Johnstaf Studying the piano was an efficient way to get into better schools.
Maybe look things up before assuming everyone else is wrong.
Who says someone is wrong? Keep in mind we are talking strictly about a c o u s t i c pianos.
But why would such a delusion of "better education" be the case surrounding acoustic pianos in China?
Wait. Are you telling us that now Chinese people will appear less sophisticated because less and less will have learnt the piano and won't be getting into better schools? What stops other western (keep that in mind!) students from being acoustic piano oriented (so to speak)?
The Chinese just made them pianos cheaper since the Cultural (Mao) Revolution. Atrocious (quality) at first (still are, depending on export destination!), but they wanted to prove a point against the West, not just about pianos but here we discuss pianos. I think they have proven their point around the mid 2000s and there on. China is far more developed, although, because of its size and population amount, per capita and per sitio things do not look so great compared to let say Swiss, Austrian or even Greek citizens.
Most pianist (classical) have this predisposition, rather seeing themselves as being part of a higher state of musical environment. Last time I experienced this was just several months ago at the RCM (London). Hence, I think those Chinese directives to have more pianos and pianists so they can populate the good and best schools is not what was the intention.
Now it is all gone. Good schools will be rather empty of talented students. Chinese dream will collapse (I am being sarcastic here). I remember when I was a teen, the admission exam to get into a Music college required a piano playing demo in person as part of admission. I refused to do it (I am a drummer at heart), so did not (and could not) attend. Guess, I was not worthy enough to walk on the floor there.
So, I understand what you mean but I do not think that is the case. Maybe the Indians could save the market. Let's see where piano is in their prestige educational institutions.
Piano is a western instrument. And trust me, if there are people who want to buy and have an acoustic pianos, the chinese will be the first to say "We can make it for you.". But there just is not. Digital pianos are ok (I think).
