String breakage

[Jeff Tanner]

Susan Kline wrote:
>I once told a pianist bothered about volume that one can hear something
>a little closer to what the audience is getting if one stands up and
>tries a few notes and chords that way. It is a lot louder and clearer
>standing up, especially if the music desk is in the way sitting down.

I have learned to tune grands standing up as much as possible. At 6 feet
tall with not such a good back, that isn't always comfortable, but the
tones are much clearer up there.

>
>I'd like to be able to reassure them of how the piano sounds out in
>the hall by having them go out there and playing loudly and clearly
>for them. But I need to play better to achieve that.

I had this very situation come up this weekend.  A local church had a new
S&S B donated and were doing the dedication concert Sunday.  Granted, we
all know that a new Steinway will not have the brightest of hammers and she
was expecting this.  On Friday, the pianist was having trouble getting
"power" from the piano, and was on the verge of injuring herself trying to
play so hard.  I reassured her the piano was quite powerful out in the
sanctuary (a wonderful place to play music!) and had her go out and listen
while I played a few scales at pp, mf, and ff (neither am I a trained
player).  By Sunday, she had learned to trust the piano and wasn't beating
so hard, and the sound was absolutely lovely.

The warmth and roundness of tone is lovely on this instrument, but yes, it
feels like you're not making much sound sitting at the keyboard, especially
in the killer area.  But out in the hall, the tone simply blossoms!

The pianists need to learn to trust that the instrument is capable of
plenty of power, but that you might not be so aware of it right at the
keyboard.  This concept really hit home with me when my church received a
donation of a new B.  While tuning it, I pounded and pounded trying to get
sound out of the piano.  I was afraid it wasn't going to be a very good
instrument.  But at the dedication concert, I was AMAZED at how much sound
that instrument produced, and with such warm round full tone.  It continues
to be one of my favorite instruments.

Jeff