While in Boston I visited (finally) the famous North Bennet Street School and met the director of the Piano Department, David Betts and Debbie Cyr, one of the instructors. The school has somewhat mythical status in the US, being a very old, formal and well respected school of a variety of crafts, including book binding, jewelry making, furniture making and piano technology.
Deep in Bostons Italian North End, it’s in a charming area and a funky, very large building, oozing skill and craftsmanship. I’m going back to give a class and am going to try to find a piano that I can place there for awhile…they should have a Bosendorfer for close up inspection of European craftsmanship…they certainly have enough exposure to Steinway and M&H.
By the way, if you are at all familiar with Boston, what an amazing difference the Big Dig has made…the old Central Artery, which cut the city like the Berlin Wall is gone. There is sun, open space and a well groomed but very obvious scar very much similar to Berlin. Unbelievable improvement in downtown Boston. I’m glad I wasn’t there for the construction.