David Oei, 64, was charged on Monday with forcible touching and endangering the welfare of a child, aged 15.
Oei is an instructor at The New School. A former player with P.D.Q. Bach, he is married to a respected violinist.
Presumptions of innocence apply.
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What is wrong with all these pupils? Can no master demonstrate without touching the HANDS without these ridiculous accusations?
What leads you to believe that what you described is what happened?
One news article reports: “He allegedly put his hand on her thigh while she was playing the piano, then continued to grope her.”
http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Music-Teacher-Arrested-Forcible-Touching-Student-Lesson-New-York-City-299598441.html
Another reports: “He touched the teen’s privates parts over her clothing, sources added.”
http://nypost.com/2015/04/13/renowned-pianist-accused-of-groping-his-music-student/
A third reports: “The victim told police Oei placed “his hand under her bra and squeeze her breast, place(d) his hand on her buttocks over her clothes, and also place(d) his hand on her groin area over her clothes, all of which was done without … consent,” according to court documents.”
http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/nyc-crime/lawyer-pervy-piano-teacher-calls-client-important-article-1.2185421
These are allegations, not necessarily facts.
I believe in reserving judgment about guilt or innocence until the facts are known. But at the very least, these reports are at odds with your supposition.
One thing it does demonstrate is the value of having a third person present for a lesson, especially with a minor — to protect both student and teacher.
Very sure he is innocent. Excellent man and pianist.
My family has known David Oei and his wife Eriko Sato for over 35 years. In addition to being a great musical talent, David is gentle, thoughtful and generous–for many years he has devoted his free time outside of music to supporting the Special Olympics. So this news comes as a complete shock and I cannot believe he would risk everything–his family and his career–to do something of this nature. He and Eriko have our full support and we hope he will be cleared of this incredibly damaging accusation.
I’ve known him a while and I do not believe any of these allegations that he was charged with…he always conducted himself in a professional manner towards students..especially towards female ones as well.
I agree with these four other commenters. David is a caring and gentle soul, and it’s impossible to believe there’s a shred of truth to this allegation. He may be an enthusiastic teacher but that should not be misconstrued as inappropriate behavior.
Not only I know him well from the early 1980s as we started to play together, I know him well as a person. These things could never have happened, and I am so discouraged about the whole music business, and I think that this teaching business is the utmost dangerous business there is where the teacher has to defend against baseless accusations yet the reputation can be tarnished forever. The presumption of innocence doesn’t help when the accused has to prove that something that didn’t happen didn’t happen. Very very discouraging.