Strings attached to piano donation, musicians discover

GREEN VALLEY--Open less than a month, the Rehearsal Studio of the Community Performing Arts Center is already busy with rehearsals by local member groups of the Greater Green Valley Arts Council.

The only string attached, some musical members have discovered, is that the Baldwin grand piano donated to the Community Performing Arts Center (CPAC) Foundation by Renee Blatt, in memory of her husband and virtuoso musician Josef Blatt, is designated for classical music only.

"Renee asked that it be intended for classical music and her interest is the care of the piano," Nancy Karsh, chair of the Community Performing Arts Center Foundation, said.

Donor's request

"It's not really in the rules and regulations, but it's the request of the donor. All we really care about as a foundation is that the piano be treated with respect and that's the bottom line."

Blatt donated her late husband's Baldwin grand piano to the Performing Arts Center in October 2003 and a concert commemorating the gift was performed on his birthday, Oct. 20, 2003.

"I prefer that the piano be used by the chamber musicians and the Recorder Society, but that is about it," Blatt said.

"It's too bad. There is nothing wrong with using an upright. My husband could play any music on any piano as long as it was tuned. A piano is like a human being. You have to treat it well, and I think it's better to have the Baldwin only played with classical music."

Blatt said when she donated the piano to the foundation she did not indicate that she wanted only classical music played on the instrument.

"It didn't come up and I did not think that was necessary," Blatt said. "It was not spelled out because I thought people already understood," Blatt said.

"You have two pianos and there is no reason that the upright piano shouldn't be used by the other musicians. I have nothing against popular music, but they have two pianos anyhow so they can use the upright. The Piano Committee is in agreement with me."

The Piano Committee includes Ann-Marie Schaffer, LaVerne Gallob Whitten, Kathy Heilig, Trude Raymond, and Sharlyn Matthews.

Another piano coming

Blatt said she is aware that another grand piano is to be donated to the foundation.

"They can play that one as well," she said. "These people should understand. I don't belittle their kind of music but the piano I donated is meant for classical music played by good pianists."

Green Valley Stage Band pianist Bill Willy learned last week that he would not be playing the Baldwin, but would be permitted to play the upright piano, donated to the Greater Green Valley Arts Council by Evelyn D. Smith.

"I have the forms that are required for the musicians to sign before they play the piano, so I haven't been told to my face that I can't play that grand," Willy said.

"I've heard that it will be for classical music only, though, and I don't get it. I played jazz on that piano at the dedication of that center months ago and I was invited to do so. Nobody said anything to me then and as far as I know it's not ruined yet. Some people think the only kind of music is classical and that's maybe why they want it that way."

Willy, 80, said he started playing the piano when he was 9 years old.

Defining classical

"They also have to define what's classical. Is 'Rhapsody in Blue' classical? You mean you can't play 'Rhapsody in Blue' on it," Willy said.

"I don't blame them for wanting to know who will be playing it. I have a Baldwin myself, so I know the value of these instruments," he added.

[The Baldwin piano Web site indicates the costs of their instruments run in the tens of thousands.)

"I've seen pianos that have been abused and you want to be sure the musicians take care of the instrument. That has nothing to do with the type of music played on the instrument. There are some pieces of classical music that really work the piano. It doesn't make sense."

Jim Nickerson, a Community Performing Arts Center Foundation director said he learned about the restricted use of the donated grand in a board meeting.

Nickerson, who plays in several local bands affiliated with the Arts Council, as well as bands in Tucson, said he was "surprised at the announcement."

Drawing the line

"There is so much really long-lasting modern music, that I'm not always sure where you can draw the line between classical and other music at times," he said.

"We learned that the donor put that stipulation on it, but I was unaware of that until recently."

Tom Six, CPAC Foundation vice chair, also learned this week that the Baldwin grand donated by Blatt was to be used exclusively for classical music.

"I knew they needed pre-approval to use the piano and had to show they were competent to use it, but to my knowledge it wasn't reserved for just classical music," Six said.

Nothing in guidelines

"There is nothing in the guidelines for use that specifically says that the grand piano donated by Josef Blatt's wife is specifically reserved for classical music, however, it does say that permission for use will be complied with the owner's desires. I checked back with Nancy and Mrs. Blatt did say that."

The rehearsal studio opened its doors to Arts Council members for rehearsals Nov. 1, according to Louise Gibbeson, CPAC Foundation administrative assistant.

Gibbeson said she was never aware that Baldwin grand piano was to be for classical music only until this week.

CPAC Foundation Director Ann-Marie Schaffer heads the Piano Committee for the foundation and said that the request by Blatt when her husband's piano was donated to the Performing Arts Center was that only classical music be played on the instrument.

"It's not a case of being exclusive, we're just trying to ensure that the pianos are kept in the best condition so that everybody can enjoy them," Schaffer explained.

"Right now, once somebody has been to the orientation, we don't audition them, that's just the approval to use a piano. We just inform them in the orientation that the donor has requested that this Baldwin grand be used only for classical music. We are counting on the good will of people to respect that."

Prior to using the pianos, people are asked to go through an orientation, Karsh said.

"Each of these instruments is of considerable value and quality, and in an effort to ensure their appropriate handling and care, the Foundation has set up an orientation process for all users," Karsh explained.

Coaching provided

"At the orientation, individual pianists are coached on care and handling issues, and agree to abide by the guidelines. Once a person has participated in an orientation, his/her name will be kept on file as having been approved for use of the pianos.

"This orientation process is not designed to be restrictive, but simply to insure that all individuals using the pianos are aware and have committed to the piano guidelines," Karsh added.

Six and Karsh did say that another piano besides the Baldwin grand and the Kawai upright has been donated to the foundation.

A Howard (Baldwin/Kawai) grand piano was recently donated in memory of the late Isolde Grosser by her family. Karsh said it is scheduled to be delivered to the rehearsal studio Nov. 15.

'This donation of the other grand should take care of this situation," Karsh said. "Thanks to generous donations/memorial gifts to the Arts Council and the foundation of one upright and two grand pianos, arts organizations have access to three excellent instruments for use at the Community Performing Arts and Learning Center."

County facility

The rehearsal studio is part of phase one of the Community Performing Arts and Learning Center in Green Valley ((CPA/LC)) which includes PCC's nearly 10,000-square-foot campus.

The studio is a Pima County facility administered in part by the Community Performing Arts Center Foundation through an agreement with Pima County Parks and Recreation Department.

Andy Reidy, recreation program manager at Pima County Parks and Recreation said the county is aware that the Blatt donation is to be used for classical music only at the donor's request.

"Hopefully, the donation of this other piano will solve their complaints," Reidy said. "With another piano in there, there should be no more issues like this."

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