).

However, people say that they are high maintanance pianos.

There are some not too expensive and even hand made German pianos. I was surprised to see Busendor recently (please forgive my spelling). The model I looked at (upright piano) was very heavy action. I suppose some people might like it.

Some pianists required by their contract to play on certain pianos. What about us on the bottom?
I found that Yamaha are good. I have a Kawai. It is ok, but too bright and the action is too light.
My is a cheap version.
Can anyone say anything about pianos?

I have a Kemble and it is an excellent instrument.  I believe they are now made by Yamaha but in the same music shop, they had Yamahas and this felt better to play than they did.  It has a fast action which is what i was looking for (the piano I grew up with is a mid 1940s upright with a tremendously fast action so i wanted something like that).  It also holds it's tuning very well and is fairly loud, more qualities I was looking for as well! It's now 6 years old so it should be mellowing a bit more now.

autoharp, you recently mentioned Leo Ornstein elsewhere. The last three tracks on the CD of Chopin player piano recordings were made from his Ampico rolls of The  4th Ballade, the second of the Op. 64 waltzes and the second Op. 15 Nocturne.