How to Prepare a Piano

Monday 24 September 2012

RCM Piano Supervisor and Technician Chris Moulton featured in BBC Radio 3’s ‘Preparing a Piano’ on Saturday 22 September.

The RCM hosted what could be called the first DIY programme for Radio 3, in which pianist and comedian Rainer Hersch learned how to prepare a piano. In John Cage’s centenary year this was a tribute to the composer who coined the term “prepared piano”. Hersch went on to compose his own piece using the techniques taken from a manual written by Richard Bunger Evans. 

Current RCM students Arne Gieshoff and William Cole also contribute to the programme with short pieces for prepared piano influenced by John Cage’s work.

You can listen to the show on BBC iPlayer until Saturday 29 September.