Practicing Piano in European Cities

Have you tried to googling "practice piano in paris" ??? Lots of results. Here's a big list I found:

http://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=Piano+Practice+Rooms&find_loc=Paris

Don't we ALL prefer a grand?? If you find a practice piano at all just be thankful...grand or not.

Thank you Tim for your response, but I have already did that same google search and found the same list. Unfortunately, not a single place has responded to my queries. I am hoping to find someone who has actually accomplished this in Paris or one of the other cities. I hoped that Rick Steve being a piano teacher might have some insight.

I would try churches. They might be a little nicer than stores.(if they have a piano in addition to an organ, but surely most do!)

I hoped that Rick Steve being a piano teacher might have some insight.

Possibly so, but this Forum, while graciously hosted by Mr Steves and his company, is not visited or read by him. We are simply a bunch of fellow travelers with a touch of experience in traveling to the areas focussed on in each Forum.

You are unlikely to get Mr Steves' experiences in piano practicing here.

Have you contacted the music camp in Italy about this? They may have some ideas. It is certainly a unique problem.

Have you tried working through your son's teachers for contacts in Europe?

There is a piano overlooking the small garden inside Hotel Hospitel, actually Hotel Dieu. It's the large hospital that overlooks the Notre Dame courtyard. Just go in the front entrance and walk around to the right or left and you will see the piano. You might be able to see the piano from the entryway to the Hospital. Security will let you pass with barely a glance. No one cares if you play or practice or for how long. For a view of the small garden go to www.hotel-hospitel.fr and click on the British flag for English.

Good luck.

Paul Beuscher is in the process of remodelling its 3 musical instrument stores near Bastille.
If you go to their piano store on blvd Beaumarchais near the corner of rue de Pasteur Wagner, I believe you can rent practice time by the hour.
Most places don't respond very quickly to emails, but you can call them during Paris business hours - someone will speak English.

Some French railway stations host pianos for public use. Beyond the short list on the link, I saw one at Aix-en-Provence, so the list has probably grown.

The only placed I've played the piano in Europe was at the Paris airport, but that was in one of the Terminals. I would recommend checking with universities in each city since the music majors need to practice. Also, if you're really stuck, retirement homes love to have great pianist play for them.