NIU School of Music celebrates purchase of new grand piano

DeKALB - Northern Illinois University's School of Music welcomed a new member to the family over the summer, one with three legs and 88 keys. The brand new Steinway grand piano in the Recital Hall was delivered on the first Friday morning of June, tuned later that afternoon and put to use the next day. It replaces an aging warhorse, which has been moved to a different location in the Music Building for lighter duty. Each year since 1974, the old piano averaged around 100 performances along with hundreds of rehearsals. "The old piano was original equipment to the building, and it's the instrument which sees the most daily rehearsal and performance use," said Harold Kafer, dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts and a member of t