[CAUT] Earplugs

[Alan McCoy]

I take my Westone 9dB filtered earplugs with me everywhere. They cost me
$120 several years back. Check them out here:
http://www.westone.com/music/elite.html#es49

I would not be without them. Ever.

Alan


-- Alan McCoy, RPT
Piano Technician

Eastern Washington University
119 Music Bldg
Cheney, WA 99004

(509) 359-4627
amccoy@mail.ewu.edu


> From: Fred Sturm <fssturm@unm.edu>
> Reply-To: "College and University Technicians <caut@ptg.org>" <caut@ptg.org>
> Date: Thu, 11 Nov 2004 10:16:01 -0700
> To: Boaz Kirschenbaum <artisanpiano@gmail.com>, "College and University
> Technicians <caut@ptg.org>" <caut@ptg.org>
> Subject: Re: [CAUT] Teaching Piano Tuning
> 
> On 11/9/04 7:35 AM, "Boaz Kirschenbaum" <artisanpiano@gmail.com> wrote:
> 
>> For example, there are those who tune "by key", i.e., attempting to
>> achieve stability by pounding the notes into tune. This technique
>> actually decreases stability
> snip 
>> The correct method is to tune "by hammer", by using proper hammer
>> technique and an appropriate test blow in combination. Laurie Cote,
>> from Harvard, once told me "I only hit the key as hard as I need to".
>> Once I tried a few experiments, and followed my own tunings, I saw
>> direct results.
> 
> Hi Boaz,
>     I agree with you 100% on this. For the most part, fairly rapid (twice a
> second or so) forte blows are all that is needed. Occasionally fortissimo.
> Never the brutality of those who use "pounders." My finger never rises above
> the keytop, and most of the time I don't let the key return to rest position
> - speed, not force (which is what any decent pianist learns).
>     I'd add that use of an EDT makes achieving stability considerably surer
> and "easier" (it's never easy). It comes down to knowing how far pitch has
> to go in what direction, and translating it to how much the pin needs to
> move in the block, then feeling the pin move that far and doing the
> manipulation to put the system into stable condition (minor flagpoling and
> flexing of the pin, basically a wiggle motion). With the ETD, you see
> instantly whether you were successful, and can make the small nudge or
> whatever right away. And, of course, you can check your work by giving
> fortissimo blows to see whether your technique is really successful. I
> especially like RCT for this, as the range of display within 0.5 cents of
> target pitch is so dramatic. It's easy to see the results (or lack of
> permanent result) of those tiniest moves, and adjust accordingly on the fly.
>     Earplugs are a definite must. I'll put in a plug here for the fairly
> recent plugs put out by Etymotic Research (www.etymotic.com). These are the
> same guys who came up with the plugs that require molds be made of the ear
> canal. The recent introduction is a "one size fits all" version, rated at 12
> dB but claimed at circa 20 dB (I think the truth lies between). The benefit
> of the design is that upper partials are not damped excessively as they are
> with foam plugs. You can hear to tune _very_ well, and they reduce
> distraction from surrounding noise and ear fatigue. I love them. Available
> also from Pianotek.
> Regards,
> Fred Sturm
> University of New Mexico
> http://music.unm.edu/about/staff_members/fred_s_sturm.php
> A mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be kindled.
> 
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