CIM Piano Loan Program is Music to Student's Ears

Supporting CIM's mission "to cultivate new generations of young musicians through an immersive and creative educational process," the conservatory has a piano lending program for students pursuing advanced degrees -- a concept that The Plain Dealer's education reporter, Karen Farkas, found intriguing.

Farkas followed the lending process from the piano room at CIM in University Circle to the living room of one grad student, Andrew Focks, in South Euclid on Monday, September 16. The student, who began studying this fall for his doctor of musical arts degree, is one of 28 CIM students who have been loaned pianos for the duration of their program.

Students cover the moving costs and pay a nominal, refundable deposit. Their living arrangements (house, apartment, etc.) must be able to accommodate the size and weight of the small grand piano. For students, like Focks, who may practice four or more hours a day, around the clock access to a quality instrument is a huge benefit for their studies.

“There is nothing that can equal having a high quality instrument,” Focks, who plans to perform and teach, told The Plain Dealer. “Every aspect of what I want to do is wound so tightly in being at the keyboard.”

In addition, the program benefits other CIM students by freeing up practice rooms on campus.

Read the entire article, watch a video and enjoy the door-to-door photos by visiting Cleveland.com.